Lord’s Day, Vol. 9 No. 50
He Believed in God
The Apostle Peter exhorts the believer to believe God, trusting His care for us even though there are afflictions that may come our way whilst walking with Him.
1 Peter 5:7-11 (KJV) Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Believers are exhorted to rely upon the Lord through fervent prayer along life’s pathway. He highlighted our adversary, the devil, is like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. The lion is the fiercest animal in the jungle. His roar can be heard faraway, animals flee when the king of the jungle roams the wild seeking its prey. But by the grace of God, the believer will be made perfect (spiritually matured), stablish and strengthened and settled in the faith for His glory.
A good example of God’s child who “believed in his God” (Daniel 6:23) and remained steadfast in faith during adversity is Daniel. For praying three times a day, he was cast into the lion’s den. He would rather pray than fear the plots and threatening of men.
This happened during the reign of Darius the Persian king. Daniel was a trusted advisor to the king.
Daniel 6:1-3 (KJV) It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an 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.
What was this excellent spirit that was in Daniel? We saw that his surpassing wisdom from the time he was brought to Babylon as a captive because he kept himself pure from idolatry in chapter 1. We also see how he was able to receive revelation from heaven that distinguished him from the rest of the king’s wise men in chapter 2. We can see how he was truthful to then king Nebuchadnezzar in chapter 4 and how he was not after filthy lucre in his service in chapter 5. He remained a trusted adviser even after the old regime was gone and a new regime took over. He served with a servant’s attitude for he “would do the king no damage” in chapter 6. Daniel must have served the king like he was serving his Lord. As Paul would put it concerning how a servant ought to serve his master.
Colossians 3:22-24 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: 23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
As we serve our earthly employer, may we, like Daniel, bear a testimony that exalts the name of our God. Such distinguishing qualities helped him to stand on his own was perhaps that excellent spirit described here. It was not said here to how Daniel distinguished himself before he was exalted, but the king had the opportunity to observe and test Daniel. Probably, as he was found in office as appointed by Belshazzar, he continued with Darius, and as a result of his tried integrity he was in due time exalted to the premiership. “And the king thought to set him over the whole realm.”
Daniel had a blameless testimony – “they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him” (Daniel 6:4). He conducted himself righteously so much so that he could not be faulted. He dealt fairly and justly with others. Daniel was not a young man now in Daniel 6, he is probably in his late 80s! What a testimony!
His promotion caused much envy and jealousy amongst the princes of the king. They conspired to harm him. Our Lord Jesus Himself was tried and pronounced guilty by the jealous religious leaders of His time for no crime that He committed. Jesus was tried and crucified.
The only way to cause Daniel to fall is to find fault with his devotion with his God – “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” (Daniel 6:5).
The conspiracy was made and the plot was hatched that was specifically designed to trap Daniel. The king was tricked into issuing an evil decree that targeted Daniel – “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” (Daniel 6:7). Daniel came to know of the plot. What do you think went on in Daniel’s heart when he found out of this evil trap to kill him? What was his response?
Daniel 6:10 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.
The instruction to pray toward Jerusalem was given in king Solomon’s prayer at the inauguration of the first Temple given in 1 Kings 8:44-45 “If thy people go out to battle against their enemy, whithersoever thou shalt send them, and shall pray unto the LORD toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house that I have built for thy name: Then hear thou in heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause” (cf. 1 Kings 8:46-50).
The king was so anxious that he could not eat or sleep after he casts Daniel into the lion’s den. But God was with Daniel. God shut the lion’s mouth as the book of Hebrews described – Daniel “by faith…stopped the mouth of lions.”
Daniel 6:22 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.
What a testimony of God’s saving power. We must rehearse God’s good hand delivering His people to encourage the hearts of His people under trial. Why was God on Daniel’s side? Daniel was innocent and righteous. God vindicated him. Under severe trial, threat to his life, Daniel did not compromise his communion with God because he knew this is his lifeline. Indeed, if God has not be on Daniel’s side, he would have perished. This is the experience of God’s children who trust in Him. God’s punishment came upon Daniel’s enemies. The same trap that they used to kill Daniel, they fell into it. It is a description of God’s just retribution.
Praise the LORD for delivering Daniel out of the mouth of the lions. Had Daniel been killed, would Daniel still have gone to the lions’ den? Yes, he would! This is the triumph of faith. It is trusting God regardless of the outcome. This is faith knowing that absent in the body is present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8). The body they may kill but his spirit they could not kill because it has been wholly given and protected for eternity by our Lord. Amen.
Yours lovingly,
Pastor Lek Aik Wee