Saturday 29 May 2010

God before everything else.

Daniel 6

Daniel in the Den of Lions
 1 It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, 2 with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss. 3 Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. 4 At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. 5 Finally these men said, "We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God." 6 So the administrators and the satraps went as a group to the king and said: "O King Darius, live forever! 7 The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or man during the next thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into the lions' den. 8 Now, O king, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed." 9 So King Darius put the decree in writing.
 10 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.




I have to be honest from the start and say that Daniel is probably my favourite book in the old testament. I am like many others a bit afraid of the old testament especially when it comes to more obscure passages and tend to avoid them if I can. I have been making more of a concerted effort to actually read more of what Phillip Yancey describes as "The Bible Jesus read".
But one book I can always go back to in the old testament that I can read and read over and over again is Daniel. Now I am sure for most who attended Sunday School the Lion's den is a big story that leads to images in your head of flannel graphs and the story about God rescuing Daniel. Which of course he does. But the thing that I focus on when I read the first chapters of Daniel is the way that Daniel and his friends remain true to God in what we would describe as impossible circumstances. 
Many of us as Christians believe that we are strangers living in a foreign land and bemoan often just how difficult it is to live as 'salt' and 'light' in such a corrupt world. But our moaning on this subject is  put into context by Daniel and his friends. Taken to a foreign land who worshipped different God's and yet they managed in the face of everything to keep their integrity and remain true to the God they served.
3 Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.


Why did Daniel distinguish himself so much? Because of his integrity. It is also the very reason why he was hated. No corruption would be possible while Daniel was in charge. No shady deals and no backhanders. So his enemies try to find some sin with which to catch him out.
 4 At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. 5 Finally these men said, "We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God."


Basically they find nothing corrupt or shady about Daniel because he has such integrity. How many politicians do we see who bang on about their integrity and yet get caught out when people shine the light and examine them closely. Daniel had the light shone on his life and the conclusion they reached was that the only way they could get him was " something to do with the law of his God." What a fantastic statement that they make about him and his integrity. Quick question if our enemies shine the light on our lives do you think they would come to the same conclusion?
They set the trap for Daniel and tell him basically that he cannot pray to his God for thirty days. Now what  matters to Daniel is to be put to the test. Will he obey the law of the land and sacrifice his integrity or will he follow God.
 10 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.


Now the important thing to remember is that Daniel did not change his behaviour one little bit. The threat of death made no difference at all. It is easy to look at the ending and think that God is going to save him anyway.But Daniel at this point does not know this. The most important thing for Daniel is that he remains true to his God even to the point of Death. Oh that I could have faith like Daniel. That nothing would stop me being on my knees to my God. That nothing would be more important in my life than God even when facing the threat of death.



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