Daniel 6 reminds me of blending in. It has
always been easy for me to blend into the crowd and not get noticed.
In business today many avoid getting promoted for fear that they will
become a target when the next layoffs are announced, or the scapegoat
if goals are not met. Being exceptional comes with the price of more
scrutiny, and more accountability. In today’s chapter Daniel
demonstrates excellence because he understands that he represents his
God. He probably did not wear a “What would Jehovah Do”
bracelet, but he dedicated himself to doing his job better than
anyone else. Darius was the new king and he appointed 120 leaders
over the nation, “with three
administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel“.
We read, “Daniel so
distinguished himself… by
his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the
whole kingdom“. His
competitors conspired to expose him, but failed, “because
he was trustworthy and
neither corrupt nor negligent“.
So they played the anti-Semitism
card, “unless it has something
to do with the law of his God“.
They knew that Daniel would not worship any god beside the One True
God of Creation. Clearly Daniel did not hide his faith. What do
your actions say about your God?
His
rivals came up with a simple plan to trick the new king into signing
a law that the he alone should be worshipped and “anyone
who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days…shall
be thrown into the lions’ den“.
They also knew that the
law, once signed, could not be altered. “King
Darius put the decree in writing”
and the conspirators waited. Perhaps the most important verse in the
chapter says, “When Daniel
learned of the decree… he
went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward
Jerusalem… he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to
his God, just as he had done before“.
Gleefully,
Daniel’s persecutors immediately reported the violation to the
king. Darius, now realizing he had been set-up, “was
greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel”,
but he had no choice except to follow the law. He ordered Daniel to
be thrown into the lions’ den, but added “May
your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!”
The king “could not sleep…
At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’
den“. To his delight, Daniel
replied, “My God sent His
angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me“.
Daniel was immediately lifted out, with the commentary, “no
wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God“.
Please note that Daniel didn’t start praying when he first faced
the lions; he faced the lions because he had been faithful in prayer.
How should we pray? There are hundreds of prayers recorded in
scripture, and many reassurances that God knows our prayers before we
ask. “Before
you call I will answer, while you are still speaking, I will hear”
(Isaiah 65:24). The one consistent message about prayer is attitude.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in
the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own
understanding; in
all your ways submit to Him,
and He will make your paths
straight“. The chapter closes
with two results of Daniel’s faithfulness, “the
men who had falsely accused Daniel were… thrown into the lions’
den“, and the king decreed the
nation should have “fear
and reverence” for “the
God of Daniel“. Friend, don’t
be afraid to be exceptional. In all you do and all you say, may the
peace of God, which transcends all understanding, guard your hearts
and your minds in Christ Jesus!