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The story of Daniel placed in a den of lions by King Darius may excite and yet puzzle young children. Why was Daniel punished? Did he do something wrong? No! Was he thrown to the lions because he was bad? No! He was thrown in for being godly.
Daniel was an elderly statesman when King Darius the Mede was ruling Babylon. He was one of three Governors in Babylon with each Governor in charge of 120 Satraps governing the regions. He had lived well for a long time as a good and great witness for God through the reigns of King Nebuchadnezzar, King Belshazzar and he now served King Darius the Mede as the most trusted and capable of all the Governors.
Daniel was trapped in a plot that faulted him for honouring and praying to the one true God. He was unashamedly and avowedly religious. He was steadfast and loyal to his tradition of praying three times a day to his God – Jehovah. It was this inevitable devotion to his God that provided a loophole for his enemies in high places to plot to bring about his downfall. King Darius seemed to be none too wise for he apparently was just as entrapped by his own edict to punish disloyal subjects. He was distressed and anguished that Daniel had befallen such a calamity. He could not eat and sleep and even hoped that Daniel’s God whom Daniel served continually and faithfully would rescue him. Indeed Daniel confidently declared the supreme power of God over his life: “God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions” (Dan. 6:22).
God’s sovereign intervention had repeatedly been evident in the lives of His people like King David – “Though they plot evil against you and devise wicked schemes, they cannot succeed” (Ps. 21:11). The powerful battle cry of King Asa declared, “LORD, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty.” (2 Chron. 14:11). King Jehoshaphat victoriously defeated Moab and Ammon: “You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you” (2 Chron. 20:5). Kings like David, Asa and Jehoshaphat knew who was fighting their battles for them. They declared their steadfast faith in God and, like Daniel, they vigorously announced His dominion, power and might. God is good and great!
Daniel openly practiced his faith in God. He had no hesitation at all to be seen as a God fearing person in all situations of his life. This is unlike many Christians of today who maintain their belief in God privately, not wanting to be “religiously offensive”. They privatise their faith in God. JM Boice says: “We need more Daniels. We need more people who are willing to bring their awareness of God and His laws off the reservation, who are willing to open their windows and honour Him before a watching world.” Dare to be a Daniel in your own situations where God has placed you.
