Lion's den or Daniel's?

After the time of King Nebuchadnezer and Belthshassar, the Persian King Darius invaded and took over Babylon. As a historian puts it, “The sunset of Babylon’s kingdom has now become the dawning of the Medo-Persian empire.” According to scholars, the “Darius” in the 6th chapter of Daniel is Cyrus the Great, the Persian ruler who eventually allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem after about 70 years of captivity. Daniel was probably about 85 years old at this time. He had served three kings, Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar and Darius.

King Darius was so pleased that he made Daniel the chief of the governors. Everything was going well for Daniel. Then came the judgment, a plot deviced by jealous colleagues to trap Daniel. They asked the king to make a rule that nobody could worship anyone else besides the king for thirty days. Anyone found disobeying the order would be thrown into a den of lions. After hearing the judgment, Daniel went up to the upper room and prayed three times as he used to do. Reports came to the king and Daniel was thrown into the den of lions.

Why do bad things happen to good people? This is an age old question that does not have a real honest answer. The world we live is fallen to sin and evil. We all live with scars of sin on us. Paul says "the whole creation is groaning for a redemption. We also groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for the redemption of our bodies." (Romans 8:22). We have to face the cruel lions of injustice and unfair decrees of judgments. Jealous colleagues, a frightening diagnosis, the news of the death of a dear one, or racial or ethnic discriminations threaten us and try to rob us of inner peace. These are the times when Christians rise above the evil and go to the 'upper room', a new height to talk to God.

God's angels wouldn't have any reason to visit the lions' den but for Daniel. "My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions” (Dan 6:21). The den was prepared for Daniel where he could enjoy the presence of God in the midst of lions. We can choose to enjoy God's presence in the den or worry about the lions. John Wesley said, "if we fear God and nothing else, we will win. If we fear everything else and don’t fear God, we will be defeated.”

“Cast all your fears on Him because He cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind because your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings." (1 Pet 5:7-11).

Blessings

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