Lessons from Daniel 1
For many of us this 2024 has been a year of challenges and discouragement.
Daniel is a book about God’s people flourishing in the context of continual struggles. In chapter 1 we begin with the ransacking and exile of Jerusalem. From this tragedy, Daniel and his friends are taken into Babylonian courts to learn and to assimilate into Chaldean culture. Away from home and into captivity, what are these young men meant to make of this crisis?
In those moments Daniel 1:2 reminds us that not even crisis is outside of God’s control by saying, ‘and the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his (Nebuchadnezzar) hands…’ The one who was in control even in the midst of crisis was the Lord. Likewise in uncertain times in our lives it is right to remember that not even shifting times is outside the sovereignty of our God. The writer in Daniel is already encouraging readers to see God, even in the crisis.
In exile, Daniel and his friends are mandated to eat food from the king’s table. To eat from the king’s food is to proclaim allegiance to Nebuchadnezzar, but at the same time that food was the choice food, decadent and more nutritious than the food others would have. It would have been tempting just to take the best food and accept their new circumstances. Daniel and his friends instead opted to refuse the king’s food, as their allegiance was to God. The result was an inner flourishing that was beyond the expectations of even their captors. Even in the midst of brokenness, God’s sovereignty remains true.
There are many moments in our lives in which we feel like the circumstances around us are no longer comfortable. It can come in the form of a crisis, tragedy or just a world that changes in unexpected ways. In those periods of life, it may seem God is nowhere to be found. Daniel reminds us that even in the midst of our brokenness, His hand is present in our lives. It encourages us to seek God even the midst of trials and His faithfulness will reveal itself to us. If you are in a season of difficulty and trial, may I encourage you today, God’s hand is still on your life.
For even in exile, God is faithful.
但以理書 1 章的教訓
在我們當中有不少人，對2024 年來說是充滿挑戰及失望。
但以理書是有關神的子民雖在持續的逆境中掙扎、卻能開花結果。
第一章以耶路撒冷被洗劫及流亡開始。因這慘劫、但以理及他的友人被送入巴比倫宮𨑳去學習及容入迦勒底文化。身在異鄉、淪為俘虜、這批年青人究竟如何去面對這危機呢？
在這時候、一章二節提醒我們就算面臨危機仍有神掌管一切、「主將猶大王約雅敬交付尼布甲尼撒手。」原來就算身處危機、那掌管的是主。同樣地、當我們活在一個動盪不安的環境時、記著要處變不驚、因為任何環境都不出神權柄之外。但以理書作者在此已鼓勵讀者去仰望神、甚至是在危機中。
在流亡期間、但以理及他的友人規定要吃王的飲食。這意味要效忠尼布甲尼撒、同時、雖然那些是珍饈百味、卻是奢侈腐朽。但營養比一般為佳。本來這是一個很大的引誘、何不順其自然、接受這美酒佳餚、來得容易。但是、但以理及友人撰擇拒絕接受、以此表示效忠於神。結果是顯現出他們內在的茂盛、出乎俘虜了他們的主子意料之外。所以，就算在破碎的環境中、神的權柄真實無異。
人生於世、不時會遭遇到無可喘息的困難、當中包括危機、慘禍、或者是一些出乎意料之外改變了的世界。在那些時候、神似乎無影無踨。但是、但以理提醒了我們、神的手仍在掌控、甚至是當我們心感破碎的時候、他鼓勵我們在試練中去尋找神。祂將會顯現祂的信實。如你正處於困難和考驗的季節、讓我今天鼓勵你、神的手仍在掌權著你的生命。
就算是在流亡、神是信實。
