Saturday, January 31, 2015

Daniel’s Devotion (Part 5)



Hello Friends!

Welcome Back! Let’s continue our study of Daniel’s Devotionfrom God’s Word…

Daniel’s Devotion (Part 5)

Daniel chapter 6 is one of the most practical chapters in the Bible. However, it is also prophetic. You may recognize the story from your days in Sunday School and maybe even have seen the drama played out in a church program. It is a wonderful story of the "steadfastness of Daniel":

It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom; and over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them, so that the king would suffer no loss. Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm Daniel 6:1-3

Darius the king had published a decree that told his subjects they were not allowed to offer up a prayer to anyone other than the King himself:

So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him. Then these men said, “We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.” So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: “King Darius, live forever! All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.” Therefore King Darius signed the written decree Daniel 6:4-9

This decree was meant to bring harm to Daniel, but instead it brought praise to Daniel's God!

You know the story so well, so allow me to just bring to your attention some of the highlights of this portion of Daniel that we are using for our devotional reading for today. There are many blessings to be found in this passage. Here are just a few.

Daniel, as was his custom, went to his chambers and kneeled to pray towards Jerusalem, as he had been commanded. By the way… Daniel was not trying to hide as he prayed. He prayed with the windows open so that all the Kingdom could see the faithfulness of Daniel:

Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days. Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God Daniel 6:10-11

Daniel's enemies rushed to the King to report Daniel going against the King's decree. Daniel decided that it was more important to obey God than man. When we do that we must be ready to face the circumstances – no matter what the cost – as was the case with Daniel:

And they went before the king, and spoke concerning the king’s decree: “Have you not signed a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.” So they answered and said before the king, “That Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah, does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day Daniel 6:12-13

The King, realizing what his decree meant to Daniel was very displeased with himself and wanted to change his decree but was reminded by his men that the "law of the Medes and Persians" would not allow the king to change that order which would send Daniel to the death as a punishment for simply praying.

And the king, when he heard these words, was greatly displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him. Then these men approached the king, and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is the law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statute which the king establishes may be changed Daniel 6:14-15

How important is our prayer time? Would we be willing to face a death sentence to be faithful to the dictates of God for our spiritual lives? Daniel is a perfect example for us to follow! What a promise that Daniel was reminded of by the King as he was being thrown into the lion's den:

So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you” Daniel 6:17

As we "continually serve Him" He takes care of all our needs – even physically. There is so much more in this passage that we could share. Let me draw your attention to the prophetic portion of our reading for today:

 I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, and steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, and His dominion shall endure to the end. He delivers and rescues, and He works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian – Daniel 6:26-28

The King put out another decree that in all of the kingdom men should "tremble and fear before the God of Daniel.” The entire kingdom would recognize the God of Daniel as the "living God” who was “steadfast forever” and that “His dominion shall endure to the end."

The kingdom that will "endure to the end" is the one that Jesus Christ will set up after the seven year Tribulation, yet in the future…

Thank you for reading! Don’t miss next week’s continued investigation of Daniel’s Devotion

May the Lord Jesus Christ continue to bless you with His perfect love, mercy and grace!

Keep looking up and sharing the Gospel while there is still time… Hallelujah and Maranatha – come quickly Lord Jesus!

Blessings!
Shane <><

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