When Daniel revealed the meaning of King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream about a statue made of gold, silver, bronze, iron and clay that was toppled by a divine stone, he had no idea he’d live to see that dream come true. In Daniel’s lifetime, Babylon falls to the Medes, and King Darius takes over.
What did Daniel do in the meantime? He knelt down and prayed three times a day. It was no secret. Everyone knew it. As kingdoms fell and rose, Daniel’s devotion remained constant.
I believe it’s important to nurture your spiritual disciplines when life is good, so that when there are challenges, your spiritual muscle memory keeps you on track.
What did Daniel do when his colleagues conspired against him? What did Daniel do when the king decreed he couldn’t pray to his God? “He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously” (Daniel 6:10). His circumstances may have changed, but his habits didn’t.
King Darius had no choice. He wrote the law. He prescribed the consequences. He had to throw Daniel into the lions’ den.
Do you know what happened? (A lot of you do.) Darius didn’t get any sleep. Daniel got to see an angel! “My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths” (Daniel 6:21). Someone had an amazing night!
I want to see an angel. But do I want to see one in the same context as Daniel? I’m not so sure about that. I’ve seen lions tear into a piece of beef at the zoo. I don’t want to be the next meal.
On the other hand, if angels show up where there are lions, then maybe…just maybe…I’ll check into the lion Airbnb.
What if angels only show up when the going gets tough? What if you only get to see angels when the whole world seems to be against you? What if an angelic presence requires the presence of a carnivore with big teeth and a loud roar?
What if…? I could ask that question all day. Life is filled with “What if’s?” What if your prayers bring you to a place with lions and angels? I could live with that!
Daniel gets an ornament on the Jesse Tree as a reminder that we can depend on god to save us from lions, from sin, death, and the power of the devil.
Waite for it... 