We left off our Bible study yesterday on a cliffhanger. Jealous of his success and rank in the king’s court, other members of the king’s administration were trying to find a fault in Daniel and accuse him, but they realized that the only “fault” they could find in him was on account of his faith in God. That’s where we are picking up our story today in Daniel 6. To try to trap Daniel, the administrators and officers of the king convinced the king to make a rule that anyone who prayed to anyone but him for the next thirty days would be thrown into a den of lions (verses 6-9). Put yourself in Daniel’s place for a moment. How would you have responded? I know I would have been terrified. I might have been tempted to pray in secret. This was not the case with Daniel. Daniel was a man of prayer, and he maintained his integrity by being a person of prayer even amidst this threat against him.
We learn in Daniel 6 that, “When Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God” (verse 10). Several things stand out about Daniel's remarkable response. First, Daniel immediately went home and prayed when he learned about the rule. He did not waver even for a second when he learned about this new rule. He simply went straight to God and prayed. Second, and this is truly remarkable, Daniel prayed with the windows to his home opened! I do not know about you, but I might have closed the windows or gone into a closet to pray. Daniel did no such thing. He prayed boldly and publicly, undeterred by the king’s new rule. Finally, it is clear from our Scripture reading that prayer was a habitual pattern in Daniel’s life. He had a regular routine of praying “three times a day” to God. Prayer was part of Daniel’s daily routine. Because he was a man of integrity, Daniel did not let the king’s edict intimidate him. Ultimately, Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den for praying, and God miraculously rescued him, shutting the mouths of the lions in the den with him. Daniel lived with integrity, and God honored that integrity.
Daniel made prayer a regular practice in his life, and he did not stop praying, even when his life was on the line. The question we have to ask today is, “Do we have the same devotion and dedication to prayer?” I urge you, friend, let’s follow Daniel’s commitment to prayer, praying regularly, often, and with boldness. God wants to hear from us!
Take some time today to follow Daniel’s example of being a person committed to prayer. Take a few moments to get alone with God and pray today. Talk to Him about whatever is on your mind. He cares about you. Let this time in prayer become an everyday habit in your life, taking time daily to be alone and talk with your Heavenly Father.
“God, I know that You care about me. I thank You for…”
6 So the administrators and high officers went to the king and said, “Long live King Darius! 7 We are all in agreement—we administrators, officials, high officers, advisers, and governors—that the king should make a law that will be strictly enforced. Give orders that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human—except to you, Your Majesty—will be thrown into the den of lions. 8 And now, Your Majesty, issue and sign this law so it cannot be changed, an official law of the Medes and Persians that cannot be revoked.” 9 So King Darius signed the law.
10 But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God. 11 Then the officials went together to Daniel’s house and found him praying and asking for God’s help. 12 So they went straight to the king and reminded him about his law. “Did you not sign a law that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human—except to you, Your Majesty—will be thrown into the den of lions?”
“Yes,” the king replied, “that decision stands; it is an official law of the Medes and Persians that cannot be revoked.”
13 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.
