Have you ever read the story of Daniel in the lions den, and why he was put there? Let's take a look at it.
Dan 6:4 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.
Dan 6:5 Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.
Dan 6:7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.
Dan 6:8 Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
Here we see the root cause of how Daniel was put in with the lions to be their dinner. People who have jealousy, hatred and the instigation of trouble in their hearts. There's no shortage of these kinds of people, perhaps you've found yourself in the middle of troublemakers like this. Daniel was a faithful man, sought to do the kings business, and kept to himself and didn't congregate with the crowd of people of influence. He set his mind on serving God and doing his job. It brought him promotion, but also the hatred of those who watched him. It's the same today for anyone who seeks to do the same thing.
So, what was the next thing these people did; stirred up more trouble by trying to set a trap for Daniel through gossip, and instigating to get Daniel in trouble. Their poison worked.
Dan 6:9 Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.
As a sidenote: Witches, occultists, and satanists use this strategy a great deal to ruin someone they know is a believer in Christ, and to ruin churches. Sadly, a lot of "Christians" will use this this also. They will dig up any dirt they can about your past; even if you've repented and turned from that sin, and try to use it to destroy your witness. The best strategy to counter this is to be open and honest yourself about your past, and your sins that have been covered by the blood of Christ. Tell your testimony, and be brutally honest about it. Be honest about your imperfections, and the struggles you've overcome. The devil can't use against you what you've spoken openly about, and what you've shown repentance for. The evidence of the power of God in your life, and His presence in your life, is living in righteousness. This kind of person can't be bribed, blackmailed, or bought. Read the story of David; a life of righteousness, not perfection, but one of desiring to live for God, and honest in that walk, even when he failed. Paul also was open and honest about his hatred and persecution of Christians, and testified of it before kings, and of the power of Christ to change anybody. I'll repeat, the devil can't use against you, what you expose yourself.
When anybody comes to me accusing someone else of anything, my response is simple; show me the evidence. Many times it stops the gossip right there.
Well, Daniel had a decision to make, continue on praying as he had previously done, or cave in to this decree. He chose to continue, just as before. This is courage, faithfulness, and conviction seen in action.
Dan 6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
What did the King do? He caved in to the pressure of the troublemakers, even when his heart smote him.
Dan 6:11 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.
Dan 6:12 Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king's decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, 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 altereth not.
Dan 6:13 Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.
Dan 6:14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.
Dan 6:15 Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.
As the king is set to put Daniel in the with the beasts, he admonishes Daniel that the God he served continually would deliver him. Trapped by his own decrees, he inadvertently pleads to God for his safety.
Dan 6:15 Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.
Then the King sets a stone with his own signet over the cave, making sure there was no way to change the outcome.
Dan 6:15 Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.
Doing this made for a very stressful sleepless night for the king. I don't doubt he was at the cave door before the dawn broke. He was reaping the results of a guilty conscience; God knows how to doll out vengeance.
Dan 6:18 Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.
Dan 6:19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.
The king reveals his care and concern for this old faithful servant in his cries down to the den.
Dan 6:20 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?
Daniels' answer is remarkable. It shows the "excellent spirit" spoken of at the beginning of the chapter. No anger, no resentment, no desire for revenge. Only one of truth, honest desire for the welfare for the king, and stating his case of innocence. When I read this, it convicts me of how far I am from being where Daniel is, but it's also encouragement, that what was done in Daniel can be done in me, and you. It's our responses to those who wish us harm that matters. It tells openly what is in our hearts.
When people lie, the truth is what must be declared openly, eventually other's will see the lie for what it is.
Then the scripture tells of Daniel being taken out of the den, and found unhurt, because he believed in his God.
Dan 6:21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.
Dan 6:22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.
Dan 6:23 Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.
Lessons learned:
1. Be honest, let the truth be the counter to lies.
2. Don't cave in to threats; keep living a righteous life for all to see, let the peace of God rule in the situation.
3. Believe God for his deliverance, it will come.
Lorna Couillard
Dan 6:4 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.
Dan 6:5 Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.
Dan 6:7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.
Dan 6:8 Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
Here we see the root cause of how Daniel was put in with the lions to be their dinner. People who have jealousy, hatred and the instigation of trouble in their hearts. There's no shortage of these kinds of people, perhaps you've found yourself in the middle of troublemakers like this. Daniel was a faithful man, sought to do the kings business, and kept to himself and didn't congregate with the crowd of people of influence. He set his mind on serving God and doing his job. It brought him promotion, but also the hatred of those who watched him. It's the same today for anyone who seeks to do the same thing.
So, what was the next thing these people did; stirred up more trouble by trying to set a trap for Daniel through gossip, and instigating to get Daniel in trouble. Their poison worked.
Dan 6:9 Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.
As a sidenote: Witches, occultists, and satanists use this strategy a great deal to ruin someone they know is a believer in Christ, and to ruin churches. Sadly, a lot of "Christians" will use this this also. They will dig up any dirt they can about your past; even if you've repented and turned from that sin, and try to use it to destroy your witness. The best strategy to counter this is to be open and honest yourself about your past, and your sins that have been covered by the blood of Christ. Tell your testimony, and be brutally honest about it. Be honest about your imperfections, and the struggles you've overcome. The devil can't use against you what you've spoken openly about, and what you've shown repentance for. The evidence of the power of God in your life, and His presence in your life, is living in righteousness. This kind of person can't be bribed, blackmailed, or bought. Read the story of David; a life of righteousness, not perfection, but one of desiring to live for God, and honest in that walk, even when he failed. Paul also was open and honest about his hatred and persecution of Christians, and testified of it before kings, and of the power of Christ to change anybody. I'll repeat, the devil can't use against you, what you expose yourself.
When anybody comes to me accusing someone else of anything, my response is simple; show me the evidence. Many times it stops the gossip right there.
Well, Daniel had a decision to make, continue on praying as he had previously done, or cave in to this decree. He chose to continue, just as before. This is courage, faithfulness, and conviction seen in action.
Dan 6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
What did the King do? He caved in to the pressure of the troublemakers, even when his heart smote him.
Dan 6:11 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.
Dan 6:12 Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king's decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, 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 altereth not.
Dan 6:13 Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.
Dan 6:14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.
Dan 6:15 Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.
As the king is set to put Daniel in the with the beasts, he admonishes Daniel that the God he served continually would deliver him. Trapped by his own decrees, he inadvertently pleads to God for his safety.
Dan 6:15 Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.
Then the King sets a stone with his own signet over the cave, making sure there was no way to change the outcome.
Dan 6:15 Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.
Doing this made for a very stressful sleepless night for the king. I don't doubt he was at the cave door before the dawn broke. He was reaping the results of a guilty conscience; God knows how to doll out vengeance.
Dan 6:18 Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.
Dan 6:19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.
The king reveals his care and concern for this old faithful servant in his cries down to the den.
Dan 6:20 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?
Daniels' answer is remarkable. It shows the "excellent spirit" spoken of at the beginning of the chapter. No anger, no resentment, no desire for revenge. Only one of truth, honest desire for the welfare for the king, and stating his case of innocence. When I read this, it convicts me of how far I am from being where Daniel is, but it's also encouragement, that what was done in Daniel can be done in me, and you. It's our responses to those who wish us harm that matters. It tells openly what is in our hearts.
When people lie, the truth is what must be declared openly, eventually other's will see the lie for what it is.
Then the scripture tells of Daniel being taken out of the den, and found unhurt, because he believed in his God.
Dan 6:21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.
Dan 6:22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.
Dan 6:23 Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.
Lessons learned:
1. Be honest, let the truth be the counter to lies.
2. Don't cave in to threats; keep living a righteous life for all to see, let the peace of God rule in the situation.
3. Believe God for his deliverance, it will come.
Lorna Couillard
