The Lions’ Closed Mouths – Fourth Night
Daniel 6:18-23 NKJV “Now the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no musicians were brought before him. Also his sleep went from him. Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions. And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, “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, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.”
Daniel distinguished himself above all the governors of King Darius. Daniel had an excellent spirit and the king was considering setting him over the whole realm of his kingdom.
Since Daniel had found favor in the king’s sight the other governors became very jealous. They began to plot against Daniel. One of these men said, “We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.” All of them knew that Daniel prayed to God three times that day. They decided to establish a royal statute and to make a decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except the king, shall be cast into the den of lions. Then they had King Darius sign the written decree.
When Daniel knew that the decree was signed he went home. In his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees and began to pray. As soon as they saw Daniel praying they went before the king and said, “Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah, does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.” The king was sad because he like Daniel, but he was bound by the law to have Daniel thrown in the den of lions. The king said to Daniel, “Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.” Then they cast Daniel into the den of lions and a stone was placed on top of the den.
The king went to his palace where he stayed up all night fasting. Very early in the morning The king hurried to the den of lions. As he approached the lion’s den he cried out, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?”
Daniel answered the king, “O king, live forever! My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.”
The king was very glad and commanded that Daniel be removed from the lion’s den. No injury whatsoever was found on Daniel.
Dear Father, I thank-you that You honor our faithfulness and devotion to You. I thank-you that You shield us from our enemy’s attack when we take a stand for You, and that we find favor with man.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Light four candles.