Moment in the Word

Job 27:5-6 " ... I will not let go my innocence, but keeping fast to my righteousness I will by no means let it go." (Brenton's 1851 Greek Septuagint)

Considering Job's constant integrity during his grievous trial, we are reminded of Daniel and three young friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

Kidnapped from Israel by the Babylonians, the Jewish teenagers were horribly abused. In Daniel 1:18, the Bible says that at the end of the appointed days, after which the king had given orders to bring them in, then the "chief of the eunuchs" brought the four captives in before Nebuchadnezzar.

As unwilling members of the company of eunuchs, we realize the boys had been brutally robbed of their manhood. Yet, despite their suffering, chapter one affirms in verse 17, 20 & 21 that God made them prudent in all learning and wisdom. Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. In every matter of knowledge wherein the king questioned them, he found them ten times wiser than all the enchanters and sorcerers throughout his kingdom. And even after the Medes conquered Babylon, Daniel continued till the first year of king Cyrus performing the work God ordained for him while being imprisoned.

When arrogant King Nebuchadnezzar threw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into the blazing furnace for innocently refusing to bow before his massive golden idol, he suddenly saw "four men loose, and walking in the midst of the fire!" No harm happened to any of them because the appearance of the fourth man was like Jesus Christ, the Son of God! (Daniel 3:92, Brenton's 1851 Greek Septuagint)

Later, enduring the blasphemous insults of Babylon's drunken King Belshazzar, Daniel declared God's ominous judgment that the kingdom would fall that same night. Written on the palace wall by a hand without a body, Daniel explained the frightening decree, "And this is the ordered writing, Mane, Thekel, Phares. This is the interpretation of the sentence: Mane; God has measured thy kingdom, and finished it. Thekel; it has been weighed in the balance, and found wanting. Phares; thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians." (Daniel 5:25-28, Brenton's1851 Greek Septuagint)

Eventually promoted to be a governor in the new Kingdom of Persia, Daniel was falsely accused by jealous public officials for the way he faithfully worshipped God. But unwilling to surrender his integrity, the condemned man went to the lion's den instead, and in that horrible hole, an angel was already waiting to protect him.

The next day, the worried king went to learn the outcome and heard Daniel say, "O king, live for ever. My God has sent his angel, and stopped the lions' mouths, and they have not hurt me: for uprightness was found in me before him; and moreover before thee, O king, I have committed no trespass." (Daniel 6:22-23, Brenton's 1851 Greek Septuagint)

Finally, in his advanced years, Daniel's greatest struggle came while prayerfully battling dark demonic forces in the spiritual realm for three grueling weeks. Unexpectedly, Daniel saw the appearance of a glorious man who was NOT an angel. Undoubtedly, this individual was none other than God's Son - Jesus Christ, who was "clothed in linen, and his loins were girt with gold of Ophaz: and his body was as (the gold) of Tharsis, and his face was as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his legs as the appearance of shining brass, and the voice of his words as the voice of a multitude." (Daniel 10:5-6, Brenton's 1851 Greek Septuagint)

But the greeting in verse 16 of the "Son of Man" was more profound than his appearance, "O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words which I speak to thee, and stand upright: for I am now sent to thee ... Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to afflict thyself before the Lord thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come because of thy words." (Daniel 10:11-12, Brenton's 1851 Greek Septuagint)

From beginning to end, Daniel and God's other servants diligently kept their integrity and were helped through every circumstance because of their unflinching faithfulness. Likewise, Hebrews 10:35 affirms that if you "do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded" when Christ tells us all, "Well done, good and faithful servants; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord." (Matthew 25:23)

So, keep going for God and never give up!