When Prayer Is Against The Law

I want to talk to you about a story in the Book of Daniel. And the story is about the person Daniel. There are some differences but there are also a lot of similarities between Daniels experience and what we are experiencing in the world today and in particular in the United States of America, and specifically in the state of California. We have just recently been mandated to wear masks, and we're told that it's for our protection and for the safety of those around us. Of course, we're to wear the mask while we are observing social distancing which means 6 feet apart.

Then just the other day here in my state of California, our governor mandated that there can be no singing or chanting in churches or synagogues, etc.

In other words, you can go to church, and you can assemble together. But you must practice social distancing, and you must wear a mask, and cannot lift your voice to sing.

But now our governor has even gone beyond that. It is now breaking his law to go to church, to sing in church, or to have home Bible studies.

Precious friends, can it be far away that it will be against the law to read a Bible, and to Pray?

With this in mind I refer you back to the book of Daniel.

Daniel is an amazing character in the Bible.

Daniel was actually very close to five Kings. He served in an advisory capacity through the administration of five different Kings.

Daniel was a man of extreme integrity. Our first introduction to Daniel is in Daniel Chapter 1

Daniel 1:1-6 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. [2] And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god. [3] And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes; [4] Children in whom was no blemish, but well favored, and skillful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. [5] And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king. [6] Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:

So we're told about Daniel being captured and carried away as one of the King's son or the Royal seed, and carried into a foreign country. The plan of the King was to take these. Young men of royal descent royal Blood and to integrate them into their society by making them a sort of Liaisons and go-bet-weens, Interpreters; they would be those that could bridge the gap between the Jews and the Chaldeans the Babylonians and so they offered them great benefits and rewards and delicacies, it was wonderful treatment if they would accept this assignment.

Many of the Young men who were of royal descent accepted the assignment. But Daniel refused it. He refused the Kings meat and the King's Wine and there were three other young men with him that stood with him in their integrity. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

These four would not defile themselves with the Kings meat or the King's Wine. They would not accept the assignment of being trained and taught and educated in the language of the Babylonians just to be used by the Babylonians. To accomplish their purpose.

Daniel was a very strong person. He was a young man of great spiritual character.

The keeper of these young men tried to impress upon Daniel the importance of following the Kings instruction and how well they would be treated. They would receive Meat from the Kings Table, and they would drink the King's Wine. They would be treated with great dignity. But Daniel refused as well as Shadrach Meshach and Abednego. They refused to defile themselves by being partakers of the Kings dainties.

And so they were put to a test. While all of the others who succumbed And who yielded and surrendered to the Babylonians will and purpose, were fed on the Kings meat and wine and dainties. Daniel and the three Hebrew children Shadrach Meshach and Abednego We're sustained with pulse, a kind of a vegetable mush and water. And the Bible says that after 10 days they were examined and compared with the others that had eaten from the Kings Table and drank the Kings Wine, and they were found in much better health and much better condition than the ones who had defiled themselves and who had lowered themselves to do the bidding of a heathen Idol-worshiping King.