My OperaDaniel 6:19-22
Thursday, February 12, 2009 8:41:02 AM
"At daybreak the king got up and ran to the pit. He was anxious and shouted, " Daniel, you were faithful and served your God. Was he able to save you from the lions?"
Daniel answered, " Your Majesty, I hope you live forever! My God knew that I was innocent, and he sent an angel to keep the lions from eating me."
The king was obviously really concerned for Daniel, and, as someone has said, fasted for the night hoping the lions would do likewise! There is a very real sense in which this is a picture for us. The New Testament tells us that 'your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith.' We, like Daniel, need to remain strong in our faith in the midst of our difficulties. It is also important to not give the enemy reason to justifiably condemn us. We read above that Daniel was delivered from the lion because 1) He was innocent in the matter and 2) He trusted in his God. As Psalm 34:7 tells us 'The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.' Paul experienced this (well, many, many times) and no doubt drawing upon the Biblical imagery of Daniel 6 wrote 'But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.' (2 Tim 4:17)
Daniel answered, " Your Majesty, I hope you live forever! My God knew that I was innocent, and he sent an angel to keep the lions from eating me."
The king was obviously really concerned for Daniel, and, as someone has said, fasted for the night hoping the lions would do likewise! There is a very real sense in which this is a picture for us. The New Testament tells us that 'your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith.' We, like Daniel, need to remain strong in our faith in the midst of our difficulties. It is also important to not give the enemy reason to justifiably condemn us. We read above that Daniel was delivered from the lion because 1) He was innocent in the matter and 2) He trusted in his God. As Psalm 34:7 tells us 'The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.' Paul experienced this (well, many, many times) and no doubt drawing upon the Biblical imagery of Daniel 6 wrote 'But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.' (2 Tim 4:17)
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