Daniel 6 He cannot devour us!

Scripture selections are taken from the Rock Church Daily Bread Reading schedule for each month. “Lena’s Journalin’ ” are Lena’s comments on the specific passages from her Daily Journal.

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Daniel 6:1-28

Daniel in the Lions' Den
1Darius the Mede decided to divide the kingdom into 120 provinces, and he appointed a prince to rule over each province. 2The king also chose Daniel and two others as administrators to supervise the princes and to watch out for the king's interests. 3Daniel soon proved himself more capable than all the other administrators and princes. Because of his great ability, the king made plans to place him over the entire empire. 4Then the other administrators and princes began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling his affairs, but they couldn't find anything to criticize. He was faithful and honest and always responsible. 5So they concluded, "Our only chance of finding grounds for accusing Daniel will be in connection with the requirements of his religion."
6So the administrators and princes went to the king and said, "Long live King Darius! 7We administrators, prefects, princes, advisers, and other officials have unanimously agreed that Your Majesty should make a law that will be strictly enforced. Give orders that for the next thirty days anyone who prays to anyone, divine or human—except to Your Majesty—will be thrown to the lions. 8And let Your Majesty issue and sign this law so it cannot be changed, a law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked." 9So King Darius signed the law.
10But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God. 11The officials went together to Daniel's house and found him praying and asking for God's help. 12So they went back to the king and reminded him about his law. "Did you not sign a law that for the next thirty days anyone who prays to anyone, divine or human—except to Your Majesty—will be thrown to the lions?" "Yes," the king replied, "that decision stands; it is a law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked."
13Then they told the king, "That man Daniel, one of the captives from Judah, is paying no attention to you or your law. He still prays to his God three times a day."
14Hearing this, the king was very angry with himself for signing the law, and he tried to find a way to save Daniel. He spent the rest of the day looking for a way to get Daniel out of this predicament. 15In the evening the men went together to the king and said, "Your Majesty knows that according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, no law that the king signs can be changed."
16So at last the king gave orders for Daniel to be arrested and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to him, "May your God, whom you worship continually, rescue you." 17A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den. The king sealed the stone with his own royal seal and the seals of his nobles, so that no one could rescue Daniel from the lions. 18Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night fasting. He refused his usual entertainment and couldn't sleep at all that night.
19Very early the next morning, the king hurried out to the lions' den. 20When he got there, he called out in anguish, "Daniel, servant of the living God! Was your God, whom you worship continually, able to rescue you from the lions?"
21Daniel answered, "Long live the king! 22My God sent his angel to shut the lions' mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty."
23The king was overjoyed and ordered that Daniel be lifted from the den. Not a scratch was found on him because he had trusted in his God. 24Then the king gave orders to arrest the men who had maliciously accused Daniel. He had them thrown into the lions' den, along with their wives and children. The lions leaped on them and tore them apart before they even hit the floor of the den.
25Then King Darius sent this message to the people of every race and nation and language throughout the world:
"Peace and prosperity to you!
26"I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel.
For he is the living God, and he will endure forever. His kingdom will never be destroyed, and his rule will never end.
27 He rescues and saves his people; he performs miraculous signs and wonders in the heavens and on earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions."
28So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian. F25
FOOTNOTES:F25: Or of Darius, that is, the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
Copyright Statement: Holy Bible, The New Living Translation

~ Lena’s Journalin’~
I am looking at this today and realizing that Daniel was 80 years old when he was in the den with the lions. He’d lives through at least 4 kingdoms & kings ruling in the world. He was not in the city of God, but in the kingdoms of men, and by discipline & worship he stayed forever “In Christ”! From the time of his youth, where he was taken from his spiritually strengthening surroundings and put in the world to “fend for himself”, he rather rose up and became a disciple and a son of God.
He became such a disciple and a son that he stayed a disciple and son all of his days, through every circumstance and situation that crossed his pathway and there were some doozies, and humdingers.
I wonder if the trails we face now even compare to being in a fire or a den of live lions?
Yet we find ourselves inside of the city of God, but we struggle to stay strong in faith. It’s time to rise up in the strength and power of the Lord and stay the distance! Daniel did not even have the multitude of options we have to stay strong in faith. He didn’t have Sunday school, church, cell groups, books galore, Bible online, on CD etc., etc., yet he stayed.
It’s time, let God arise and every enemy be scattered and flee away!
The enemy comes as a roaring lion seeking those he can devour, we’re not in the den, we just hear the roaring. Can he devour us? No he cannot! We insist on it and enforce it by the power of the spirit of God.
We have overcome everything by the power of the cross, by the power of the shed blood of Christ and by the power of His great love.
Be loosed from every hindrance in Jesus’ name to love and worship and serve the Lord!

Daily Meditation/Recital/Question
Isaiah 58:12 (New Living Translation)
12 Your children will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities. Then you will be known as the people who rebuild their walls and cities.