DANIEL 2:12-23 THE MAN OF GOD

Written by , Rector of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, Richmond, Virginia
 
¹³ So the decree was issued to put the wise men to death, and men were sent to look for Daniel and his friends to put them to death. ¹⁴ When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, had gone out to put to death the wise men of Babylon, Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact. ¹⁵ He asked the king’s officer, “Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?” Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel.

¹⁶ At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him. ¹⁷ Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. ¹⁸ He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

¹⁹ During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven ²⁰ and said: “Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. ²¹ He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. ²² He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him. ²³ I thank and praise you, O God of my fathers: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king.”

The man of God knows where to turn in the face of danger and devastation. The response of the man of the world is self-preservation in the form of escape. Daniel the Prophet speaks with wisdom and tact to his would-be executioner. From him, Daniel goes to the King who in anger had decreed the prophet’s death. He truly exhibits a peace that passes human understanding. It is a peace that comes only from a steadfast faith in God as the sovereign and loving God of all creation. In his truly godly response, Daniel gathers the community and urges prayer, not for their deliverance from Nebucchadnezzar, but “to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery.” The man of God goes beyond the surface issue of self-preservation and gets to the root of the problem.

How was Daniel able to respond in such a way under the circumstances? It all started back when Daniel and his friends decided to trust their lives to God rather than the king when it came to their physical wellbeing. The man of God is one who has dedicated every aspect of his life to God and lives in constant and conscious dependence upon God. He doesn’t wear God as a talisman that he can grasp when he gets in a difficult situation or all else fails. The one who walks with God does not have to go looking for him or pray that God will show up in his time of need.

To be a “man of God” (male or female), is a choice. God’s indwelling Spirit is available to us through baptism, but we must consciously give over control of our lives. The first step of the process is repentance, which is a turning away from our way and the way of the world and turning toward God’s way. Like Daniel, we must choose to have all our appetites filled by God. Begin today. Pick your favorite appetite and trust God to fulfill it according to his perfect will.

Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom every family in heaven and earth is named, grant that I might be strengthened with might by his Holy Spirit, that, Christ dwelling in my heart by faith, I may be filled with all the fullness of God. Amen. (modified from BCP, p. 311)

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