The Grace of Humility & the Arrogance of Pride.

The Grace of Humility & the Arrogance of Pride.

Spurgeon tells the story about a Hiker who traveled all over the over the Alps across Europe carrying his trusty walking stick. Eventually he rests and whilst resting he asks us to imagine his walking stick boasting that, “I am the most traveled walking stick in creation! I have smitten the craggy brows of the Alps and bathed myself in the Nile.” One overhearing the comments replied, “but wherever you have gone you have been carried by a power beyond yourself.” Is this not the case with us when tempted to boast of our experience, “remember that in the paths of peace he has gone nowhere except as the Lord’s hand has borne him onward. He has been nothing but a staff in God’s hands, and while he should be grateful he should never be proud.”

Peter says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Whilst reading the book of Daniel that verse has struck me again and again.

“God opposes the proud...” - Proud Nebuchadnezzar. Proud Belshazzar; proud Darius the Mede, all of whom were tempted to believe that they had made it by their own power and effort only to be humbled by Almighty God and to discover, in the words of Nebuchadnezzar that: “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble. “(Daniel 4:37).

“...but gives grace to the humble.” - Humble Daniel; humble Shadrach; Meshach and Abednego were given great grace as is evident throughout the book in the very powerful way in miraculous deliverance; and significant positions of influence in the Babylonian empire.

And to capture the humility of the situation consider this. Daniel means, “God is my Judge” and his name was changed to “Belteshazzar” meaning “Lady protect the king”; Hananiah means “God has been gracious” and it is changed to Shadrach meaning, “I am very fearful”; Mishael whose name means, “Who is what God is?” is changed to Meshach meaning, “I am of little account”, and Azariah, whose name means “The Lord has helped” was changed to Abednego meaning “Servant of the shining one” [i.e. the god Nebo]).

I. Daniel was a great man of God!

His name means “God is my judge”. He was taken into exile with Jehoiakim in 605BC, which and was a member of the royal family as Dan 1:3 makes clear.

He was a contemporary of Jeremiah back in Jerusalem (Jerusalem was finally conquered in 586 BC) and Ezekiel who was with him in exile (arriving as a deported young priest with Jehoichin in 597 BC) in Babylon, but unlike Ezekiel, most of Daniel’s time was spent in the King’s service not among the exiled Jews. Ezekiel knew of Daniel but it is not clear that he personally knew him - see Ezekiel reference to Daniel’s exemplary life (cf. Ezek. 14:14, 20; Ezek. 28:30). His book spans 605 BC until the first year of Cyrus reign in 536 BC (see Dan 1:21).

The angels of God refer to him as “highly esteemed” Highly esteemed in Heaven and a highly admired government official on earth who rose to prominence under a greatly admired but equally greatly fear, arrogant King who wasn’t averse to seeking self-worship, which if refused resulted in almost certain death! He also became second in the Kingdom under Darius the Mede. He was indeed amazingly powerful and influential.

however Daniel also aroused suspicion and hostility on the part of his envious enemies. People he worked with became jealous, trying to get rid of him and knowing that in one area he was incredibly vulnerable, in his adherence to and unbending loyalty to his God and his faith! He was known as a man of prayer and he prayed publicly, morning, noon and night and this was so crucial to help him face the challenge of this moment.

Let me illustrate - In one region of Africa, the first converts to Christianity were very diligent about praying. In fact, the believers each had their own special place outside the village where they went to pray in solitude. The villagers reached these “prayer rooms” by using their own private footpaths through the brush. When grass began to grow over one of these trails, it was evident that the person to whom it belonged was not praying very much.

Because these new Christians were concerned for each other’s spiritual welfare, a unique custom sprang up. When ever anyone noticed an overgrown “Prayer path,” he or she would go to the person and lovingly warn, “Friend, there’s grass on your path!” - RWD

There was grass on Daniel’s path and because of this Daniel had the strength to be faithful to God when the chips were down!

Daniel would not bow the knew to any man. He would “worship the Lord his God and serve him only.”(Luke 4:8).

This is evident on a number of occasions:

in his refusal to “defile himself with the royal food and wine”(Dan 1:8), the possible outcome of such defiance terrified the royal servant but not Daniel!

in his resolve to pray and seek “mercy” from the God of Heaven when Nebuchadnezzar’s command had gone out to execute all of the wise men of his kingdom because of their failure to repeat and interpret his dream - Dan 2:18.

in his bold declaration to Nebuchadnezzar that however great a king he was, as “king of kings.” he owed his throne and indeed his very life to the “God of heaven” who has “given you dominion and power and might and glory.”(Dan 2:37).

in his honest interpretation of the King’s dream which predicted his temporary madness and his challenge that the King should “renounce” his “sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue.” (Dan 4:27).

In his challenge to Belshazzar, Nebuchadnezzar’s son who Daniel plainly stated to his face had not “humbled” himself but had “instead..set yourself up against the Lord of heaven…you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways.” and as a result his life was to come to an abrupt end! “mene, mene, tekel, parsine” - “God numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end…You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting...Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.” (Dan 5:1-30). Somewhat surprisingly Daniel was made the third highest ruler in the Empire for this declaration, but Belshazzar was slain that very night and replaced by Darius the Mede who intended to make him second!.

And then there is perhaps the most famous incident in the life of Daniel in Daniel 6. The enemies of Daniel convinced the Darius, to write a rule saying that prayer can be made to no god except for the king. Once the rule was made however, Daniel continued praying and giving thanks to his God just like he always did. When he was caught, king Darius was in a dilemma, and he was forced to throw Daniel into the den of lions. The next morning, the king found Daniel alive. The lions had not harmed him and events turned on their head when those conspirators who sought to trap Daniel ended up being Lion’s meat!

Daniel’s faith in his God is what made him great in first place - “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.” (Dan 6:5)

Angels described Daniel as a man “highly esteemed”. Why because of his strong faith. Daniel epitomizes that “the people who know their God will be strong and do exploits"(Dan 11:32)

That’s why Daniel was given revelation. Daniel was given insight into the work of God in the affairs of men. How God would establish Kingdoms and bring them down again, by “a rock ...cut out, but not by human hands.”(Dan 2:34) that would bring down all of these kingdoms!

To Daniel was given a “vision of the Son of man”, Jesus coming to His Kingdom in great glory (Dan 7:13,14) a Dominion and a Kingdom that “is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed. “ He also saw 4 beasts (Babylon, Medes & Persians, Greece, Rome) - ‘The four great beasts are four kingdoms that will rise from the earth. But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever—yes, for ever and ever.’ (Dan 7:17,18). This in the end would lead to “the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be handed over to the saints, the people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.’ (Dan 7:28).

He saw the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the coming of the Messiah in chapter 9:25-27.

He was given a vision of a great war which Michael the Archangel said “I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come.” (Dan 10:1-14).

Also to Daniel was given knowledge of the general resurrection saying: “Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever..”(Dan 12:2-3).

II. Daniel was a Humble Man of God!

And yet this man of great integrity and faith was not perfect. Indeed it would be very easy to view Daniel’s bold exploits as examples not of a humble man but as an arrogant man, however this is to mistake faith and boldness for arrogance which it is not., as Daniel himself would say: “the people that know their God are strong and do exploits.”

Faith is the key to our description of Daniel as a Great Man of God but otherwise, like us he is all too human, so for example...

(a). He was aware of his limitations:

A man of huge intellectual and cognitive limitations - so when Nebuchadnezzar learned that Daniel would tell and interpret his dreams, Daniel made it clear - “No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries...“The great God has shown the king what will take place in the future. The dream is true and the interpretation is trustworthy.” ”(Dan 2:27,28,45).

His confidence was entirely in God. His words to King Nebuchadnezzar demonstrate this - No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, 28 but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries.

(b). He was aware of his sin:

His prayer shows this - His prayer of chapter 9 is an example of great humility as he “turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed: “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with all who love him and obey his commands, we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.”(Dan 9:3-6).

(c). He was aware of his weakness and fear:

He experienced great fear when Nebuchadnezzar explained his dream of the trees, we are told that “Daniel…was greatly perplexed for a time, and his thoughts terrified him.”(Dan 4:19).

Likewise on being shown visions of the future from the Angels of God, he experienced, trembling at the vision he saw and needing the comfort of their words “Do not be afraid, O man highly esteemed,...“Peace! Be strong now; be strong.” (Dan 10:19).

Yet in spite of this all too human, familiar response, this man of God would not back down, no matter what happened to him. Why? Because he was confident in God!

III. Daniel was a Confident in God!

Daniel has experienced the grace and power of God is so many ways...

He knew that God "had caused the official to show favor and sympathy” to him(Dan 1:9).

He knew that “God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.”(Dan 1;17).

He knew that God had answered prayer and brought him and his friends to the attention of Nebuchadnezzar and gave Daniel the ability to interpret dreams and to stand firm when faced with death for not denying their God.

He had seen how God had overruled Nebuchadnezzar’s intention to execute Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego for not bowing the knee to his image. And in spite of the fact that this great king had boasted: “what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?” (Dan 3:15) he was to discover that this was not the case for “one like the son of the gods was present with them in the fire and they came out safe and well.

He knew that God had changed the heart of Nebuchanezzar, compelling him to declare: “ there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries” (Dan 2:28) and later, “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries” “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.” (Dan 3:27-29).

Not only so, he knew that God had inspired Nebuchadnezzar to write letters throughout the Empire saying: “To the peoples, nations and men of every language, who live in all the world: May you prosper greatly! It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me. How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation to generation... ‘The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of men.’ ”(Dan 4:1-3,17)

And he knew that God opposes the proud bring them down in humility for after Nebuchadnezzar came through his temporary insanity caused by lycanthropy in which a person imagines themself to be some form of animal. Nebuchadnezzar coming out of that experience declared: “At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: “What have you done?...Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble. .(Dan 4:33-37)

He knew that God did exactly the same with Darius the Mede and Cyrus King of Persia - so that Darius again writing to the peoples of the Empire: “I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. “For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.” (Dan 6:26-27).

And of course he himself has been delivered from the lions den . And we have no grounds for thinking that he knew from the outset that rescue would be forthcoming. He was advanced in years, and there was no reason to suppose that God would intervene to spare his life again. Courage and steadfastness in faith motivated him to continue his walk with God.

Wow! This is what happens when a man or woman of God, humbles themselves and opens up to allow God to have His way and do His work.

This is what happens when we

Dare to be a Daniel Dare to stand alone Dare to have a purpose firm Dare to make it known

Standing by a purpose true Heeding God's command Honour them, the faithful few All hail to Daniel's band.

Hold the Gospel banner high On to vict'ry grand Satan and his hosts defy And shout for Daniel's band

God can do amazing things with the man or woman who is strong in faith, stands firm under pressure and determines to not defile himself in the world, standing boldly in faith!

Let’s follow his example and stay strong in what we believe, no matter what happens so that when we are judged, when our life is weighed in the balance, we are not found wanting!

Let us examine ourselves. Where is our confidence placed? Is it in humble confidence in God, not proud of ourselves and our attainment but proud of our God and what he is capable of doing?

“Dare to be a Daniel

Dare to stand alone

Dare to have a purpose firm

Dare to make it known.”