Asterisk (*) means the scripture reference is located at the bottom of the page Sometimes because of God's favor upon us, we are given positions of authority or are blessed with opportunities that may attract the envy of other people. Such was the case in Daniel 6. Dan 6:3-5 KJV 3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. 4 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. 5 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. When we, as Christians, are walking uprightly, the enemy will begin to stir up people around us. They will begin to whisper and do their best to make sure that we feel out of place. After we are thoroughly inspected, those same people become frustrated, because they can't find anything to convict us on. (Our sins were purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ and cast into the depths of the sea; Micah 7:19*) So their next plan is to catch us doing something that clashes against the Word of God. The enemy will even use unsuspecting people to put us in a position to have to defend our Christianity (vs 6-14*). Then one day without warning, the enemy will use these things to cast us into our own lion's den (vs 15-16*). As we look around, we begin to recognize the lions. Their names are Despair, Deceit, Bitterness, Self-Righteousness, Hatred, Envy, Suicide, Gluttony, Strife, Greed, Lust, and Addiction. There appears to be no way out. Dan 6: 17, 19 KJV 17 And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel. 19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. The enemy will gather around the opening of the den to see if we made it through the night. Dan 6:20-22 KJV 20 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lametable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? 21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. 22 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. Ps 37: 25* says I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken....NKJV No matter how many times we find ourselves thrown into the lion's den, we must know that if we look to God, where our help comes from, we will always come out unharmed. No matter how hungry or vicious those lions may seem, God will protect us and keep us. I hope you enjoyed reading the word of God in a new light! Have a Happy Wednesday! God Bless, Min. Tommy & Sis. Shatika Gray Scriptures References NKJV Ps 37:25 I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread. Micah 7:19 He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. Dan 6: 6-16 6 So these governeors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: "King Darius, live forever! 7 All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. 8 Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter." 9 Therefore King Darius signed the written decree. 10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days. 11 Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. 12 And they went before the king, and spoke concerning the king's decree: "Have you not signed a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?" The king answered and said, "The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter." 13 So they answered and said before the king, "That Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah, does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his pretition three times a day." 14 And the king, when he heard these words, was greatly displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him. 15 Then these men approached the king, and said to the king, " Know, O king, that it is the law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statue which the king establishes may be changed." 16 So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, "Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you." |
| The Lion's Den Mar. 17, 2004 |