I am still reading the book of Daniel.
And this verse Daniel 5:31 struck me as I ponder my maturing years.
Dan 5:30 That very night Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians, was slain,
Dan 5:31 and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom, at the age of sixty-two
As we mature and in spite of maintaining our physicality and fitness, we realize that our body is not the same as what it used to be.
I play badminton and soccer (weather permitting) weekly and I now experience a bit of tennis elbow and golfer's elbow.
When I climb a flight of steps the day after a game, my knees may suddenly feel some pain.
"So what is it like growing older?" we ask ourselves.
What can we accomplish for the LORD in our second half?
Dan 5:31 reminds us that we can possibly inaugurate a new kingdom even at the age of 62.
Darius the Mede, most probably another name for Cyrus the Persian (Joyce Baldwin, Tyndale OT Commentary, Daniel, pg. 26) overthrew the great Babylonian Empire to establish the Persian Empire in 539 BC.
And that is at the age of 62.
With God on our side, we can accomplish lots as He leads us.
Daniel himself is a great example of longevity of faithfulness and in faithfully serving the LORD in the various roles God had sovereignly positioned him.
Daniel was born sometime around 620 BC because he was deported to Babylon as a teenager (between 12-16 years) in 605 BC.
He served during the 43 year reign of Nebuchadnezzar from 605 BC to 562 BC (Events in Dan 1 - 4).
Daniel would be around 58 years old at the end of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar.
There is a silence on Daniel's life during the reigns of four Babylonian kings between Dan 4 to Dan 5.
The four Babylonian kings being:
1. Amel-Marduk (Evil-Merodach 2 Kings 25:27-30) reigning from 562-560 BC
2. Neriglissar, son-in-law of Nebuchadnezzar, 560-556 BC
3. Labashi-Marduk, 556 BC
4. Nabonidus (his eldest son Belshazzar acting as king in Babylon whilst Nabonidus was campaigning in Arabia), 556-539 BC
Here is a man who was so wise that King Nebuchadnezzar "made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men" (Dan 2:48) - but the four succeeding Babylonian kings did not consult him as Nebuchadnezzar did.
And Daniel was no longer remembered.
Between 562 BC to 539 BC, when Daniel was between 58-81 years old, he was in obscurity for a long period of 23 years.
For those in high places, who suddenly fade into obscurity, the life of Daniel is an encouragement.
Daniel maintained his connection with God.
He is obscure with the kings, officials and the nobility.
But he is not obscure with God.
He still received his visions and interpretation.
Daniel received visions from the Lord in the first year (552/551 BC) (Dan 7:1) and the third year (550/549 BC) of Belshazzar, when he was about 70 years old though he was not called into service in the Babylonian court.
In Dan 5, in 539 BC when Daniel is about 81 years old, he was suddenly called into Belshazzar's, the king's palace to interpret the handwriting on the wall.
This is a reminder for all of us, young and old, that God mobilizes us throughout our lives. The main thing is our connection with God.
For 23 years, Daniel was in obscurity and in limbo.
Suddenly at 81 years of age, he was called into service.
Then the Persians conquered the Babylonians.
Usually the officials and the nobility of the previous regime will be wiped out - Daniel included.
But God had chosen Darius / Cyrus to overthrow the Babylonians for a purpose.
Cyrus/Darius was to be the king who would release the Jews and restore and re-build Jerusalem in response to Daniel's prayer in Dan 9:1-2, 21, 23.
A confirmation that Cyrus/Darius was God's appointed king can be found in Dan 10:21-11:1.
A messenger - most probably the angel Gabriel - with the assistance of angel Michael, was protecting and supporting Darius / Cyrus.
Dan 10:21b (No one supports me against them except Michael, your prince.
Dan 11:1 And in the first year of Darius the Mede, I took my stand to support and protect him)
So amazingly, Daniel was restored to his high position.
He was appointed as one of the top three "administrators" (Dan 6:2) or "presidents" (KJV) overseeing 120 satraps / princes at the age of about 81 years in 539 BC.
Amazing right.
Are we prepared to be appointed in high places at 81 years of age?
Even after being in limbo for 23 years?
Darius inaugurated the new Persian Empire - overthrowing the Babylonian Empire - at the age of 62.
Amazing new things can happen even as we "mature".
I have been playing guitar for decades.
Strumming along with chords for worship.
Then I learnt something new from my son as he returned to Auckland for further studies after his National Service early this year.
I learnt to play "lead" guitar using scales with easy to remember patterns for every key.
I tell you it is a quantum leap in my guitar playing.
I can now let loose playing notes to support and enhance worship.
I am now helping with the worship team for Sunday service and it is so wonderful to be able to worship God in free worship - not only with new songs but with spontaneous lead guitar as well.
Imagine me rocking along at 55 years of age as I will try to play the electric guitar with the distortions and overdrive pedals.
I like it ...
Let us break new grounds as we mature ...
What is God saying to you ...
your new grounds ...?
or staying connected in transition ...?
Be encouraged in obscurity ...?
New thing coming ...?
