What If the Lions’ Den Is Your Monday Morning? (Daniel 5-9)
What do lions have to do with your life today? Maybe more than you think. When pressure rises, your response reveals who you trust most.
Daniel 5-9
Today's Scripture Passage
A Few Thoughts to Consider
Are you facing an ordeal?
That might seem like a strange term, but it’s one that’s fitting for Daniel 6. This chapter recounts the story of Daniel in the lions' den. Under the reign of Darius, verse 3 tells us, “Daniel distinguished himself above the administrators and satraps because he had an extraordinary spirit, so the king planned to set him over the whole realm.” This infuriates the other officials, who become very jealous.
Verses 4-5 state, 4 “The administrators and satraps, therefore, kept trying to find a charge against Daniel regarding the kingdom. But they could find no charge or corruption, for he was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was found in him. 5 Then these men said, ‘We will never find any charge against this Daniel unless we find something against him concerning the law of his God.’”
As a result, they conspire to trap Daniel by convincing the king to issue a decree that forbids praying to anyone but the king for thirty days. “The mention of the ‘three times a day’ indicates that Daniel’s prayer on this occasion is not stirred on by the decree; it is part of his regular habit. He is not flaunting his rebellion in the face of the king’s orders; it is business as usual.”[1] The result is that Daniel is thrown into a den of lions. As Tremper Longman writes,
Perhaps it is best to consider the lions’ den a trial by ordeal rather than an execution per se….Ordeals are broadly known in the ancient Near East. They take many forms, but perhaps the most well known is the water ordeal. An individual suspected of a crime is thrown into a river. If he or she dies, they are guilty. But if they survive, they are innocent and set free….The theology behind an ordeal is that God, who knows the heart in a way that human judges do not, will see the verdict through. Daniel’s survival, then, is God’s judgment of innocence on Daniel. In this judgment, Darius rejoices.[2]
Adding to this point, notice the king's first words when he approaches Daniel the next morning. Verses 19-20 say, 19 “At the first light of dawn the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. 20 When he reached the den, he cried out in anguish to Daniel. ‘Daniel, servant of the living God,’ the king said, ‘has your God, whom you continually serve, been able to rescue you from the lions?’” In other words, have you survived your ordeal? Is your God really the one true God? Daniel responds in verses 21-22, 21 “May the king live forever. 22 My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths; and they haven’t harmed me, for I was found innocent before him. And also before you, Your Majesty, I have not done harm.”
With this response, Daniel made it clear that he understood the purpose of this ordeal. It wasn’t just to test his character. It was to point to the greatness of God. The same holds true with every ordeal we face today. As Tremper Longman writes, “We must ask what we face that surpasses the danger Daniel faced. Moreover, as we will see, we have a much stronger basis for faith in the midst of suffering and the threat of death than Daniel did.”[3]
A Meditation to PRAY
Praise | Lord, I praise you for your unwavering protection and faithfulness, just as you delivered Daniel from the lions' den. You are a God of miracles and power, worthy of all honor and glory.
Release | I release my anxieties and fears to you, Lord, trusting in your protection and guidance. I let go of any worry about the schemes of others, knowing that you are my defender and shield.
Ask | Lord, I ask for Daniel's courage and steadfast faith. Help me to remain faithful in my prayers and devotion to you, even in the face of opposition. Give me the strength to stand firm in my beliefs and trust your deliverance.
Yield | I yield my life to your will, Lord, committing to follow you with unwavering faith. I surrender my plans and desires, trusting that your purpose for me is greater than my own. Use me for your glory, and let your power be shown through my life.
