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Daniel and the Lion's Den
Introduction:
I learned about the great prophet Daniel at an early age. My mother would read to me daily from an old Bible story book that was well worn. I remember the pages were yellowed and tattered, some even missing. You see, it had already raised six older brothers and sisters.
Daniel, as a teenager, was taken captive from his home in the southern kingdom of Israel after the siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 605 BC. Even at that early age, he had a strong faith in God that caused him to trust in Him regardless of the circumstances. Because of his trust in God, and through God’s divine providence, he became favored in the court of king Nebuchadnezzar. God also gave Daniel the understanding of visions and dreams in his career that covered the entire 70 years of captivity.
Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream:
The dream I remember best was one in chapter 2 of Daniel, when the king had a dream he could not remember, but that greatly disturbed him. When the wise men of Babylon could not relate the dream, they were executed. Even Daniel and his three friends were being threatened. God revealed the dream to Daniel in a vision so that he could recall the dream to Nebuchadnezzar, and also give its interpretation. He told the king that he had dreamed of a great image of a man whose splendor and composition from head to toe represented four world empires. Beginning with the head of gold, representing Babylon, they would transpire in the future. In the time of the fourth empire, the Roman Empire, a stone “cut without hands” destroyed the image. That signified God would set up a kingdom which would never be destroyed, and would be superior to the kingdom’s of men. The stone represented the coming of the spiritual kingdom of Jesus Christ. Daniel also interpreted several other dreams and visions that told of future world events in great detail.
The Lion’s Den:
However, the part of Daniel’s story, that made the greatest impression on me, as a child, was one about Daniel being thrown in the “Lion’s Den” in chapter 6. This happened after the Mede-Persian Empire (the second empire of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream) had conquered Babylon. Darius, the king, set Daniel up as a satrap over several other governors. In envy, they sought Daniel’s demise. They knew of his daily practice of three times per day facing out of his window toward Jerusalem, and praying to the God of heaven. He did this without fail. They were able to convince Darius to pass an edict that for 30 days no one was to bow or worship any one or thing other than the king. Thus, they were able to ensnare Daniel for violating the king’s unwise law. His sentence was to be fed to the lions (See Heb. 11:33). Because of his faith and trust in God, God closed the lions’ mouths and Daniel was spared. Darius, instead, fed Daniel’s adversaries to the lions.
Conclusion:
Godly righteous men of all ages have faced their proverbial “Lions Den.” Jesus Himself was hung on a Roman cross because he did the will of His Father in heaven. Stephen, the first recorded Christian martyr, was stoned to death because he dared to speak the truth to his enemies (Acts 7). Countless early century disciples of the Lord faced their “Lion’s Den” of the sword, burning on the stake, being fed to wild animals, and other horrible deaths.
It shouldn’t surprise us. Paul tells us in II Tim. 3:12, “all who live godly in Christ
Jesus will suffer persecution.” Granted, we currently live in a time and place where such extreme measures of persecution are rare in this country if happening at all. Such is not the case in other parts of the world, and things can change even here. Yet, we can be persecuted in small “Lion’s Dens” of mockery, ridicule, rejection and other forms of mistreatment. Sometimes one can suffer financially because of persecution. Several recent mass killings have been aimed at people of faith. Jesus said the world hated Him, and they would certainly hate His disciples (John. 15:18-20).
Are you facing or have you faced a “Lion’s Den” because of your faith? If so, how firm is/was your faith? Do you stand firm like Daniel? Paul, who himself suffered much persecution (See II Cor. 11:24-28), said in II Cor. 4:17, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” The end reward far more justifies the “Lion’s Den.” “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is heaven” (Matt. 10:32-33).
