When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?””
“In the Lord I take refuge. How then can you say to me: “Flee like a bird to your mountain. For look, the wicked bend their bows; they set their arrows against the strings to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart.
Psalms 11:3, 1-2 NIV
When our foundations (the things we stand on) are being shaken or threatened, what do we do? How do we feel? How do we react?
Last week, we as Americans witnessed a shift and change in power government wise. Some feel renewed hope and trust in their "Godly" choice as he steps into office. Some feel hope deflated as their "Godly" choice steps down from office. What happens when we place our hope in an unsteady foundation like government?
Well a couple of weeks ago, we saw a clear cut, real time example of what happens when we follow man and a man made system such as government. People lose it. They lose their sensibility. They lose their hope. They lose their love. They lose their integrity. They lose their humanity. The list goes on. But what happens when we build our hope and foundation in the Lord?
Looking at Daniel, we see that Daniel shows his unmovable and unshakable faith in his God over his faith in man and government. First, he showed boldness in rejecting the king’s provisions and asking those over him test the diet given by the Lord to prove that the Lord’s way is better than the king’s way. Second, under the threat of death, Daniel boldly told the king that not only could he interpret the king’s dream but also tell him what the dream was first because of his Lord’s revealing. Third, also in the face of death and possibly reassured by Daniel’s examples of boldness, his comrades refused to bow to the king’s prideful whim because their only foundation was in his Lord.
See, Daniel knew that kings and government are fickle and that power is temporary. He and his people had been removed from their homeland because of change of power. They had been persecuted by those in power. There was no incentive to but their trust in government and power. However, how did Daniel gain his boldness and confidence in the Lord even in the face of threats? PROXIMITY.
Boldness and confidence like that can only come from strong, consistent, and intimate relationship. Daniel knew he could run to the Lord for ANYTHING that he needed and had no hesitation in doing just that. The Lord is where he put his absolute trust. Let us follow Daniel’s example on REMAINING in constant, intimate proximity to the Lord so that we too can be unshakable in uncertain and unstable times.
Other scriptures to encourage us to do just that:
“Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
Psalms 62:5-6 NIV
“Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever. They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.”
Psalms 112:6-7 NIV