“Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.” Daniel 2:20-22

Constant criticism and offensive remarks about political leadership dot the landscape of our newspapers, cross the air of the twenty four hour television media circus, discussed heatedly in online formats and over many radio airwaves.

It is important to understand these political leaders have been placed in authority over us ultimately by God, and secondly by our own personal voting habits, or lack thereof. God has the authority to remove leaders and set up new leadership in political positions of power and authority over us according to His will.
Daniel faced a wicked political climate in his day. Eventually Daniel and his three friends were forced to work in close contact with a pagan king, even interpreting the dreams of this king, Nebuchadnezzar, as written in the book of Daniel. God can use all political leaders, even those who are evil leaning, to establish His purposes and plans. The government rests upon His shoulders, the book of Isaiah states prophetically of the coming of Jesus Christ, who has power and authority over all. This authority reigns over our dirty political arena today as well.

Daniel and his friends first had determined in their hearts, before their captivity, to serve God as they worked under King Nebuchadnezzar who ruled apart from being OBedient to the statutes of a holy God in heaven. These young men remained steadfast in their determination to serve God, even refusing prime and extravagant meals as served to the king, for simpler fruits and vegetables which supplied all their nutritional needs.

God was working directly alongside Daniel and his friends as they operated under the king’s leadership. They often found themselves in situations of wickedness and danger, but were continually shielded by God’s protection. Eventually the king decreed all men would fall down and worship pagan golden idols at hearing various musical instruments. Daniel and his friends refused to worship anything other than God no matter the cost.

“Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image: And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.” (Daniel 3:10-13)

The personal cost of refusing the king’s decree was for these young men to be thrown into a hot furnace. This furnace was made many times hotter than it normally would have been stoked in routine use. The best of the king’s men were summoned to place Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into these hot fiery flames of death. The oven was so hot that even the king’s men, who stood just at the door of this oven placing these men inside, were overcome with the extreme heat and immediately fell to the ground and died. The three young men inside were blanketed by the love and protection of God who spared them from any harm or danger while inside this fiery kiln. The King Nebuchadnezzar could see four men inside the kiln and not just the three young men who had been forced inside. The fourth man appeared to the king, looking in from outside the oven, to be God. The Bible states not any of the young men’s hair was singed, nor were they harmed in any way, as God fully protected them during this fiery ordeal. This serves as a picture of God’s love and protection of His own children in Christ for us today.

“Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God. Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort. Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.” (Daniel 3:28-30)


To Contemplate Further:

Do you see any “Daniel’s” operating in our political climate today? Or has the whole political process taken a nose dive into the mud of hypocrisy and tactics unbeknownst to those who have faith, trust, and follow the King of Kings and Lord of Lords? God is orchestrating the deeds of all political endeavors to fit His will and in His timing for His own spiritual family of believers. You are eternally safe and secure under the loving wing of Jesus Christ, as you face fiery trials and trouble on this earth, if you personally know Him as Lord and Savior of your life.