Setting – Daniel thrown into the lion’s den.
Content – The administrators, advisers, princes, etc. were jealous of Daniel’s position were able to convince the kind to put into law (v. 7b NLT) “Give orders that for the next thirty days anyone who prays to anyone, divine or human--except to Your Majesty--will be thrown to the lions.” Daniel’s response to this new law, (v. 10 NLT) “But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.” The administrators, advisers, princes, etc. told the king of Daniel’s violation of the law. The kings response to this (v. 14 NLT) “Hearing this, the king was very angry with himself for signing the law, and he tried to find a way to save Daniel. He spent the rest of the day looking for a way to get Daniel out of this predicament.” He was unable to find away around the law and Daniel was thrown into the lions den. The king (v. 18 NLT) “Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night fasting. He refused his usual entertainment and couldn't sleep at all that night.” God saved Daniel (v. 22 NLT) “’My God sent his angel to shut the lions' mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty.’” The king threw the men and their families, who accused Daniel, into the lions den. The king acknowledged God (v. 26-27 NLT) “I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel. For he is the living God, and he will endure forever. His kingdom will never be destroyed, and his rule will never end. He rescues and saves his people; he performs miraculous signs and wonders in the heavens and on earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.” Daniel was exulted (v. 28 NLT) “So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.”
Application – We see that other’s jealousy and sin can try to pose harm those who are faithful to Christ. All but one of the disciples were martyred, Christ went to the cross, and the list goes on (Hebrews 11:37 NASB) “They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated” Depending upon God’s plan, some of the followers are saved, as with Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. We see that it depends upon God’s purpose. Without Christ going to the cross all of humanity would be bound for hell. In all that we do, we must entrust ourselves to God. This is not an easy statement. We don’t want to find ourselves being thrown into the fire or lions den, etc. But what’s our alternative? Don’t we want to stand before God and know that we trusted in Him to do what is right?
Content – The administrators, advisers, princes, etc. were jealous of Daniel’s position were able to convince the kind to put into law (v. 7b NLT) “Give orders that for the next thirty days anyone who prays to anyone, divine or human--except to Your Majesty--will be thrown to the lions.” Daniel’s response to this new law, (v. 10 NLT) “But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.” The administrators, advisers, princes, etc. told the king of Daniel’s violation of the law. The kings response to this (v. 14 NLT) “Hearing this, the king was very angry with himself for signing the law, and he tried to find a way to save Daniel. He spent the rest of the day looking for a way to get Daniel out of this predicament.” He was unable to find away around the law and Daniel was thrown into the lions den. The king (v. 18 NLT) “Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night fasting. He refused his usual entertainment and couldn't sleep at all that night.” God saved Daniel (v. 22 NLT) “’My God sent his angel to shut the lions' mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty.’” The king threw the men and their families, who accused Daniel, into the lions den. The king acknowledged God (v. 26-27 NLT) “I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel. For he is the living God, and he will endure forever. His kingdom will never be destroyed, and his rule will never end. He rescues and saves his people; he performs miraculous signs and wonders in the heavens and on earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.” Daniel was exulted (v. 28 NLT) “So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.”
Application – We see that other’s jealousy and sin can try to pose harm those who are faithful to Christ. All but one of the disciples were martyred, Christ went to the cross, and the list goes on (Hebrews 11:37 NASB) “They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated” Depending upon God’s plan, some of the followers are saved, as with Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. We see that it depends upon God’s purpose. Without Christ going to the cross all of humanity would be bound for hell. In all that we do, we must entrust ourselves to God. This is not an easy statement. We don’t want to find ourselves being thrown into the fire or lions den, etc. But what’s our alternative? Don’t we want to stand before God and know that we trusted in Him to do what is right?
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