Here’s my fairly literal translation of these verses:
…and in that time your people will be delivered, the all of a one being found written in the book. 2And many from ones sleeping of ground of dust will awake, some to lives of ages and some to reproaches, to abhorrences of ages. 3And the ones being wise will shine like the shine of the expanse, and ones making righteous the many as the stars forever and ever.
As I observed in my last post, these few simple words reveal to us the engine that made Daniel who he was. The life he lived was absolutely exemplary for all of us. From the opening chapter to the end, we see a man who knew how to live his faith in the same kind of day-to-day world we all live in. However, even in these few words, we see what drove him -- “…at that time … Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.” Daniel was who he was every day precisely because above it all, he saw eternity.
Somewhere along the line, it struck me that it had to have had an enormous effect on Daniel’s faith that he got to actually see eternity. As early as chapter 2, Daniel had the vision of the statue eventually obliterated by the rock “cut but not with hands.” All through his life, in one vision after another, he was allowed to see all the way into eternity. He actually spoke with angels! Once again, it makes perfect sense that he was who he was, when he literally lived in both worlds.
We could all say, if only I could see visions of heaven and actually talk to angels, I’d probably have more faith too. Yet, what did Jesus tell doubting Thomas? “Because you’ve seen, you believe. Blessed are those who haven’t seen, yet believe.” And what does the NT teach us? “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.” Seeing may have been a huge aid to Daniel, but you and I have his teaching and his example to learn from and an entire completed Bible that should do both – teach us how to live day to day, and to do it with eternity always in view.
All that said, and this passage teaches us that “…those who lead many to righteousness, will shine like the stars forever and ever.” As we hover over this passage and, especially as we ponder eternity, how can any born-again believer not look around and long to see their family and friends and co-workers themselves come to faith in Jesus? I sit by my fireplace in the morning and treasure the time just sitting in God’s presence. Jesus told me almost fifty years ago, “And when you know the truth, the truth shall set you free” – and so he has done in a hundred thousand ways. Joan and I claimed in our wedding His promise, “Delight thyself in the Lord, and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” I sit here and marvel how He took two very immature, very selfish young people, and wove us together into a family that is in so many ways the desires of my heart!
It is so indescribably wonderful, just simply knowing God – really truly knowing Him all day every day – in a sense living in eternity as I live here in this world. I look around and wish so much others could enjoy it too. But how do we do it? How can we “lead many to righteousness?” There is, of course, a time to actually explain to others the truth of Jesus. However, for anyone stumbling across my feeble scratchings, I would like to show you and encourage you your life is a powerful influence in the lives of others.
The Bible is all about teaching us how to live. Pause and recall, what did God say would “adorn the Gospel” (Titus 2:9-11)? How we work. Notice too what it says will actually get in its way: “Let the older women teach the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, …so that no one will malign the Word of God” (Titus 2:4,5). Even how a woman cares for her family can either adorn or malign the Gospel!
Read again the epistles of the NT. Ask yourself what do they emphasize? I believe you will see that the constant emphasis is on how we live. Speaking again specifically of our work, it says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart.” Then we read, “Husbands love your wives.” “Wives, respect your husbands.” “You fathers, bring them up.” “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth…but to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.” “Make it your ambition to live a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your hands.” “As dearly loved children, live a life of love.” What are the two great commands? “Love God and love people.” Can we all see that the Lord places a high premium on how you and I actually live our lives? As we look around and pray for our family and friends’ salvation, please be encouraged that the simple life you live is itself a powerful influence for the Gospel!
For myself, as I’ve related before, it wasn’t until I saw a man truly living his faith (at work!), that I began to want to know “the reason why.” Thankfully our wonderful Lord after that paraded several real believers before my eyes until I finally knew I had to have whatever it was they had. To put it in old terms, a huge part of God’s plan is for your life and mine to “plow up the fallow ground” so that the seeds of the Gospel will actually take root and grow in people’s hearts.
There is, of course, a time to speak. Peter instructed us, “Be ready always to answer anyone who asks you a reason of the hope that is in you” (I Pet. 3:15). Even in that passage, notice something came before the answer – someone actually saw hope in you and me. Something – our lives – plowed the fallow ground of someone’s heart. So there was first the living, but then it did lead to us speaking.
Speaking of speaking…a complete excursion for whatever it’s worth: It is very interesting to me to note, as I have read the thoughts of many, many men, the old reformed pastors almost unanimously attributed this passage in Daniel to Christian ministers and teachers. As they read the words, “…those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever,” they felt it applied primarily to ministers.
That no doubt offends our modern evangelical senses, however, it also reflects an attitude which I fear is almost entirely lost today. In years gone by, people had great respect for their ministers. People understood that a pastor is a man actually gifted by God to do far more than you and I can accomplish. In their eyes, a pastor was a man gifted to actually connect with people’s hearts in a way far greater than you or me. I have seen that with my own eyes. I have myself spent a lot of time trying to “minister” to people and, in every case, I’m glad I did. However, sooner or later I would end up sitting beside a real pastor and watch him “connect” with people in a way that simply did not happen when I tried.
In today’s church, the pastor is nobody special. “God can use me just the same as him.” He just happens to be the one whose job it is to do the sermons, baptize people, and all of that – but no one special, really. Right? I fear that is exactly what people think. You or I may not like hearing the idea that the passage before us applies primarily to ministers, but can you see that the church today needs to re-learn a holy respect for the office of ministers? They are someone special. I think it is often the case that the people of the church go out into their world and live the Gospel, to plow up the fallow ground of people’s hearts, while their ministers may be the primary ones who can speak the Gospel and see a harvest of souls. While your words and mine may be very important, may we each cultivate in our hearts a great respect for God’s gift of a pastor-teacher and the men who bear it.
Having said all of that…back to speaking. Speaking the Gospel is very important whether we are ministers or just Christian people. Back to Peter’s admonition, we do need to be ready to give that answer, but then if you look up I Peter 3:15, notice he adds, “but do it with respect and gentleness…” There is a time for us to speak, but we can never forget that love is always our first responsibility. Love is our business as we live rubbing elbows every day with people who themselves need the Lord. That love should inform every word that comes out of our mouths, and when love sees someone ready to listen, that same love will guide what we say and how we say it.
I hope these thoughts have encouraged someone to realize that the simple “comings and goings” of your everyday life, lived in faith and love, are a powerful tool the Lord wants to use to draw those very people your heart yearns after. Something else I hope is encouraging is just knowing that your life is having a far greater influence than you may ever know this side of heaven. What do the people on the right say when Jesus commends them? “When did we see You poor and naked…?” They don’t even know the influence they had! My friends, a lost and hopeless world is watching you and me. Speak when it’s time to speak, but, my friend, live for Jesus!
Just to conclude all of this, consider a quote from S. V. Lech:
“A holy man or woman is a perpetual sermon. In example we are holding the invisible reins by which we are guiding souls to Heaven or hell. Where can we best work for the saving of souls? In the home circle. Home is the place of confidence, how glorious the reward celestial! How magnificently the stars shine over old Babylon where Daniel lived!”
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