“I'm not a warrior. I'm too afraid to lose. I feel unqualified for what you're calling me to do. But Lord, with your strength, I've got no excuse. Because broken people are exactly who you use!”
On my quest for reading my Jesus Storybook Bible (JSB) I’m in Daniel 6 where King Darius was pleased to set three high officials over the kingdom, of whom Daniel was his favored one. Daniel and the others were there “so that the king might suffer no loss.”
“...An excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.” ESV
“But the other helpers didn’t like this. They wanted the king to like them best. They wanted to get rid of Daniel.” JSB
“Then these others said, “We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the Law of his God.” ESV
“So they spied on Daniel. They tried to find things wrong with Daniel, things they could tell the king... They couldn’t find anything at all... Except there was just the one thing...”
Daniel faithfully prayed to God three times a day.
“They smiled to themselves... they were pleased with themselves for being so clever...”
They convinced King Darius to make into a law that “Everyone must pray – only to ME! If you don’t, the lions will have you for their dinner!” JSB
Most of us know what Daniel did. He continued praying to God just as he’d been doing... putting himself on the lion’s dinner menu. I don’t know how much courage it must’ve taken for Daniel to do this. I can only imagine. Only imagine.
When the others brought this to King Darius’ attention “he was much distressed and set his mind to deliver Daniel. And he labored until the sun went down to rescue him.”
The others reminded him “that no injunction or ordinance that the king establishes can be changed.”
“May your God, who you love so much, rescue you!” the king said. The king went back to his palace, but he didn’t sleep that night. Not a wink. He tossed and turned...” JSB
“...the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him.” ESV
Commercial break. Can you even imagine that night in the dark den? I would love to be a fly on the wall – up high... maybe on the ceiling... The king tossed and turned in his palace... The king was tormented with what he’d unknowingly set into law. What must have gone through Daniel’s mind and heart before the sun came up let alone before it ever sat? Did he hear them roar before the angel shut their mouths? Did they circle around him? Did they fight each other to tear him apart? Now, back to the king:
“...until finally, at the first glimmer of dawn, he leaped out of bed and ran straight to the den, “Daniel?” he cried, “Has your God rescued you?” YES!” Daniel shouted, “God sent an angel to close the lions’ mouths!”
The king made a new law: “Daniels’ God is the true God. The God Who Rescues! Pray to him instead!”
God would keep on rescuing his people. And the time was coming when God would send another brave Hero, like Daniel, who would love God and do what God said – whatever it cost him, even if it meant he would die. And together they would pull off the Greatest Rescue the world has ever known.” JSB
“Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: “Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end. He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.” ESV
Once again, I was able to invest an extra amount of time in His Word and at His feet. He met me there. I have so much compassion for King Darius. He was tricked. He didn’t know. He was tormented. The king couldn’t rescue Daniel from the law he’d put into place – God did! I am reminded that I must put my trust in God alone, nothing and no one else once again.
In case you haven’t noticed I’ve been cowering in a dark den this entire year. Thanks for walking beside me! I’ve tried going back to the basics of my faith to find help. I’ve searched for facts to help me check the foundation. I know I’ve “risked the ocean” in my faith in the past, but I couldn’t find that courage in my new 2022, I just keep forgetting. It’s in this space that I find reminders that He is in control. He delivers. He rescues. He meets me where I am – even in those dark corners and delivers me. He saved Daniel from the power of the lions and He is saving me from the den I’ve found myself in.
“So, give me faith like Daniel in the lion's den.
Give me hope like Moses in the wilderness.
Give me a heart like David, Lord be my defense.
So, I can face my giants with confidence”
“Confidence” by Sanctus Real
THREE SONGS TO CONSIDER IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR ENCOURAGEMENT
“Confidence” by Sanctus Real
Matt Redman’s You Alone Can Rescue
“LIONS” by Lost & Found - Fun one!
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