Service Purpose

Daniel 1:17-21

To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. At the end of the time set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar.

Here, there is a service purpose. Even in the foreign land, there is service to be done. How many of you know that God could move you from one place to another at any time. I wonder how many of you would still serve him as faithfully as before if he did such. See, it is not about the location or even the condition of the people. It is about their service to God or the lack thereof. Matthew 7:19 speaks of every tree not bearing fruit "is hewn down and cast into the fire." Could God count on you to still serve him as did Job even if he feels like God should slay him; see him sitting on a dung heap outside the city gate only to speak of God to any who would listen. Look at Daniel, in this situation, still talking about God. Can God count on you to be faithful to him like that? Or will you forget about him in the good times and in the times of plenty like most people only to remember the Lord once he has moved you to a different setting and level of provision. This is like spiritual care in the ICU. The people of Israel's state was very critical. Is it not wonderful that even in all your stuff and all your mess, God still knows where you are. He knows what you have been up to like the disciple of John 1:48 before he even called you from under the fig tree.

Imagine going from a place of no service where you cannot serve God as you wish to being called into a place that encourages service to him. What would you do if you were in such a situation. I know what Daniel did. Look closer at the text. This was a test to see if Daniel and his friends could still serve God no matter where they were and no matter what happened. Some of us have the wrong response to everything that happens. Some sit down. Others hang their harps on the willows. Still others mourn when God has called for a time of national service to him after years of providing none. See, some of us are so hung up on the details that we cannot even offer to him our reasonable service. Offering the sacrifice of praise continually is considered service, much less what is unreasonable as Daniel did.

Sometimes God must move you from your homeland to another strange land because you did not know how to serve God, nor did you want to while there. In this strange land among people who do not talk or look like you, you must learn to serve him as you should. Only then, can he allow you to return. This is why the Babylonians commanded the captives to praise God as they should have all along in Psalm 137:2. These words provoked such national mourning and repentance in a strange land. They are not merely taunts. Here are instructions on how to return to what was lost and what was had before. Has it ever occurred to you that had it not been for King Nebuchadnezzar following the hand of the Lord from afar, a strange land, and the temple of his god, we would never have heard of Daniel. Already we know two things from this text. King Nebuchadnezzar's god demanded service and treasure. Everything from the children, the king, and the vessels of God's service were sadly not treasured in the homeland of Israel. In this strange land, both have higher value. See, they are national treasures to be kept and used. This is why it is important to gain a more complete picture from the Lord of what is happening. Otherwise, you will be tempted to not handle the situation rightly.

The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king's service. In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom. And Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.

In as much as Daniel was faithful, he was blessed with the spiritual vision. The same spiritual vision the prince of the eunuchs was given, Daniel also obtained. For his faithfulness and testimony, God blessed him more than any other. God caused whatever these Hebrew children saw or heard to make sense to them. Not only did it make sense, he also gave them wisdom and understanding of not only the natural but also the supernatural. See, God puts the super on the natural. This is why identification with Christ is total, rather than a sometimes service as Romans 12:1 indicates. If such is required of man to rule is not so much more required of Christ. He also fits us to be a nation of kings and priests unto himself in Revelation 1:6. John 6:56 says that those "who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them." All this is a super-spiritual way of saying that if he calls us, he will also train us. The Holy Spirit is the teacher, the understanding, and the wisdom of God. In Joel 2:28, God promises to "pour out [his] Spirit on all flesh;" the old and young alike will have visions and dreams.

God is our overseer. His life is ours. As we share in his exaltation and his blessings, so we also share in his humanity and his trials. We share these until the life of Christ be fully formed in us for the purpose of his kingdom according to Galatians 4:19. Hebrews 12:7-8 says we should "endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?" Discipline is more than just taking the children to the woodshed and cutting a switch to beat their tails. God is not the neglectful earthly father you knew nor yet the one who came home drunk and beat you. We share his life, his death, and his resurrection until the Son be fully formed in us. Somebody shout, 'this is a process.' So, look what became of the Hebrew children. We see that in the end, Heavenly and earthly obedience yielded great exaltation and rewards from both God and man. Shout 'who is your master today.' These young men went from what is the matter to who is your master. Only God can bring about the transition.