In the book of Daniel, Daniel shared how the overseers and nobles in Medo-Persia assembled before King Darius and said, “All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counselors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of you, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions”, and in chapter six and verse eight of his book Daniel shared how the leaders said, “O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed” where we read,
Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed,
according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which alters not.
The verse reads, “Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed,
…” Daniel began with the words, “Now, O king” or “at this time, O royal ruler and leader”, “establish the decree” which means “raise, set up and appoint the interdict, order and command”, “and sign the writing” or “and inscribe the written requirement”, “that it be not changed” which means “so it, the written requirement, is unable to be altered”. Daniel shared how the “presidents and leaders” instructed King Darius to inscribe the written requirement not to pray or ask anything of a god or persons for thirty days so the law would be unalterable.
The verse goes on to say, “… according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which alters not.” Daniel continued with the words, “according to the law” or “in keeping with the decree” “of the Medes” which means “belonging to the Medes whose name means middle land and were located northwest of Persia proper, south and southwest of the Caspian Sea, east of Armenia and Assyria, and west and northwest of the great salt desert of Iram” “and Persians” or “and Persians whose name means pure or splendid and referred to the empire Persia; encompassed the territory from India on the east to Egypt and Thrace on the west, and included, besides portions of Europe and Africa, the whole of western Asia between the Black Sea, the Caucasus, the Caspian and the Jaxartes on the north, the Arabian desert, the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean on the south”, “which alters not” which means “that does not depart, pass away or become removed”. Daniel shared how the “president and leaders” continued to speak to King Darius about signing the law to not pray by telling him that once the law was written, it would be unalterable in keeping with the decree of the “Medes and Persians”.
When we consider the words in this verse, we learn through Daniel how the overseers and lords desired that King Darius follow their instructions by establishing a law in writing because the law would not be able to be altered afterward. The kingdom of Babylon had it’s king, like Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar, as the absolute law of the land. They were able to alter any law they desired at any time. The “Medo-Persian” law, however, was superior to any king or leader, and once a law was written, the law was unable to be changed even by the king. This is why the Medo-Persian empire was just a little less powerful than the Babylonian empire. This is also why the overseers and lords wanted King Darius to write the decree against praying to anyone but him. God allowed this government to rule, and we shall see how He shows Himself mightier than the law of man in our next few verses. For now, let us keep in mind that God wants us to be under His Lordship and rule, and when we believe and trust in His Son Jesus as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us so we have the ability to align with His law and ways all the days of our lives.
Next time Daniel shares how, “Darius signed the writing and the decree”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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