Theological Commentary: Click Here
Here is
another favorite passage from my childhood.
Daniel and the lion’s den is an incredibly popular story to teach
because it is easy to understand and neat in its supernatural meaning.
As I read
through it today, though, I could not help being struck by the jealousy of the
satraps around Daniel. Why do they get
him in trouble? He is finding success
and other people are jealous. I am
reminded of the story of Joseph and the coat of many colors. Like Joseph, Daniel is at odds with the
people around him because of their jealousy!
However,
like Joseph, God makes an incredible thing happen through the sinful intentions
of the people around him. The satraps
intend to kill Daniel, but the result is that God’s name is praised! God is given an opportunity to save Daniel
and God’s name is decreed in a Persian edict forever! God takes this incredible human moment of sin
and turns it into a moment of glory.
Furthermore,
let’s not forget to look at Daniel’s reaction in this story. Here is yet another mature reaction. Daniel hears the decree about worship. What does he do? He continues to go into his house and worship
God. Human decrees don’t mean anything
compared to the promise and covenant of God.
What an incredible witness to a people who are in exile as the Hebrew
people are under the Babylonians and Persians!
Daniel’s maturity and faithfulness shines through clearly in this
passage. He should be an inspiration in
our life.
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