You probably have heard this story before, but it's a great lesson in pursuing the Lord and trusting Him to deliver you even when your pursuit of Him lands you in a tough place.
Daniel had worked his way up in the Babylonian kingdom and was about to be promoted again. This didn't make his political opponents very happy, so they hatched a plan to trap Daniel. Knowing Daniel always prayed to his God, they convinced the king to deliver an edict that no one could pray to anyone except the king for 30 days. The king loved Daniel and didn't realize what these men were doing so he went along with their advice. Sure enough they caught Daniel praying and forced the king to deliver the punishment for breaking the edict; he was tossed into the den of lions. That's were we pick up in verse 16.
Daniel 6:16-27
16 So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions' den. The king said to Daniel, "May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!"
17 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel's situation might not be changed. 18 Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.
19 At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions' den. 20 When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?"
21 Daniel answered, "O king, live forever! 22 My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king."
23 The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
24 At the king's command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions' den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.
25 Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations and men of every language throughout the land:
"May you prosper greatly!
26 "I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.
"For he is the living God
and he endures forever;
his kingdom will not be destroyed,
his dominion will never end.
27 He rescues and he saves;
he performs signs and wonders
in the heavens and on the earth.
He has rescued Daniel
from the power of the lions."
Questions
1. If there was a chance your praying would land you in a den of lions, how do you think that would effect how often you pray?
2. How does this help you understand how to deal with trusting God in difficult situations?
3. What part of this passage will stick with you today?
1 comment:
1. If there was a chance your praying would land you in a den of lions, how do you think that would effect how often you pray?
i truthfully do not think that i would pray with my eyes closed until that 30 days was up.
but, depending on the time, and the how and why it happens though, it might change my mind.
2. How does this help you understand how to deal with trusting God in difficult situations?
yeah, it does. it helps me in the way that i really do need to trust God with everything in my life, and if i do trust him, then, i know that everything will be alright.
3. What part of this passage will stick with you today?
just the fact that God can take care of everything and anything.
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