Bible Ballistics: Vol. 16 No. 23 Faithful Pray-er Or Panic-er??
As we finish up our look at Daniel and his friends, we look today at chapter 6, and we’ll see quite a contrast in kings and circumstances. We looked last week at an arrogant king who had no regard for God or the lessons he had the opportunity to learn from; and saw that king meet his doom. This week we’ll see the conquering king (although there were co-rulers in the empire, we will only consider one king) and even though a wise and discerning king, even the wise and discerning can be subject to ego, vanity and deceit.
“In that night was Belshazzar
the king of the Chaldeans
slain.
31 And Darius the Median
took the kingdom,
being about threescore and two years old.” Daniel 5:30-31
Darius the Mede has taken control of Babylon after invading the city, as God prophesied through Daniel and the “hand-writing on the wall”! Have you been paying heed to the “hand-writing” on your wall? Or will you be taken unaware? If we will pay attention to God’s voice and hand at work in our life, then we will find ourselves able to practice a faithful prayer life like Daniel.
“It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom
an hundred and twenty princes,
which should be over the whole kingdom;
2 And over these
three presidents;
of whom Daniel was first:
that the princes might give accounts
unto them,
and the king should have no damage.
3 Then this Daniel
was preferred
above the presidents
and princes,
because an excellent spirit
was in him;
and the king thought
to set him over the whole realm.
4 Then
the presidents
and princes
sought to find occasion
against Daniel
concerning the kingdom;
but they could find
none occasion
nor fault;
forasmuch as he was faithful,
neither was there any error
or fault
found in him.” Daniel 6:1-4
Remember God’s blessing on Daniel and his three friends?
“And the king communed with them;
and among them all
was found none
like Daniel,
Hananiah,
Mishael,
and Azariah:
therefore stood they before the king.
20 And in all matters
of wisdom
and understanding,
that the king enquired of them,
he found them ten times better
than all the magicians
and astrologers
that were in all his realm.” Daniel 1:19-20
Each of these men along with Daniel had “purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself”, and God honored their faithfulness in this hard place, by blessing them with ability and success in all of their endeavors. How does your faithfulness and mine measure up against such integrity? I hope well, but it doesn’t come without effort and devotion to God and His Word. God displayed his faithfulness and revealed himself through his faithful servants in a pagan land; and I believe there is a parallel for our consideration today—we are finding ourselves living in a pagan land—a land that is defying the Lord God Almighty; redefining virtually everything that HE has established, for greed, gain and self-promotion. How will we stand? For how long? Daniel has proven himself faithful for some 70 years in Babylon, and even the new Median King Darius sees the integrity and ability in “this Daniel” and promotes him to a place of honor and service; while he is considering an even greater promotion to chief in the land (under the king, of course)! BUT—not everyone was excited about Daniel’s integrity or his success. Why? I think for the same greed, gain and self-promotion that pervades our culture today. And I think, if you look closely, you’ll find the same tactics used these thousands of years ago, are being used today. Satan’s tactics never change. Let’s look?
“Then the presidents and princes
sought to find occasion against Daniel
concerning the kingdom;
but they could find none occasion
nor fault;
forasmuch as he was faithful,
neither was there any error
or fault
found in him.
5 Then said these men,
We shall not find any occasion
against this Daniel,
except we find it
against him
concerning the law of his God.” Daniel 6:4-5
I find it interesting that even Daniel’s enemies couldn’t find any “occasion against” him in the affairs of state; and just like politicians today, I’m sure they left no stone unturned to find some. Yet, these men in their eagerness to discredit Daniel, realized that they would have to be cunning and wily to discredit Daniel and could only trip him up with the “law of his God”. The very thing that brought him into favor with Nebuchadnezzar, would now be used to try and bring him into disfavor with King Darius. How hard would people have to look to find cause for discrediting us? For most of us—including me—not very far. We have all made bad choices, mistakes and just outright failures; but Daniel was a man of total honor, integrity and devotion to his God. How about you/me? These enemies went after Daniel in a way that brings me shame, for my faithfulness and consistency is often lacking in regard to my prayer and study of God’s Word. Let’s see what they come up with.
“Then these presidents and princes
assembled together to the king,
and said thus unto him,
King Darius,
live for ever.
7 All the presidents of the kingdom,
the governors,
and the princes,
the counsellors,
and the captains,
have consulted together
to establish a royal statute,
and to make a firm decree,
that whosoever shall ask
a petition of any God
or man
for thirty days,
save of thee,
O king,
he shall be cast
into the den of lions.
8 Now, O king,
establish the decree,
and sign the writing,
that it be not changed,
according to the law
of the Medes and Persians,
which altereth not.
9 Wherefore king Darius
signed the writing
and the decree.” Daniel 6:6-9
We ought to learn something from these men, a lesson in current affairs; their plan of attack started with a consensus of flattery, lies and deceit—ring any bells? They told the king that “all” of the “leaders” had agreed to this plan—“all” that is, but Daniel. But they left that part out! They included only the information they wanted others to know about, the truth was irrelevant! Sound familiar? Then they flattered the king and used his ego to trap Daniel. Are we so faithful to God that we could be trapped by our faithfulness? This king fell into the trap of ego and self-importance, and we need to be careful of the trap. And we also need to understand that the enemy doesn’t play by the same rules that we do!
So, back to Daniel, what does he do?
“Now when Daniel knew
that the writing was signed,
he went into his house;
and his windows being open in his chamber
toward Jerusalem,
he kneeled upon his knees
three times a day,
and prayed,
and gave thanks before his God,
as he did aforetime.
11 Then these men assembled,
and found Daniel praying
and making supplication
before his God.
12 Then they came near,
and spake before the king
concerning the king’s decree;
Hast thou not signed a decree,
that every man that shall ask a petition
of any God or man
within thirty days,
save of thee, O king,
shall be cast into the den of lions?
The king answered and said,
The thing is true,
according to the law
of the Medes and Persians,
which altereth not.
13 Then answered they and said before the king,
That Daniel,
which is of the children of the captivity
of Judah,
regardeth not thee, O king,
nor the decree
that thou hast signed,
but maketh his petition
three times a day.” Daniel 6:10-13
Here we find Daniel’s enemies gathered—probably at the only “prayer meeting” they’ve ever attended—to catch Daniel being faithful to his God. And just FYI, when they come to find us faithful to our God, what will they find. Will we be found continuing to be faithful? Will we have to scramble to even know how to pray? Or will we just count it too much trouble and cave to the culture around us?
“Then said Jesus unto his disciples,
If any man will come after me,
let him deny himself,
and take up his cross,
and follow me.
25 For whosoever will save his life
shall lose it:
and whosoever will lose his life
for my sake
shall find it.
26 For what is a man profited,
if he shall gain the whole world,
and lose his own soul?
or what shall a man give
in exchange for his soul?” Matthew 16:24-26
If you’re not following Him today, when do you intend to start? God already had a plan for Daniel, who, like Job, knew in Whom he trusted.
“Though he slay me,
yet will I trust in him:
but I will maintain mine own ways
before him.” Job 13:15
“For I know that my redeemer liveth,
and that he shall stand
at the latter day
upon the earth:
26 And though after my skin worms
destroy this body,
yet in my flesh
shall I see God:
27 Whom I shall see
for myself,
and mine eyes shall behold,
and not another;
though my reins be consumed
within me.” Job 19:25-27
God confirmed Daniel’s faith through this pagan king who had seen faithfulness in Daniel on more than one front.
“Then the king,
when he heard these words,
was sore displeased with himself,
and set his heart on Daniel
to deliver him:
and he laboured till the going down
of the sun
to deliver him.
15 Then these men assembled unto the king,
and said unto the king,
Know, O king,
that the law of the Medes and Persians is,
That no decree nor statute
which the king establisheth
may be changed.
16 Then the king commanded,
and they brought Daniel,
and cast him into the den of lions.
Now the king spake and said unto Daniel,
Thy God
whom thou servest continually,
he will deliver thee.
17 And a stone was brought,
and laid upon the mouth of the den;
and the king sealed it with his own signet,
and with the signet of his lords;
that the purpose might not be changed
concerning Daniel.
18 Then the king went to his palace,
and passed the night fasting:
neither were instruments of musick
brought before him:
and his sleep went from him.” Daniel 6:14-18
Darius knew by Daniel’s life of faithfulness and integrity that his God would deliver him. What does our life tell others about our God? Does our faithfulness cause even our enemies to look to our God? Or do we look so much like the world that no one can see God in us?
As Peter tells us, our testimony in suffering can make a difference.
“Dearly beloved,
I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims,
abstain from fleshly lusts,
which war against the soul;
12 Having your conversation honest
among the Gentiles:
that, whereas they speak against you
as evildoers,
they may by your good works,
which they shall behold,
glorify God in the day of visitation.
13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance
of man
for the Lord’s sake:
whether it be to the king,
as supreme;
14 Or unto governors,
as unto them that are sent
by him
for the punishment
of evildoers,
and for the praise of them
that do well.
15 For so is the will of God,
that with well doing
ye may put to silence
the ignorance of foolish men:
16 As free,
and not using your liberty
for a cloke of maliciousness,
but as the servants of God.
17 Honour all men.
Love the brotherhood.
Fear God.
Honour the king.” 1 Peter 2:11-17
So, what did Darius find in the morning?
“Then the king arose very early in the morning,
and went in haste unto the den of lions.
20 And when he came to the den,
he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel:
and the king spake and said to Daniel,
O Daniel, servant of the living God,
is thy God,
whom thou servest continually,
able to deliver thee
from the lions?
21 Then said Daniel unto the king,
O king, live for ever.
22 My God hath sent his angel,
and hath shut the lions’ mouths,
that they have not hurt me:
forasmuch as before him
innocency was found in me;
and also before thee, O king,
have I done no hurt.
23 Then was the king exceeding glad for him,
and commanded that they should take Daniel
up out of the den.
So Daniel was taken up out of the den,
and no manner of hurt was found upon him,
because he believed in his God.” Daniel 6:19-23
Daniel’s eyes were looking up to his GOD, not around at the lions; and his GOD delivered for Daniel’s good and HIS glory! And, consequently, the destruction of the wicked, while God brought Daniel even greater honor.
“And the king commanded,
and they brought those men
which had accused Daniel,
and they cast them into the den of lions,
them, their children, and their wives;
and the lions
had the mastery of them,
and brake all their bones in pieces
or ever they came at the bottom
of the den.
25 Then king Darius wrote unto all people,
nations, and languages,
that dwell in all the earth;
Peace be multiplied unto you.
26 I make a decree,
That in every dominion of my kingdom
men tremble and fear
before the God of Daniel:
for he is the living God,
and stedfast for ever,
and his kingdom
that which shall not
be destroyed,
and his dominion
shall be even unto the end.
27 He delivereth
and rescueth,
and he worketh signs
and wonders in heaven
and in earth,
who hath delivered Daniel
from the power of the lions.
28 So this Daniel prospered
in the reign of Darius,
and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.” Daniel 6:24-28
Who or what is YOUR GOD? Are your eyes on the prize—Jesus—or the lions—or the liars?
“But thanks be to God,
which giveth us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren,
be ye stedfast,
unmoveable,
always abounding
in the work of the Lord,
forasmuch as ye know
that your labour
is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:57-58
May God bless and grow us in in HIS Word and HIS ways. Keep looking up not around! God hears and answers “prayers” not “panic”!
Amen and Amen!!!
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