God has given us a magnificent record of how He interacts with His people. It is called the Old Testament. Nowhere else do we get as good a record of God’s ways as He leads us. We have: the situation, God’s plans, the human response (good or flawed) to those plans, how God corrected His people, and finally the result.
In human management training, these examples of human situations and how they turned out are called case studies. They have been found to be far more valuable in training managers than pure rules and theory. In the Old Testament, we have Biblical case studies along with notes from the prophets on what God was thinking. When God goes out of His way to give us tools, it is very important to pay attention.
Daniel is one such case study. Daniel’s story is our example of how God positions His people to have influence and success in the middle of ungodly plans and purposes. With many immersed in the ‘7 Mountains’ teaching and prophetic words about God giving His people influence and wisdom, it is vital to understand how God qualifies His people to walk in that influence and wisdom. It is also vital to see what it looks like when we are actually walking out God’s purposes.
As we start, we must set the scene and context for Daniel’s story.
What was happening when Daniel’s story begins? Daniel was taken hostage by the Babylonians in 605 BC. This was only a few years after King Josiah’s revival which was the greatest revival Judah had ever seen. If he was a teenager when he was taken hostage, then he was a child in the last days of Josiah’s revival. With no direct statements in the scripture related to his childhood, we are left to speculate on what preparation he might have received in the dying embers of revival. It is certain that the dramatic change in Judah’s situation left a mark on Daniel.
As Daniel’s exile begins, Babylon has just crushed its two remaining challengers in the Middle East: Assyria and Egypt. They are at the height of their power. Babylon was the Biblical model for supernatural evil. It’s brutality and arrogance are vividly portrayed by the prophets.
In this setting, Daniel was sent to Babylon before the fall of Jerusalem. 605 BC was 18 years before the fall of Jerusalem in 587 BC. We do not know how much of Daniel’s story occurs before the fall of Jerusalem, but certainly the initial training and qualification happened well before 587 BC. We know from the story that Daniel knew of Jeremiah’s prophecy of a promised return after 70 years. The same letter that declares the return announces God’s plan that they would prosper during the exile. Again, we are left to speculate on how God used Daniel’s influence to bring about His promise to Judah that they could prosper during the exile.
Now we look at the way God qualified Daniel and gave him influence. We look at this verse by verse and watch how God works. All quotations are King James.
After he is taken hostage, God brings Daniel to the king’s attention.
Dan 1:3-4 And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the princes; (4) Children in whom was no blemish, but well favored, and skillful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.
There are two important things in this passage. It was the King who set the standard and they were to be taught the language and culture of Babylon (remember Babylon is the scriptural model of supernatural evil).
But there was a test hidden in the instructions.
Dan 1:5 And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king’s meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.
Finally, we notice who will give the final exam: King Nebuchadnezzar himself.
God arranged for Daniel and three of his friends to have the qualifications set by Nebuchadnezzar. God had prepared them ahead of time for this very task. Faced with three years of studying the language and culture of an evil people, we could imagine Daniel saying: No way I will give in to God’s enemies! But rebellion was not God’s plan. Daniel had a different and more subtle test.
Dan 1:8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore, he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
With all the evil in Babylon, Daniel chose food as the issue to stand on! But even here, how did Daniel proceed?
Dan 1:9-16 Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. (10) And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king. (11) Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, (12) Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. (13) Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king’s meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants. (14) So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days. (15) And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat. (16) Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.
This is a beautiful example of God working. Daniel did not go on a hunger strike nor did he demand that they respect his religion. He raised an issue, and when the eunuch had a problem, Daniel devised a test. Importantly, he let the eunuch judge the result. God gave Daniel influence with Eunuch Melzar and confirmed Daniel’s wisdom with a result that pleased the eunuch. Those with management training will recognize an important management skill at work. Even as a teenager, God’s preparation allowed Daniel to show us how to “manage up”. That is, to influence the boss in constructive ways.
So now training could begin.
Dan 1:17 As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
We see that God gave them what they needed. Now the final test.
Dan 1:18-20 Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. (19) And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king. (20) And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.
Daniel and his friends passed with flying colors! They were not just better, they were ten times better. It is very important to recognize that these were Nebuchadnezzar’s tests designed to examine things important to Babylon. This is what happens when God is qualifying His people. He shows that they can address the known problems of the people God is impressing. Daniel has now done that twice: first with the food problem and then with Nebuchadnezzar’s tests for wisdom and understanding. But God is far from finished!
Nebuchadnezzar’s dream is a well-known story, so we will not repeat it here verse by verse. For those who do not know the details, it is found in Daniel 2:1-45. We will pull out some key verses as we paraphrase the story.
Nebuchadnezzar has a dream. It was common for any of the wise men or magicians in a kingdom to be able to interpret a dream, but God arranged for Nebuchadnezzar to be suspicious of his magicians.
Nebuchadnezzar wanted to know that the men had the real meaning rather than their making up a pleasing meaning, so he asked for an impossible thing. He wanted the magicians to know the dream without being told. Even worse, he was going to kill them all if someone did not get both the dream and interpretation. When God wants to show off, He sets up impossible problems to solve. Again, notice it was King Nebuchadnezzar who set the problem and would judge the answer.
We all know the story. None of the Babylonian magicians could tell the dream. Everyone was set to be killed when Daniel stepped into the situation. Then Daniel received the dream and interpretation from God and he told both to King Nebuchadnezzar. Problem solved and Daniel promoted.
But in terms of Daniel’s position in Babylon and his attitude toward the Babylonians, there are some interesting verses.
Dan 2:13-16 And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain. (14) Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king’s guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon: (15) He answered and said to Arioch the king’s captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel. (16) Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation.
Daniel had developed a relationship with the captain of the king’s guard such that Arioch told Daniel the bad news before all the wise men were slain. Because Daniel had built that relationship, Arioch trusted him enough that he was willing to delay a direct order from Nebuchadnezzar. Even more Arioch was willing to take Daniel into the court to see Nebuchadnezzar and Daniel was bold enough to ask for a delay.
When we read this part of the story we often fail to remember the rules of the oriental kings and Nebuchadnezzar’s character. Disobeying a direct order was grounds for immediate execution. If we remember Esther’s story, we realize that coming into a King’s presence without a summons was also likely to result in death for Arioch and Daniel. Nebuchadnezzar was furious at the time so he was not in a merciful mood. It took great trust for Arioch to take a risk.
God had given Daniel great credibility during His training, and now that positioned Daniel to save the lives of all the wise men, not just himself and his friends. God was with Daniel, and so He gave Daniel a word of knowledge about the dream and the interpretation.
But now another test for Daniel. What will he do with the praise and rewards?
Dan 2:27-30 Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king; (28) But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these; (29) As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass. (30) But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart.
Daniel does not take the glory himself, but gives it to God. Even more, he makes it known that the dream was revealed in order to help others.
Now God has qualified Daniel twice. He has built Daniel’s reputation with Nebuchadnezzar step by step by solving Nebuchadnezzar’s problems. Each time, Daniel’s power and reputation increases dramatically.
In the story of Daniel, the next test is not Daniel’s but his friends’ test. This is the story of the Golden Image of Nebuchadnezzar and the fiery furnace. Like the dream, this is a well-known story and we will not step through the entire story verse by verse. It is found in Daniel 3.
Here God switches strategies. He does not solve a problem for Nebuchadnezzar. Instead, he demonstrates the limits of Nebuchadnezzar’s power over God’s people. But, God does it in such a way that the issue quickly becomes not between Nebuchadnezzar and Daniel’s friends but between God and Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel’s friends remain steadfast but meek.
We know the story. Nebuchadnezzar, being extremely arrogant, decides everyone should worship his image. Daniel’s friends do not bow and this sets up a punishment of getting burned alive. God delivers them from the furnace. But we should pay attention to how Daniel’s friends resist.
First, Daniel’s friends did not make a big show of defiance. They simply stood in the crowd and did not bow down to the statue. They did not make some dramatic stand that brought attention to their actions, instead they had to be accused of breaking the order to bow down by others.
Nebuchadnezzar sets up the big question for the test.
Daniel 3:15 “who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?”
Daniel’s friends now frame the situation in such a way that Nebuchadnezzar can understand the answer he is about to get.
Dan 3:17-18 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. (18) But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
With the question set up, the test begins and God answers Nebuchadnezzar’s question.
Dan 3:24-27 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied [astonished], and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. (25) He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. (26) Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire. (27) And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was a hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.
Nebuchadnezzar and all his counselors saw that there was a God who could deliver from his hand. What was the response?
Dan 3:28-29 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. (29) 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.
Nebuchadnezzar officially recognized the God of Israel! He also promoted the friends. So here it is: by passing the test, God increases the favor of His representatives. It is important to note that God’s people are not doing anything against Nebuchadnezzar. Even though he is either about to destroy Jerusalem or has already done so, the issue is not about resistance to Nebuchadnezzar’s civil authority. It is solely about who they will worship as God.
This accomplishes two things: it clears the way for Nebuchadnezzar to trust them as administrators and it keeps the focus on God. By this God gets the glory even while promoting His people.
As we will see next, Daniel is about to need all the favor and reputation that God has given Him. Another dream is presented, and this time it will be the hardest thing Nebuchadnezzar has confronted and the most dangerous thing to tell a man who gets angry and throws people into furnaces.
This next challenge in Daniel’s life is recorded in Daniel 4. Curiously, it is not written by Daniel but by Nebuchadnezzar himself as a testimony to the power of Daniel’s God.
Dan 4:1-3 Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. (2) I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me. (3) How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.
We have another dream and another chance for Daniel to shine, provided he is very brave. First, everyone else gets a chance.
Dan 4:4-7 I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace: (5) I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me. (6) Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream. (7) Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.
This dream is strange enough that the other wise men might well have been terrified. But, Daniel has confidence in what God can do and Nebuchadnezzar seems to agree.
Dan 4:8-9 But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, saying, (9) O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.
Nebuchadnezzar tells the reader the dream as he saw it. But from the text, it seems that Daniel has such a reputation at this point that Nebuchadnezzar does not even bother to tell the dream to Daniel. He just assumes that Daniel will know.
It is unclear from the text how much time passed before Daniel got the dream and interpretation. What we do know is that when Daniel received the interpretation, it disturbed him so much he could not speak for a whole hour Apparently, he was in front of the King at this point and visibly upset.
Dan 4:19 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.
This is an extraordinary passage! If we remember that Daniel was serving a King who had destroyed Jerusalem and thrown his friends into a furnace, it is even more remarkable. We see that Daniel actually wants to reject pending judgment against Nebuchadnezzar.
The dream itself is recorded in Daniel 4:20-23. The interpretation in 4:24-27.
Dan 4:24-27 This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king: (25) That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. (26) And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.
Daniel has just told the King of the most powerful nation in the Middle East that he will become insane for a period of seven years. If we did not have Daniel’s intercession earlier in verse 19, we might think he was simply afraid. But that is not Daniel’s character. Daniel goes even further: he advises this powerful King to change his ways to avoid the judgment.
Dan 4:27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.
This is one of the best examples in Daniel of speaking truth to power. This is the only time we see Daniel speak directly against the behavior of Nebuchadnezzar and Babylonia. Even though Babylon had ungodly roots and laws that were not determined by God, it is not spoken in judgment, but in concern for Nebuchadnezzar!
Daniel shows us that, even in an ungodly setting, not all correction has to be bold or brazen, it can be a subtle conversation with a leader that is built on trust and experience.
We will not walk-through Nebuchadnezzar’s story verse by verse. It is recorded in Daniel 4:28-37. Nebuchadnezzar is in the middle of declaring his own greatness when the judgment strikes. He does become insane for seven years. In accordance with the dream, he gets his power back at the end of that time when he acknowledges God’s authority.
Dan 4:34-37 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: (35) And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? (36) At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me. (37) Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.
As I said, this is an extraordinary story. The most powerful King in the Middle East, a man of massive arrogance, was humbled before the Lord and repented. This happened because Daniel had the access and relationship necessary to speak truth to Nebuchadnezzar and to let him know the way out of the judgment coming to him.
This is the end of Daniel’s interactions with Nebuchadnezzar, but not of his service in Babylonia nor his tests. Babylonia falls to the Medes, who are quickly replaced by the Persians. Daniel serves all three empires. The Babylonians and Medes were long term enemies, so it is extraordinary that Daniel was trusted by all of these empires in spite of his loyalty to each in their day.
Under Darius the Mede, there is one final promotion and a test in store for Daniel.
Dan 6:1-3 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom; (2) And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage. (3) Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.
We can see here that Daniel continued to have great favor and authority. Daniel carries this because he was trusted to make sure that “the king should have no damage”.
In the next verses, we again see how God tests and protects those who He has placed into power. Daniel is protected even when jealousy provokes those who oppose Daniel and they attempt to overthrow him by trickery. This is another well known story of Daniel in the Lion’s Den that is recorded in Daniel 6:4-28. The other princes of Darius’ kingdom try to trap Daniel
Dan 6:4-7 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. (5) Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God. (6) Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever. (7) All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.
The tests comes because of their jealousy. Notice this test was not because the princes were worried about religion and worship. In fact, they were careful not to mention Daniel or his practices of worship. Given Darius’s reaction later, it is certain that even Darius did not see the trap for Daniel.
Dan 6:14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.
It is interesting that the trap was only effective because of Daniel’s integrity. As with the Golden image Daniel does not make a big show of definance. He simply continues his normal prayer times.
At this point we know the story. Daniel gets thrown into the lion’s den in spite of the king’s efforts, because that was the law. But, Daniel is delivered by God and the punishment fell on those who had tricked the king.
It is important to notice two things in this incident. First, notice that by God’s grace Daniel had built such a relationship and high degree of mutual respect with King Darius that the King spent the night in prayer and fasting for Daniel.
Second, no one, not even King Darius, set the law aside. Daniel did not ask and the King did not try to do this. God operated within the law of Darius’s kingdom. Both Daniel and Darius had to trust God instead of the arm of man.
This is the end of the record of Daniel’s tests and influence with the Middle Eastern empires of his day. It is important to make one final observation.
There is a pattern that is woven throughout our story but easily missed. Although each of the empires that Daniel served had ungodly roots and laws that were not determined by God, only once do we see Daniel speak directly against the behavior of the political authority. This was purely when advising Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia about his pending insanity: even there, the focus was not on God’s anger but on His offering that king a door out of the test!
The remainder of the book of Daniel are a series of prophetic visions. Those visions are well documented and vast forests have been cleared to print the books analyzing them.
It is possibly significant that God trusted Daniel with so much revelation of End Times. Since Babylon figures prominently in the End Time narrative we must ask if Daniel is also our model for how the Church must minster in that age.
Here we have focused on Daniel’s service in Babylon, Mede and Persia, and his interaction with the pagan kings who ruled there.
We are at a point in human history where the interaction of God’s people with governments and societies is critical. According to the scripture we are like Daniel. We live as aliens in a world that will only rarely reflect God. Still, we are called as individuals and communities to show the world what God the Father is like. Like Daniel we are rarely called to change a pagan or ungodly government Instead we are called to work within it.
We work in such a way that we can say to people we influence: as “you have seen me you have seen the Father.” We will never actually achieve that high goal. But, if we openly reach for that goal and publicly repent when we fall short, then the world can not only see, however dimly, the nature of the Father, but His grace and mercy!.As believers, what if this was enough of a goal for us?
For several decades the Church has been encouraged to reach for authority in the realms of society. We have even walked in some increased authority. In the reach for authority, we can easily forget the reason why we are given authority in a fallen world: it is to show God’s nature. This goal does not change when we are given civil authority, so how we exercise that civil authority is more important than anything else. If they don’t see the Father’s nature in our actions nothing else matters.
Daniel was given civil authority and he was allowed to demonstrate God’s wisdom to an evil society. He and his friends ruled provinces, but under the law of Babylon and then under the law of the Medes and Persians. He ruled in such a way that the pagan kings of those empires freely recognized his value, and by that, Daniel repeatedly brought those arrogant Kings to the point of praising the God of Israel.
We have not looked at the alternative strategy that God might have followed, if He were so inclined. Let’s take a quick look. In the book of Jeremiah, we have the story of Ishmael the son of Nethaniah and Gedaliah the son of Ahikam. Gedaliah was the governor set over Judah by Babylon, and Ishmael was a prince of the royal family of Judah. If we view them with modern eyes, Gedaliah was the traitor who ruled Judah on behalf of the oppressors and Ishmael was the hero of the resistance. Our hero Ishmael assassinated the evil governor in order to re-establish the true king. If one were telling the story from this perspective, then in the story of Daniel, he, Daniel, would be seen as a collaborator who helped betray Judah and kept them in servitude.
Except that this was not how God saw things. God had a different way to demonstrate His power.
These are the ways God moves to qualify His representatives in the eyes of the ungodly:
- God and His representatives address the requirements of leaders, even of ungodly governmental leaders.
- In God’s wisdom, He lets those same ungodly governmental leaders define and judge the results of the test.
- God vindicates His people without ambiguity according to the tests given.
- God limits resistance to authority in a way that clearly distinguishes between our honoring God from rebelling against civil authority.
- When Honoring God is at stake, God does not cause His people to rail against the furnace or the lions den. He provides the protection as needed.
God has said that He will give us authority. Many have understood that plan includes civil authority at times. But, the primary reason God gives us authority is so that the world can see His true nature.
Especially on this side of the atonement of the Cross, God is looking for voluntary recognition of His power, not forced obedience. Nebuchadnezzar’s and Daniel’s interaction provides a great example of how God draws the recognition of God’s Authority out of those who do not know Him, even proud and arrogant people. Daniel lived in a time when the Holy Spirit did not live IN people. If he and his friends can walk out this call, how much more should we? We should be able to do abundantly more by the indwelling Spirit of God.