You know them. We all know them. They are the people we run to when we need them to pray with us in troubling or cataclysmic situations in our lives. They are “lions” in prayer because they believe, really believe in the One whom they are calling upon. Believing makes them strong lions of faith and strength, overcomers with confidence, no matter what situation they are thrown into—even a den of wild animals. No, I’m not talking about the church nursery…but a real den of real lions!
Know God. Know a Daniel. Be a Daniel for others!
Daniel 6, The Message
Daniel in the Lions’ Den
1-3 Darius reorganized his kingdom. He appointed one hundred twenty governors to administer all the parts of his realm. Over them were three vice-regents, one of whom was Daniel. The governors reported to the vice-regents, who made sure that everything was in order for the king. But Daniel, brimming with spirit and intelligence, so completely outclassed the other vice-regents and governors that the king decided to put him in charge of the whole kingdom.
4-5 The vice-regents and governors got together to find some old scandal or skeleton in Daniel’s life that they could use against him, but they couldn’t dig up anything. He was totally exemplary and trustworthy. They could find no evidence of negligence or misconduct. So they finally gave up and said, “We’re never going to find anything against this Daniel unless we can scheme up something religious.”
6-7 The vice-regents and governors conspired together and then went to the king and said, “King Darius, live forever! We’ve convened your vice-regents, governors, and all your leading officials, and have agreed that the king should issue the following decree:
For the next thirty days no one is to pray to any god or mortal except you, O king. Anyone who disobeys will be thrown into the lions’ den.
8 “Issue this decree, O king, and make it unconditional, as if written in stone like all the laws of the Medes and the Persians.”
9 King Darius signed the decree.
10 When Daniel learned that the decree had been signed and posted, he continued to pray just as he had always done. His house had windows in the upstairs that opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he knelt there in prayer, thanking and praising his God.
11-12 The conspirators came and found him praying, asking God for help. They went straight to the king and reminded him of the royal decree that he had signed. “Did you not,” they said, “sign a decree forbidding anyone to pray to any god or man except you for the next thirty days? And anyone caught doing it would be thrown into the lions’ den?”
“Absolutely,” said the king. “Written in stone, like all the laws of the Medes and Persians.”
13 Then they said, “Daniel, one of the Jewish exiles, ignores you, O king, and defies your decree. Three times a day he prays.”
14 At this, the king was very upset and tried his best to get Daniel out of the fix he’d put him in. He worked at it the whole day long.
15 But then the conspirators were back: “Remember, O king, it’s the law of the Medes and Persians that the king’s decree can never be changed.”
16 The king caved in and ordered Daniel brought and thrown into the lions’ den. But he said to Daniel, “Your God, to whom you are so loyal, is going to get you out of this.”
17 A stone slab was placed over the opening of the den. The king sealed the cover with his signet ring and the signet rings of all his nobles, fixing Daniel’s fate.
18 The king then went back to his palace. He refused supper. He couldn’t sleep. He spent the night fasting.
19-20 At daybreak the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. As he approached the den, he called out anxiously, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve so loyally, saved you from the lions?”
21-22 “O king, live forever!” said Daniel. “My God sent his angel, who closed the mouths of the lions so that they would not hurt me. I’ve been found innocent before God and also before you, O king. I’ve done nothing to harm you.”
23 When the king heard these words, he was happy. He ordered Daniel taken up out of the den. When he was hauled up, there wasn’t a scratch on him. He had trusted his God.
24 Then the king commanded that the conspirators who had informed on Daniel be thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. Before they hit the floor, the lions had them in their jaws, tearing them to pieces.
25-27 King Darius published this proclamation to every race, color, and creed on earth:
Peace to you! Abundant peace!
I decree that Daniel’s God shall be worshiped and feared
in all parts of my kingdom.
He is the living God, world without end. His kingdom
never falls.
His rule continues eternally.
He is a savior and rescuer.
He performs astonishing miracles in heaven and on earth.
He saved Daniel from the power of the lions.
* * *
28 From then on, Daniel was treated well during the reign of Darius, and also in the following reign of Cyrus the Persian.
WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?
Working for a denomination in the religious world, the worst words you can hear are, “So, we had a meeting…,” especially if you were not IN the meeting. Daniel’s peers in leadership were so jealous of Daniel’s character traits that included the words “exemplary and trustworthy” that they had to scheme to bring him down. It is interesting to note that they used Daniel’s greatest asset—His communion with God through prayer. Obviously, the schemers did not have these character traits in their lives!
Daniel faith and belief in the Living God influenced the King but not enough for the King to realize that he was being played but men full of jealousy for Daniel who was “not in their circle”. Have you ever been in these situations? Jealousy is another form of hate which stems from our root-sin of self. Envy follows along with sarcasm and complaining while scheming to bring down those who are currently doing the work and doing it well.
I have worked alongside schemers who tried their best to bring me down while I was doing the work I was assigned to do. Going over and beyond really ticks off schemers who want you to do what they do—only what is required—or less. I have found that praying like Daniel with faith knowing that God would take care of the situation without me as He changes the hearts of those opposing me while changing my heart works! These sincere, honest prayers work because God is always at work for our good and best! He loves us that much and more!
God knows us, inside and out. (Psalm 139) There is nothing hidden from God. Nothing in our lives, good or bad, escapes the notice of God! So, trust God! The One and Only who loved us before we loved Him and loves us unconditionally, beyond our wildest thinking, will take care of us. Believe and be saved from the lions in our lives.
Be lions of trust in God through courageous, faithful prayer in communion with God. We cannot really know God without talking AND listening to God…just like any other relationship we build. But this, THIS relationship with God is the most important relationship we will ever have. It is a relationship we need now and forever—until Jesus comes to take us home. This relationship makes all other relationships better and produces the lasting, spiritual fruits we all want to have. (See Galatians 5 for the list!)
Lean into God. Look full in His wonderful face like Daniel did as he look toward his home in Jerusalem and up into the heavens to God, the Father from his window. Never, never, never stop praying to God! This communion with God is God’s way of making us holy before Him.
Daniel did not stop praying because he belonged to God. (Read that again.)
Who do you belong to and to whom do you worship?
Who do you think about most?
Who do you talk to and listen to most?
The answers might be clues to the measure of our faith.
Lord,
Thank you for helping us come to the lion’s den to learn what you want us to know for today. There is more here to meditate upon so I will listen to you all day long. Teach me, Lord, for I am your servant.
In Jesus Name, Amen
Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus) 