Daniel: Humble Servant, Faithful God - Persecuted for Righteousness Sake

This week we move into chapter six, where Daniel is thrown into the lion’s den. The stage is set by the new king, Darius, who is preparing to set Daniel over the regional leaders of his kingdom. These leaders are unwilling to have a Jewish exile rule over them, so they work to expose his corruption to prevent him from taking this role. They launch a research team to dig up dirt on Daniel, but they can’t find anything. Realizing they have nothing they target his religious practice of regular prayer. The plan they hatch is to get a law passed that makes Daniel’s religious practice illegal. It works, the king signs a law-making prayer to anyone but him illegal for a month. The trap is set! The Satraps move in and catch Daniel praying to God, facing Jerusalem where God put his presence. They report this to the king who is bound by law and political pressure to escort Daniel to the lions.

 There is an important message for God’s people. Even while living in exile, apart from Jerusalem, they need to live humbly before the Lord. But they need to recognize that living out their faith in the world, will bring persecution. Peter says it well, “Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation,” (1 Peter 2:12).

 It’s not only a message of warning, but a call to faithfulness, a call to live humbly before God no matter the consequences. Join us Sunday as we worship the Lord and pursue his grace.