“Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.” (Daniel 6:3)
An excellent spirit was in him…
Whatdoes it mean to have anexcellent spirit?
In my mind, it means to forgive others easily, be honest, pure of heart and intention, kind to everyone, and above reproach. The kind of person that people trust, feel comfortable around, and never feel like the individual has a hidden agenda. The type of person that is unwavering in their personal convictions and doesn’t yield to outside pressure.
Daniel must have had these attributes.
Daniel’s Excellent Spirit
Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes.That is, he was at their head, or was placed in rank and office over them. “Because an excellent spirit was in him.” This may refer alike to his wisdom and his integrity-both of which would be necessary in such an office. It was an office of great difficulty and responsibility to manage the affairs of the empire in a proper manner, and required the talents of an accomplished statesman, and, at the same time, as it was an office where confidence was reposed by the sovereign, it demanded integrity. The word “excellent” yatiyraa° means, properly, what hangs over, or which is abundant, or more than enough, and then anything that is very great, excellent, pre-eminent. Latin Vulgate, Spiritus Dei amplior – “the spirit of God more abundantly.”” – From Barnes Commentary
Opposition
LRight after Daniel’s interpretation of the supernatural writing on the king’s wall that said “Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin”, which meant the king was going to be killed, he faced the test of being thrown into the lion’s den because he ignored the decree to only bow to the king, and instead kept his habit of bowing and praying to Jehovah God.
It is notable that at this time in Daniel’s career, he was 3rd in the kingdom, yet he still held to his integrity before God and did not compromise his beliefs.
God Delivers Daniel
“Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel:…
…and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?…
…Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt. Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God…
…And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den. Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end. He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.”
Pursuing an Excellent Spirit
I believe that most Christians desire to have an excellent spirit like Daniel. We all want to show the love of Christ, hold fast to our beliefs, and not bow to peer pressure.
Yet all too often we fall short. We lose our temper. We get lazy in our spiritual disciplines. We compromise our integrity. Or we simply slip into mediocrity at home, at work, and with our families.
In my way of thinking, it is the refusal to slip, bend, or bow that makes the difference between someone with an average spirit and someone with an excellent spirit.
An average spirited person attends church regularly, but an excellent spirited person never misses church unless seriously ill, and is always there early for prayer and preparation.
An average spirited person prays, but an excellent spirited person prays every single day, and lingers in God’s presence for as long as it takes to have had full communion with him.
And an average spirited person endures their job, but an excellent spirited sees their job as an extension of their life’s calling, and therefore represents Christ in all of the details of their work from being on time to performing well.
What about you?
Are you an excellent spirited Christian or an average spirited one?
Which do you want to be?
Let’s Pray
Lord Jesus, forgive us for our tendency to be mediocre. Remove laziness of spirit, and complacency from our lives. Empower us to strive for excellence in all things. Grant us a heartfelt desire to serve you as Daniel did so that others may see an excellent spirit in us. In Jesus Name, Amen.