Quiet Time Coaching Episode 477 | New Thing Series — Part 32 | “Daniel’s Humility” | Malcolm Cox

Introduction
A new thing! I’m Malcolm Cox. Welcome to your daily devotional podcast anchored in Isaiah 43:19: ‘See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.’

We are currently looking at God doing a new thing in the life of Daniel. Today we explore Daniel’s humility.

“Then the king commanded his palace master Ashpenaz to bring some of the Israelites of the royal family and of the nobility, young men without physical defect and handsome, versed in every branch of wisdom, endowed with knowledge and insight, and competent to serve in the king’s palace; they were to be taught the literature and language of the Chaldeans.” (Daniel 1:3-4 NRSV)

Daniel’s Humility

  • Daniel was from Jewish nobility, handsome, intelligent and well-educated (Daniel 1:3, 4). He had everything going for him.
  • In his homeland he was used to people treating him with deference and respect. People would ask his opinion on important matters.
  • Now, he has to start fight to survive.
    • “While once considered an expert, now Daniel’s Jewish education was considered obsolete; he would have to retool himself if he was to survive, much less distinguish himself among the young men in the palace.” Wide Awake, Erwin McManus
  • Daniel demonstrates humility in two ways
    • Firstly he shows himself adaptable to his new, less-than-ideal circumstances
    • Secondly, he looks to God for answers and not his own intelligence

“Then Daniel went to his home and informed his companions, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, and told them to seek mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions with the rest of the wise men of Babylon might not perish.” (Daniel 2:17-18 NRSV)

“The king said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to tell me the dream that I have seen and its interpretation?” Daniel answered the king, “No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or diviners can show to the king the mystery that the king is asking, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has disclosed to King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen at the end of days. Your dream and the visions of your head as you lay in bed were these:” (Daniel 2:26-28 NRSV)

For Reflection
Sometimes our background, education and gifts are eclipsed by circumstances beyond our control. Paul experienced this.

“Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.” (2 Corinthians 1:9 NIV11)

Has something ‘happened’ to you recently? Is there a possibility that God allowed it so that you ‘might not rely’ on yourself, but God?

Conclusion
I hope you find your heart, your life, your congregation and your world inspired by God doing a new thing. Until tomorrow, take care, and God bless.

Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.

Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: malcolm@malcolmcox.org.

If you’d like a copy of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, “How God grows His people”, sign up at my website: http://www.malcolmcox.org.

Please pass the link on, subscribe, leave a review.

“Carpe Diem” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/