[:en]SCRIPTURE: DANIEL 6
“At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lion’s den. 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 abler to rescue you from the lions?” Daniel answered. “O king, live forever! 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” (Daniel 6:19-22)
“At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accuse d Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lion’s 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” (Daniel 6:24)
“I issue a decreed 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. 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” (Daniel 6:26-27)
DANIEL IN THE DEN OF LIONS
During the reign of king Darius, he wanted to appoint 120 satraps throughout the kingdom with three administrators over them. One of whom appointed was Daniel. Because Daniel was so distinguished among the satraps by his exceptional qualities, the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. (vs. 1-3). The administrators and satraps were envious, so they wanted to find any basis to file a charge against him. They set a plot and entice the king to issue an edit that anyone who pray to any god or man during the next 30 days except to the king shall be thrown into the lion’s den. Unaware of their evil scheme, the king issued the decree and put it in writing to be enforced immediately. In accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians, the decree cannot be altered nor repealed.
Upon knowing such decree, Daniel continued to pray to God three times a day with opened windows, towards Jerusalem. When the administrators and satraps saw him praying, they reported it to the king. Since the decree had to be enforced, Daniel was thrown into the lion’s en. The king was terribly worried. He returned to the palace and spent the night without eating nor sleeping. At the first light ofo dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lion’s dne. He called to Daniel and saw him alive. The king was overjoyed and gave order to lift Daniel out of the dne. There was not wound found in his body. At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lion’s den along with their wives and children. The lions overpowered them and crushed their bones before they reached the floor of the den.
The Darius issued a decree that in every part of his kingdom, people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyprus And Persia.
LESSON:
In life, we also face similar situation. People get envious when we are being promoted or when we become successful. There are times when our faith is being tested to conform to this world. Daniel gave us a very good example to trust the Lord and claim His promises. God had protected him from being devoured by lion. He was keep safe and God prospered him.[:]