You would think that someone who takes the time to pray three times a day would be immune to the troubles that most all of the rest of us experience, let alone a den of lions. I was reading in the book of Daniel and it struck me how good and faithful Daniel was. King Nebuchadezzar, the king of Babylon, was blessed because of the faithfulness of Daniel. He observed his commitment to God first hand. Three times King Nebuchadnezzar was told that the time would come when he would“…acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone He wishes.” (Daniel 4) Twelve months later he found himself eating grass like cattle.“His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagles and his nails like the claws of a bird.” (Daniel 4:33)
Along comes King Belshazzar, the son of Nebuchadnezzar and Daniel is serving under his rule. This king has a party and uses the vessels of the temple of God to drink from them, and in the middle of the party, he sees a finger writing on the wall of his palace. The Bible tells us that “His face turned pale and he was so frightened that his knees knocked together and his legs gave way” (Daniel 5:6) and he “became even more terrified and his face grew more pale.” (v.9) The queen tells the king that remembers hearing about Daniel, so he is summoned to interpret the writing for the king. As he stands before the king Daniel tells him about his father and how God humbled him “until he acknowledged that the Most High God is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and sets over them anyone He wishes.” (5:21) Daniel goes on to confront the king with his sin and tells him that he has set himself up against the Lord of heaven. Daniel is saying this to the king! He goes on to tell him that “…you did not honor the God who holds in His hand your life and all your ways.” That very same night the king was slain and Darius took over the kingdom.
Darius begins his rule by setting up governors throughout his kingdom and Daniel was chosen by the king to be 1 of 3 administrators over the governors. The king was so impressed by Daniel that his plan was to set him up over all of the kingdom. This plan upset the others and they began to plot out how they might get rid of Daniel. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.” (Daniel 6:4-5) That is a pretty good testimony! Daniel’s life pointed people and kings to the God of the Bible. Don’t you think that would mean something? Don’t you think that would bring benefits? Don’t you think that God would appreciate what Daniel had done all of his life and make things a little easier on him? I do! These men come up with a plan to have the king issue a decree that for the next 30 days if anyone prays to any god or man other than the king, that that person should be thrown into the lions’ den, so the king puts out the decree. Daniel hears about it and he goes home and does what he always did. He sat in his window, faced Jerusalem, and “three times a day he got down on his knees, and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.” (Daniel 6:10) They got him! They go to the king and their accusation is “He still prays three times a day.” (v.13)
Do you remember what that got him? An all expense paid trip to the lions’ den. Daniel prayed three times a day! He always prayed three times a day. He didn’t miss! That’s what he gets for being faithful? That’s what he gets for never fearing to declare the Word of God to kings? That does not seem fair! Isn’t it amazing how we continually operate on the merit system? If you do this, then you will get that. If you are good, you can go to the park. If you are bad, you will be grounded. If you work hard, you will be compensated well. If you study, you will be rewarded. If you live a good life, pray really hard, and do all that the Bible says, things will be “all good.” If you pray three times a day, every day, and if you faithfully proclaim the Word of God to pagan kings, you will go to the lions’ den. WHAT? Three times a day did not keep the lions away! Does that make sense to you? Does that make sense to anyone, other than God?
God was up to something. He is always up to something. He will be glorified and that is exactly what happened here. Just like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who were thrown into the fiery furnace and did not burn because God protected them, God is up to something here. You know the rest of the story, or do you? “And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he trusted in his God.” (Daniel 6:23) Can you imagine that? Daniel is raised from the den and lifted for all to see as a trophy of God’s amazing grace. God was up to something.
When people see you, what do they see? Some of you are going through some pretty tough stuff right now, and quite honestly, it doesn’t seem fair or right. God is up to something. Look for His hand in whatever you are going through. It might seem as though He has abandoned you, but I can assure you that He has not. He may very well be raising you up, like he did with Daniel, as a trophy of His work of grace. He trusted in His God. Trust Him. You may not understand, but trust Him. Daniels faithful prayers put him in the lions’ den, but as he was thrown into the den, God made His presence known. If he were like any of us, he had to have been terrified. Can you imagine looking into the den and seeing the hungry lions? Whatever it is that you are facing; sickness, loneliness, financial struggles, maybe even death like Daniel, it is real! You are looking into the den and you are scared, terrified even. Know this, that the God of the Bible is the same God who promised to always be with you, whatever lions’ den you are facing. Trust Him. When we pray for one another, there is nothing better that we can do than to ask God to make His presence known to that person on their journey. It makes all the difference!