I conclude this brief overview of godly men, leadership, and politics in the Old Testament with a look at Daniel. He was taken into exile in Babylon as a young man and early on earmarked by the Babylonians for potential service within their governmental system.
Daniel 1:1-21: Here is an introduction to the situation faced by Daniel and his compatriots, with specific mention of how they held their convictions in the face of pressure to conform and ended up being vindicated.
Daniel 2:46-49: Nebuchadnezzar, in recognition of Daniel's gifts, sets him in high authority in Babylon, even over many native officials.
Daniel 3:8-30: Daniel's friends, previously placed by Daniel in similarly high authority, choose conscience over convenience. God again vindicates their faithful obedience.
Daniel 6:10-23: Jealous rivals conspire against Daniel and manage to bring about official condemnation. But Daniel remains unyielding, meekly in the real sense of that word, and God defends him. At the end, he is once again raised up while his rivals who meant to harm him met their deaths.
Although these servants got in trouble by obeying God rather than men, their actions ended up being celebrated by their earthly masters. We cannot always count on this--there have been many who laid down their lives rather than compromise with earthly rulers--but the reward for faithfulness to God is greater than the approval of men.
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