|
Comment List
|
|
|
What amazes me is how mealy mouthed some leaders can be. This king actually wanted Daniel to be safe... but becaue of peer pressure he put Daniel in the lion's den. That amazes me.... Leaders need to be leaders regardless of their popularity.
Now to the other thought.... Daniels testimony was such that the king knew that Daniel trusted God and people may disagree with a devout Christian... and may not even like for him to be an influence.... but let a tragedy happen and the child of God who has stood firm on his faith will be one of the first people that others will look to!
We need to be more like Daniel and determine in our hearts and in our decisions to walk with God no matter what and quit this mealy mouthed service to God with excuses like... well I am not perfect and I know I have a long way to go... as if that in a way justifies our own inadequacies... and just start trusting God no matter what with out excuse and without exception... it is a lot easier to do than we think!
lets become Daniels in our communities!
><>
2006-04-28 09:48:51 Posted by Bob (bh@sbgm.org)
|
I enjoyed your scriptures on Daniel....As Bob stated, we all need to become Daniels....God will take care of us, as we are the children of the Most High God...Trust and lean on Him, He is our Heavenly Father.....Bless you Mel, have a great and wonderful day......In His Service....
2006-04-28 11:13:50 Posted by Lois ()
|
Bob, I appreciate your comment, but disagree with characterizing the reason that Darius complied with his decree. Certainly, what you say could have been the case, but not with certainty. The leaders of the day have similar problems of complying with the law. Where the law does not dictate their actions, there is more room to judge what they do.
Darius was certainly foolish, but I do not think of him as wishing harm on Daniel. That is personal, but based well enough. I see in our day similar problems with our President. There are things that he must do that he may not agree with, but it is his duty to do so. There is an aspect of what to obey and what not to obey, and Daniel chose what his heart directed him to do, which was to serve God as he saw it. Darius obeyed his decree, whether out of duty or peer pressure, I cannot say for sure.
God will take care of us, but remember the attitude of Daniel's three friends? "But even if he should not..."
That is the attitude.
Thanks for all of the comments.
Be Blessed,
2006-04-28 15:26:59 Posted by Mel ()
|
Lois,
Sorry, but that thanks was also meant to be directed to you as well, although that may not have been clear.
In Truth,
Mel
2006-04-28 15:29:48 Posted by Mel ()
|
You wrote...
Darius was certainly foolish, but I do not think of him as wishing harm on Daniel. That is personal, but based well enough. I see in our day similar problems with our President. There are things that he must do that he may not agree with, but it is his duty to do so. There is an aspect of what to obey and what not to obey, and Daniel chose what his heart directed him to do, which was to serve God as he saw it. Darius obeyed his decree, whether out of duty or peer pressure, I cannot say for sure.
If you read the account in Daniel... Darius was proud of Daniel... he was tricked into signing that decree in the first place and he had no idea that the decree was set up to trap Daniel. That is the only reason it existed and Daruis had no part of that. He even tried to get Daniel set free.
The problem that I was alluding to is this... he was King. He could do whatever he wanted to do. He bowed to peer pressure and did not have to. There is a big difference in what is duty that is dictated by law which our President is under in much of what he does... and Daruis' position. When Darius was put into the Den.... go look at what darius did.. he fasted.
When Daniel came outof the den look and see what darius did... he cast Daniel's accusors into the lions den. He DID NOT have to do what he did to Daniel but for whatever reason did not hae the backbone to exercise his own authority as king and say No.
That was my point and today preachers and laypeople (as well as politicians) are as interested in what people think as they are how they use the authority that is theirs (or ours to include myself) in that analogy.
><>
2006-04-28 16:49:49 Posted by Bob ()
|
Bob,
I say that Darius was foolish in that he was tricked into the decree, as you said, and I read those scriptures the same way.
As a person, you or I or anyone else, we are advised, commanded or warned to let our "Yes be yes and our no be no." As a ruler, this is even more evident. If as a ruler, you say you are going to do one thing, but you do another, you undermine your authority. If the ruler's word means nothing, who will willingly follow?
That is the crux of my point. I do not see that Darius had the same leeway that you see him to have. Politicians are always breaking their word. That is the problem I have with Politicians. A Statesman says what he means and means what he says. Putting it that way, it is much easier to keep your word and earn the respect, if not the agreement, of those that you rule over.
I think that when the kings of old said that they ruled by divine appointment, they were correct. When they were overthrown, sometimes violently, that was also by divine decree. I look at the rulers in the Old Testament, and I get the impression that rulers who's word becomes worthless are likely to fall. I don't think that is limited to the rulers of God's people.
Darius did want to help Daniel. I agree with you there as well. I just don't characterize his actions with being "mealy mouthed" but quite the opposite. He stuck to what he said, even though it was contrary to what he desired to do.
That takes backbone, in my humble opinion. He looked for a way out, but he had been painted into the corner by his own foolishness. I see what he did as the best he could in the situation. There are analogies in our life, where to do the right thing, we are forced to go back on our word. At that point, I think our best intention is invalidated.
Just my read on truth. I don't see it as a matter of power and not being willing to use it. I see it as integrity.
By the way, I do consider your counsel good and sound. I do not see the facts quite the same as you do.
In Christ,
Mel
2006-04-28 22:00:20 Posted by Mel ()
|
Good point. Darius stood by the decree that he signed... and the one item that we both overlooked is God's plan and purpose in all of this as well... You are a blessing!
Keep on Keeping on!
><>
2006-04-29 07:27:55 Posted by Bob ()
|
And your point that it was according to God's plan is probably the most relevant point of all. The rest of it is just noise in comparison.
Thanks Brother,
Mel
2006-04-29 15:18:36 Posted by Mel ()
|
|
You must be logged in to leave a comment.
|
|
|
