• Home
  • About This Blog
  • Contact Me
  • Subscribe
  • Comment Policy

Attempts at Honesty

Reflections on the interplay of the Bible and Culture

  • Westminster Shorter Catechism Series
  • Sermon on the Mount Series
Home Bible Reflection Daniel and regime change – A call for perspective

Daniel and regime change – A call for perspective

Posted on September 26, 2012 Written by Mark McIntyre 3 Comments


The call to panic

Daniel and the lionsIt is tempting to get caught up in the rhetoric because it is presented to us that the outcome of this election is the most important of our lifetime. Talk show hosts, advertisements, commentators, musicians and actors all speak with breathless emotion about what is at stake and how a wrong choice will cause the demise of America.

Call me a cynic, but it seems that every election is presented that same way. Yes, there are important issues, and I have decided for whom I will vote. I do think that it is important to exercise the freedom we have been given to participate in the selection of those who govern us. In America we get the government we deserve because we put them in office.

It is right to be concerned about how our nation is governed and to speak up when things are not as they should be. But as a Christian I know that I must maintain a larger perspective.

The call to perspective

I recently read through the book of Daniel. In Daniel we see a man who was taken by force from his own country and transplanted in an alien land. He survived and thrived under three different regimes: Israel, Babylon and Persia.

I am encouraged by the fact that Daniel did not see any of the these Earthly kingdoms as his ultimate authority. It did not matter which person or country had the upper hand. God still remained in control.

The text does not say, but it is implied that when Daniel was in Judah, he worshipped God. When Daniel was under the King of Babylon, Daniel worshipped God. When the Persians took over, Daniel still worshipped God as the ultimate authority.

God had a plan for Daniel, he had a plan for the nation of Israel and he had a plan for the rest of humanity. Nebuchadnezzar could not derail that plan, and neither could Belshazzar, Darius or Cyrus. Daniel’s God stayed the same throughout Daniel’s lifetime therefore Daniel’s worship of God stayed the same.

No matter how the election turns out, God remains in control and no-one can thwart his plan. God will not change, and our worship of him should not change.

We can learn from Daniel and find comfort in his example of one who was steadfast in his worship, even in the midst of social and political chaos.


Filed Under: Bible Reflection Tagged With: Daniel, election, regime

About Mark McIntyre

A follower of Jesus Christ who shares observations about how Scripture should impact the church and the world. Mark is the original author and editor of Attempts at Honesty.

Follow Attempts at Honesty

Honesty in your Inbox

Simone Weil on Affliction

Simone Weil on Affliction

It is sometimes easy to deliver an unhappy man from his present distress, but it is difficult to set him free from his past affliction . . .

Labor Day

Summer is over already?

Traditionally, in the USA, Labor Day (the first Monday in September) marks the end of the summer vacation season. It is also the time when students go back to school and in this blogger get back to blogging. We marked some significant events this summer. We gained two sons-in-law this summer. In August, we had […]

London Fog

An Easter Meditation inspired by Counting Crows

Our culture has thrown off the bonds of religion in an effort to find freedom. We have broken through the walls of tradition and cultural restraint to find new sources to satisfy our soul hunger. Yet, it seems that many are not finding that satisfaction. Consider this snippet of lyrics from the song “Mr. Jones” by Counting Crows . . .

Christianity Boosts Education, Quality of Life in Asian Countries

This is a guest post by Sarah Brooks whose biographical information appears in the author box below this post. If you would like to provide a guest post to Attempts at Honesty, please see the guest post guidelines and contact me if you are interested in providing a post. Sarah Writes Although often considered a primarily […]

Rocket Launch

A failure to launch: 5 failures to avoid in implementing strategy

Good strategy can be thwarted by bad implementation. In this, the church fares no better than business. What should leaders consider as they present changes to the organization.

Post Series

  • Westminster Shorter Catechism Series
  • Sermon on the Mount Series
February 2023
SMTWTFS
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728 
« Jan    

Categories

Archives

Blogger Grid
Follow me on Blogarama

Copyright © 2023 · Focus Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in