Same O, Same O
- Alan Fong
- Jul 8
- 3 min read
Today's Verse:
Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation. ~Daniel 5:12
Sometimes when an old acquaintance and I see each other, we will ask how the other is doing. Often, one of us replies by saying, “Same O, same O.” This is a way of saying, “I’m still the same! Nothing has changed. I’m the same person doing the same things as you knew before.” In many ways, it is a comfort and great relief that someone you haven’t seen in a long time is still the same. In our passage of Scripture this morning, Belshazzar, the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar, is the king of Babylon. He was startled by the appearance of a man’s hand that wrote a message on the wall of his banqueting house. He wanted to know the meaning of the message, but none of his “wise men” could decipher it. The queen and his lords told him about Daniel. They told him that the same Daniel was the man that interpreted the dreams of his grandfather and that he could do the same for him. What a powerful description concerning Daniel: the same Daniel. That description of Daniel speaks to us about the importance of being faithful and steadfast.
Daniel was the same in his convictions.
The first thing mentioned about Daniel is that “Daniel purposed in his heart not to defile himself with the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank” (Daniel 1:8). A conviction is something you believe so strongly in that you will not change that belief. He had unchangeable convictions about his testimony. He determined to live for God even though he had been moved to Babylon. He had unchangeable convictions about the truth. The first time he interpreted a dream for Nebuchadnezzar, he told this king about a stone being cut out without hands that would destroy all kingdoms. He was referring to none other than God and His kingdom. As he stood before this powerful, pagan king, he let it be known that the truth was that there was only one God Who is all powerful and mighty. Daniel was unwavering when it came to his convictions concerning God.
Daniel was the same in his capacity.
Daniel was a man in his 80’s when he appeared before Belshazzar. The queen and his lords said “the same Daniel” can interpret what you saw. Capacity refers to how much you can handle, how much you can do, and how much you are. Daniel was just as much a man who was faithful, filled with the Spirit, and of an excellent spirit at that moment as he was in the past. Trials, disappointments, and growing older did not alter his capacity. Men who walk with God do not diminish in their spiritual capacity as they grow older. We see this in Moses, Joshua, Caleb, Elijah, Elisha, Samuel, Paul, Peter, and John. Acts 21:16 speaks about an old disciple named Mnason. He was a man who had great capacity. The more you are filled with the Spirit, the more you can do for the Lord.
Daniel was the same in his capability.
The reason they thought about Daniel was because at critical times in the past, he could solve the king’s dreams. Being the same in capability means we should be able to do well what we have done in the past. As teachers, we should teach well. As prayer warriors, we should pray well. As servants of the Lord, we should serve well. As friends, we should be of a same spirit. It’s a great testimony to the Lord when people see the same faithful faces singing in choir, practicing in orchestra, witnessing to others, and being productive in whatever they do.
Daniel was the same. He was steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. Are you the same? Are you the same in doctrine, duty, and devotion? Are you the same in public as well as in private?
Have a steadfast God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Psalms 133-139
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