Almighty God protects those who believe in Him! We are safe and secure in and through the righteousness of Jesus Christ. He promised that He would never leave nor forsake us. He left us Holy Spirit to protect us here and get us safely home.
Daniel’s faithfulness got him into trouble his faith got him out of it. NKJ
Let us be awake to the invitation to make a space, to embrace what is authentic, and to embrace the gift of being beloved, even in our vulnerability, yes, even in our brokenness. SabbathMoments
Psalm 46:1 says, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." God provides our ultimate refuge in Jesus. Like the cities of refuge, Jesus offers safety to both foreigners and Israelites. Like the cities of refuge, Jesus provides the only way of protection from "the wages of sin" (Romans 6:23).
…when we run to Jesus and put our faith in Him, He provides a place for us. A place where we are no longer the guilty ones but the righteous ones because of His righteousness. A place where we are safe from the consequences of sin and death. He is the insurance for every accident and even every intentional wrong we commit, as long as we confess and repent of our sin (1 John 1:8-9).
Friend, this is the best news. No matter what you've done, regardless of your past mistakes, Jesus makes a way for refuge. He has prepared a place. There is no wrong you have done that cannot be forgiven. He is safe. All you have to do is run to Him. He is closer than you think. First5
Daniel 6:1-23
6 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom; 2 and over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them, so that the king would suffer no loss. 3 Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm.
4 So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him. 5 Then these men said, “We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.”
6 So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: “King Darius, live forever! 7 All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. 8 Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.”
9 Therefore King Darius signed the written decree. 10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days. 11 Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. 12 And they went before the king, and spoke concerning the king’s decree: “Have you not signed a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.” 13 So they answered and said before the king, “That Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah, does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.”
14 And the king, when he heard these words, was greatly displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him. 15 Then these men approached the king, and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is the law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statute which the king establishes may be changed.” 16 So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions.
But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.” 17 Then a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signets of his lords, that the purpose concerning Daniel might not be changed. 18 Now the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no musicians were brought before him. Also his sleep went from him. 19 Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions. 20 And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” 21 Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! 22 My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.” 23 Now the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God. The New King James Version
Lest anyone deny the miraculous power of Daniel’s God, the narrator is quick to show the ferocity and tenacious appetite of the lions on the same day Daniel was removed from the den. He was not spared on account of the lions’ lack of hunger; he was spared because of God’s intervention.
In addition to wisdom and the ability to interpret dreams, Daniel possessed great political skill. This set him apart from his colleagues. Daniel’s excellent spirit contributed to his advancement in the foreign court. Although he is recognized early for his natural abilities the author of the book attributes much of his success to God. Faithlife Study Bible
Daniel had previously been appointed a governor in Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar. Here he was governor in the new Medo-Persian reign. Excellent spirit probably refers to Daniel’s surpassing ability to do his job and perhaps includes a commendable attitude.
Once a royal decree had been issued, it could not be revoked—even by the king himself. It remained in force until its time of expiration. The practice of creating an unchangeable law may follow from the idea that changing a decree was an admission that it had been faulty.
Undeterred by the royal proclamation, Daniel resumed praying by the windows of his house that opened toward Jerusalem—that is, toward the west. His enemies were correct in assuming that if Daniel was forced to choose between the decree of an earthly king and the eternal word of the King of heaven, he would choose his God.
Daniel’s accusers did not describe him as governor, but as one of the captives from Judah, in order to implicate him in a treasonous act. The Aramaic word for den means “pit,” implying that it was underground.To ensure that the den remained closed and that no effort could be made either by the king or his officials to intervene, the lid of the den was impressed with the royal seal and with the seals of the king’s lords. The lid of the den could not be removed without breaking the seals.
It is ironic here because Daniel, who has just been made alive by the God whom even Darius confesses as “the living God”, blesses the king with the wish that he should live forever. That is literally possible for the king, of course, only if he comes to know Daniel’s God who is the source of life as the lion’s den episode shows so clearly. The NKJV Study Bible
Daniel 1:21 Thus Daniel continued until the first year of King Cyrus.
Daniel 10:1 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar. The message was true, but the appointed time was long; and he understood the message, and had understanding of the vision.
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