Daily Power-up: Daniel 1:8
8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
Personal Reflection: Daniel
This week I’m in the book of Daniel. His story is one of drama and dreams, miracles and God’s sovereignty. At perhaps 15 this young man was torn from his parents, his home, his country, his people. All was lost to him except for his three Jewish friends. Perhaps he grew up with them; perhaps he became acquainted with them in Babylon. These young men had no hope that they would ever see their homeland or families again. But in each other they found support and comfort as together they chose to believe God in the midst of their captivity. They ‘purposed in their heart not to defile themselves.’ One can read behind their story homes of God-believing parents.
It is tragic that such Godly young men, among the finest of Israel, were stripped of their hope to marry and have children. Even though they were elevated among the Israelites to be educated in Babylonian schools & language, this must have been another very painful reminder that they were still captives.
During this month when our focus is on fathers, why include Daniel? Because I keep thinking of that final blow, on top of so many others, that he was denied the choice to be a husband or a father. Because I have a tenderness for those who would like to have had that one person--their best friend--to walk with them through life. I have a tenderness for those who want children but can’t. I have walked in similar shoes. I assumed I would probably not marry; for some years I thought I would never have children. My heart is touched when others go through these losses. So Daniel’s story pokes at that old wound. In this life we know we don’t always get what our hearts desire. Yet through the loss of all he valued, we see that Daniel’s choice to continue to trust God remained. And like Job, no matter what, nothing could separate him from his Father.
In Daniel’s losses I see glimpses of God’s larger purpose for him. Maybe because and through these losses Daniel was drawn even closer to his Comforter God. You might say Daniel ‘parented’ Nebuchadnezzar into accepting God as his Lord. How about his ‘parenting’ influence on King Darius? He no doubt influenced others like the governors and satraps. In spite of their jealous actions, Daniel’s response combined with God’s deliverance must have been powerful evidence of a God of greater power than theirs. He seemed to ‘parent’ or pastor everyone in his Babylonian world. Daniel’s reputation of wisdom, knowledge and access to the sovereign Lord was still well known many years later by Belshazzar’s wife when the king sought to know the meaning of words written on the wall in his palace. God used Daniel in mighty ways as his evangelistic spokesman in Babylon.
Like Daniel, life often doesn’t turn out the way we hope. Perhaps you or someone you know has grieved the loss of parenthood or a spouse. How do we respond when our dreams aren’t met? Daniel didn’t dwell on the ‘what ifs’, but purposed in his heart to remain true to his heavenly Father. No compromises. No self-pity. Instead we see a thankful heart often lifted in praise. We see him keeping God as THE central focus of his life. We see him receiving love, comfort, assurance and even some angelic visits through his continual prayers, which he would not forfeit even at the risk of death. And Daniel used his influence to be God’s voice in a foreign land to people God wanted to save. I pray that I will purpose in my heart to:
Dare to be a Daniel;
Dare to stand alone!
Dare to have a purpose firm!
Dare to make it known.
Shari Ferrier
feels joy & gratitude that God has blessed her with a loving husband and several children and grandchildren born in her heart.
Bible in a Year: Proverbs 16-18
This Bible reading plan explores The Word based on the chronological order in which it was written, and is unrelated to the daily character devotions.
The Word of Promise audio Bible is used by permission. For more information and to purchase the complete audio Bible go to https://www.wordofpromiseapp.com/.
Proverbs 16
Wisdom Is Better Than Gold
1 The preparations of the heart belong to man,
But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
But the Lord weighs the spirits.
3 Commit your works to the Lord,
And your thoughts will be established.
4 The Lord has made all for Himself,
Yes, even the wicked for the day of doom.
5 Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord;
Though they join forces, none will go unpunished.
6 In mercy and truth
Atonement is provided for iniquity;
And by the fear of the Lord one departs from evil.
7 When a man’s ways please the Lord,
He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 Better is a little with righteousness,
Than vast revenues without justice.
9 A man’s heart plans his way,
But the Lord directs his steps.
10 Divination is on the lips of the king;
His mouth must not transgress in judgment.
11 Honest weights and scales are the Lord’s;
All the weights in the bag are His work.
12 It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness,
For a throne is established by righteousness.
13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings,
And they love him who speaks what is right.
14 As messengers of death is the king’s wrath,
But a wise man will appease it.
15 In the light of the king’s face is life,
And his favor is like a cloud of the latter rain.
16 How much better to get wisdom than gold!
And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil;
He who keeps his way preserves his soul.
18 Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before a fall.
19 Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly,
Than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20 He who heeds the word wisely will find good,
And whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he.
21 The wise in heart will be called prudent,
And sweetness of the lips increases learning.
22 Understanding is a wellspring of life to him who has it.
But the correction of fools is folly.
23 The heart of the wise teaches his mouth,
And adds learning to his lips.
24 Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,
Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.
25 There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.
26 The person who labors, labors for himself,
For his hungry mouth drives him on.
27 An ungodly man digs up evil,
And it is on his lips like a burning fire.
28 A perverse man sows strife,
And a whisperer separates the best of friends.
29 A violent man entices his neighbor,
And leads him in a way that is not good.
30 He winks his eye to devise perverse things;
He purses his lips and brings about evil.
31 The silver-haired head is a crown of glory,
If it is found in the way of righteousness.
32 He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
33 The lot is cast into the lap,
But its every decision is from the Lord.
Proverbs 17
The Lord Tests Hearts
1 Better is a dry morsel with quietness,
Than a house full of feasting with strife.
2 A wise servant will rule over a son who causes shame,
And will share an inheritance among the brothers.
3 The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,
But the Lord tests the hearts.
4 An evildoer gives heed to false lips;
A liar listens eagerly to a spiteful tongue.
5 He who mocks the poor reproaches his Maker;
He who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.
6 Children’s children are the crown of old men,
And the glory of children is their father.
7 Excellent speech is not becoming to a fool,
Much less lying lips to a prince.
8 A present is a precious stone in the eyes of its possessor;
Wherever he turns, he prospers.
9 He who covers a transgression seeks love,
But he who repeats a matter separates friends.
10 Rebuke is more effective for a wise man
Than a hundred blows on a fool.
11 An evil man seeks only rebellion;
Therefore a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12 Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs,
Rather than a fool in his folly.
13 Whoever rewards evil for good,
Evil will not depart from his house.
14 The beginning of strife is like releasing water;
Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts.
15 He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just,
Both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord.
16 Why is there in the hand of a fool the purchase price of wisdom,
Since he has no heart for it?
17 A friend loves at all times,
And a brother is born for adversity.
18 A man devoid of understanding shakes hands in a pledge,
And becomes surety for his friend.
19 He who loves transgression loves strife,
And he who exalts his gate seeks destruction.
20 He who has a deceitful heart finds no good,
And he who has a perverse tongue falls into evil.
21 He who begets a scoffer does so to his sorrow,
And the father of a fool has no joy.
22 A merry heart does good, like medicine,
But a broken spirit dries the bones.
23 A wicked man accepts a bribe behind the back
To pervert the ways of justice.
24 Wisdom is in the sight of him who has understanding,
But the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
25 A foolish son is a grief to his father,
And bitterness to her who bore him.
26 Also, to punish the righteous is not good,
Nor to strike princes for their uprightness.
27 He who has knowledge spares his words,
And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.
28 Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace;
When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.
Proverbs 18
The Name of the Lord Is a Strong Tower
1 A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire;
He rages against all wise judgment.
2 A fool has no delight in understanding,
But in expressing his own heart.
3 When the wicked comes, contempt comes also;
And with dishonor comes reproach.
4 The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters;
The wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook.
5 It is not good to show partiality to the wicked,
Or to overthrow the righteous in judgment.
6 A fool’s lips enter into contention,
And his mouth calls for blows.
7 A fool’s mouth is his destruction,
And his lips are the snare of his soul.
8 The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles,
And they go down into the inmost body.
9 He who is slothful in his work
Is a brother to him who is a great destroyer.
10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
The righteous run to it and are safe.
11 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city,
And like a high wall in his own esteem.
12 Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty,
And before honor is humility.
13 He who answers a matter before he hears it,
It is folly and shame to him.
14 The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness,
But who can bear a broken spirit?
15 The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge,
And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16 A man’s gift makes room for him,
And brings him before great men.
17 The first one to plead his cause seems right,
Until his neighbor comes and examines him.
18 Casting lots causes contentions to cease,
And keeps the mighty apart.
19 A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city,
And contentions are like the bars of a castle.
20 A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth;
From the produce of his lips he shall be filled.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit.
22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing,
And obtains favor from the Lord.
23 The poor man uses entreaties,
But the rich answers roughly.
24 A man who has friends must himself be friendly,
But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.