Friday February 02nd, 2024
« My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you »
1 Darius the Mede decided to divide the kingdom into 120 provinces, and he appointed a high officer to rule over each province.
2 The king also chose Daniel and two others as administrators to supervise the high officers and protect the king’s interests.
3 Daniel soon proved himself more capable than all the other administrators and high officers. Because of Daniel’s great ability, the king made plans to place him over the entire empire.
4 Then the other administrators and high officers began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling government affairs, but they couldn’t find anything to criticize or condemn. He was faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy.
5 So they concluded, “Our only chance of finding grounds for accusing Daniel will be in connection with the rules of his religion.”
6 So the administrators and high officers went to the king and said, “Long live King Darius!
7 We are all in agreement—we administrators, officials, high officers, advisers, and governors—that the king should make a law that will be strictly enforced. Give orders that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human—except to you, Your Majesty—will be thrown into the den of lions.
8 And now, Your Majesty, issue and sign this law so it cannot be changed, an official law of the Medes and Persians that cannot be revoked.”
9 So King Darius signed the law.
10 But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.
11 Then the officials went together to Daniel’s house and found him praying and asking for God’s help.
12 So they went straight to the king and reminded him about his law. “Did you not sign a law that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human—except to you, Your Majesty—will be thrown into the den of lions?” “Yes,” the king replied, “that decision stands; it is an official law of the Medes and Persians that cannot be revoked.”
13 Then they told the king, “That man Daniel, one of the captives from Judah, is ignoring you and your law. He still prays to his God three times a day.”
14 Hearing this, the king was deeply troubled, and he tried to think of a way to save Daniel. He spent the rest of the day looking for a way to get Daniel out of this predicament.
15 In the evening the men went together to the king and said, “Your Majesty, you know that according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, no law that the king signs can be changed.”
16 So at last the king gave orders for Daniel to be arrested and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to him, “May your God, whom you serve so faithfully, rescue you.”
17 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den. The king sealed the stone with his own royal seal and the seals of his nobles, so that no one could rescue Daniel.
18 Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night fasting. He refused his usual entertainment and couldn’t sleep at all that night.
19 Very early the next morning, the king got up and hurried out to the lions’ den.
20 When he got there, he called out in anguish, “Daniel, servant of the living God! Was your God, whom you serve so faithfully, able to rescue you from the lions?”
21 Daniel answered, “Long live the king!
22 My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty.”
A few days ago we discussed the price of commitment and noted that, as high as the price of commitment to Kingdom projects may be, it is highly rewarding.
Today we shall dwell further on this and pray that we would be spurred unto greater commitment to godliness and Kingdom business in Jesus’ name. Our text today is a classic example of the blessings of commitment, especially to godliness.
King Darius was deceived into signing a deadly document that forbade everyone to pray to God or any other person asides the king himself, for thirty days.
The perpetrators of this deceit knew Daniel was committed to praying to God and they sought to implicate him with the law.
Darius later realized that he had been misguided into signing a death warrant for Daniel, whom he obviously admired and respected.
Daniel continued to pray to God despite the law, and as expected, he was thrown into the den of lions.
Darius could not sleep that night, and as soon as it was morning, he ran to the den of lions to confirm the authenticity of the power of God and whether God had rewarded Daniel for his commitment to Him. The Bible says in Daniel 6:20 NKJV
« And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” »
The God of Daniel – the Lion of the tribe of Judah had delivered him from the jaws of the lions.
Daniel replied, confirming the reward of commitment to godliness in Daniel 6:21-22 GNT
« 21 Daniel answered, “May Your Majesty live forever! 22 God sent His angel to shut the mouths of the lions so that they would not hurt me. He did this because He knew that I was innocent and because I have not wronged you, Your Majesty ” »
May you also reap the benefits and rewards of commitment to the Almighty God and His Kingdom’s business, in the mighty name of Jesus.
Prayer focus – Father, please reward my commitment to Your Kingdom’s business, in Jesus’ name.
Author – Bishop Enoch. A. Adeboye.
Edited by Naomie
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