Daniel 6:16-28
16 So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!”
17 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. 18 Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.
19 At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. 20 When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”
21 Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! 22 My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”
23 The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
24 At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.
25 Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language in all the earth:
“May you prosper greatly!
26 “I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.
“For he is the living God
and he endures forever;
his kingdom will not be destroyed,
his dominion will never end.
27 He rescues and he saves;
he performs signs and wonders
in the heavens and on the earth.
He has rescued Daniel
from the power of the lions.”
28 So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus[b] the Persian.
Daniel must have felt a sharp sense of injustice and persecution as the King who he served so faithfully, turned against him and sealed him in a pit of hungry lions. Similarly, there can be times when we can feel betrayed, let down and hurt by others, when our expectations are not met, or worse, they actively make decisions that hurt us. How do you react when people treat you unfairly? Do you cut them off and run away? Do you attack them back? Do you assassinate their reputation and tell everyone about it?
How to respond when you are thrown to the lions:
Speak blessings on your enemies. As Daniel is thrown into the lions den, he does not start swearing or cursing the king. He does not burn his bridges or fire any parting shots. In response to injustice he calls out, ‘May the King live forever!’ His words of honour and kindness stand out in contrast to the insecure scheming of the others.
Stay innocent. After the ordeal, Daniel says to the King that he has never betrayed him. He was innocent when he went into the den and he was still innocent as he came out. One of the greatest dangers is to react and retaliate to pain and hurt. We were wronged as innocents but our reaction and retaliation costs us our innocence and peace.
And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. (v23)
Trust God through it. God has not abandoned you in the darkness of the den. There is nothing that anyone can do to derail the plans of God for your life. You do not need to be afraid, when it gets hard. God’s angels are with you and they will protect you through the night. He is with you. Trust God with your plans and trust God with justice.
Let’s take a moment to PRAY: Pause. Remember. Ask. Yield.
