My bible reading in Daniel chapter 6 brought to me the ‘gem’ of the refreshing of the vivid example of faithfulness and faith, particularly in the hour of its trial, in the life of Daniel.
We see that this chapter is the account of when Daniel, through jealousy of others and by reason of his faithfulness and faith in the one true God, was thrown into a den of lions. The one true God, the God of Israel by the greatness of His grace and power delivered Daniel by keeping him safe from being torn to shreds by lions throughout that night, bringing him up and out of the lions’ den the following morning!
What made it so wonderful is that I had read this same chapter a few days before but felt at that time I needed more time than was available then to ponder a bit more deeply what I had read. The ‘light’ gleaned from the reading today made me so thankful that I did re-read the chapter, for the leading of my thoughts, together with the principal “lesson” obtained, were precious indeed.
Please do go ahead and read Daniel chapter 6 and may the Lord Yeshua be pleased to use something of the thoughts below to encourage you too. Firstly, I noted in particular the following points:
- Verse 3 says that ‘an excellent spirit was in him’ and that this was so apparent that the king wanted to set Daniel over all his realm. This excellent spirt was also apparent to Daniel’s jealous colleagues, as verse 4 states, ‘So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom [that is, of the Medes]; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him.’
- Those who conspired against him, clearly through jealousy and envy, could find no “hook” to hang their plots on. There was actually nothing they could accuse him of and no way of bringing Daniel down, except they find a way to use his faith in God against him. This was the only way.
- So the conspirators came up with their plan to trap Daniel by encouraging and hood-winking Darius the king to decree no other worship be permitted by anyone to any god but to himself for thirty days. When the decree was signed by Darius, making it unalterable law according to the law of the Medes and Persians legal system, Daniel didn’t alter his course or act up in decided rebellion. He simply continued in his usual practice – exercising his faith and dependency upon God. Verse 10: ‘Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.’
- Of course, he was found out by those conspiring against him (who probably followed him home, undoubtedly they would have been aware of Daniel manner of prayer to his God, or at the very least, have been watching him carefully). After these wicked people reported Daniel’s worship of God to the king, they – seeing that the kind tried his best to rescue Daniel out of the decree he had made law – worked on Darius, reminding him that it could not been undone. The king himself was therefore not able to deliver Daniel (see verses 14-15). In the end even Darius had to admit that the only one who could help Daniel now was his God (v.16).
- The morning after the night before when Daniel had been thrown in the lions’ den, it’s discovered by Darius – who had had a completely joyless evening devoid of his usual food and entertainment, and a restlessly sleepless night (v.18) – that God had indeed rescued Daniel from the lions! ‘Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.”’ (v.21-22)
The end of the matter is that Daniel’s conspirators in a reversal of all their hopes were all punished – severely – and Daniel himself rescued ‘prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.’(v.28). Moreover. king Darius also gave glory to the true God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel who Daniel served, and proclaimed this by decree, which according to the Law of the Medes and Persians could not be altered.
Hallelujah!
And so, the “lessons” and “light” from the above gleanings for me today were principally these:
- A lesson of pursuing uprightness in every area of life – work, private/personal and in any spiritual work, so that the world has nothing to accuse us of and if they must do so, the only can be that we are faithful to God in living out our faith in Him (vs. 3-5).
- Let the usual personal practice of living out your faith faithfully in God in obedience to His word and Holy Spirit continue unaltered no matter the trial – especially in the area of prayer as it was here for Daniel, or whatever matter or expression of faith expressed as unto the Lord and in accordance with His will that is being turned into an accusation against you. I was struck by how Daniel didn’t suddenly start praying three times a day in response to the decree or as an act of rebellion, but rather, it was his usual custom (vs10-11).
- To understand and be fully persuaded from the heart that there some things in which no man – no matter how powerful or with the greatest will in the world – will be able to deliver you from. In some – all? – cases of trial and suffering for your faith it truly is ‘not by might, nor by power’ but by God alone. Here, I was also reminded of the response of Shadrach, Meshack and Abed-Nego in their hour of trial, how they prepared their heart to accept the possibility that God would not deliver them from the fiery furnace and that it would have no impact on their faith in the true God, which would not permit them to worship a false one in order to escape the fiery furnace. Their trust in God did not waiver. Daniel 3:17-18 ‘…our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”’
- One of the things which can attack our faith is the knowledge of some guilt, some unconfessed, unrepented sin, transgression and/or iniquity. Daniel had done nothing wrong in his work for King Darius. His trial and persecution came about not because of any wrong conduct or words, not through some deceit, some hasty, rash and foolish conduct or presumption – nothing of the sort. All they could accuse him of was his faithfulness and faith in the one true God. When Darius the king found that the God of Israel, had indeed rescued Daniel miraculously, Daniel said at v.22, “My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.” Thinking about this issue, I was reminded of the words of John at 1 John 3:20-22, ‘ For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.’
I was so thankful for these wonderful “reminder-lessons” from the life of Daniel on steadfast faith in faithfulness to Almighty God our heavenly Father and Redeemer and Lord Yeshua the Messiah. May I know the Lord’s grace to keep them in mind and pursue these things through the grace of God and in the power of the Holy Spirit.
May it be so for you too – as directed by Lord Yeshua the King.
God bless you.
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