Steady perseverance

The first word used to describe Daniel is “resolved”(1.8). From looking at the snapshots of his life given in his book, it seems like this was a prevailing characteristic throughout his entire life. He is resolved not to completely abandon his godly heritage by defiling himself with unclean food. He is resolved to speak truth, regardless of what it may cost him (4.19-27). He is resolved to be obedient to God, not wealth and power (5.17). He is resolved to live a righteous life (6.4). Finally, we see him resolved to pray openly to his God, even though he knows it means certain death. From his early adolescence to his 70’s or 80’s, Daniel lived a life determined to serve God and God alone. Through his unwillingness to waiver in his faith, he was plotted against and betrayed, but he was also richly blessed (1.17; 2.48; 5.29; 6.28), “greatly beloved” by God (9.25; 10.18), and two pagan kings proclaimed the sovereignty of the God over the entire world (4.34,35; 6.26,27).

Merriam-Webster defines resolved as reaching “a firm decision about something.” It is a concept seen in the lives of NT figures as well. Stephen (Acts 7), Paul (Acts 14.19,20; 21.13,14), Jesus (John 5.16,17; Luke 9.57-62) and all of his disciples (John 6.66-69) demonstrate a resolute (“marked by firm determination”) faith lived out in the midst of persecution. Application for us is far-reaching. So often we approach our faith based on circumstance and emotion. Our personal convictions waiver depending on the moment, and our passion for Christ is as fickle as the South Dakota weather or Big Island surf. According to the examples listed above, this is not to be the case. Our devotion to God and his law is to be our priority (singular), regardless of how we feel or what our circumstances entail (Eph. 6.14; Gal 5.1; 1 Cor 15.58). How does this play out in everyday life?

Have your “quiet time” with God every day, regardless of how you feel, what is happening at home, or what was on TV the night before. Stand up for Jesus at work when your coworkers bash Christianity for the umpteenth time. Limit yourself based on the conviction of the Holy Spirit (alcohol, TV, Pinterest, Facebook, swearing, etc.) even if you don’t want to. Show love to everyone. Living a resolute life is played out in the decisions that seem small in the moment, the ones that we are required to make countless times in a day. It is a life based on utter devotion to God, not because we understand everything that he asks of us, but because we know that he is good and ultimate truth is found only in his ways (Psalm 16.2,11).

The undefinable God revealed

The prophets make up nearly a 1/4 of the entire Bible.  They are described as "men of God" and his "servants."  They were ordinary men who were given specific calls by God that required radical obedience in the face of total social opposition.  Men like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Amos, etc. stood up against the evils of their nation and proclaimed "the word of the Lord" no matter how taboo their message was.  They primarily spoke against Israel's sin, pronounced utter judgment against Samaria and Jerusalem, and predicted the beautiful and merciful restoration that was to follow (and some that is still to come).  Because they were direct spokesmen for God himself, their words are his and, therefore, allow us to get an unparalleled glimpse into the character of God.  Below is a short, incomplete list of the glimpse we have been given:
 

• How people’s actions affect God – Ezekiel 6.9; Joel 2.18,19

• How God feels about his people – Isaiah 46.3,4; Ezek 16.8-14; Hosea 11.1-4,8,9
• How God treats the proud and humble – Isaiah 57.15; Ezek 17.24
• How God feels about people going to hell – Ezek 18.32; 33.11
• How God feels about the sin of his people – Ezek 16.15-34; ch 23; Jerermiah 44.22 (and 75% of all the prophets)
• God’s desire to lead his people in ways that are good – Isaiah 48.17-19; Ezek 34.11-16; Jer 44.3
• God’s foreknowledge of a person’s life – Jer 1.5
• What God delights in – Jer 9.23,24
• How God judges people – Jer 11.20
• God’s intimate knowledge of people – Jer 17.10
• God’s immensity and power – Isaiah 45.18; 51.15; 55.8,9; Jer 23.23; Amos 4.13; 5.8; 9.5,6; Nahum 1.3b-5
• God’s feelings about destroying his people – Isaiah 54.7,8; Jer 42.10
• God future plans for his people –Ezek 37.24; Hos 2.19,20; 14.4-9; Micah 7.18-20; Zephaniah 3.15-20 (and so much more)
• Why God causes people to suffer – Amos 4.6-11

Mediate on a passage or two.  Remember that this is not a commentary on God but his actual words.  God, our creator, has revealed himself to us in very specific ways and wants us to understand his character.  Take some time and get to know him.

Small adjustments to intracracies of life

The historical setting of Jeremiah is Judah on the brink of utter annihilation.  The Northern Kingdom had been obliterated 120 years prior, and Babylon is knocking on the gates of Jerusalem.  Jeremiah has been crying out for 20+ years that the judgment of God is at hand, yet the people’s hearts are hard, idolatry is rampant and social injustice is the norm.  In the midst of this utter rejection of God and his law at a heart level, God gives the people an ultimatum: Keep the sabbath holy, and I will restore the glory of King David to Israel.  Don’t, and I will utterly destroy Jerusalem.   He didn’t command them to tear down their altars to Baal, kill the false prophets and priests, and give all their greedy gains to the poor.  He simply tells them to honor the sabbath, and all destruction will be avoided.  What the…?

One explanation: God, in his mercy and love, wanted to give them a command that was small and measurable, a place for their repentance to start.  He understood that complete change wouldn’t take place overnight so he gave them a simple instruction that they would either chose to follow or not.  How many times in our lives have we felt a prompting to make a small change?  Stop talking poorly about others; watch less television and read more Bible; buy flowers for your wife on the way home or do the dishes while she takes a nap; instead of drinking 3 beers, only have 1; get up 30 minutes earlier every morning for time with God; etc.  Our lives may not be on the edge of complete destruction, but there is no way to know the impact of small forms of obedience.  Sometimes God asks us to make small adjustments so that he can make big changes in our lives.

Peaceful waters when storms rage (or some other Christian cliche)

I have always been troubled by the notion of “peace that passeth all understanding.”  To me, it has seemed fake or forced, completely devoid of emotion.  It is like punching someone in the face and telling them they are not allowed to cry.  It is something expected of Christians and to feel otherwise is unChrist-like.  However, Habakkuk, “the complaining prophet,” has given me a different understanding of that eternal peace.  The first 2 chapters consist of Habakkuk filing his complaints with God, and God calmly explaining his plan and why Habakkuk can trust him.  The prophet starts off like so many us, overwhelmed by the heartache of his present calamity. He is bitter towards God for not swooping in and immediately saving the day.  God tells him of his plan and Habakkuk responds by doubting its validity.  He is so caught up in his own logic that he forgets who he is talking to.  Sound familiar?  Something strange happens by the end of chapter 3, though.  Habakkuk poignantly states that regardless of what horrors come, he will rejoice in the God of his salvation (Hab 3.17-19).  What changed?

First, Habakkuk was willing to openly express his emotional angst to God. Second, he waited for God to respond and actually listened to what he said.  Third, he remembered the goodness of God displayed throughout history.  Application for us?  1. Bring your complaints before God.  He is God of the universe; he can take it.  2. Listen for God’s response.  This requires taking time out of the chaos of life to simply listen. Also, humility is needed to accept whatever answer he gives as truth. 3. Think about the ways God has shown himself to you in the past.  His character doesn’t change so his goodness will continue to be accomplished in your life, even if it doesn’t fit your timetable. 4. Hold onto whatever revelations you are given and wait, trusting in God’s consistency, for “the righteous live by faith” (Hab 2.4).

It seems that deeper, incomprehensible peace is not something that comes easy.  Rather, it comes through an open processing of our emotions and a willingness to tell God that everything is not okay.  It is born out of a profound awareness of who God is. It is a quality of the humble, who have lived with adversity, fought anger and doubt, and realized that God is bigger still.