Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Dare to be a Daniel -- Let the Lions Roar -- You Will Be Safe!

It is in the Scriptures. A man was unjustly accused and affected by an unjust, stupid law. People plotted against him for political reasons. But God had the final say, and Daniel made it through the lion's den, and in the end his plotters were eaten by the lions themselves! (Read Daniel 6:1-28). Daniel did not let circumstances affect his faith in God and his practices of worshipping God. But there were those who plotted against him. Here is how the story begins:

"It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss. Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent."

"Finally these men said, "We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God." So the administrators and the satraps went as a group to the king and said: "O King Darius, live forever! The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or man during the next thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into the lions' den. Now, O king, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered - in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians [see Ancient Empires - Persia], which cannot be repealed." So King Darius put the decree in writing."

"Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and Prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: "Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or man except to you, O king, would be thrown into the lions' den?"

Ah, yes, Daniel was thrown in with the lions, but God sent an angel to protect Daniel, and the rest of the story is one of overcoming tough circumstances! He was protected and he ended up prospering, while his enemies perished in their own plot. Praise the Lord!

Perhaps you feel like you have been thrown into a lion's den, surrounded by possible harm. Perhaps you are the victim of deceitful plotters, of lies and unjust situations, of stupid laws and evil people. If so, remember Daniel, because he found victory while looking danger in the mouth (several mouths to be exact). Hold on to your faith in God and you will see such a victory, too!

No comments: