Surviving Babylon: Uncovered
We hope you will join us as we walk through the book of Daniel together and please feel free to share this content with anyone you think might be blessed by it!
18 Then at the end of the days which the king had specified for presenting them, the commander of the officials presented them before Nebuchadnezzar. 19 The king talked with them, and out of them all not one was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s personal service. 20 As for every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king consulted them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and conjurers who were in all his realm. 21 And Daniel continued until the first year of Cyrus the king. - Daniel 1:18-21
SURVIVING BABYLON PART 3
Uncovered
THE SETTING
The plan would have seemed crazy to the captain of the guards. No one had ever questioned the choice of food served to them before. In fact, most found it a wonderful privilege to eat the food from the king’s table and no one dared ever complain. That is until Daniel.
Daniel knew that eating this kind of food was forbidden in the law of God. And while we do not know exactly what kind of food it was and how it violated the Mosaic Law, we do know that Daniel was uncompromisingly faithful. He much preferred infuriating the king than defying the law of God, which could mean death. But his actions would affect more than just himself. The captain of the guards neck would have been on the line as well (Dn 1:10)
The captain’s sole job was to manage the dormitory of exiled captives. The smartest, brightest, and most prominent exiles from all the vanquished nations were placed in the king’s dorm’s, given the king’s food, and educated in the king’s schools. The goal was to keep them well rested, well fed, and focused on their education so they could serve the king best. If anything got in the way of their training they could become subpar servants, which would not be tolerated by the king, resulting in the death of the commander. So, needless to say, changing the captives diet was a life or death decision that he did not take lightly.
This is why Daniel suggested a ten day period of examination. He and his friends would eat vegetables and drink water while every part of their life was under strict scrutiny. If at any moment their physical or mental performance declined in any way, the captain would reinstate the king’s defiled food and the whole idea would be squashed along with their obedience to God. But, if their condition remained the same or even improved during those 10 days, the captain of the guard would make the change permanent. Thus, Daniel relied upon God to confirm the veracity of His Word, which He most certainly did.
In the end, Daniel and his friends performed better than everyone else. They were given food to eat that did not violate God’s law. And, they showcased to everyone involved that God affirms those who will be obedient to Him. But there is another principle at play in this passage that I think will be important for all of us who are living in a pagan culture like Daniel to understand; and that is to live a life uncovered.
NON-PARTICIPATION IS NOT AN OPTION
Daniel had no ability to move out of the king’s court and pursue a life of humble obedience in seclusion. He had to remain under the watchful eye of a world who did not share his convictions and he had to do so willing to live different than them. The same is true for us today.
Jesus has taught us that we are to be salt and light in this world, which means that retreat is not an option. As Christians, we cannot just pack up our bags, move to a remote part of the world, and live out our convictions in private. God has not given us that option. We must live faithfully as exiles wherever He has called us!
THE COWARDICE OF SILENCE
Daniel and his friends learned that silence was the same as disobedience. They were not contentious people who simply enjoyed conflict and complaining about everything that displeased them. In fact, to speak up at all was seen as extremely dangerous! But to say nothing in a moment like this, was to accept sin and defy God. It was to passively prioritize comfort, peace, and security over faithfulness, which is active rebellion against the God whose law it violated. To say nothing was to sin by cowardice, which is something I want the modern Christian to see and understand as well.
Today, there is a tremendous pressure being exerted to silence any and all dissenting opinions. That means you! The fact that you believe marriage is between one man and one woman, that children should not be murdered by the millions in the womb, and that gender is not a social construct puts you at odds with the prevailing culture and out of step with their warped view of reality. The fact that you believe a 2000 year old document is inerrant, inspired, and totally sufficient makes you a neanderthal not worth reading or hearing.
But we must not be silent!
THE PROBLEM OF ACTIVISM
Activism teaches that you must shout your truth into the endless cacophony of societal voices until someone pays attention to you. This is not what Daniel did. He lived his life faithfully until he couldn’t. He went about his business until he was met with a choice: eat this food or obey your God. This is how we must live as well.
Like Daniel and as salt and light in this world, God has not called us to activism. Our goal is not picketing, rioting, or screaming on street corners. Our goal is to live peaceful and quiet lives in front of kings, governors, and in society (1 Tim. 2:1-3). That is until we can’t. Like Daniel, we are not called to retreat and we are not called to activism. And, like Daniel, there may come a moment when the world is asking you to disobey your God. In that moment you need not cower or yell. Instead, share the truth with them and trust God with the consequences.
Sometimes, God will give you favor among the pagans and they will value your stand like Nebuchadnezzar does for Daniel. And at other times, they will hate you. We do not live for the praise of the world, we live for the praise and glory of God. No matter what happens: Be faithful, be humble, and do not be silent!
A LIFE UNCOVERED
Putting these three concepts together showcases a life that is uncovered for God. We do not run from culture but commit ourselves to faithfully participating, knowing God can use our efforts. When society asks us to compromise, we must reject the sort of cowardice that would render us silent and, we must also reject the sort of activism that would make us obnoxious. We simply obey God and trust Him with the consequences. To live a life uncovered is to be faithful in all circumstances, unwilling to disobey God, willing to dissent from man, and humble in all our ways.
Living this way exposes our hopes, calls the world to repent, and invites them to join us in glorifying God.
Let us live a life uncovered!
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. - Mt. 5:16
