Dare To Be Like Daniel – Part 3
Good day to each you reading the 3rd installment on the subject of the faith and testimony of Daniel who brought the king of Babylon to the conclusion that there is no other god besides the Lord God of Daniel the ‘I AM’.
How about a bit of humor— Marriage Jokes
Whenever my wife packs me a salad for lunch, all I wanna know is what I did wrong.
Husband: “Why do you keep reading our marriage license?”
Wife: “I’m looking for an expiration date.”
Marriage is when a man and woman become as one. The trouble starts when they try to decide which one.
And last but not least, the man approached the very beautiful woman in the large supermarket and asked, “You know, I’ve lost my wife here in the supermarket. Can you talk to me for a couple of minutes?” “Why?” “Because every time I talk to a beautiful woman, my wife appears out of nowhere.”
I do hope you enjoyed humor—the best medicine and best way to brighten your day.
As we begin part 3, Daniel has the Babylonian nation in an uproar including the King.
The king, his counsel, his priests and fellow countrymen have this outsider, this Hebrew killing their idols both alive and dead and filling their king with ideas to believe, like Daniel, in his God.
It is time for a conspiracy to kill Daniel, said the Babylonians, as they based on the overturning of Bel the dead idol, destruction of Bel’s temple, killing the serpent, and the king slaughtering the priests.
The Babylonian lunch mob went to the king where Daniel was and demanded the king to give Daniel up to them and if you do not, O King, we will destroy you and your household.
No idols to save the king and no one to assist so King Cyrus gave the Babylonians Daniel and took him to the lion’s den to be dinner and to show all that his Lord and King was no different in saving Daniel.
To make matters worse or so the Babylonians thought, they withheld food from the lions in the form of two human bodies and two sheep each day.
Six days Daniel remained in the den with seven hungry lions and no food for either the lions nor Daniel.
God, knowing that Daniel was hungry, shows that he remembers Daniel and that he knows all things including his physical hunger.
God sends an angel of the Lord to Habakkuk the prophet in Judea who is preparing food to give to the reapers in the field.
The angel says to carry the food to Babylon and to Daniel in the lion’s den. Instacart and Grubhub have nothing on this Angel.
Habakkuk replies that he’s never seen Babylon nor the den and with no time to waste, the angel of the Lord lifted him by his hair and with the speed of the wind set him down in Babylon, right over the den.
Folks, I am not making this up as this comes from 1:35-36 of the story of Bel and the Dragon.
Habakkuk shouted to Daniel to take this dinner which God had sent you and David’s reply, “You have remembered me, O God, and have not forsaken those who love you.” Verse 38
Daniel ate and Habakkuk was back in his place immediately by means of the angel of God.
Notice who Daniel gives his immediate thanks to and what he said in verse 38. Daniel was never forgotten nor forsaken but protected and nourished.
As the 7th day began, the king came to mourn for Daniel but was he in for a surprise as Daniel was alive and well.
Verse 41 says that the king shouted loudly, “You are great, Lord God of Daniel, and there is no other besides you!”
As for the men who threw Daniel in the lions’ den for his destruction, the king threw them in the den and they were devoured before his eyes.
I turn to the New Testament and Paul’s view in Romans 3:28 (NIV) For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
When breaking down this verse, the commentary says and Daniel’s actions and words back up the following points:
Why does God save us by faith alone? (1) Faith eliminates the pride of human effort, because faith is not a deed that we do. (2) Faith exalts what God has done; not what people do. (3) Faith admits that we can’t keep the law or measure up to God’s standards—we need help. (4) Faith is based on our relationship with God, not our performance for God.
I hope you have enjoyed these three columns on Daniel for Daniel grew in his faith with the Lord and in each peril the Lord never deserted him but loved him and kept him safe.
Each time Daniel was tested by a mighty king and its people and in the end, King Cyrus shouted loudly, “You are great, Lord God of Daniel, and there is no other besides you!”
As we enter life’s perils, may we remember Daniel and his words, “You are great, Lord God of Daniel, and there is no other besides you!”
John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me
Until next time, may you Bless God in all that you say and do.
Jeff
