THE HANDLING OF A CRISIS "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." -- Tomorrow:
"And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain. 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: 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. Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would show the king the interpretation. Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions: That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon." (Daniel 2:13-18)
Devotion 8 of 28
Daniel's words are calculated to delay the execution. They must not be hasty words, for "he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly" (Prov 14:29). Solomon once said of a man prone to speak superficially, "Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him" (Prov 29:20). Daniel does not speak to vent fear, but to express faith. His words must be carefully chosen so they will not stir up the flesh, or provoke anger in the executioner standing before him.
Wise and prudent words are spoken with a mind to the effect they will have. Some people speak only to make known their personal preferences. Such words are not always characterized by discretion, for self interests are not a suitable container for discerning speech.
A faithful and wise heart surveys the land, as it was, and speaks in a manner that will not stir up the enemy, or arouse the wild beasts in the land. It is ever true that the tongue can be used to release wrath as well as to calm the waters. As James said, "And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell" (James 3:6). Wise and prudent words avoid starting that flaming fire of iniquity. Who is able to measure the heartache, friction, danger, and destruction that have been stimulated, and even fostered, by words?
Daniel now speaks to the circumstance like Jesus spoke to the waters and storm (Mark 4:39). He will still a social tempest with his words.
THE TRUTH IS BEING LIVED OUT
In our text, this very truth is being lived out before us. In Daniel's case, "the way to escape" was entered by speaking. His life would depend upon his words. If his words are too bulky, and lack substance, he will not be able to get through the "way to escape." If they are too lean and foolish, they will tend to close the door. His reply must be appropriate!
Therefore Daniel answers with "counsel," or prudence and discretion. His words are characterized by "wisdom," or godly tact and taste.
THE WISE WOMAN OF THE CITY OF ABEL
Daniel conducted himself like the "wise woman out of the city" that was being besieged by Joab. As the men with Joab were battering down the wall of that city, this woman cried out, asking Joab to come close so she could speak to him. She told him that it was a long-standing practice to ask counsel before wreaking devastation in any city. She said she herself was peaceable, and was "a mother in Israel." "Why," she asked, "wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?" Joab replied he was not simply swallowing up cities. There was a man named Sheba, who had lifted up his hand against king David. He told the woman if she would deliver this man to him, the city would receive no harm. The woman agreed to cast his head over the wall. In her wisdom, she told the citizens of that city what was required to spare the city. As a result, "they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and cast it out to Joab. And he blew a trumpet, and they retired from the city, every man to his tent" (2 Sam 20:15-22). The deliverance all began with a wise and discreet word.
AS SOLOMON AFFIRMED
Solomon also spoke of a city being delivered by the words of a poor man who was wise. "This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me: There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it: Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man" (Eccl 9:13-16).
ARIOCH
"Arioch the captain of the king's guard . . . " This man was not an emissary of the king, or an envoy of good will. He was "the captain of the king's guard," and was come to carry out the orders of the king. He is "the king's chief executioner" (NSRV). As such, he is certainly not noted for sympathy. Nor, indeed, is he noted for reasoning about the circumstances. He was not sent to talk to the wise men of Babylon, but to kill them. He did not come to discuss the edict of the king, but to carry it out.
But there is more to this circumstance than Nebuchadnezzar and Arioch. God is working in this context, and it is His will that is really being carried out. The heart of Nebuchadnezzar "is in the hand of the Lord," and He will turn it "wherever He wishes" (Prov 21:1, NKJV). The heart of Arioch is no different! He also is subject to the King of kings.
If God controls the heart of the king, He certainly will have no trouble with the hearts of those who trust Him, and consequently work for him!
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I ask for counsel and wisdom to speak to those who are aligned against me.