Daily Bible Study
@just4him (317089)
Green Bay, Wisconsin
February 8, 2018 4:14am CST
Day 6
Daniel 6
Daniel 6:1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom a hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;
2 And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.
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.
6 Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live forever.
7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.
8 Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which alters not.
9 Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.
10 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.
11 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.
12 Then they came near, and spoke before the king concerning the king’s decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, 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 alters not.
13 Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regards not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but makes his petition three times a day.
14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore 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 assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establishes may be changed.
16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spoke and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou serve continually, he will deliver thee.
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 the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.
18 Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of music brought before him: and his sleep went from him.
19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.
20 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spoke and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou serve continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?
21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live forever.
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.
23 Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.
24 And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and broke all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.
25 Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
26 I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and steadfast forever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.
27 He delivers and rescues, and he works signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.
28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
Jealousy and pride can get people in a lot of trouble.
King Darius had given the highest position among the presidents to Daniel because of his faithfulness to the kingdom and his God. However, the other presidents were jealous and wanted to get rid of Daniel, so they approached the king to make an unbreakable decree.
Darius must have had a moment of self-worth and pride to believe everyone in the kingdom would pray to him only for thirty days. It was an impossible position to be in. However, jealousy and pride can blind you to reality, which it obviously did, and caused despair when Darius realized what his presidents had conspired.
Notice what Darius said to Daniel before he cast him into the den of lions. Thy God whom thou serve continually, he will deliver thee. Darius had no doubt Daniel’s God would deliver him. Even with that knowledge, he stayed up the whole night in fasting and prayer.
In the morning, Darius found his statement of faith in a God he didn’t serve, proved true. God had delivered Daniel from the lions’ mouths. Knowing the jealousy and hatred the presidents had for Daniel, and how they had trapped him into doing something impossible to undertake, he threw the presidents and their families into the lions’ den, and they were destroyed.
From that moment forward, Darius made a decree causing everyone to tremble with fear before the living God, who was able to save Daniel from lions.
As Christians, you too experience jealousy and hatred from those who consider you are better than everyone else. Their jealousy and spitefulness can cause trouble for you. However, when you remain faithful to God, he will bring you through whatever trouble a person’s jealousy causes. He will shut the mouth of lions. He will make a path through the sea. He will make a way when there wasn’t any way. Proving to those who tried to come against you, not that you are any better than they are, but your God certainly is, and he will bring you through anything Satan devises against you.
Let’s pray: Father, thank you for shutting the mouths of lions, and keeping me safe when people bring their jealousies and hatreds against me for my hurt. Protect me according to your Word and promises because I trust in you. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.
Copyright © 8 February 2018 by Valerie Routhieaux
Image courtesy of Pixabay
6 people like this
4 responses
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
8 Feb 18
jealousy does corrupt people and is best to stop in the bud. Amen
1 person likes this
@just4him (317089)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
9 Feb 18
@MarymargII It certainly can.
1 person likes this
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
9 Feb 18
@just4him Great idea- it can grow- if you listen to all the negative thoughts in your head.
1 person likes this