PREFERENCE - PART 7

WEDNESDAY 05 JUNE 2024

The astrologers answered the king, "There is no one on earth who can do what the king asks! No king, however great and mighty, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or astrologer. What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among humans." This made the king so angry and furious that he ordered the execution of all the wise men of Babylon.

Did you notice the qualities of the magicians, enchanters or astrologers? They were very unbelieving and limited in their horizon and purview. Their responses were too negative just as their source is. To them, the king's request was too difficult, and no one could reveal it to him except the gods, who do not live among humans. Of course, they spoke like ordinary humans with ordinary minds. But how did Daniel respond?

Reference: Daniel 1:20  Amplified Bible (AMP)

"In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king consulted them, he found them ten times better than all the [learned] magicians and enchanters (Magi) in his whole realm."

The king's dream was a mysterious secret, and so the reactive wording of his Wise men were replete with unlikelihood, infeasibility and impracticability, denoting their high-frequency defeatist which put them in a serious disadvantageous position within the context of that particular situation.

Child of God, do not turn to psychics, soothsayers, magicians, enchanters, diviners, incantators when you face any kind of situation, no matter how they seem to utter supernatural predictions, for your spirit and your godly identity will be defiled by them.

Deuteronomy 18:10-11 reads, "Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead [a necromancer]" (AMP). Why? Those who partake in such horrible practices are detestable to the Lord, and the practices are utterly repulsive to God. In addition, Leviticus 19:31 reads, "Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them" (NIV).

The Bible already set the standard for God's people which is sound and godly. To that effect, Pauline epistolary  expression reads, "Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers" (Ephesians 4:11 NLT). Stringently, Christ did not give the church any magician, enchanter, soothsayer or sorcerer. Even if your function is not listed as one of the GLORIOUS gifts from Christ, as a born again Christian, you must not consult magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, or any warlock - to come and help you describe your future, or understand your dreams and interpret them. Always bear in mind that you are in Christ; the Spirit of Christ dwells in you and your destiny is solemnly encapsulated in His glory.

The magicians or enchanters or astrologers have already concluded that what the king asked for was too difficult, except the gods who do not live among humans revealed it. However, Daniel's favour or gifts were based on Virtus Non Avos (virtue not ancestry). In other words, it had nothing to do with ancestral gods, but a bestowed virtue from God. His gifts planned and ordered in the eternal counsels, such as "being skillful in all wisdom and understanding" and "being endowed with intelligence and discernment," were treated as an actual divine bestowment.

 

So from godly perspective, Daniel responded to the situation shrewdly and with discretion. Although they were all marked for execution, Daniel wisely took Arioch, the chief of the royal guards, aside and quietly asked what was going on: "Why this all of a sudden?" After gaining the understanding of the situation, Daniel went in and desired of the king that he should give him time in order that he could tell him the dream and the interpretation.

What did Daniel do when he went home? He made the situation known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, so that they might ask for compassion from the God of heaven concerning the mysterious secret. Beloved, there is such a thing as acknowledging God's presence and incontestable ability from of your lips as such occasion required. Not everybody is able to do so when a real problem arises. You can see that the sorcerers, incantators, enchanters, astrologers, those who practise magic arts, and the idolaters, were the first to demonstrate and display their unbelief, as well as, give in to the hopelessness of their ineptitude and incompetence amid the King's fiercely-oriented demand.

Having recognised God in their closet at such an awkward moment, grace was given to them in God's timing, to seek His face concerning the king's demand. Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision, for he was the only possible one to come before the Father with his friends and receive from the Father's revelation. Stay tuned for part 8. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - Deuteronomy 29:29; Daniel 2:28; Psalm 25:14; Amos 3:7.

Guided Prayer:

Gracious Father in heaven, I acknowledge that eternal blessing and glory, wisdom and knowledge, discernment and understanding, thanksgiving and honour, power and might belong to you, for ever and ever, in Jesus' Name, Amen!