Government

I Peter 2:13-17, Instructs God’s people to submit to their government.  We are to honor all people, love Christians, fear God, and honor the king (17).  But not all governments or government doings are honorable, just, or good.  Some considerations from the life of Daniel.

1 Government thinks children belong to them – 1:3, Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring some of the children of Israel and some of the king’s descendants and some of the nobles…5b, so that at the end of that time they might serve before the king

2 Government schools educate/program to their will – 1:4, Young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king’s palace, whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans.

3 Government programs are not all beneficial – 1:5, And the king appointed for them a daily provision of the king’s delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and three years of training for them

4 Government reprogramming – cancel culture – 1:6-7, Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.  To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar;

5 Government offends and needs petitioned – 1:8, But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore, he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

6 Governmental threat to eliminate a class of people – 2:12-13, For this reason the king was angry and very furious, and gave the command to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.  So the decree went out, and they began killing the wise men; and they sought Daniel and his companions, to kill them.

7 Government needs the church to speak out lest they come to think they are god (separation of church and state) – 2:28, But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. (God is transcendent and God is imminent) 37, You, O king, are a king of kings. For the God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, strength, and glory; 

8 Government needs Godly people – 2:49, Daniel sat in the gate of the king.

May God raise up one of His to speak in the Oval Office.

9 Government leaders need warned of God’s hand and looming judgment – 4:19, Then Daniel was astonished for a time, and his thoughts troubled him.  25, They shall drive you from men, your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make you eat grass like oxen. They shall wet you with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.

10 Government officials need called out – 5:22-23, “But you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, although you knew all this. And you have lifted yourself up against the Lord of heaven. 26-28, This is the interpretation of each word. MENE: God has numbered your kingdom, and finished it; TEKEL: You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting; PERES: Your kingdom has been divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.”

11 Government needs good citizens and workers – 6:4, So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him.

12 Government decrees might need to be disobeyed – 6:10, Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days. 16, So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions.