Daniel's choice

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

Daniel 1:8

Life is filled with choices. It’s a mixture of gifts and challenges. The book of Daniel is a great primer on how to successfully navigate significant challenges in life. Usually, Daniel is most remembered for surviving a trip to a lion’s den. By the way, that’s not a bad way to be remembered. But, there’s much more to Daniel than one event. Chapter one begins with an explanation of how Daniel is selected to serve the King of Babylon. He is chosen and carried away because of his appearance, intellect and potential to serve the Babylonian empire. It’s a pretty strong intro for a youngster. But, there’s more to Daniel than his leadership potential. At an early age, Daniel learned that character matters. Imagine the pressure of being in a strange place, receiving a new name and engaging in an intentional Babylonian enculturation process. In the midst of this new world, Daniel had the courage to say “no”. He based his decision on the conviction of his heart. It’s a defining moment in Daniel’s life and it’s an exemplary lesson for us today. Integrity rests on the congruence between conviction and behavior. Integrity requires us to possess enough resolve to be willing and able to say  “yes” and “no”. We respond to culture according to a heart that has been redeemed for God’s purposes and a mind that has been transformed by His Spirit rather than the pressures of the world around us. We have the benefit of watching how Daniel’s early choice helped him develop strong character that was required to face significant challenges later in his life. Regardless of our age, our godly choices contribute to the development of our character in the future.

Change of Heart

I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 

Ezekiel 36:26

In the context of the Old Testament prophet Ezekiel, this is a glimpse forward. Ezekiel contains words spoken by God to a group of people who have been exiled. Not surprisingly, there is a great deal of uncertainty about their present and their future. God’s judgment is fresh on their minds. The evidence of the judgment is visible on a daily basis. Yet, God promises restoration; a better day. It is a multi-faceted transformation, which according to God includes a new heart and a new spirit.  According to God's promise, a heart of flesh will replace a heart of stone. An obedient spirit will replace a disobedient one. Think about the change and the future orientation of God’s promise. If I describe a person's heart as cold or hard, what am I saying? If I describe someone as having a soft heart, what do I mean? It's not difficult for me to shift to a personal application. On this day, is my heart open to God or closed? Is my spirit contrary or contrite? Appropriately, God’s transformational power is described as “inside-out”. It begins with a heart transplant and becomes operational in our daily lives. My obedience is the evidence.

Unfair

“But you say, ‘The Lord’s way isn’t fair.’ Now listen, house of Israel: Is it My way that is unfair? Instead, isn’t it your ways that are unfair?”

Ezekiel 18:25

As I continue to move through the Old Testament, I am thankful for my decision to take time in each book. The reason? Otherwise, I might decide to skip Ezekiel and move on toward Daniel. After all, the first half of Daniel is much easier to read. But, it would be a shame to skip Ezekiel. Ezekiel has such a relevant message for today. Ezekiel exposes a widespread tendency. Why consider personal responsibility when it’s so easy to blame others? In Ezekiel’s day, the “house of Israel” accused God of being unfair. Things really haven’t changed much in the last two or three thousand years. Whether I am reading authors who argue against the existence of God or listening to complaints from believers, this tendency crops up. If God doesn’t behave the way I think He should, then I am not obligated to believe or trust. God’s response is worth considering. God tells Israel to take a look in the mirror. How does your perspective measure up? If I am bold enough to accuse God of being unjust, is it because my perspective is so much better? The God I believe in knows the future. I do not. The God I believe in sees into the hearts of all who live. I cannot. The God I believe in has gifted me with the very consciousness that allows me to consider fairness. Unfair? Let me think about it.  

Wait or Seek?

The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

Lamentations 3:25-26

Sounds good. But, should I “wait” for God or should I “seek” God? These verses in Lamentations illustrate a bit of the tension that I feel sometimes when I am in the midst of pain or difficulty. It is difficult to wait quietly when the world is crashing in. When my stress level escalates it seems that I want to find a way forward and experience some kind of relief. The sooner I find comfort, the better. The poetry of Lamentations is helpful. Recall that Lamentations describes the pain experienced in Jerusalem after God’s judgment. Lamentations 3 provides an oasis of hope in the midst of the lament. Though, at first glance, Lamentations 3:25-26 seems to send a bit of a mixed message, it’s really an affirmation of the same truth. In fact, I like the connection between what it means to “wait” for the Lord and what it means to “seek” the Lord. The two words are not really that far apart in principle. Both words remind me of a proper orientation during difficult times. “Waiting” has more to do with expectancy than passive resignation of hope. When I wait for the Lord, I begin to acknowledge that my life and my future is in His hands. That’s comforting to me. When I seek God, it helps me refocus my energy and my attention toward God and away from things that perpetuate a feeling of hopelessness. It is a reminder that God is my source of peace as well as perspective. Should I want for God or seek God? The answer is “yes”.

You can run but you cannot hide

Jerusalem has sinned greatly and so has become unclean. All who honored her despise her, for they have seen her nakedness; she herself groans and turns away.

Lamentations 1:8

The poetry of Lamentations describes God’s judgment on Jerusalem. It’s a view of the city after the fact. In the first chapter, Jerusalem is personified. She experiences isolation and despair and she speaks of her misery. The reason for her devastation is clear. Jerusalem has sinned greatly and God has judged her sinfulness. Judgment arrived by way of the armies of Babylon and now in the aftermath it’s time to lament. In the words of Lamentations 1:8, the city is portrayed as a woman who is shamefully exposed.  The judgment of God has brought about her humiliation before her neighbors. Those who had previously admired her now despise her. For Jerusalem, the destruction was so evident it was impossible to hide the consequences of sin. As I read Lamentations, it causes me to retrace the steps that led to the tragedy. Did the people in Jerusalem believe that it was possible to hide the impact of sinfulness from others and from God? I can’t help but have a flashback to Genesis 3:8. After Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they hid themselves from the presence of God. When God called out to Adam, he answered, “I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself”. Really, Adam, did you think you could hide from God? What are the implications for my life? It is futile to think that I am capable of hiding, covering or dressing up my sin in any way that would affect God’s perfect view of my life. His vision pierces through every attempt to hide. But, God does not intend to leave us naked and exposed. When we turn to Him, He wraps us in His grace. The only proper covering for my sin is found in God’s grace provided in Jesus.

Resting Place

They have forgotten their resting place

Jeremiah 50:6

Rest. It’s such a peaceful, soothing word. Think about it for a moment. When I meditate on “rest”, it makes me want to take a deep breath and exhale slowly. It’s a mental picture of relaxation. Now think about the opposite. It is a picture of being harried and hurried – running from here to there. It’s chasing but never catching. Jeremiah paints that picture for me. Jeremiah employs the familiar imagery of lost sheep. The sheep run from mountain to hill. They have followed shepherds who have led them astray. For me, it’s a reminder that we sometimes chase after empty promises. In Jeremiah’s day, the “shepherds” were notorious for leading the sheep astray. But, Jeremiah promises something different. In the midst of the words of judgment, Jeremiah describes a return to the Lord. That’s what catches my attention. It’s clear from the text that the people of Judah had forgotten God. But, Jeremiah 50:6 expresses it in a different way. The people had forgotten their resting place. I believe that refers to both place and person. They had forgotten that God is a resting place. When our busyness pushes God from our thoughts and our days, we forget our resting place. When we pursue other agendas that exclude knowing Him and the peace that God alone provides, we our “rest” deprived. When we listen to voices that tell us that we are too busy to rest in God, we are being led astray. I understand what it means to live a busy life. My calendar is full today. My “to do” list is significant. That’s all the more reason for me to take a deep breath in the midst of it all, exhale slowly and rest in God today.

Reshaped

But the jar that he was making from the clay became flawed in the potter’s hand, so he made it into another jar, as it seemed right for him to do.

Jeremiah 18:4

A quick review of the events that led to the challenging prophecies found in the book of Jeremiah reveals a number of “flaws” in God’s people. Like clay that is marred in the hands of a potter, change was necessary. Chief among those flaws was their attraction to idolatry and their rejection of God. Despite the warnings of Moses, the cycle of deliverance and punishment during the days of the “judges” and the consequences in their more recent past, the sin of idolatry had gained a foothold again and the situation in Judah was dire. Thus, the command to “Turn now, each from your evil way, and correct your ways and your deeds.” (v. 11). As I have reflected on the words of Jeremiah 18 this week, it’s easy for me to distill a personal message from the national description. Recently, I read an article by Christiane Caine about leadership and calling. In the article, Caine suggests “The gift that is on your life will destroy you if your character cannot sustain you”. During Jeremiah’s time, Judah seemed content with the status of begin “gifted” as the people of God without examining the implications of character that were required to sustain them on the right path. This is a flaw that is epidemic in modern culture. Our desire for the blessings of God (or the fame of leadership) can quickly circumvent our passion for the character of Christ. That brings me back to the potter. The potter made a vessel that seemed right for him to make. In modern terms we can see a parallel to Christian formation. The development of Christ-like character is the work of the Holy Spirit on the potter’s wheel of life. It is a dynamic process and frequently arduous. Sometimes, in order for the fingerprints of God to be evident, the hands of the Potter must work out the impurities of pride and selfishness. Sadly, the pressure applied by the hands of the Potter on my life and my character has been met with resistance on more than one occasion. God help me become the vessel that “seems right to You”.