The Den of Lions

“Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.” Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.” Daniel 6:21-23

This story shares again the evidence of God’s protection and faithfulness to one of his children whom love him. “My God sent his angel” Daniel takes up the king's expression, and confirms it; he asserts God to be his God, of which he had given him a proof in sending his angel to him that night; either one of the ministering spirits about him, or the Angel of the covenant, the same with him, said to be like the Son of God, that was seen in the fiery furnace, even the Messiah in human form: and shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me; by taking away hunger from them, or by striking terror into them; so that they had either no inclination to hurt him, or were afraid of him: 

forasmuch as before him innocence was found in me; either before God, or before his Angels.

Daniel appeared to be an innocent and righteous person; therefore the Lord pleaded his case, and made it to appear that he was just, and his case good; for this is not to be understood of the merits of his works, and the causality of them to justify and save; for here he is speaking not of the righteousness of his person, but of his cause; and not of eternal, but temporal salvation.

and also before you, O king, I have done no harm. Either to his person or government; nothing that was criminal and sinful, but what was just and right, serving daily his God; and this was plain to the king, what he knew and owned; and though he had acted contrary to the decree the lords had craftily obtained, yet it was not out of disrespect to the king, but in obedience to his God. In doing of which he had done nothing prejudicial to the king's interest.

Then was the king exceeding glad for him. For Daniel, because of his safety, because he was alive, and in health, and unhurt; and the speech he made was very acceptable to him, agreeable to his sentiments, and which he was satisfied was just and true: or "with", or "for himself" being now eased of a guilty and distracted conscience: So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him. That is, he ordered those that were with him, his servants that attended him, either to roll away the stone, and so let him out; or to let down ropes, and draw him out, or ladders by which he might ascend; for one would think it would not have been safe for them to have gone down into it, to take him up: these orders the king gave without the consent of his lords, being animated to it by the miracle.” (John Gill's Exposition of the Bible)

When Daniel was brought up from the den, no bruise was found on him by them throwing him into the den, no wound was made by the lions, or his flesh in the least torn by them: because he had trusted in his God. Think of the amazing faith Daniel had to have as he was being thrown into that den of lions. I couldn’t imagine how he felt as he saw his face get closer, and closer to the bottom, hit the bottom and look up seeing lions right in his face. What a picture huh? But Daniel’s faith was unlike any other. We live in a lion’s den on a daily basis. We are being thrown deep into this chasm of life where the world is our den and we are surrounded by lies, deceit, and struggles. So what are we to do to in this lion’s den called life?

Pray, be in your Word, have your armor on daily. I was talking yesterday to one of the girls I’ve been mentoring, and I was encouraging her and tell her how important being in the Word is. Let’s face it, we all struggle to sit down and just have that time with God during our busy daily schedules. I’ve used excuse after excuse to try and justify not doing them. God, this semester is challenging me, and giving me all the time in the world, which takes away any and every excuse I could conjure up. The amazing impact having those daily devotions has woken me up and jerked me up short. IT IS VITAL to our survival in this world!

Like I shared in my last post, Jesus himself used the Word, the Bible against the devil in the desert, the enemy cannot argue or get passed the Word of God, and it’s inherent, “belonging to the basic nature of someone or something.” It is ESSENTIAL to our walk with God. Praying is also important. Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Followed by Romans 8:26 that says, “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groaning’s too deep for words.”

The Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf when we don’t even know what to pray. Sometimes, we have no words, and are in dire straits where the words just aren't there. It’s in those times that Holy Spirit ministers to us in our need. So my encouragement to you today will be, have faith, know that Christ is with you in the den of lion’s you are in. Know that Christ will intercede on your behalf, and protect you from the lions. Stay faithful to him, and He will be faithful to you. Pray, do your devotions, edify yourself with the Word because it really makes a difference. 

Trust me.