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Jan 28, 2023 06:00am

Help for the Wicked

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Every year I attend a youth conference over Christmas break. Hundreds of teenagers descend on a St. Louis hotel, and adults do their best to manage the chaos.

The conference features a keynote speaker and we gather for sessions to hear Bible teaching. I am a note taker and I love a good speaker, so I was all ears as Pastor Brad began session two on the first morning of the event.

Daniel. The topic was the life of Daniel from the Old Testament book. The theme was the God of rescue. Immediately, my mind recalled learning the story of Daniel in the lion’s den as a child and how God saved him from doom. (Daniel 6)

But, so much happens before that monumental deliverance.

Daniel was a Jew living in exile in Babylon against his will. Babylon was rough. Daniel had nothing in common with the people there. They were pagans who worshiped false gods. They did not serve or honor the God Daniel knew and loved. They certainly didn’t live righteously as Daniel desired. Basically, he was stuck in an unhealthy, spiritually dead, sinful, dangerous, wicked environment — and he thrived.

Daniel survived and thrived in Babylon.

That’s amazing.

And, what really hit me as we studied at the conference — he helped.

Pause for just a minute. I’m pretty sure if I am taken captive tomorrow and forced to live in another country where the king actively works against my faith and my God, I’m out. Helping is not making my list of priorities. Surviving? Yes. Working with the leadership? Ummm…no.

But Daniel wasn’t my kind of normal.

“Therefore, Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said thus to him: Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon; bring me before the king, and I will show the king the interpretation.” Daniel 2:24

What an interesting verse. Easy to miss…or ignore. Daniel could have stayed out of the king’s business. He could have stepped back and allowed these “wise men” who were ungodly servants of a wicked government to be taken out. He could have scolded all of them for their lack of Godly wisdom and faith. There are so many reasonable routes Daniel could have taken to stand up for truth, to see evil perish and bad men fail. He could have been a witness to them getting what they deserved.

But, Daniel chose to be an advocate for the ungodly.

Daniel chose to help and not hinder progress. Daniel chose to step in, speak out and step up. Daniel relied on the strength of God to help him do the impossible. Daniel lived out God’s plan for his life without hesitation, without worrying about what others would think. He was focused. He was intentional, and he did what too many Christians will not, he advocated for the ungodly.

And God was glorified. God intervened as the hero.

Have you considered that there may be a season or a time in your life when God will ask you to step in, speak out and step up for the wicked? Not because they deserve it and not because you agree with them, but because God wants to be known.

Just like Daniel, when Christ followers step into a dark place, the light of Jesus can be seen. The darker the place, the brighter God shines.

God is faithful to intervene when we are fully trusting and depending on Him.

Daniel, in his own strength, did not have the answers. He offered no solution to the king’s problem without the help and wisdom of God.

Christians today are the same: we have no solutions for the unhealthy, spiritually dead, sinful, dangerous, wicked world apart from the help and wisdom of God.

Are we willing to be like Daniel? Are we willing to step in or speak out or step up in the power of God to help the wicked?

Or would we rather watch them fail?

God wants to be known. God wants to be the hero in every story.

The prophet and preacher Ezekiel asks in chapter 18 verse 23 of his book, “Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?”

God wants a relationship with all people.

Because of Daniel’s life in exile, a kingdom met God. Wicked people turned and found life.

Because of Jesus Christ’s life, death and resurrection; I met God. This sinful girl turned and found life.

Who needs you to step in and step up for them? How can you help the wicked?
Be like Daniel. Be like Jesus.

Pray.

Father, forgive me for judging and criticizing when I should be advocating and helping. Show me how, Lord. Show me who. Fill me with your Spirit and your wisdom and give me your words and your ways to reach people who desperately need you. Reveal who you are, Lord GOD! Use your people to stand in the gaps, to shine and make a difference in the darkest places for your own glory and your own sake. In Jesus name, Amen.