Daniel and the lion den teaches that when things are bad and it appears nothing can prevent a disaster (like Daniel being eaten alive!), God can do anything! He can shut the mouths of the mighty lions. Are you being persecuted for your belief in God as Daniel was? Are you in fear of what will happen to you if you claim Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? God can protect you from harm! He will take care of you! From Daniel Chapter 6 we learn terrible consequences can result from pride (Darius the King was a prideful person). We also learn what being faithful to God can do (God would let no harm come to Daniel – regardless of the circumstances).
Darius was the King who Daniel foretold would take over Babylon. That very night, Darius the Mede conquered the Babylonian Empire. Daniel became one of Darius’ most trusted advisors. Daniel’s position under Darius angered Darius’ other administrators and they wanted Daniel killed. It is interesting that the administrators could not find anything wrong with Daniel’s life so they attacked his religion! Isn’t that going on in our world today? People who do not even know you attack you because of your religion! What sense does that make? As Believers of Jesus, it gives us reason to rejoice when we are treated that way! If those around you want to hurt and criticize you but can’t find anything to criticize you about except your belief in Jesus, then you are bless for letting God’s Glory be reflected through you!
The administrator’s convinced Darius to make a law that made him (Darius) a ‘god’ for thirty days! During this thirty day period, the King’s law prohibited anyone from praying to anyone other than the King, Darius himself! Even after hearing that Darius had signed the law, Daniel continued his prayer routine. Why do you think Daniel did not try to conceal his prayers? Daniel knew the administrators were using his faith to trap him. What would we do? Would we continue our praise and worship? Would we continue our prayer routines openly? Would we continue to read God’s Word? Would we boldly profess Jesus as Lord?
Many people around the world today are not free to worship God. People are imprisoned, mutilated, and often killed for their allegiance to Jesus. These people are “Daniels”. They are our heroes! In America, today Christians are not often physically tortured or murdered for their faith. However, we Believer’s are increasingly under attack by the news media, abortion activists, homosexual organizations, and those who believe in the humanist approach. Some in the United States are killed for their faith. Gunmen have killed Christians at Columbine High School as well as in churches in Colorado and Texas. To be persecuted for Jesus is to be a hero! Some from other countries want to kill all Believers! Do you face daily persecution or potential harm by reading God’s Word or praying to God or letting others around you know that you follow Christ? If so, you are my hero. You are a ‘Daniel’. You need to know that you inspire people who live 1000s of miles away from you but see, read about, and hear of your tribulations in your situations.
As for the rest of Daniels’ story, he is placed in the lion’s den but the lions are held at bay by God’s angels! Darius immediately sees his error but is unable to do anything about it! Darius fasted all night and rushed to the lion’s den the next day. When Daniel was found unscratched, Darius knew that the God to whom Daniel prayed had kept Daniel safe from harm. The same God who delivered Daniel from the lions will deliver you. Have you trusted God to do so? Do you feel like you are in a position where all of your hope has vanished like the morning mist does when the sun comes up? Well, there is Good News! There is a ‘son’ that rises and the mist that some call HOPE does NOT disappear! This Son and this Hope is Jesus. As Christians, we worship a God who sacrificed His Son for us! Do you worship a god who wants YOU to sacrifice YOUR son for him? What kind of a god is that?!
God loves you. He gave Jesus for you. He stands in Heaven today with His arms open wide waiting for you to pray this prayer – “Dear Jesus, I know I’m a sinner. I know I need Your forgiveness. Please come into my life, forgive me for my sins, save me and make me Your child. Thank you for saving me.” It’s that simple. You don’t need anyone to intercede for you. Jesus Himself is waiting to save you. Ask Him today. He is our Lord, our Strength, our Hope, and our Redeemer.
Do you have any hope in the situation you are in? Hope is one of the three main elements of Christian character. It is joined to faith and love. Hope is an essential and fundamental element of Christian life, so essential in fact, that, like faith and love, it can itself designate the essence of Christianity. In Hope the whole glory of the Christian vocation is centered. Unbelievers are without this hope. For Believers, Christ is the actual object of our hope because it is in His second coming that the hope of glory will be fulfilled. Salvation through Christ comes in trusting in Him. Faith! Faith is the hope that those things unseen will come to be! Hope is expecting that He will give us everlasting life and we will go to be with Him forever! Remember, God never plans hopelessness for His people. His ultimate plan is for us to come to Him freely so that He can care for us. I pray that you will accept Jesus and securely grasp the Hope that He offers! No Jesus, no hope! KNOW Jesus, KNOW Hope!
Papa Joe Mac's Commentary:
Daniel and the lion den teaches that when things are bad and it appears nothing can prevent a disaster (like Daniel being eaten alive!), God can do anything! He can shut the mouths of the mighty lions. Are you being persecuted for your belief in God as Daniel was? Are you in fear of what will happen to you if you claim Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? God can protect you from harm! He will take care of you! From Daniel Chapter 6 we learn terrible consequences can result from pride (Darius the King was a prideful person). We also learn what being faithful to God can do (God would let no harm come to Daniel – regardless of the circumstances).
Darius was the King who Daniel foretold would take over Babylon. That very night, Darius the Mede conquered the Babylonian Empire. Daniel became one of Darius’ most trusted advisors. Daniel’s position under Darius angered Darius’ other administrators and they wanted Daniel killed. It is interesting that the administrators could not find anything wrong with Daniel’s life so they attacked his religion! Isn’t that going on in our world today? People who do not even know you attack you because of your religion! What sense does that make? As Believers of Jesus, it gives us reason to rejoice when we are treated that way! If those around you want to hurt and criticize you but can’t find anything to criticize you about except your belief in Jesus, then you are bless for letting God’s Glory be reflected through you!
The administrator’s convinced Darius to make a law that made him (Darius) a ‘god’ for thirty days! During this thirty day period, the King’s law prohibited anyone from praying to anyone other than the King, Darius himself! Even after hearing that Darius had signed the law, Daniel continued his prayer routine. Why do you think Daniel did not try to conceal his prayers? Daniel knew the administrators were using his faith to trap him. What would we do? Would we continue our praise and worship? Would we continue our prayer routines openly? Would we continue to read God’s Word? Would we boldly profess Jesus as Lord?
Many people around the world today are not free to worship God. People are imprisoned, mutilated, and often killed for their allegiance to Jesus. These people are “Daniels”. They are our heroes! In America, today Christians are not often physically tortured or murdered for their faith. However, we Believer’s are increasingly under attack by the news media, abortion activists, homosexual organizations, and those who believe in the humanist approach. Some in the United States are killed for their faith. Gunmen have killed Christians at Columbine High School as well as in churches in Colorado and Texas. To be persecuted for Jesus is to be a hero! Some from other countries want to kill all Believers! Do you face daily persecution or potential harm by reading God’s Word or praying to God or letting others around you know that you follow Christ? If so, you are my hero. You are a ‘Daniel’. You need to know that you inspire people who live 1000s of miles away from you but see, read about, and hear of your tribulations in your situations.
As for the rest of Daniels’ story, he is placed in the lion’s den but the lions are held at bay by God’s angels! Darius immediately sees his error but is unable to do anything about it! Darius fasted all night and rushed to the lion’s den the next day. When Daniel was found unscratched, Darius knew that the God to whom Daniel prayed had kept Daniel safe from harm. The same God who delivered Daniel from the lions will deliver you. Have you trusted God to do so? Do you feel like you are in a position where all of your hope has vanished like the morning mist does when the sun comes up? Well, there is Good News! There is a ‘son’ that rises and the mist that some call HOPE does NOT disappear! This Son and this Hope is Jesus. As Christians, we worship a God who sacrificed His Son for us! Do you worship a god who wants YOU to sacrifice YOUR son for him? What kind of a god is that?!
God loves you. He gave Jesus for you. He stands in Heaven today with His arms open wide waiting for you to pray this prayer – “Dear Jesus, I know I’m a sinner. I know I need Your forgiveness. Please come into my life, forgive me for my sins, save me and make me Your child. Thank you for saving me.” It’s that simple. You don’t need anyone to intercede for you. Jesus Himself is waiting to save you. Ask Him today. He is our Lord, our Strength, our Hope, and our Redeemer.
Do you have any hope in the situation you are in? Hope is one of the three main elements of Christian character. It is joined to faith and love. Hope is an essential and fundamental element of Christian life, so essential in fact, that, like faith and love, it can itself designate the essence of Christianity. In Hope the whole glory of the Christian vocation is centered. Unbelievers are without this hope. For Believers, Christ is the actual object of our hope because it is in His second coming that the hope of glory will be fulfilled. Salvation through Christ comes in trusting in Him. Faith! Faith is the hope that those things unseen will come to be! Hope is expecting that He will give us everlasting life and we will go to be with Him forever! Remember, God never plans hopelessness for His people. His ultimate plan is for us to come to Him freely so that He can care for us. I pray that you will accept Jesus and securely grasp the Hope that He offers! No Jesus, no hope! KNOW Jesus, KNOW Hope!