Dedicated To The Men of God Who Preach the Word of God As It
Is To Men As They Are
"Preach The Word"
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DANIEL - WORTHY OF EULOGY
”And he said unto me, 0 Daniel, a man greatly beloved. .. " Daniel 10:11 How sweet were the
words of the angel when he spoke into the ears of Daniel - "0 Daniel, a man greatly beloved"
(Dan. 10:11). A messenger from the heavenly realm conveyed the glad tidings that he was a
man dear to the heart of God. This is an outstanding statement concerning God's servant.
Daniel was a man greatly beloved by the Lord. Is it not fitting therefore that we should take a
look at his character which received such a crowning honor while he was still in the flesh?
What was behind all of this heavenly eulogy? There was something in the character and
conduct of this man Daniel that made it possible for the angel to make such a statement. May
we take a look at the life of this man Daniel, and see something of the traits of character which
made him "a man greatly beloved."
I. A MAN OF PURPOSE
It is most probable that Daniel had the inestimable blessing of a good home and Godly
parents. No doubt as a lad he responded to the Godly teaching of his parents, and while very
young yielded himself to God. What anguish of heart must have been his while in his teens to
be torn from home and country and carried to Babylon. But he purposed in his heart that he
would not defile himself, not only with "the king's meat," but with anything else that would stain
his Godly life and character. In his new surroundings, he soon made known the God whom he
served. Daniel, obedient to God and His Word, determined to be separated unto God. Knowing
the Levitical Law, he would not eat meat sacrificed to idols. Refusing to do this, he was risking
his life. But neither the fury nor favor of men could turn him aside. Cost what it may, he would
stand true to God. His stand encouraged others to join him in his holy determination. As they
stood by their purpose firm, God honored them. Every child of God should have a single
purpose as Daniel did. What was that purpose? Not to defile himself. This always honors God
and gets His blessing. Have you a purpose? Why not?
II. A MAN OF PRAYER
This was the secret of his piety as well as the strength of his purpose. Praying Christians are
Godly Christians and strong Christians. In the second chapter of Daniel, we find him in
difficulties. The king had asked the wise men to describe and interpret a dream. Failing to do
so, they were condemned to death. Daniel was not counted with one of the wise men when
they went before the king, but was included in their class, as well as in their punishment. He
petitioned the king to give him time to reveal and interpret the dream. It being granted, he
called his companions, and together they held a prayer meeting. Daniel's faith in God is
remarkable, and puts to shame the feeble faith of many Christians in this highly favored period
of grace. Daniel revealed the dream and gave its interpretation, and was awarded by the king
to a place of authority. Daniel's life was full of prayer. He had set times for devotions. Three
times a day, he prayed, and gave thanks before His God (6:10). What was it that made his
public life so strong and stalwart, so pure and holy? It was because his hidden life was
prayerful and devout. Prayer makes a Christian what he ought to be. Education doesn't. Prayer
brings God into a life in an unusual way where the soul experiences the richness and fullness
of heaven's affinity. God forgive us for being so weak when the Church of Jesus Christ needs
strong stalwart Christians who can stand and "having done all to stand" (Eph. 6:13).
III. A MAN OF PRAISE
When God answered the prayer of the four who prayed together, Daniel did not rush from the
prayer meeting to tell the king, but he stopped and gave thanks to God for revealing the dream
and the interpretation. He said, "I thank thee, and praise thee, 0 thou God of my fathers, who
hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of
thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king's matter" (2:23). Daniel gave praise to
God, and was careful to give Him all the glory. Godliness and humility go hand in hand. Daniel
took his place low before the Lord. God met him in his need because of his piety and humility.
IV. A MAN WHO WAS PERSECUTED
Every devoted servant of the Lord must be prepared to be misunderstood and misjudged. This
so often means suffering and persecution. The reason for man's hatred of Daniel was his
everincreasing promotion by the rulers he served. Crafty and wicked councils were held to hurl
him from his exalted position. Behind it all was Satan himself. The devil was determined to get
this loyal servant of God out of the way. What we need to see here is that Daniel was
victorious in the face of persecution. How do we as Christians stand when persecution comes?
Do we fight back and get embittered? Or, do we just stand true to the Lord? Daniel never
expected justice in persecution. All he experienced was legalized injustice. Prejudice and
frenzy are incapable of weighing evidence. That Christian who receives grace and strength
from God will be able to demonstrate pardon and peace when men do their worst. Persecution
never hinders from being Godly.
V. A MAN OF POWER
Lack of prayer means lack of power. Because Daniel was prayerful, he was powerful. So
powerful was his witness that when the world and his enemies gave their testimony concerning
his character and conduct, they were compelled to say, "We shall not fmd any occasion
against this Daniel, except we fmd it against him concerning the law of his God." The world
was united against him, and the princes influenced the king to pass a law that if anyone prayed
to the God of heaven within 30 days he should be fed to the lions. Daniel kept on doing what
he was accustomed to doing. He pursued the path of prayer, and although the princes had
influence with the king to send him into the den of lions, yet Daniel had power to prevail with
God who shut the lions' mouths. Daniel's life was like the lives of the early apostles. They didn't
have much influence with men, but they had a lot of the power of God. Oh, to be like Daniel!
Sermon by Dr. Andrew Telford
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