I love this book, offering insight into moments when competent leadership is being sought out. Man could we use a Daniel in our day!
"There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the time of your father he was found to have insight and intelligence and wisdom like that of the gods. Your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners.
He did this because Daniel, whom the king called Belteshazzar, was found to have a keen mind and knowledge and understanding, and also the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles and solve difficult problems. Call for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means.”
Daniel 5:11-12 NIV
Talk about a "power"point presentation!!!!
Reading in Book of Daniel this a.m.. Considering the time necessary to seek out Daniel and get him in the room, the "writing on the wall", the literal "inscription" must have remained engraved upon the architecture for some time. Think about the power in that message!
Gotta love Daniel's response when asked to interpret:
"Then Daniel answered the king, “You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means."
Daniel 5:17 NIV
Inter-office politics can get nasty in a hurry!
Glad I'm self-employed!
"It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss. Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent."
Daniel 6:1-4 NIV
This pagan King had more faith than most of us today!
Would love to know the conversations between him and God. Wait, maybe God did not see this leader as we might? In fact, King Darius' public testimony (see vs 25-27) post lion's den was pretty strong! You never know someone else's heart.
"So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!”
Daniel 6:16 NIV
Enjoy your 4th of July!
Comments