Hello
Friends!
Welcome
back
to our Encouraging Concepts Bible
study series focused on the powerfully PROPHETIC picture portrayed in the Old Testament book
of Daniel painted as a panoramic
landscape of World History in FIVE successions “written” in
ardent ADVANCE some 2,600 years ago…
“The Book of Daniel: Prophecy PAST, PRESENT
& FUTURE!”
The Book of Daniel: Prophecy PAST,
PRESENT & FUTURE (Chapter 6: Verses 10-15)
10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into
his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he
kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before
his God, as he did aforetime. 11 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel
praying and making supplication before his God. 12 Then
they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king's decree; Hast
thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God
or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of
lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of
the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. 13 Then
answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children
of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou
hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day. 14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was
sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and
he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him. 15 Then these men assembled unto the king, and said
unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no
decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed – Daniel 6:10-15
OPENING POINTS TO PONDER: Although there is NOT much known
about the “law of the Medes and Persians”
it indeed IS a firm fact of history that
once a certain “law” was passed
it could NOT be violated or revoked,
as that PROHIBITION was built into their legal
system. And as most “studies”
indicate, the REASON they took this AVID approach was to PREVENT any whimsical or frivolous
lame “laws” from being
dictated. Therefore, once a “law”
was made it was BINDING upon ALL
people. “Wherefore” there was a “decree” of dictated “law” wrought in “writing” as eagerly enacted
of which sadly stated: “If anyone makes a
petition of any OTHER god, into the lions’ den you GO!”
Of course this meant certain dire DOOM on behalf of the daring “Daniel” as dictated. Rash VOWS are better broken
than kept unabated. However, “according” to the mandated “law of the Medes and Persians” these rank
” royal statute” and dire “decrees” could – NEVER be ALTERED!
The STEADFAST Stance!
To
begin with, this powerful “passage”
provides for “us” too the BIBLICAL approach
to very difficult situations. HOW? The LESS we have to do with maniacal “man” and the MORE we
have to do with our glorious “God” Himself, the BETTER off
we are…
Now
when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his
windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees
three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did
aforetime. Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making
supplication before his God – Daniel
6:10-11
A
man in a lessor position might have propagated
out his “prayer” devotions in PRIVATE proxy,
but NOT so “Daniel”
the humble. WHY? Because he is a representative
man of “God” sent in Sovereignty as such. Therefore, he must NOT play
the coward in jest. It is incumbent
upon him to be deliberately more PUBLIC in
absolutely everything that he does. WHY? Because if he is seen
to crassly COMPROMISE in
even the smallest degree, then ALL the on-looking “saints” will LOSE heart.
Then Daniel went to his house,
and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions: That they would desire mercies
of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should
not perish with the rest of the wise men of
Babylon. Then
was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the
God of heaven. Daniel
answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and
might are his: And
he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings:
he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: He revealeth the deep and
secret things: he knoweth what is in
the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him. I thank thee, and praise thee,
O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made
known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the
king's matter – Daniel 2:17-23
Therefore,
“Daniel” as the practicing Prime Minister of his ardently
adoptive “nation” did NOT go on
to adversely address the “king”
to caustically complain as such. Rather, he took a righteous
and – Radially DIFFERENT approach…
BIBLICAL BACKGROUND: Here “Daniel”
would go to his personal “chamber” and through
the lattice as the “windows being open” was quite VISIBLE with
his gaze “toward Jerusalem” proper. WHY? Because that is where the longing
of his “heart” was along WITH the
“Jewish” people of “God” in which was symbolic
and sanctimonious in nature:
If thy people go out to battle against their enemy, whithersoever thou
shalt send them, and shall pray unto the LORD toward the city which thou hast
chosen, and toward the house that I
have built for thy name: Then hear thou in heaven their prayer and their supplication, and
maintain their cause… Yet have thou respect unto the prayer of thy servant,
and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to hearken unto the cry and to the
prayer, which thy servant prayeth before thee today: That thine eyes may be open toward this house night
and day, even toward the place of which thou hast said, My name shall
be there: that thou mayest hearken unto the prayer which thy servant shall make
toward this place – 1 Kings 8:28-29 & 44-45
And
“Daniel” would no doubt also “pray” for the promised PEACE of
jaundice “Jerusalem” and the
future restoration of their beloved “land” in kind. Along with the CONFESSION of
personal & national sordid “sin” and “supplications” for whatever
else was – On His MIND!
THEOLOGICAL THOUGHTS: In fact, “King
David” appears to have SET the solemn “Selah”
sworn standard of purposed PERSEVERENCE in
steadfast “prayer”
preponderance:
But as for me, I will
come into thy
house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I
worship toward thy holy temple – Psalms
5:7
As for me, I will call upon God;
and the Lord shall save
me. Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall
hear my voice. He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was
against me: for there were many with me. God shall hear, and afflict them, even
he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they
fear not God. He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him:
he hath broken his covenant – Psalms 55:16-20
Similarly,
“Daniel” in kind went DIRECTLY into his own “house” on bended “knees” in fully facing
his much-loved “city” (though
now in ruins) some “three
times a day” to GREATFULLY
give thorough “thanks” and
openly offered purposeful “prayed”
unto “his God” above consistently
as he ALWAYS did before – Prayerful
Perseverance!
“Then” all of “these
men”
had crassly “came near” unto their “king” concerning “Daniel’s”
intimate “time” with his “God” alone, there is a probing PROSECUTION presented as our PROPHETIC plot thickens:
Then
they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king's decree; Hast
thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God
or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of
lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of
the Medes and Persians, which altereth not – Daniel
6:12
These
miserable “men” had sordidly SPIED out
their “set over” boss “Daniel” and willingly witnessed
what he DID outwardly “among” the monarch’s masses…
If it please
the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written
among the laws of the Persians and the Medes… – Esther 1:19a
Most
likely this duped “decree” was
pragmatically PROPOSED in the morning and “they” then “went”
over to “Daniel’s” personal
place at noon time to WATCH him “petition” the Glorious “God of heaven” above. And no doubt “they” snooped only on
this ONE occurrence and ran back to
sinisterly “spake before” the unsuspecting
coy “king” directly “concerning” his very OWN deadly
directed “decree” deemed “true, according” to the UNALTERABLE looming
“law” of the “Medes and Persians” upon the “den of lions” dictate – Den of DOOM!
Adding INSULT to INJURY!
“Then” an antagonism
of adamant ANTI-SEMITISM is arrogantly “answered” in an angst
agreement:
Then
answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children
of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou
hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day – Daniel
6:13
And
“they” are ALWAYS throwing
these SARCASTIC sentiments towards “That
Daniel” as the held up “Hebrew”
hound corralled in kept “captivity” taken from “Judah” abroad. The frail foreigner
from afar. Our puny prisoner and slothful slave
sojourned. Not to mention the blatant LIE of which claims that he “regardeth not thee, O king” as such. Was
that stinging statement true? NO! The complete OPPOSITE was
true! This dapper “Daniel” was
a loyal and faithful submitted “servant” as long it never
caused him to VIOLATE his personal principles of
proper “petition” unto his great “God” over all. Therefore, “Daniel” had RIGHTLY regarded
his commanding “king” in the RIGHTEOUS way that demands
he and his “decrees” should be
deemed as such – RESPECTED Royalty!
Indeed
this torrential “thing” of threatened tyranny
was partially “true” in its sordid
scope, thus “they”
caustically CONFRONT their concerned “king”
covertly. This duped “Darius”
pressed under a loophole “law”
started out as a KING and a GOD for some “thirty
days”
and wound up as a FOOL in one dire “day” dictated…
Then
the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set
his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the
sun to deliver him – Daniel
6:14
This
was a fatally FOOLISH and utterly UNTHINKING thuggish “thing”
to doggedly DO unto “Daniel”
this highly trusted and fully committed
statesman! And to WHOM was the “king”
so “sore displeased” and despondent? It
was with “himself” as was
quite appropriate indeed. But, at least he had the HONESTY to
place the BLAME where it belonged as such! It
was his OWN enormous EGO that had entrapped
him. Worldly allurements are ALWAYS going to be there. However, “we” won’t foolishly FALL to them unless
our own EGO gets in the way!
And the king
was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at
meat, he commanded it to be given her – Matthew
14:9
And the king
was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with
him, he would not reject her – Mark 6:26
Let’s
assume the “decree” was “signed” secretly in the morning. “They” then hustled
out to SEE what this
devoted “Daniel” would DO at the “noon”
hour. And there he was, “praying”
alone as he – ALWAYS Does!
PROPHETIC PROMISE: And “these
men”
then had adamantly “assembled” unto the “king” and “said” these willful “words” of waning WOE
concerning “Daniel”
himself. Here stood a great “king” of whom had made HIMSELF out
to be a GOD but even he can NOT have
his own way…
Then
these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that
the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king
establisheth may be changed – Daniel
6:15
Now
in languish the “king”
had greatly “laboured till the going down
of the sun”
to eagerly exhaust every LEGAL means whether by “decree” or a certain “statute” as was possible to
adamantly acquit his top-pick Prime Minister elect.
WHY? Because the EXECUTION via
the “den of lions” that had been SET for
the doomed “Daniel” according
to the customary “law” of the “Medes and Persians” was to come just BEFORE nightfall. Therefore,
the “king” himself had all
afternoon to “deliver him” from a dire – Determined DEATH!
In
closing:
REAL REFLECTIONS: The twelve chapters of “Daniel” are powerfully PROMISED prophecies depicting the unfolding
of the HISTORIC events of which will take place leading up to
the literal “time” of the SECOND awaited
physical “coming” of our loving “Lord Jesus Christ” back to the earth:
And in the days
of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be
destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall
break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever – Daniel 2:44
And
our SERIOUS study of these PROPHECIES will
rightly REVEAL to each student of God's wonderful “Word” that the events FORETOLD
some 2,600 years ago could
possibly be FULFILLED in the seemingly near future…
We are not guaranteed tomorrow – tomorrow may be too late! If you haven't yet made that most important decision of your life, won't you make Jesus Christ your personal Lord and Savior today - before it's too late? Today is the day of Salvation!
If you have been blessed by this message or have a specific question, prayer request or testimony, please send me a note to: encouragingconcepts@live.com
I love hearing from you. Keep reading Encouraging Concepts!
Blessings!
Shane K. Morin <><
Encouraging Concepts
Truth for Today
"Living Life From a Biblical Worldview"
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