Risking the Den

Daniel was an old man who had lived nearly his entire life in captivity in Babylon. The king, Darius the Mede, made Daniel one of three high officials who oversaw 120 satraps, or provincial rulers. When Darius made Daniel second-in-command over the entire kingdom, the other two high officials and many of the satraps were furious. Unable to find grounds for a complaint against Daniel, they decided to trick Darius into creating one. They persuaded him to sign a thirty-day ordinance that anyone who prayed to a god or a man other than the king would be thrown into a den of lions.

Daniel was not about to suspend his prayers to God for thirty days. He could have prayed in secret, but that’s not how he operated. He continued his practice of praying to God three times a day in front of open windows in his home. 

He was caught and brought before Darius, who was bound by the ordinance to have Daniel thrown into the den of lions. Fasting, Darius spent a sleepless night. As soon as the sun appeared, he raced to the den and cried out to Daniel. Darius was desperately hoping to hear a response. 

He did. Daniel was alive and unharmed. As soon as Daniel was out of the den, the lions had new guests: all of the men who had accused Daniel, along with their wives and children. Darius signed a decree that everyone in the kingdom would worship Daniel’s God.

If Daniel had played it safe, then he may have survived thirty days without getting caught praying to God. Because Daniel didn’t play it safe, the heart of a king and the hearts of many in the kingdom were changed.

How was Daniel able to risk the den? How could he have been at ease without dread of disaster? He did what he always did: He listened to God and was obedient.

Questions for Reflection and Application

• There’s not much flash or glory in obedience. It requires discipline and faith. How are you doing on the obedience front? What helps you stay obedient? What is most disruptive?
• How do you listen to and follow God when you are under tremendous pressure? Establish practices to help you “keep your head” when, as Rudyard Kipling wrote, “all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you.”