We come today to the best known story in this book and one of the best known stories in the whole bible - Daniel in the Lion's Den. No doubt we all learned it as children. But it important to realise that this is not a nice story for children. It is the story of an innocent man, pushing 80 years of age, who is condemned to death in a most gruesome manner because he chooses loyalty to God over obedience to the state.
Once again we will see that this section of God's Word has a powerful relevance to the days in which we live. It encourages and challenges us to remain faithful to God and to trust that our God is able to deliver us from our exile in this fallen world.
Main Points:
- The Determined Hatred Of The World
- The Defiance Of Daniel's Prayer
- The Danger Of Trusting In Princes
- The Deliverance Of The Lord
Application Questions:
- In chapter 3 the king's command was for people to do something whereas in chapter 6 the king's command is for people not to do something. What are some of the varied ways in which our present world opposes God's people?
- In what ways do you feel the opposition of the world most in your Christian life? What are the things that help you to remain firm?
- Pray for our Christian brothers and sisters around the world who are facing fierce and violent persecution for their faith. Pray that they would persevere to the end and thank God for his promise that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18)