In Part 1 of this two-part teaching, I shared three ways Daniel and his associates were tested as captives in Babylon, and considered how those tests parallel tests we experience as disciples navigating our modern-day Babylon. Here are three more tests in the book of Daniel that parallel our own.
Speaking truth. In Part 1, Nebuchadnezzar had a dream, and Daniel trusted God to show him the dream and its interpretation. When Nebuchadnezzar had another troubling dream, he knew who to call immediately. To Daniel’s dismay, the interpretation God gave him was extremely unfavorable to the king, prophesying his losing his mind and wandering in the wilderness like a beast.
This tyrant was known to kill servants for any reason or no reason. Daniel could have left things out or watered down the interpretation. But with respect and humility, Daniel shared God’s revelation fully and clearly. Daniel passed the prophet’s test, at the risk of his life. His words came true precisely. After wandering about like a crazy, wild animal, Nebuchadnezzar’s sanity was restored, and he returned to praise Almighty God, the God of Daniel.
In our very hostile political environment, this is a tough one. Christians are told that worshiping God in the church is allowable (except if the government tries to shut the churches down because of an epidemic!). But political correctness disallows us to speak openly about the exclusivity of Christ, the crippling reality of sin, the biblical definition of marriage, or the sacredness of life from God’s perspective. We run the risk of being outcasts, being persecuted, or being shouted down and insulted. Cancelled.
Jesus told us this would happen. His people rejected him and executed him on a tree without a proper trial. He told his disciples that they would be hated as he was hated. I we call ourselves disciples, this is true for us as well. Our test is to continue to speak very clearly on matters of justice, righteousness, salvation, and mercy. We represent his kingdom and his gospel and accept whatever consequences may come. We courageously use our voices, knowing that the truth and power of Jesus is working through us.
Integrity. Belshazzar was in some ways more perverse and despicable than his predecessor Nebuchadnezzar. He was feasting and drinking with his friends when a disembodied hand appeared and wrote an indecipherable message on the palace wall. He called Daniel and spoke flattering words, promising that Daniel would be “clothed in purple, have a gold chain around his neck, and have the third highest position in the kingdom” (5:7) if Daniel could read the message. Daniel again spoke truth to power and declined the king’s gifts, saying, “You may keep your gifts and give your rewards to someone else” (5:17). Daniel passed the test, the temptation to seek wealth, power, or fame at the cost of his integrity.
When we speak for God, must not allow ourselves to be bought for a price to change God’s message. We, like Daniel, must be satisfied with faithfully executing God’s assignment. This is a very personal test; it goes right to the heart of who we are in Christ. We follow the ways of Christ whether anyone is watching or rewarding us for it. To pass the many tests of integrity that come, we must never look for moral shortcuts, intentionally deceive or cheat, or make excuses when we fall short of God’s standards. We don’t exploit others for our own gain. This testing happens nearly every day, throughout our entire lives.
Discipline. Daniel kept the holy habit of praying to God three times a day. Knowing this, jealous rivals on the king’s staff convinced the king to forbid prayer to anyone but himself. The consequence for disobeying this order was to be thrown to the lions. Daniel, hearing this, went to his room and prayed as usual.* When he was thrown into the lions’ den, they did him no harm. He testified, “My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths; and they haven’t harmed me, for I was found innocent before him” (6:22). Daniel passed the test, keeping his spiritual disciplines in place even under threat of death.
There are as many ways to practice spiritual disciplines as there are worshipers. The test here is to be consistent and diligent in whatever personal convictions we hold. We ask ourselves, What is important to me in my devotion to Christ? What will cause me to grow and bear fruit? For some, it may be very simple and unstructured. Others are stricter and more regimented. We aren’t to judge one another’s choices regarding these disciplines. But we are to honor God daily with our own, and not be intimidated or pressured to abandon them.
I hope my analysis of Daniel’s tests and ours can be useful and relevant to you as you examine your walk with God during these turbulent days of testing in our world.
*I wrote a blog in 2019 on Daniel’s habit of prayer called “As Usual”:
