A King Rooting for a Man He’s Sent to Be Killed

Read Daniel 6

So today we find Daniel in the court of a new Kingdom, the Persians.  Darius is the King.  Daniels’ faithfulness and service to King Nebuchadnezza (Babylon), His Son, Belshazzar (Babylon) and King Darius endeared himself to them so that even though he often was the bearer of bad news, they trusted him even more. It is a testament to the value of faithfulness wherever you find yourself.  He always made the best of the situation he found himself in and sought to be faithful anyway.  This is a good word for us today in and of itself.

But in the story for today, we see Daniel’s faithfulness landing him in the lion’s den.  For his favored place in Darius’s court inspired a jealous rage in the other court officials.  They conspire against him by using his devotion to God against him.  They knew that not even a King’s decree would stop Daniel from praying to God.  They prey on the King’s vanity and have him make a decree banning prayer to anyone other than Darius himself should be thrown into the lion’s den. 

While the King has no desire to have Daniel killed, if he defies his own decree, he loses face with his kingdom. He reluctantly has Daniel committed to the lions.  The interesting thing here is that now, the King, who wants Daniel alive, places hope in God that Daniel will be saved!  And of course, Daniel is saved and the result is that Darius makes a decree that all in the kingdom shall give reverence to the God of Daniel.

This is a familiar theme in the Bible. God uses the ill will of others to bring attention to God’s own glory and compassion.  God can turn the unfaithful action of others into the impetus for God’s purposes.  This has happened to me one more than one occasion and I have seen it happen to others as well.  The key to this happening in all these Biblical stories and in the situations that I have experienced and witnessed is remaining faithful.  Even when others are cruel, God’s servants never veer away from their faithfulness.  I hope this is a hopeful word for someone today.

Prayer:  God, help us remain faithful even when others are not…even when they turn against us, may we never turn against you. Amen.

Prayer Focus:  Pray for people of faith all over the world who are facing persecution for their faithfulness to God.

Song:  Sanctus Real – Confidence