[32] And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.
Daniel 11:31-32 KJV
Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were among the Jews taken into captivity for Israel’s transgression against the Lord, yet in Babylon, they feared the Lord and walked in His ways. As a result, they were exalted among all the wise men in Babylon. Yet in this, their knowledge of God kept them from the time of temptation that tried all Israel. King Nebuchadnezzar decided to make an image of gold and required that all worship the image, Daniel 3. It took the strength of the Lord to resist the king of Babylon to his face and courage to enter the fire with faith and come out victors over death.
We are in evil times where it seems the nations are raging, all with the intent to do an impossible thing: to remove the hold of the Lord over them, Psalm 2:1-4. The heat of this rage is often targeted at His anointed on the face of the earth. The scripture in Daniel 11 speaks of a man of wickedness who sought to corrupt those of the covenant with flatteries (lies). He was also given the power to afflict those who would resist him and to kill some of them. Yet the knowledge the righteous have of their God is their deliverance from this man of sin. This knowledge is the knowledge of His name, which is his nature and person, and the knowledge of His will and counsel.
The bible says the name of the Lord is a strong tower that provides security for the saints, Proverbs 18:10. The name of the Lord comes to us based on God’s revelation, as Moses received on the mountain. The LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Exodus 34:6. The understanding of this truth was a strong tower that gave Moses the boldness to approach God on behalf of the Children of Israel, even when they sinned. It was what gave Him the strength to lead the Children of Israel, knowing that God is faithful. This same knowledge gave Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego the courage to resist the threats of King Nebuchadnezzar. They had judged God faithful and knew that He is called a savior who is mighty to save, Isaiah 35:4, Zepheniah 3:17.
The knowledge of the counsel and the promise of God was also what kept them pure in Babylon. God’s counsel always stands, Isaiah 46:10, Isaiah 25:1. It is the knowledge of God’s will in all wisdom and Spiritual understanding that will make the difference between those deceived by flatteries by this man of sin who will seek to corrupt. Even when many fall due to these flatteries, those who have the knowledge of God’s counsel and promise in them will wait for the Lord in the hope of His promise. This time will try the faith and patience of the saints, yet those who overcome do so in faith and patience, Luke 21:19, Hebrews 6:12. They that know their God will hold on in faith to the promise that even though they are thrown into the fire, killed, tortured not a hair on their head shall be destroyed, Luke 21:18. They know that even in the time of trial, the Lord is able to sustain their souls in life and keep them from falling, presenting them perfect and complete before the Father, Jude 1:24.
This knowledge can only be communicated to a person in the secret place. For Moses, it was in the secret place of the rocks in the mountain, Exodus 34:6 , for Paul it was in Arabia, Galatians 1:15-17, for the three Hebrew Children and Daniel, it was way before the limelight in Babylon. For this reason, the Lord calls each one of us to the secret place, Songs of Solomon 2:10-17, Isaiah 26:20. It is here that we know the Lord intimately through the medium of His Word and His Spirit. Here there is a flow of life from Him to us that imprints strength that not even the fiercest of devils or men can take away. Here, we will see the bigger picture and rejoice exceedingly, knowing assuredly that in all things, the Lord reigns and sits as King over the earth forever.
Prayer for today: Lord Jesus thank you for your covenant to me that I will know Your name and know who You are. Lord I pray that I might be filled with the knowledge of Your will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That I might walk worthy of the You, My Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to Your glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness, which is my strength. Amen
0 Comments