One of the hardest
questions for many to answer, is the question of suffering. Why does God allow
so much pain to occur in this life? If what we believe about God is true, then He
is omnipotent. He has the power to prevent horrible events from occurring. For
the Christian, we might be tempted to allow that God would be just in allowing
suffering to occur into the lives of the wicked, those who willfully reject Him
and make it their life’s passion to cast aspersions upon His name. But what
about the faithful Christian? Many Christians wrestle with this dilemma.
One place to find great
comfort in the problem of suffering, is the Book of Daniel. It is clearly, a
story of a faithful servant of God being tossed into one of the most fearful
situations we could contrive of in our minds. Daniel, a great man of faith and
integrity, was a man of prayer. Embedded in this story is an example of how we
are to come to God as we pray. Despite the attempts of those jealous of Daniel’s
favor with King Darius to get back at Daniel by having the king outlaw any
prayer that did not go towards the king, Daniel remained faithful to His God.
Daniel
6:10
When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.
When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.
Daniel had been a
faithful man of prayer and even under threat of death, he prayed and gave thanks
to God as he had always done. On the surface we might be thinking that
certainly God would look down with favor upon Daniel and save him from the
perils of the king. But not so. Even King Darius wanted to keep Daniel from
facing the consequences of his having violated the decree that now threatened
his life.
Daniel
6:14-15
Then the king, when he heard these words, was much distressed and set his mind to deliver Daniel. And he labored till the sun went down to rescue him. Then these men came by agreement to the king and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or ordinance that the king establishes can be changed.”
Then the king, when he heard these words, was much distressed and set his mind to deliver Daniel. And he labored till the sun went down to rescue him. Then these men came by agreement to the king and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or ordinance that the king establishes can be changed.”
We study our Bible and in
it we find that God is sovereign over all, even kings.
Proverbs 21:1
The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will.
The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will.
Isaiah 14:24
The LORD of hosts has sworn: “As I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand.
The LORD of hosts has sworn: “As I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand.
Ephesians
1:11
In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will.
In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will.
Yes, God is in control. He could have prevented Daniel from
being tossed into the Lion’s den. Whatever trial we might find ourselves this
very day in, whatever storm we face, one thing is clear; God has the power to keep
us from it. Yet see what he allowed Daniel to face.
Daniel
6:16-17
Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” And a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel.
Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” And a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel.
So Daniel spent an entire night in the lion’s den where he
faced not one, but an entire den of nearly starved lions. Imagine the terror of
that night. Most likely none of us know what that feels like, but we all have
had those nights when we had no idea how we would survive. Maybe it was pain,
or sorrow, or simply gripping fear of what was to come the next day. But listen
to what happened.
Daniel 6:19-23
Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions. As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.” Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions. As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.” Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
Daniel was delivered from the den of lions. Why?
First, it says Daniel was blameless. Blameless not mean he
was perfect, no man is. Blameless means that Daniel believed in God’s law and
his moral code and did his best to live by it.
But the reason Daniel could live a blameless life and the
reason he came out unharmed was “because he had trusted in his God.” That, my
friends, is faith. Trusting God, in spite of the fact that you are sitting in a
den of lions.
The most important lesson we can learn here is this; God
does allow us to face suffering and danger. But we also can see why in this
story.
Daniel 6:25-27
Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: “Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end. He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.”
Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: “Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end. He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.”
Why did God allow Daniel to face that horrible night?
Because God knew that by Daniel’s faith, amid sure death, a pagan king would
declare to the entire world, the witness of our Great God. The world expects us
as Christians to offer all glory to God, yet like the Jews, we often fail to do
so. Daniel’s story was part of the bigger picture of God’s glory going out to
all the world.
I cannot say why you face the troubles you do this very day.
But in the story of Daniel, I can promise you that if you simply dwell in the
den by faith, God will be glorified, and God will deliver you. Whether your
deliverance is during your time here on earth or it comes in eternity, is up to
Him. But know this, He will be glorified.
Read the story of Daniel. Spend your time praying with
thanksgiving even if that might bring peril. The life of a Christian is a life
of faith and a life that seeks to bring glory to God. If we live with an
eternal perspective as bringing glory to God being our end goal, we can find
peace, even in the midst of suffering.
Christians, encourage each other in these difficult days. Turn
to His Word for the way to do so. I leave you with His instruction to live with
peace, even if you are facing lions that wish to shred you into pieces.
Philippians 4:4-9
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Daniel lived this way. Even through a night in the lion’s den.
God bless you.
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