Daniel is a good example of someone who remained in agreement with God while serving pagan kings and not feeling pressured to be in agreement with them.
But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. Daniel 1:8
So Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, “Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then let our appearance be examined before you, and the appearance of the young men who eat the portion of the king’s delicacies; and as you see fit, so deal with your servants.” So he consented with them in this matter, and tested them ten days. Daniel 1:11-14
Now at the end of the days, when the king had said that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. Then the king interviewed them, and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they served before the king. And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm. Thus Daniel continued until the first year of King Cyrus. Daniel 1:18-23
Daniel was a teenager when he was brought to the king’s quarters. This young man had a strong foundation in his faith, and he was secure in his identity as a child of God. This allowed him to pass his first test with flying colors when he arrived at the palace. Daniel had resolved that he was not going to eat the king’s delicacies, and God gave him the wisdom to negotiate a deal without being offensive to the king or his chief eunuchs.
One of the big areas of our downfall in being compelled to agree with others is our insecurities. We want to fit it, and we don’t want others to look down upon us. Daniel was not concerned about that. He just wanted to be pleasing to God with the temple the Lord had given him.
Furthermore, Daniel had no ambitions to be in the king’s quarters; he was brought there by the King’s decision. Daniel never forgot his first and foremost allegiance. He continued to worship the Lord and prayed to him regardless of the consequences. This became an opportunity for his counterparts to scheme against him and to take advantage of the situation by trying to eliminate him. But the Lord was with him even in the lion’s den. Daniel remained respectful of his superiors and did not try to convince them that they were wrong. The Lord was his deliverer, and He protected him from all his enemies.
If we want to remain free from being compelled to agree with others, we need to check our ambitions at the door. If we have ambitions for better or higher positions, they will compel us to agree with others to not lose a potential promotion.
Daniel did not seek out friendships with the satraps, magicians, or astrologers. He did not try to compete with them and make himself look better than they were. They probably spent a lot of time in the king’s quarters kissing up to him ensuring that they were on his shortlist to call upon. However, that was not Daniel. He minded his own business, and he was busy praying three times a day. He probably spent many lonely years not having many friends. Daniel did not allow himself to be corrupted by the atmosphere around him.
If we seek out relationships or allow ourselves to be defined by them, we will be vulnerable to agree with others when we know we shouldn’t be.
Daniel’s accuracy in interpreting dreams and his great wisdom and understanding was due to the fact that he had sanctified himself to the Lord. One of those areas of sanctification was not to pollute himself by coming into agreement with the kings he served. As a matter of fact, he had to deliver some tough dream interpretations that could have displeased the king, but that did not deter Daniel.
If we desire to please God and be his spokesperson, we need to be comfortable hearing God when the message is different from what others are hearing. If we are too insecure, we will seek out the agreement in prophecy with those around us thereby, potentially, contaminating the authenticity and accuracy of what God wants to share.
Daniel had success not because he was agreement with the kings he served but because he had an excellent spirit allowing him stand before kings. (See Daniel 5:12 and proverbs 22:29). Daniel effectively served four different kings and had longevity in his ministry because he remained in agreement with God above all. God was with him, and Daniel had resolved to remain a holy vessel for the work of the Lord rather than living in carnality and being accepted by others. Praise God!