A Normal Routine

 

Daniel 6:21-22 “Daniel said to the king, ‘O king, live forever! My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm’”.

Earlier this week, I wrote how the old great true stories of the Bible (Jonah and the Whale) still somehow got to the eyes, ears and heart of one unchurched little guy and turned on a flame of faith in the God of the Bible, who he did not know. I do not remember ever doubting my Maker’s existence or sovereign control of His Creation. Daniel and the Lion’s Den was another such old great true Bible story that helped shape my faith. I read this week, about a deep truth that this great Patriarch Daniel demonstrated by example for us all.

The history leading up to Daniel being thrown into the lion’s den is that in 539/538 BC, ‘Cyrus the Great’ conquered the Babylonian Empire and Babylon became a part of the Medo-Persian Empire. Cyrus installed Darius the Mede to govern Babylon. Unlike the Babylonians, who took people from their homeland, the Persians relocated displaced peoples in their empire back to their own countries. Many Jews returned to the Promised Land, but many also remained in Babylon, including Daniel, who was in his late seventies or early eighties at the time of the return. He remained a key part of Babylonian society and was the chief advisor to Darius. The governor’s other advisors were jealous of Daniel, but because of the prophet’s outstanding reputation, the only way to get rid of him was to outlaw Daniel’s piety. They told Darius that the advisors unanimously agreed that a new law should be put in place whereby the governor alone would represent the divine for thirty days. During that time, only prayers offered to Darius would be legal. Darius was fooled by these liars and established the law that they had suggested.

Daniel 6:10-12 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. Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. And they went before the king, and spoke concerning the king’s decree: “Have you not signed a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within thirty days, except you, 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 does not alter.”

The article points out that if we are not careful, we might misunderstand what the prophet Daniel did next. When Daniel prayed to the one true God, he was not instigating confrontation but rather going about his normal routine. He had prayed before the ban, and he would continue to pray after it. Daniel models how we should respond if we ever face the threat of the state. We should not be unnecessarily antagonistically hostile, though we must obey the Lord regardless of whether the governing authorities permit it. Like Daniel, we should not go out of our way to fight with the ruling authorities, but neither should we bow to ungodly demands. God is good and God is Sovereign. Moreover, when we are faithful to the Lord, He will be faithful to us. He may not rescue us from the lions’ den like He did Daniel, but He will save us forever, granting us eternal life. True (FGH) faithfulness, godliness and holiness is both internal and external. It is “not only the duty of offering to God the sacrifice of prayer in our hearts, but that our open profession is also required, and thus the reality of our worship of God may clearly appear.” Daniel was recognized for his (FGH) piety, so when his devoutness was outlawed, he was easy to find. Though we should not be (BCD) belligerent, cantankerous, disagreeable, the world should know by our actions that we love and follow the one true God. Are you and I easy to find because our (FGH) faithfulness, godliness and holiness is our normal routine?

Daniel 6:25-27 Then King Darius wrote: “To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, and steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one  which shall not be destroyed, and His dominion shall endure to the end. He delivers and rescues, and He works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.”

Amen

In Christ, Brian