Daily Devotionals

Stuck Between a Rock and a Hard Place Week 6: Saturday

I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel.
For he is the living God, and he will endure forever. His kingdom will never be destroyed, and his rule will never end. Daniel 6:26

Scripture teaches that God is all-powerful. He can do anything. With this knowledge, we may be tempted to ask why He did not keep Daniel from being thrown into the lions' den. After all, He could have given King Darius an idea of how to save Daniel. He could have caused the king's noblemen not to see Daniel praying. But instead, He allowed Daniel to be thrown into the lions' den. Let's conclude Daniel's story to understand why God may have allowed Daniel to face the lion's den. 

When Daniel disobeyed King Darius' command that restricted anyone from praying to anyone or anything but him for thirty days, he was caught. This is not a surprise. He opened his windows, giving anyone who wanted a view of what he was doing. As a result, Daniel was arrested and thrown into a den filled with lions. When this happened, the king was angry because he realized that some of his officers had tricked him into making this rule that would harm Daniel. He cared for Daniel and did not want Daniel to be harmed. Before Daniel was thrown into the den, he said, "May your God, whom you serve so faithfully, rescue you" (verse 16). And, miraculously, God indeed rescued Daniel. God "shut the lions' mouths" so that the lions did not harm Daniel (verse 22). 

God's protection over Daniel was not the only miraculous thing in Daniel 6. God also moved the king's heart. He was so overjoyed that Daniel was rescued that he ruled that everyone in his kingdom "should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel" (verse 26). God used this frightening situation to make His name known. This, my friends, is why God allowed Daniel to face the lion's den. God got not only the king's attention but also the attention of the entire kingdom of Babylon by saving Daniel from the den of lions. He had a greater plan than anyone could have imagined. He may have saved Daniel in a different way than we may have planned, but His plan was better. From the lion's den to the mountaintop, God is good, and His plan can be trusted. He is most worthy of every ounce of our trust and faith.

Moving toward action

Because God allowed Daniel to face the lion's den, others were pointed to God and praised Him. There is nothing greater on earth than people coming to know God. One of the ways we can bring people to God is by inviting them to church with us. Who can you invite to church with you this weekend? Reach out to them and invite them to attend one of our weekend services. Who knows? This invitation may be the catapult that launches them in their faith. 

Going Deeper

Daniel 6:13-28

"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."

23 The king was overjoyed and ordered that Daniel be lifted from the den. Not a scratch was found on him, for he had trusted in his God.

24 Then the king gave orders to arrest the men who had maliciously accused Daniel. He had them thrown into the lions' den, along with their wives and children. The lions leaped on them and tore them apart before they even hit the floor of the den.

25 Then King Darius sent this message to the people of every race and nation and language throughout the world:

"Peace and prosperity to you!

26 "I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel.

For he is the living God,
and he will endure forever.
His kingdom will never be destroyed,
and his rule will never end.
27 He rescues and saves his people;
he performs miraculous signs and wonders
in the heavens and on earth.
He has rescued Daniel
from the power of the lions."

28 So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian."