The Daily Word: Thursday, November 25th, 2021
Daniel 1:1-2:23
1 Peter 3:8-4:6
Psalm 119:65-80
Proverbs 28:14
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
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, 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, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans. – Dan. 1:3-4
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, conquered Jerusalem. In an effort to cripple the kingdom and make sure Judah would never be a threat again, he went after the next generation. He took “some of the king’s descendants and some of the nobles…young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking [and] gifted in all wisdom” (vv 3-4) and made them his servants. He took young men with talent, intelligence and potential, and indoctrinated them with the theology of Babylon so they would never serve God again.
This is the strategy of the enemy. He will take the young men and women who are full of potential – the next generation! – and indoctrinate them with wisdom that is not of Heaven. He will take the celebrities – the best and the brightest! – and distract them from the things of God so they distract an entire generation from His goodness. This is what is happening in our academic institutions and with our celebrities: the best and the brightest are being used as puppets to trumpet the works of darkness so the enemy can steal an entire generation.
But Daniel and his friends were not fooled. They were offered the best the enemy had to offer! But they refused to worship any king but God. Daniel “purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies” (v 8). Will you be like Daniel? Will you reject what the enemy wants you to have and hold out for your heavenly inheritance? Will you stand your ground, insist on a life of holiness, and contend for this next generation to serve God with all their heart?
Prayer:
Father, I cancel the plans of the enemy in the name of Jesus! He cannot have this next generation. He must take his hands off the best and the brightest. They belong to You, Lord, and no one can snatch them out of Your hand in Jesus’ name!
© Michael D. White, 2021. All rights reserved.