Today has been a miserable, stay in bed kind of day and as I sit here looking out of the bay window of my bedroom, the sky is cold, clinical and distant. Thunder threatens from a distance and then breaks near, invading the space of silence. As the rain pours down, I can only think of and imagine how many tears have poured down faces in the past month, in light of the Corona Pandemic which we, as a globe, are facing.
As I continued reading Daniel, I came across the account of “Daniel and the Lions Den”, the Bible Story we are all so familiar with! I mean who hasn’t made a lion craft after learning this story at Sunday School? Exactly!
As I perused through these 28 verses of chapter 6, I thought of the three men in the fire from chapter 3, how they stood firm, stepped up and stood in solidarity (you can read my earlier post about them if you like) and Daniel followed suit, except this time the word reveals another element to Daniels heroic story. Let’s take a look:
Daniel 6:10 “When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.” {ESV}
Daniels immediate response to the declaration of the new law, was to return to his prayer closet, get down on his knees, to pray and give thanks to his God, just as he had done every other day. Same thing. Same time. Same place. He chose to stand firm to his convictions that his God is the Living God, who endures forever. He also stepped up and boldly continued to pray from his upper room with windows opened towards Jerusalem. Nothing changed for Daniel.
And nothing should change for us. At this time of crisis, of pandemic, of uncertainty, we should be even more devoted to prayer, being watchful and thankful (Col 4:2).
Unfortunately this decision led the King to have no other choice but to cast Daniel into the den of lions. Note his final words to Daniel before placing the stone on the mouth of the den, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” (Verse 16)
Daniels testimony had already gone before him. He had stood firm in his faith and had not wavered in his devotion to the Lord!
After a sleepless night, the King races to the den and calls out to Daniel. It is said of him in verse 23, “ and no kind of harm was found on him (Daniel) because he had trusted in his God” It brings to mind Proverbs 3:5, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” I wonder if Daniel had a moment of complete confusion as he stood watching the stone closing him in to the den? Have you had moments of utter confusion as the events of the last few weeks have played out? How wonderful that we can trust in the Lord and not have to try to work out or make sense of our circumstances!
So then Daniel is pulled out of the den and King Darius then writes to all the people’s that dwell in all the earth and the first thing he says is “ Peace be multiplied to you” And I wanna say to you, today and declare the word of the Lord to you, PEACE BE WITH YOU. Peace be in your home, peace be in your heart, peace be in your mind and in your thoughts, peace be in your family and your daily rhythms. May the peace of the Lord be with you!
And finally he declares in verse 26, “ for he is the Living God, enduring forever, his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end. He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth,”
So what was the other element to this story? I am so glad you asked. It is simply that Daniel prayed. He got down on his knees, three times a day, and prayed!
EM BOUNDS writes that “prayer is the greatest of all forces because it honours God and brings Him into active aid.” Prayer enables us to return our focus to the Lord, to honour and glorify him and out of that place to petition and cry out to Him!
Let’s stand firm and continue to pray for our nation, our homes, our hearts, our families and friends, our president, those in desperate circumstances, the medical world and all it’s staff, our church leaders and not neglecting the hearts of those who do not yet know the Lord. And let’s step up, devote ourselves and commit to passionately pursuing prayer no matter what, no matter where, no matter how!
Sending love from my home to yours xxx
hope of heart 