Facing the Lions
The lions that Daniel faced were real. The lions we face today are those who would silence our voices and mock our beliefs. They want to cancel us in the public square and ruin our testimonies.
Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee...My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt. Daniel 6:16, 22
Daniel's night with the lions is a Bible story almost everyone has heard. Much wisdom can be mined from this story for Christians today. The specifics of the times in which we live are different than previous generations, but the lessons are the same. We have social media, smart phones, seemingly endless free time to fill our days with entertainments and amusements. But two things are clear: we have the same responsibilities and demands of life as our predecessors; and the same opposition and adversary as well.
Daniel's lions were real and dangerous. He had enemies that sought to destroy him because of his faith In God. Some of those enemies were embedded in the government that Daniel had served since childhood. The lions we face today are those who would silence our voices and mock our beliefs. They want to cancel us in the public square and ruin our testimonies. They want to minimize our ability to speak the truths of God and stand for righteousness.
What can we learn from this story that will encourage us in our daily battles with wokeness and worldliness?
I. DANIEL HAD MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO DOUBT HIS GOD.
We tend to think of Daniel as a rock of spirituality, always trusting, always believing. And he seems to be worthy of such praise. But think of his life in totality. He was born into a noble Jewish family, bound to rule in Judah. But at 12-15 years old, he was uprooted from his homeland and his family and taken to the capital city of his captors. As far as we know, he never returned to his home or ever saw his family again. It is notable that he always prayed "toward Jerusalem" in honor and respect to his homeland, his family, and his God.
From the outset, he used his God-given abilities to rise in the hierarchy of his adopted nation's government. Nebuchadnezzar rose and fell. Daniel had to begin again with the short reign of Belshazzar, who was himself defeated by the Persians and their ruler Darius. Each time he had to prove himself all over again. Those who planned his demise had been there all along---jealous and resentful. They watched him as he lived an exemplary life, gaining favor agagin and again with his superiors. In all these machinations, there is no indication that Daniel questioned God's favor or God's plan for his life. Now he is more than 80 years old and must pass one more great test of his faith.
It is a present phenomenon for Christian people to complain to both God and man about their lot in life. We didn't get a fair shake. Someone did us wrong. Circumstances are so hard to overcome. Does God even care about my plight? There were no such questions from Daniel. He never questioned God's Plan for his life, God's Providence in the daily duties or circumstances, or God's Purpose being accomplished in it.
II. DANIEL'S PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC LIFE WAS ABOVE REPROACH
"Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. 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 6:4-5 What a testimony! Not one shortcoming! Not even one little failure! Not one negative mark against him! How many of our so-called Christian leaders have had their sins revealed to the world? If we are to face the lions of today, we must live pure lives that the enemy cannot use against us.
He Was Wise. Examples can be found throughout the book how Daniel was never one to act hastily, but he was patient, prayerful and modest in his dealings with others. (Daniel 1:8-16, 2:14-15).
He was Humble. Daniel's many exploits are chronicled throughout the book that bears his name. He was no doubt one of the best known and highly respected in the king's court and all through the kingdom. He never used his gifts to gain an advantage against others. He had many opportunities to take credit or glory for his exploits but he remained humble and submissive to others.
He was Prayerful. Daniel faced a number of very difficult situations in his life. He never relied on himself or trusted in his own abilities. He always prayed to God and asked God to show him His favor and compassion upon him. (Daniel 1:9, 2:17-18, 6:10-11, 9:3-5)
He was Bold. It is truly walking a fine line when you are bold and uncompromising---and at the same time not brash, or prideful or rude. But somehow Daniel pulled it off. He stood quietly and couragously by his convictions. “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. Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.” Daniel 6:10-11
III. DANIEL WAS TARGETED BY EVIL BECAUSE OF HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Not being able to harm him because of his integrity, his enemies devised a way to harm him by doing right. The man prays! That's how we can entrap him! We will make that which is good into evil! Daniel's prayer life was his lifeline to God. It was his secret weapon! It was the key to his uprightness and honor. By beseeching King Darius to issue a decree entrapping Daniel in his prayer life, they were making evil that which is good.
We see this principle at work in our modern society. That which is evil---transsexualism, pornography, crime, drugs, greed, selfishness, and violence---these are tolerated---and even celebrated in our culture. Prayer, the Bible, looking for the second coming, contentment, honesty, purity, respect, love, compassion---these things are mocked and ridiculed. Our society, more and more, calls what is evil good. “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” Isaiah 5:20
IV. DANIEL HAD A CHOICE IN HIS OBEDIENCE TO THE KING'S LAW OR GOD'S STATUTES.
We are all ignorant of the life journey we begin when we accept Christ as Savior. There are two paths available to the Christian pilgrim. One choice is the Path of Compromise, which is a journey of convenience and accommodation. It is a life of bargaining with the world and the devil. It is the land of middle ground, of give-and-take. God's decrees are malleable and unsteady, subject to negotiation and trade-offs. There are few if any lions on this path. It is a path of ease in society, but of powerlessness with God. It is a path of few pitfalls and challenges, where the lions are merely housecats on a leash. Daniel had never in his 80-something years traveled on this path.
The second choice is a Path of Conscience. It is a path of ridicule and reproach. It is a path of danger and peril. Hazards appear around every turn. The godly believer always seems to be coming face-to-face with opposition and trials. We endure the anger and loathing of would-be enemies, who place themselves between us and God's perfect will. We only see the human element; the blaspheming boss, or the irate customer, or the rage-filled driver. But behind the veil of humanity stands the lions of evil. We fight not against flesh and blood, Ephesians tells us, but against principalities and powers. We know Satan has the characteristics of the "roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."
There are many in the Christian world who advise their listeners to obey those in authority, and indeed, the Bible teaches us to do so in most cases. "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves..." Hebrews 13:17 But there comes a time when the saint of God must choose his path like Peter in Acts 5:29: "We ought to obey God rather than men." Daniel never wavered even for a moment about what he should do. He repeated his daily prayers to the letter as he had done each day before.
V. DANIEL'S OBEDIENCE RESULTED IN BLESSINGS FOR BOTH GOD AND MAN.
But God never leaves his people powerless. It may seem so to the unbelieving world, but the power of God is never used just for show. God's arrives for his people in their darkest hour, sometimes hiding Himself from the gaze of humanity. There were angels in the lion's den with Daniel, stopping the mouths of the lions. When the King and the others came to the den the next morning, the only evidence of the angels' visit was a living Daniel and a cadre of hungry lions.
It is in the discretion of God HOW He delivers His people, and WHAT He uses to do so. The blessings are sure; the results are in God's hands. It is within the realm of possibility that Daniel could have been martyred in this story. It has happened many times in history. The stories of the martyrdom of the saints bless the believers just as the stories of deliverance.
There are many instances in the early life of George Washington of close calls with death. Numerous times in battle, Washington put himself in harm's way and his clothes were riddled with bullet holes, his horse was shot from underneath him, but he never received as much as a scratch. Washington wrote to his brother the following:
“By the all powerful dispensations of Providence, I have been protected beyond all human probability or expectation, for I had four bullets through my coat and two horses shot under me, yet escaped unhurt, although death was leveling my companions on every side of me.”
Another great leader held the same belief. Jonathan Jackson, received his nickname, Stonewall, because of his bravery under fire at Bull Run. Another general encouraged his men, pointing out Jackson "standing like a stone wall."
Jackson said this about his trust in his God:
“My religious belief teaches me that I’m just as safe on the battlefield as I am in my bed. The Lord has already appointed the day of my death so I need not worry about that. I live my life and prepare myself so I will always be ready to meet my Lord, when death does overtake me.”
“Why should the peace of a true Christian be disturbed by anything which man can do unto him? Has not God promised to make all things work together for good to those who love him?”
But in 1863, Jackson was wounded in the arm by his own soldiers at Chancellorsville. He died 10 days later of infection from his wound. God still delivered Jackson, just in a different way. As he lay dying, his last words were, “Let us cross over the river and rest under the shade of the trees.” God chooses His method of deliverance for His children. But, rest assured deliverance will come!
Psalm 27:1 “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
END