WORD & POWER for TODAY
SPEAK WELL OF THOSE WHO DESERVE IT
“Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spake and said unto Daniel, art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry?” Daniel 5:13 KJV
Imagine such a description of Prophet Daniel. A man that had made so much impeccable impact in that Kingdom, and its connecting nations! He served King Nebuchadnezzar (Belshazzar’s father) faithfully and judiciously. Prophet Daniel was his father’s Pastor! He was promoted to be in charge of spiritualism and intellectualism in the entire kingdom! Daniel was a Governor over Governors during Nebuchadnezzar’s tenure! His testimony of being delivered unscathed from the lions’ den could not be unknown to King Belshazzar; yet he arrogantly feigned ignorance of every thing! He was reminding Daniel of his history {“in case he had forgotten”} that he was a foreigner and a slave! King Belshazzar was not just defiant of God, he also had no respect for men. He was like the proverbial judge that Jesus spoke about in Luke Chapter eighteen; who had no respect for both God and man.
Please, compare King Belshazzar’s description of Daniel to that of his wife the Queen: “there is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers; forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation.” Daniel 5:11-12 KJV
If you find it difficult to celebrate people’s strength and achievements, you’re arrogant! Daniel spelt it out to the king. He gave him the history of how God humbled his arrogant father, King Nebuchadnezzar: “… And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this.” Daniel 5:22 KJV. Foolishness and arrogance killed King Belshazzar that same night! Please, always give honor to those who have earned it. Speak well of people and celebrate their qualities. You would not lose a thing while doing that. This is a sign of both sincerity and humility.