Wednesday December 6
Daniel 6:1-19 Daniel thrown in the
lion’s den
It pleased Darius to set over the
kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, stationed throughout the whole kingdom,
and over them three presidents, including Daniel; to these the satraps gave
account, so that the king might suffer no loss. Soon Daniel distinguished
himself above all the other presidents and satraps because an excellent spirit
was in him, and the king planned to appoint him over the whole kingdom. So the
presidents and the satraps tried to find grounds for complaint against Daniel
in connection with the kingdom. But they could find no grounds for complaint or
any corruption, because he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption could
be found in him. The men said, ‘We shall not find any ground for complaint
against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.’
So the presidents and
satraps conspired and came to the king and said to him, ‘O King Darius,
live forever! All the presidents of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps,
the counsellors and the governors, are agreed that the king should establish an
ordinance and enforce an interdict, that whoever prays to anyone, divine or
human, for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into a den
of lions. Now, O king, establish the interdict and sign the document, so
that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and the Persians,
which cannot be revoked.’ Therefore King Darius signed the document and
interdict.
Although Daniel knew that
the document had been signed, he continued to go to his house, which had
windows in its upper room open towards Jerusalem, and to get down on his knees
three times a day to pray to his God and praise him, just as he had done
previously. The conspirators came and found Daniel praying and seeking mercy
before his God. Then they approached the king and said concerning the
interdict, ‘O king! Did you not sign an interdict that anyone who prays to
anyone, divine or human, within thirty days except to you, O king, shall
be thrown into a den of lions?’ The king answered, ‘The thing stands fast,
according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked.’ Then
they responded to the king, ‘Daniel, one of the exiles from Judah, pays no
attention to you, O king, or to the interdict you have signed, but he is
saying his prayers three times a day.’
When the king heard the
charge, he was very much distressed. He was determined to save Daniel, and
until the sun went down he made every effort to rescue him. Then the
conspirators came to the king and said to him, ‘Know, O king, that it is a
law of the Medes and Persians that no interdict or ordinance that the king
establishes can be changed.’
Then the king gave the
command, and Daniel was brought and thrown into the den of lions. The king said
to Daniel, ‘May your God, whom you faithfully serve, deliver you!’ A stone was
brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own
signet and with the signet of his lords, so that nothing might be changed
concerning Daniel. Then the king went to his palace and spent the night
fasting; no food was brought to him, and sleep fled from him.
Then, at break of day, the
king got up and hurried to the den of lions.
****
Daniel, at age 90, kept to his God & believed in his
deliverance. He wouldn't pretend to believe in false idols of gold and silver.
(Maybe money or high social standing, now.) He willingly went into the lion's
den and God protected him for his faith. This miracle positively changed the
heart of the king.
Prayer: God, help me to hold fast to You, Your love and forgiveness and see You in the face of another needy, hurting, maybe angry person. Help me be gentle with other's seemingly self- centered focus on their next new device or their fantasy football picks. Keep my heart open to the needs of those I feel called to assist and give me patience to see the fears inside some helpers who create conflict as we come together to serve. In Jesus' name. Amen
Gail Pease
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