Lent day 11

 Daniel 6 :1-16

The Plot against Daniel

1Now it pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, 2and over them three administrators, including Daniel, to whom these satraps were accountable so that the king would not suffer loss. 3Soon, by his extraordinary spirit, Daniel distinguished himself among the administrators and satraps. So the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.

4Thus the administrators and satraps sought a charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom, but they could find no charge or corruption, because he was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was found in him. 5Finally these men said, “We will never find any charge against this Daniel, unless we find something against him concerning the law of his God.”

6So the administrators and satraps went together to the king and said, “O King Darius, may you live forever! 7All the royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers, and governors have agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce a decree that for thirty days anyone who petitions any god or man except you, O king, will be thrown into the den of lions. 8Therefore, O king, establish the decree and sign the document so that it cannot be changed—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”

9Therefore King Darius signed the written decree.

Daniel in the Lions’ Den

10Now when Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house, where the windows of his upper room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before. 11Then these men went as a group and found Daniel petitioning and imploring his God. 12So they approached the king and asked about his royal decree: “Did you not sign a decree that for thirty days any man who petitions any god or man except you, O king, will be thrown into the den of lions?”

The king replied, “According to the law of the Medes and Persians the order stands, and it cannot be repealed.”

13Then they told the king, “Daniel, one of the exiles from Judah, shows no regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed. He still makes his petition three times a day.”

14As soon as the king heard this, he was deeply distressed and set his mind on delivering Daniel, and he laboured until sundown to rescue him.

15Then the men approached the king together and said to him, “Remember, O king, that by the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or ordinance established by the king can be changed.”

16So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the den of lions.

The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!”

I think I like Darius the Mede.  He wasn't the sharpest knife in the box, allowing himself to be tricked into passing legislation he could not revoke just so that his ego could be massaged.  But once he realised he'd been backed into a corner by petty, jealous subjects he tried his best to undo the mess. And when he realised he couldn't,  he acknowledged that God was the only one who was going to be able to rescue Daniel and ,in effect, he prayed for Daniel's deliverance. 

Daniel must have been used to this by now. Throughout his life he has had to deal with vainglorious kings who were so insecure that they needed to set themselves up as gods and who paid scant attention to history.  He has managed to live through the various reigns of various pagan kings and maintain an 'excellent spirit'  He has not been conformed to the world in which he has been living. Now he hears about this latest ridiculous edict and is found 'petitioning and imploring his God'.  What do you  think he was praying about three times a day in full view of everyone?  I suspect he was praying for Darius.  Daniel knew that he would have to face the punishment of the law. He had witnessed Shadrach Meshach and Abednego being delivered from the furnace years before so he was well aware that God was able to rescue him if He wanted to.  I don't think Daniel will have been praying for himself.  I reckon his life's mission was to steer the leaders of Babylon along a godly course. And here was yet another king straying from that path and setting himself up to be worshipped.

Today's lesson ?  Sometimes people are a bit stupid. They dont mean to go the wrong way but they get easily swayed by others and by their own insecurities. We can end up being 'thrown to the lions' because of other people's poor judgement and decisions.   But however bad it might look or feel, if we are righteous and are doing what God requires of us then we can have the same confidence that Daniel did that justice will prevail.  Which is easy to say and can be pretty painful to actually live out.  If you are suffering because of someone elses poor decisions or behaviour then today I pray that God will shut the mouths of the lions and deliver you from any evil other people might be wishing upon you. 

Amen