Creator, Father, King #148

Daniel . . . still prays to his God three times a day.

LIONS, AND PERSIANS, AND edicts . . . oh my!

Well, it doesn’t exactly have quite the same ring to it as the famous phrase uttered by Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. Then again, these were the things threatening Daniel’s life—not tigers and bears.

The story in question, of course, is Daniel and the lions’ den. After the Persian Empire conquered the Babylonians, Daniel continued serving the new royal court.

But when his fellow government officials grew jealous of his success, they tricked King Darius into enacting a terrible law: every person who prayed to anyone except Darius would be thrown to hungry lions. What a gruesome way to die! They did this, of course, with Daniel in mind, knowing that he faithfully prayed to God in his room three times every day.

Despite the intense pressure to conform, Daniel continued to pray to God. The wicked Persian officials tattled on him, and Darius reluctantly gave the order: Daniel would become lion food!

Early the next morning, Darius rushed to the pit and called out, “Daniel, servant of the living God! Was your God, whom you serve so faithfully, able to rescue you from the lions?”

Daniel answered, “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” (Daniel 6:20-22).

What a miracle!

What’s It Mean?

This story is a powerful example of following the Lord faithfully in a very secular setting, no matter what the cost. Daniel knew that worshiping anyone else but God was out of the question, even if it endangered his life.

God never said following him would always be easy. But he still calls us to faithfully love and obey him. He has promised that he will always be with us (Deuteronomy 31:6) and he will strengthen us in our times of need (Isaiah 41:10).

All around you, the crowd might be going one way. But stand strong like Daniel and follow God, no matter what the cost!

Now What?

Along with Daniel 6, also read chapter 3—the similar story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego miraculously surviving the fiery furnace after refusing to bow down to King Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image. Then think about how God specifically wants you to follow him, no matter what the cost.

Did You Know?

If Daniel was a teenager when he was exiled to Babylon in 605 BC (Daniel 1:1-6), he would’ve been at least in his eighties when he was thrown into the lions’ den.