Reading Daniel 1 yesterday at Saar Fellowship, we answered the question of ‘How do I get from Daniel here in ch.1 to me now?‘.
The chapter shows us that here at the beginning of the story of Daniel and his friends, maybe 2,600 years ago, that God was still over all; providence, plans, purposes, circumstances…all, despite the huge change in circumstances. Trusting in God, Daniel and friends are proven to be more than good enough, more than up to the task.
As in Daniel, more so in Jesus.
Daniel in Babylon during his re-education program is just as Jesus was in the wilderness – proving his worth (Daniel 1.8 cf. Luke 4.13).
Daniel here was going through a total upheaval in his circumstances, his life changed totally. Leaving behind everything that was nice and normal for him he took on the mindset, he made the choice to think on the Word and didn’t kick and scream and fuss but instead humbled himself and participated in this program, being in Babylon but not of Babylon, being found in the likeness of a Babylonian, even took on a Babylonian name, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death in a few chapters time. Daniel did all this in trust, in obedience, in line with what the Word taught about how he should live his life and what lies ahead for him.
As Daniel did this, so did Jesus,
…who, though he was in the form of God,
did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,
being born in the likeness of men.
And being found in human form,
he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death,
even death on a cross.
Philippians 2
Jesus did all of that out of His great love for you.
Jesus went out into that wilderness to demonstrate His quality, to prove to the great pretender that look, this is what a life fully submitted and committed to God is like, do your worst, offer me the best, either way, I’m gonna stick with the Father’s plan. He did that to show, to prove, to demonstrate. He was tested in order to show His quality, then, in Hebrews 4 He is described, for you, as
…not…a…high priest incapable of sympathising with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted, put to the proof, tested, evidenced, in every way just as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help.
vv.15-16
And what it means for you is right there: you can confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever [you] need help, because Jesus took what happened to Daniel here and fulfilled it and made it universal, yet personal for you. He did this to show you that when you need help, He is there, and He is more than good enough to help.
James Travis 