Wednesday Word 8.04.2021

 

Daniel 6:16-20

“16 So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!” 17 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. 18 Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep. 19 At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. 20 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 able to rescue you from the lions?’”

Most of us know this story of Daniel being thrown in the lion’s den for continuing to worship the Living God in spite of the royal decree. In Chapter 6, we learn that his associates conspired against him out of professional jealousy and jingoism. King Darius was manipulated by these unscrupulous advisors into making it impossible not to condemn Daniel for his beliefs, lest he appear weak. I never thought about this story of Daniel’s enduring faith and deliverance from the King’s perspective before.

Darius knew in his heart that it was wrong to condemn the man he relied on and respected for his administrative skills and integrity. I think he probably admired the depth of Daniel’s faith and his unwavering certainty in his beliefs. Regardless, Darius was swayed by the flattery and the collusion of his advisors. Their plan was subtle. He regretted it deeply, but did not alter the course of his actions. These situations happen every day. People are influenced by lots of forces around them that can color their outlook and the choices they make: co-workers, relatives, complete strangers on Facebook. The difference is how we evaluate these influences.

What is your yardstick? How do you evaluate all the potential influences that come at you fast and furious from all sides? Daniel chose to follow the teachings of the Lord, regardless of the demands of the world around him. He was not left alone in the lion’s den. How different will our lives be if we follow his example and base our choices on the teachings of Jesus Christ?…something to pray about.

Don’t forget to look for the Lord today. Vicki H.