January 19, 2003
One
of the most loved stories since our Sunday School days is that of Daniel in the
Lion’s Den. And yet the most mature
Christian can learn much from this giant of the faith that lived so many years
ago. Let’s look at it again.
As
a youth Daniel and three of his young friends were captured and sent to Babylon
to be trained for serving in the king’s court.
They were given a daily ration of the king’s choice food and wine and
educated for three years, after which time they were to enter the king’s
personal service. However, Daniel made
up his mind that he would not defile himself and sought permission from the
commander of the officials that he and his friends would not eat the king’s
rations, but a diet of vegetables (Daniel 1:8). At the end of the test period, the appearance of the four youth
seemed better and they were fatter than all the youths who had been eating the
king’s choice food (1:16) and entered into the king’s personal service as the
king found them ten times better than the others in wisdom and understanding
(1:19-20).
King
Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that none of his wise men could interpret. Angry, the king ordered all the wise men
killed, which would include Daniel and his friends. Daniel went to the king and requested time to declare the
interpretation of the dream, sought compassion and wisdom from God and the
mystery was revealed to him (2:18-19).
Daniel found favor in the eyes of the king and, as a reward, was
appointed ruler over the entire province (2:48).
After
the deaths of Nebuchadnezzar and his son, Belshazzar, Darius was made king and
Daniel found favor with him also and, as a result, was appointed over the
entire realm of satraps (assistants to the king). They did not like Daniel and sought to bring accusation against
him. They searched every part of his
life but could not find anything with which to accuse him. They then plotted to have Darius sign a
decree stating that anyone found bowing down to another king should be cast
into a den of lions with which Darius readily agreed (6:1-9).
Daniel,
in obedience to God, continued kneeling three times a day, praying and giving
thanks before Him. Being found
worshipping, the satraps brought Daniel before the king and demanded the
sentence carried out. Darius had
forgotten that Daniel worshipped the God of heaven and tried to save Daniel
from his fate but, being reminded that a decree by the king could not be
changed, ordered Daniel thrown into the den of lions saying, “Your God whom you
constantly serve will Himself deliver you” (6:16).
God
did not deliver Daniel from the lions, but protected him in their midst. This made a great impression on Darius who
gave orders that the men who had maliciously accused Daniel be cast, with their
wives and children, into the lion’s den (6:24). He then made a decree that all in his kingdom were to fear and
tremble before the God of Daniel, recognizing Him as the living God who would
endure forever (6:26).
The
Lesson:
• Obedience. Daniel obeyed God’s commands.
• Challenge. Daniel remained faithful when challenged,
even when the consequence was death.
• Commitment. Daniel was committed to serving his God.
• Confidence. Daniel was confident that God would be with
him, no matter what.
It
is our responsibility to obey God. God
is responsible for the consequences. So
take heart, Christian as God will take care of His own for hasn’t He promised
never to fail us or forsake us? The
same God who was with Daniel all those years ago, is with us today. Praise His name!
Love
to you all,