Crumbs70

 

This contains some thoughts on Daniel 6

Crumbs from the Master ‘s Table 70

Lions

Scripture Daniel 6:19-24 New International Version19 At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. 20 When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”21 Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! 22 My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”23 The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.24 At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.

Crumbs I am moved by the devotion of these Old Testament exiles. We understandably seek comfort in our faith in these threatening times but Daniel and his friends knew what they had to do; keep the worship of the Lord going, and tyrants were not going to stop them. They were prepared to suffer the worst for their Lord..

Darius was trapped into throwing his valued administrator into the lions’ den. Jesus taught that our yea should be yea but the temptation is to make promises we may not be able to keep and hope for an escape clause. We leave ourselves wriggle room. Christ taught us plain speaking The rulers of Babylon meant what they said. .

Daniel’s brave and faithful behaviour and his deliverance led to a statement of faith by Darius. God lives, rules forever and God saves. It is the core of Christian belief.

Questions

1. How should Christians in 21^st century UK bear witness to their faith ? 2. How should our Lord’s teaching in Matthew 5:37 affect our behaviour? 3. When we see God’s hand in our lives and what has been our response ?