Day 243

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A Depiction of Daniel in the Lion's Den

Scripture

August 30—Daniel 4-6: Daniel's Daring Faith

Observation

Today's reading spans the reigns of three kings, each of whom receives a message from God delivered through Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar pays the penalty for pride and learns the hard way to praise Daniel's Most High God (chapter 4). Belshazzar, guilty of drunken sacrilege, summons Daniel to read a mysterious inscription, only to discover that God has written his epitaph upon the wall of his palace (chapter 5). And Darius, tricked by jealous advisers into sentencing Daniel to become supper for the lions, learns firsthand that Daniel's God rewards devotion with deliverance (chapter 6).

Note: In Diagnosing an Ancient Disease—the symptoms displayed by Nebuchadnezzar in chapter 4 have since been given a recognized medical title: insania zoanthropia a rare mental disorder in which a person acts like a beast.

Application

The decree had been signed and sealed; according to the law of the Medes and Persians, it could not be revoked. It contained the awful edict that anyone caught praying to any "god" other than the king would be cast into the den of lions.

Question: Do you suppose Daniel paused to consider the impact of this immutable law upon his life? "Either give up your God," it said, "or give up your position, your power, your privileges and your life!" Do you wonder if Daniel was tempted at all to "skip" his times of daily prayer to God?

Here's a question even closer to home: How much does it take to "untrack" you from a daily time alone with God? The odds are good that you aren't facing an immutable decree of death but is there something less heart-stopping and yet equally effective? A busy schedule, an energetic young family, a second job, a tendency to oversleep? Life can be a challenge, and the roar of the lions is never far away!

Find a quiet spot for a cup of coffee or tea and a careful reading of Psalm 91—a sure formula for turning lions into pussycats! Read it out loud as your testimony of trust.

Prayer

We pray, Father God, that men and women all over the world who can stir up things mightily for your good purposes will increase in number and power in this dark and God forsaken world and may we have the faith like Daniel displayed in our Scripture reading today. And, God we come to you and only you for safety and protection during our journey to garner more people into the saving knowledge of our Savior, Jesus Christ. In Jesus' name we pray! Amen!

The Mighty Faithful!



© Odessa Mathis about my Father's business!

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