Gluten Free & God Seeking: Overcomers in Babylon - Lessons From Daniel & The Lion's Den in Daniel 6

Thursday, December 5, 2019

Overcomers in Babylon - Lessons From Daniel & The Lion's Den in Daniel 6

The book of Daniel is full of intrigue with stories that hold children in suspense. In Daniel 6 he writes about the time when some evil politicians had it in for him. They talked the king into passing an edict that for 30 days no one could make a petition to anyone but the king (6:7).

Behind this seemingly innocent request was their sinister plot to catch Daniel whom they knew prayed to God every day. No doubt this was instigated by their hatred and envy towards Daniel.

Try to envision this--Some guys in robes hiding behind a palm tree watching Daniel's window ready to pounce. If this account wasn't recorded in the Bible, you'd be going huh, did this really happen in ancient Babylon because it sounds more like something that belongs in a novel.

The signing of this decree doesn't phase Daniel in the least, and we see this in Daniel 6:10:

Now when Daniel came to know that the writing had been signed, he went to his house (in his upper room he had windows open toward Jerusalem) and three times daily he knelt on his knees and prayed and gave thanks before his God, because he had always done so previously.

Now picture these evil rulers storming into the palace with the news that Daniel had broken the law and the king better follow the law and throw him into the lion's den or else. For sure King Darius was greatly saddened to hear this and tried to get Daniel out of it. But these rulers would hear nothing of it and held the king to their law that could not be revoked.

   And it's evident here like it is in countless stories in Scripture that God isn't the God of prevention. Daniel did get thrown into a lion's den. God doesn't zap the lions so they disappear or change them into kittens, He just shuts their mouths. Wow, God really knew how to one up these evil rulers!! And as the story goes, when Daniel is joyfully released, they get their just dessert.

    But there's a spiritual lesson here. Satan is always trying to shut down or at least shorten our prayer time. You can read about that in chapter 8 of the Life-Study of Daniel.

     As I was writing this post, I was reminded of The Prayer Ministry of the Church written by Watchman Nee. In one of the chapters he likens these lions to Satan's attack on his people, and he encourages God's people to pray that the "lion's mouths" would be shut. And when we pray like that, t will happen just like it did in Daniel's day.

Other posts on the Major Prophets

Life-Study of Isaiah:

You can listen to excerpts of Witness Lee's speaking the Life-Study of Isaiah on Life Study of the Bible with Witness Lee. You can also read the online Life-Studies of Isaiah and check out other resources available to enhance your study of the Bible on Living Stream Ministry's website.

How Can the Son in Isaiah 7:14 & 9:6 Be the Mighty God?
Seeing Christ as the Great Light in Isaiah 9:2
Why is Christ Called the Cornerstone in Isaiah 28:26?
Taking a Closer Look at Isaiah 53 - Christ's Crucifixion Foretold - Part 1

Taking a Closer Look at Isaiah 53 - Christ's Resurrection &Ascension Foretold - Part 2 of 2

Life-Study of Jeremiah & Lamentations: