Daniel 6:1-10 – I Can Feel the Rush of Lions’ Breath
(NOTE: most illustrations are borrowed from others, as is the section on the relevance of Jerusalem in Daniel’s prayers.)
Several churches in North Dakota were being served by a clever old preacher. The people were always amazed, for no matter what the circumstances, the preacher could always find something to give thanks for. As he made his rounds one cold December morning, he was late in getting to worship because of excessive snow drifts. As he began the service with prayer, the parishioners were eager to see what the old preacher could come up with to be thankful for on this dismal and frigid morning. "Gracious Lord," his prayer began, "we thank you that all days are not like today.”
That kind of gratefulness is worth noting. Today, in the midst of our Thanksgiving celebration, we will look at one person who too was thankful, even when faced with difficulties. It’s the OT prophet Daniel. Read Daniel 6:1-5.
Here’s the scene. By this time, Daniel was in his 80’s or 90’s. This runs contrary to how we usually picture him, as a strong and good-looking teenager. But no, he had lived his whole life as an exile away from his homeland. And all those years of standing up for what was right would now come to a dramatic climax. God would ask him to lay down his life.
Daniel was, besides the king, one of the top 3 people who ruled the kingdom. It was his job to make sure the 120 rulers beneath him wouldn’t take bribes and further their own causes, undermining the king’s success. His integrity in matters put him where he was, but it was also going to be used against him.
Because, the other 2 administrators were jealous of Daniel. The king favored Daniel, and the others didn’t like the idea that he might be promoted. They knew that the only way to get to Daniel was to make him choose between the laws of the land and the laws of his God. So they devised a scheme: either pray to the king, or be thrown into the lion’s pit – v6-9.
So this is what Daniel was facing: either be faithful to God and die, or lose his integrity and live. Perhaps, at 80 years old, a man shouldn’t have to make that choice, but nonetheless he did have to choose. I guess you’re never too old to be faced with temptations to compromise.
Well, we know what Daniel decided to do – v10. He continued his tradition of opening the window, praying 3 times a day, and giving thanks to God. We know at least in part what he was praying for – v11. That’s a logical prayer. “God, I need help with this. Can you give me a hand?” That makes sense. But, the question is, what was Daniel thanking God for? What could he thank God for?
I’m not sure that his situation is much different from what we face today. Have you ever had people rise up against you? Have you ever had people talk about you behind your back and try to figure out a way to get rid of you? Have you ever felt that everybody was out to get you? Most likely, you have at some point felt that some conspiracy was going on to force you to do something.
And, knowing the current situation in Parliament this week, as our country prepares to advance in discussions regarding same-sex marriages, maybe you feel increasingly boxed in by our culture. Maybe you feel that the country is not what it used to be or how it should be. You are aware that the world is becoming increasingly hostile to those of us who take the Bible seriously and literally. And it hurts you, maybe even scares you, to see your nation in the mess we are in.
Maybe you’ve heard the story of how, on the sixth day, God turned to the Archangel Gabriel and said, “Today I am going to create a land called Canada. It will be a land of outstanding natural beauty. It shall have tall majestic mountains full of mountain goats and eagles, beautiful sparkly lakes bountiful with carp and trout, forests full of elk and moose, high cliffs overlooking sandy beaches with an abundance of sea life, rivers stocked with salmon. I shall make the land rich in oil so to make the inhabitants prosper. I shall call these inhabitants Canadians. They shall be known as the most friendly people on the earth.”
“But Lord,” asked Gabriel, “don’t you think you are being too generous to these Canadians?”
“Not really,” replied God. “Just wait and see the neighbors I am going to give them!”
Over the years, we have had so much to be thankful for, but now that we face losing what we have had for so long, how do we react? How do we remain grateful in spite of the political winds blowing against us? What do we do when we are faced with the lions of an anti-God culture, the lions of personal betrayal, and the lions of scary situations?
Well, if we follow in the footsteps of Daniel, we give thanks. And I think that at least in part, the secret to Daniel’s gratitude in the midst of the roar of lions is this: he remembered God’s faithfulness. Notice that he opened his windows and prayed toward Jerusalem, some 500 miles away. Today Muslims pray towards Mecca, the birthplace of Mohammed and the most holy city of Islam. But why did Daniel pray towards Jerusalem? The text doesn’t actually say, but let’s think about it for a second.
Well, Jerusalem was the capital of Judah, and it was also Daniel’s home. But it was more than that. It was the location of the temple, the place where God dwelled, the one place where the Jews were to make sacrifices to God. It was the place where the sacrifices had stopped; and what’s more, it was the place where prophecy said the temple was to be rebuilt and the sacrifices restarted. It was the seat of the monarchy, where they believed the anointed one, the promised one, the Messiah would come to reign. It was the place where all nations would stream to worship God in the future.
As far as the Jews were concerned it was central to God’s purposes on earth. It spoke of God’s work in the past and his greatest king David. It spoke of God’s work in the future, of a return from exile and a re-establishment of the Kingdom of God. It summed up the purposes of God, and it was a demonstration of the faithfulness of God. It may have been a reminder to Daniel that his prayer was to focus on God not on man. Praying towards Jerusalem may have reminded Daniel that God’s ways are always bigger than man’s ways.
Which means that even when we are faced with gaping mouths wanting to devour us, God’s not through with us yet. It means God has a good plan for you, even if everyone else were to be thinking evil about you. It means God’s promises are true, and God’s faithfulness will bring them about. You see, Daniel trusted in the eternal rather than the temporary. And for him being thankful meant feasting on God’s goodness, even when the lions were hungry. And for us, Thanksgiving means having trust in the King of the universe, and not fearing the king of the jungle.
Perhaps you remember the name Todd Beamer. He was one of the September 11 heroes that brought down the plane aimed for the White House. His widow Lisa wrote a book called Let’s Roll: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Courage, with reflections of their lives and Todd’s death. At one point in the book, available through the library, Lisa reflects on the loss of her dad. She says:
“Slowly, I began to understand that the plans God has for us don’t just include “good things”, but the whole array of human events. The “prospering” he talks about in the book of Jeremiah is often the outcome of a bad event. I remember my mom saying that many people look for miracles- things that in their human minds “fix” the situation. Many miracles, however, are not a change to the normal course of human events; they’re found in God’s ability and desire to sustain and nurture people through even the worst situations. Somewhere along the way, I stopped demanding that God fix the problems in my life and started to be thankful for his presence as I endured them.”
That is the spirit of Daniel. That is the attitude that says, “OK, give me what you’ve got, because with God, I can handle it!” No wonder Paul says this in Philippians 4:11,12 – “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” What is that secret, to be content whatever life throws at you? Paul says in v13: “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” That’s how Lisa Beamer faced her dad’s death. That’s how Daniel faced political lions, back-stabbing lions, and real lions.
And that’s how Jesus faced His impending betrayal and death. Watch this: 1 Corinthians 11 says that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." Can you believe it? Here He was, about to die, yet He was thankful for some flat crusty bread.
You see, thankfulness does not flow from your situation, but from your heart. Being grateful for what you have flows not from your position in life, but your disposition on life. It comes from remembering God’s purposes, not other people’s plots. Thankfulness is all about perspective, choosing to feast on God’s goodness, even when the lions are hungry. May God open our eyes to see all that we have.
