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Then the king gave the command, and Daniel was brought and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you faithfully serve, deliver you!” A stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, so that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no food was brought to him, and sleep fled from him. Then, at break of day, the king got up and hurried to the den of lions. When he came near the den where Daniel was, he cried out anxiously to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God whom you faithfully serve been able to deliver you from the lions?” Daniel then said to the king, “O king, live forever! My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no wrong.” Then the king was exceedingly glad and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. The king gave a command, and those who had accused Daniel were brought and thrown into the den of lions—they, their children, and their wives. Before they reached the bottom of the den the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces. Then King Darius wrote to all peoples and nations of every language throughout the whole world: “May you have abundant prosperity! I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people should tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: For he is the living God, enduring forever. His kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion has no end. He delivers and rescues, he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth; for he has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.”(Daniel 6:10-28)
Just before I sat down to write this devotional, I read a very sad article from The Washington Post about the fate of tigers around the world. The sad reality is that there are more tigers living in cages than can be found in the wild. And those in cages, in some parts of the world tigers are bred only to be slaughtered, cut up and sold for meat, teeth, bone, and skin. The article was about a 70 year old man who is charging against all the governments in the world who decry the practice of tiger slaughtering, but turn a blind eye to enforcing the laws they have passed to save tigers. The entire article can be read by clicking the link below. The article set the stage for me as we get to today's Bible Story You Should Know!
Another type of big cat is the star animal character in this drama. Last Friday, we met Daniel and his diet, and today we study how he almost became the diet for lions for that overnight stay he enjoyed in their den. The young man Daniel had blessed the king of this enemy nation with interpreting dreams the king had had. The king showed his appreciation for Daniel by promoting him. The jealous countrymen of the king persuaded the king to pass an anti-prayer law. The law read that only prayers to the king would be allowed in the land. While that was fine and well for the nation, for a devoted believer in God it was not. Daniel continued to pray in the privacy of his own home. And these enemies of his knew this and sought to catch him in the act, which they did. The law read that anyone caught praying to another god would be thrown in a lion's den. Daniel was caught and into the den he went. It is interesting to note how the king held Daniel in high esteem and even fasted for the night in hopes that no harm would come to the young man.
The next morning, the king rushes to the den in hopes of finding Daniel alive. This was the answer Daniel gave from inside his overnight jail, "O king, live forever! My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouth so that they would not hurt me, because I was found blameless before Him; and also before you, O king, I have done no wrong." This tickled the king and Daniel was ordered taken out of the den. Those who had accused Daniel were thrown in the same lions' den along with their children and their wives. A graphic description of the lions' strength in "meeting" the accused is given. But a decree comes out from the king concerning Daniel and his God: "He is the living God, enduring forever. His kingdom shall never be destroyed, and His dominion has no end. He delivers and rescues, He works signs and wonders in Heaven and on Earth; for He has saved Daniel from the power of the lions." Bam.
Another recent article I read concerning the church shows that pastors who believe in the power of God to save, transform, and do miracles are the churches that are growing. And that makes sense, one would be scared to board a United jet airliner if one heard the pilot in the lounge declare that he didn't believe in flying! A pastor, and a congregation who believe in what the Persian king believed are those who are blessed with results and blessings in their lives. Our God does deliver. Our God does rescue. Our God works signs and wonders in Heaven and on Earth. God can save even you!
PRAYER: AWESOME Father, grant me a stronger faith to be one who blesses the work of God's church. I believe that God does work wonders and has worked in me. Grant me the excitement and joy that blesses others. It is in Jesus' strong name that I pray, amen!
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Don't let the lions scare you! You have angels watching over you! And it only took one angel to shut ALL the lions' mouths!
Blessings of love,
Eradio Valverde
The article on tigers: https://wapo.st/2YgzEfD
