Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. {Daniel 6:10}
One of the many things I love about God is the fact that with Him nothing is impossible. It doesn’t matter how terrible you think your situation may be. If you bring it to the Lord and cry for His help, He will help you. It is even more wonderful when you make the Lord your constant source of strength and help. So even when a situation is not that serious but you are in the habit of bringing it to Him anyway, He helps you. He loves us so much that He will hear us and help us whether our problem is big or small. Come to think of it, all our problems are small for Him. After all, He is a big and mighty God. He is an omnipotent and omnipresent God. The Bible states that the earth is His footstool and the heaven is His throne – He fills both heaven and earth with His glory. {Isaiah 66:1 and Jeremiah 23:24} Nothing is too hard with God. {Jeremiah 32:27}
What a scary thing Daniel faced with all these ungodly men that came against him in the time of King Darius. Imagine these men, who supposedly have been chosen specifically by king Darius to be presidents and princes over his kingdom, and have been given power and authority by Darius. Yet that wasn’t enough for them. Because they weren’t number one, and because Daniel was preferred above the 2 presidents and the 120 princes, they went out to get him. How wicked can one be? You see someone perfect and upright and faithful, and your number one goal is to find fault in him and get him in trouble with the king? Not only that, they mean to get Daniel eaten by lions. It’s one thing to get someone in trouble out of jealousy, it’s another to want him eaten alive by lions. Daniel did nothing wrong and they’ve conspired against him to be eaten by lions. How wicked can you get? Here’s what they said to one another as they connived to get Daniel in trouble:
Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God. {Daniel 6:5}
They couldn’t find anything wrong with Daniel because he was perfect and faultless, and yet what did they do? They set up the king to write out a decree that whoever asks for a petition or a request to any God or man for thirty days, except to the king, that they will be cast into the lions’ den. {Daniel 6:7} It’s unbelievable. So imagine this, for thirty days you can’t ask favors from God or help from anyone except the king. How ridiculous! Imagine having to bother your leader for something so trivial? I mean it’s the most unthinkable thing to get in trouble for something as petty as this. But they did it. One hundred twenty princes and the two presidents that King Darius set over his provinces all conspired against Daniel. It’s not even to be believed. All I can say is, Thank God He is real! Thank God nothing is too hard for Him. And thank God you can find Him in time of trouble and He is so merciful. Well that is exactly what happened to Daniel. God came through for him and helped him. If you know the story of Daniel you know already how God shut the mouths of the lions and Daniel was kept safe and protected from them. His enemies’ threat and decree didn’t faze Daniel. He went ahead and continued his prayers anyway – three times a day. His enemies watched him if he would do it too, and sure enough Daniel did it. He knelt down at the same window he had done in times’ past towards his homeland Jerusalem and prayed to God. Their evil and wicked plot boomeranged on them. They had no idea who they were coming against – a child of God who the scripture states was greatly beloved. {Daniel 10:11} Not only was Daniel a great lover of God and a prayer warrior, the Bible states that God loved Him very much. God sent angels to him to explain the visions that God would show to him of the end times. Daniel so loved God and was so upright and perfect before him that there was nothing God wouldn’t do for him. Not only did the Lord save Daniel from the lions, but King Darius turned around and made a decree that all those who came against Daniel would be thrown in the lion’s den, including their families. Unfortunately for them the king loved Daniel himself. When they came against Daniel and enticed the king to sign the decree that they basically tricked him into writing, they were coming against the king himself. I mean talk about revenge time for the king for the stress and anger they put him through. The scripture states that even as soon as they hit the bottom of the den the lions had the “mastery” of them. I would like to know exactly what that means but I think we get an idea of what the scripture says. I can’t even go there. It is too horrific for me. And that’s exactly what Daniel’s enemies wanted to happen to him. Imagine.
Thank God that the same God that saved Daniel from the lion’s den is the same God we can call on today in time of our trouble – for Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever and nothing is too hard for Him. {Hebrews 13:8} We need to call upon His name and we will be saved. We just need to repent of any sins, ask for His grace and forgiveness and find His mercy. I just love and thank God so much for giving us His precious Son Jesus Christ so that today we can call upon Him and be saved. He is the everlasting Father that Isaiah talked about in his writings – The mighty God, the everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace. {Isaiah 9:6} We can call on His name because He is able to exceedingly abundantly grant to us what we ask or even think of. {Ephesians 3:20-21} I thank God that He is a refuge and strength in time of trouble. With Him on our side who can come against us? We will find our help and deliverance in Him. With the Lord all things are possible.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. {Psalm 46:1}
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? {Romans 8:31}
He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. {Daniel 6:27}
Prayer
Lord Jesus I thank You Father that with You all things are possible. With You we will find our help as Daniel found His in You thousands of years ago. Thank You because You never ever change. You are the same today as You were yesterday and will be forever. I thank You Father, for You. You are awesome and wonderful. I love You so much!
Father, please help Your people today to find their help in You and to remember You even if their need is small. For truly You are not a respecter of persons. If we call upon You for help in little things You will come and help us too in big things. Help us Lord Jesus to trust in You today and call upon You, not only in time of our troubles but all the time. I ask faith for Your people today Father, I pray, in Your most wonderful and lovely name, Jesus. Thank You, Father. Amen.
