In and Out of the Lions Den
Daniel 6: 15 – 22
15 Then the men went as a group to King Darius 16 So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!”
17 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring 18 then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating. And he could not sleep.
19 At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. 20 When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”
21 Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! 22 My God sent his angel and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”
One of the best known of all the Bible stories, ranking alongside Noah and Jonah as good bedtime stories for the youngsters.
But just as Noah and Jonah are actually very deep stories (no pun intended), so too is Daniel’s foray into the lions’ den.
Daniel, despite being an immigrant, had become a skilled and honest official of the King put into high office. This caused him to be very unpopular with the other officials who managed to trick the king into signing a decree that would condemn Daniel. They told the King to order that anyone who prayed or worshipped, anyone other than the king, be thrown into the lions’ den, knowing that Daniel would continue in his practice of praying three times a day. All of which led to the scenes described above.
Poor Daniel, unjustly condemned not for disrespect of the King, but for doing his job as well as he could, but God was on his side and brought him through his time of trial, and drawing the admiration of the King for his stalwart bravery. The other officials, the story continues, were not so lucky and the lions fed well on them and their families when the King had them put in the Den.
The present pandemic is of course a natural event not generated by anyone or to the blame of anyone, but we do need God’s help to get through it, and fortunately that help can be relied upon.
Prayer
Lord God, our loving Father in Heaven, our help in ages past and our hope for the future; hear us as we cry to you in our time of need. Give us we pray the courage wisdom and faith to keep going in these difficult times. May we find your Blessings in the work of neighbours, friends, and strangers, and help us to be your servants too, so that your glory may be seen in a World in fear.
In your Mercy hear our prayer,
Amen