Stepping into our time machine—the annals of history—we zoom back to the year 605 B.C. Nebuchadnazzar,
King of Babylon, besieges Jerusalem and takes Jehoiakim, king of Judah, captive.
Ravaging the city, he carries into exile to Babylon the remnant, those who
escaped the devastation. In Babylon, they become servants of Nebuchadnazzar,
then of his sons, then of the kingdoms of the Medes and Persians—70 long
years.
(This removal of God’s people from
the Promised Land happened with God's permission. By their idolatrous worship
and disobedience to God's commands, scoffing at His prophets, they only heaped
upon themselves God's wrath and their pending doom.)
Among those taken captive is a youth named Daniel, who, because of his aptitude for learning and handsome
appearance serves in the king's palace all the days of captivity— through the
reigns of Nebuchadnazzar, Belshazzar, Darius the Mede, and Cyrus the Persian.
And Daniel loves his God—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—and faithfully
serves Him, too, all his life. He is thus a faithful witness before the
governing powers that be, never compromising his faith in any way.
Yet, some administrators and other officials criticize Daniel's stance and seek grounds for accusation against him. Finding none, they devise their own. They convince Darius the Mede, then king in Babylon, to issue a decree, "that anyone who prays to any god or man during the next thirty days, except you, O king, shall be thrown into the lions' den" (see Daniel 6:7).
Yet, some administrators and other officials criticize Daniel's stance and seek grounds for accusation against him. Finding none, they devise their own. They convince Darius the Mede, then king in Babylon, to issue a decree, "that anyone who prays to any god or man during the next thirty days, except you, O king, shall be thrown into the lions' den" (see Daniel 6:7).
Undaunted by the decree, Daniel
continues as he has always done. In his upstairs room, he faces Jerusalem and praying three times a day to his God, Elohim, the Almighty
three-in-one creator, and giving thanks.
A-ha! Finding Daniel in his praying
ways and asking God for help, his accusers take him before Darius. And, "according
to the laws of the Medes and Persians, not to be repealed," Daniel
is thrown into the lions' den.
Unable to sleep all night, however,
and without eating or any palace entertainment, at daybreak, Darius rushes
to the lions' den. He is pleasantly surprised finding Daniel unscathed
and safe; the angels of God had shut the lions' mouths. Consequently,
Darius has Daniel's accusers along with their families thrown into that den of
lions. The lions overpowering them crush their bones.
Darius then writes to all the "people,
nations, and men of every language" about Daniel's God, "...He
is the living God, and he endures forever; his kingdom no one can destroy..." (Daniel
6:26)
Our time machine now sweeps us
home back to the 21st Century. We
realize that spiritual warfare continues throughout the world, as in the days
of Daniel, even worsening, and will continue to the end of this mortal time.
God continues His search today for
faithful "Daniels" and "Danielle’s," uncompromising in their
faith. Those who will bravely stand before the nations and the governing powers
that be. Perhaps in the face of intimidation and ridicule (perhaps in the face
of actual persecution), and proclaim that our God is the living God,
the one true God, enduring forever, whose kingdom no one can destroy. (See
Matthew 16:18.)
Through these dark days, today, let
us pray as Peter prayed in the first century, "Now, Lord, consider
their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great
boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and
wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus (Yeshua)," Acts
4:29-30.
The LORD says, "Be
still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I
will be exalted in the earth," Psalm 46:10.
For further study and/or group
discussion: Daniel 1, 6; 2 Chronicles 12; 36:15-23.
