by Loren Gjesdal
Among the most remarkable compliments a human being has ever heard is this: “At the beginning of your supplications the command was issued, and I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed” (Daniel 9:23, emphasis mine). Daniel was told twice that he was highly esteemed in heaven by no one less than the angel Gabriel, one who stands in the presence of God (10:11; Luke 1:19)!
The word translated “esteemed” in Daniel 9:23 in the NASB is translated “greatly beloved” (ASV, KJV), “greatly loved” (ESV), “precious” (NLT), and “highly respected” (GW). According to Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary, the root word has the sense of delight. The translators’ challenge was to find a word to express God’s delight in Daniel. What word would the translators search for to express God’s heart toward me or you?
What would prompt the God of all creation to dispatch one of only two named messengers in Scripture to rush an answer to Daniel’s prayers? What was it about Daniel that the God of heaven would delight in him? This should make us consider the kind of people we need to become to be highly esteemed in heaven.
Faithful prophet
Think back over Daniel’s life, and remember some of the notable events recorded in Scripture.
Taken hostage to a foreign country as a teenager, Daniel took the lead to live according to his convictions, even though he had no official standing (1:3, 8). When he was audited by jealous rivals, they could find no fault in his performance or integrity (6:4). When commanded to pray to the king of Babylon, Daniel instead went to his open window to pray to the God of Israel (v. 10). It’s no wonder he became the trusted advisor and right-hand man to multiple kings in the greatest known empire of his time (2:48; 5:29; 6:3)!
There are still two more events to consider in Daniel’s extraordinary life that might help us get closer to the character trait we should emulate, even in ordinary circumstances — a trait that Scripture notes as hall-of-faith worthy.
Overseeing Babylon
One of those events involved King Nebuchadnezzar.
There was a time when God had to humble Nebuchadnezzar. Otherwise, the world would think that he had conquered Judah and burned the temple of God under his own power, rather than as God’s servant of judgment against Judah’s idolatry. For seven years Nebuchadnezzar was insane, eating grass like an ox, utterly incapable of preserving his place on the throne (4:30-33).
After interpreting Nebuchadnezzar’s earlier dream about a statue, Daniel was appointed administrator of the province of Babylon (2:48). It is not improbable that Daniel held the reins of power over Babylon during those seven years. If so, then it would also be true that Daniel protected Nebuchadnezzar and fulfilled God’s promise to restore the kingdom once the king acknowledged that “it is Heaven that rules” (4:26).
Kings have fallen victim to palace intrigues for far less than seven years of insanity. It would have taken tremendous skill to hold the kingdom together, let alone preserve Nebuchadnezzar’s ability to return to the throne. It would have also taken a particular kingdom perspective.
Why didn’t Daniel take the throne himself and reign in righteousness? Why didn’t he take advantage of the opportunity to seize power, release the Jews from captivity, and use the wealth of Babylon to rebuild the temple?
One reason is certainly that God had determined seventy years as the term of exile (9:2). Another is that He had named Cyrus as the one to give the command to rebuild (Isaiah 44:28), and still another is that Daniel knew firsthand not to usurp God’s sovereignty.
Belshazzar’s feast
But a similar event gives us essential insight to understand the heart of a man who would not yield to the temptations of fame, fortune, or power.
Belshazzar, a successor to Nebuchadnezzar, held a prolonged drunken party to show off his wealth. He brought out the vessels used to worship God in the temple and used them to worship Babylonian idols. A giant hand appeared and wrote some unintelligible words on the wall, bringing a sober hush to the raucous scene.
The terrified king offered wealth and a position as third in command to anyone who could interpret the writing. Daniel was summoned and gave this telling response to the king’s generous offer: “Keep your gifts for yourself or give your rewards to someone else; however, I will read the inscription to the king and make the interpretation known to him” (Daniel 5:17).
Why was Daniel so highly esteemed in heaven? Why was God’s heart delighted in him? Because God was Daniel’s delight. He had his heart set solely on treasuring God’s kingdom. Daniel resisted the temptation to abuse power. He could be trusted to hold power and would rather die than compromise, because what was most important to Daniel was God’s approval. The wealth, power, and approval of men held no appeal and so had no tug on his heart.
Leadership qualities
This column is written under the heading of “Leadership,” so let’s take a quick peek at some of the qualities that made Daniel such a respected leader in multiple administrations.
He demonstrated competence, dependability, and integrity. These three pillars will support the respect of men and women in secular or sacred realms. A loss of any one of these supports will result in a loss of respect, and thereby, loss of effective leadership.
To hold high esteem in heaven, however, to be God’s delight, to have angels dispatched with urgency to answer our prayers, something more must be added to the three leadership pillars. Our highest allegiance must be to the King of Kings, our life like that of an exile estranged from our homeland, considering the reproach of Christ as greater riches than anything this world can offer (Hebrews 11:13, 26). May we be God’s delight because, like Daniel, God’s kingdom is our whole world. Such men and women are highly esteemed in heaven, eligible to hear the greatest compliment ever to be spoken: “Well done . . . enter into the joy of your master” (Matthew 25:21).
