Daniel Knowing the Writing was Signed - Daniel 6:10

In the book of Daniel, Daniel shared how the overseers and nobles of the Medo-Persian empire 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. 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. Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree”, and in chapter six and verse ten of his book Daniel shared what he did, “when he knew that the writing was signed” where we read,

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.

The verse reads, “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house;” Daniel began with the words, “now when Daniel knew” or “at the time and moment Daniel whose name means God is my judge was informed, certified and taught” “that the writing was signed” which means “that the written decree and requirement was inscribed by King Darius”, “he went into his house” or “he, Daniel, thrusted and causatively departed and entered into his, Daniel’s, habitation, abode and dwelling place”. Daniel shared how he was informed and understood that the “law” was inscribed by King Darius which said no one was to pray to any god or man for thirty days or be cast into the lions den, and he deliberately departed to his home.

The verse goes on to say, “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.” Daniel continued with the words, “and his windows being open” or “and his, Daniel’s, perforations in the walls known as windows in his house” “in his chamber” which means “within his, Daniel’s, roof-room” “toward Jerusalem” or “to the direction and location of Jerusalem whose name means teaching of peace and is the chief city of Palestine and capital of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split”, “he kneeled upon his knees” which means “and lowered himself to his knees as in a position to bless and praise” “three times a day” or “upon three occasions each sunrise to sunset”, “and prayed” which means “and bowed himself in oration and entreaty”, “and gave thanks” or “and bestowed laud, praise and adoration” “before his God” which means “in front and in the presence of his, Daniel’s, Supreme Deity”, “as he did aforetime” or “similar and in likeness to the way he, Daniel, executed and performed as before or in former times”. Daniel said he knelt upon his knees toward the open window which faced Jerusalem in the roof-room of his home and praised and made oration to his Supreme Deity Jehovah God three times a day even in likeness to the way he always performed before this time. 

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Daniel how this inscribed order from King Darius not to pray to any god or man for thirty days or be thrown into the lions den had no effect on him. He went to his home, knelt before the open window that faced Jerusalem and prayed anyway. This heavenly resolve to align with God’s way rather than man’s is not only enviable, but should be our desire as we live before God’s eyes. God wants an intimate, personal relationship with all of us, and when we yield to His Son Jesus who died on the cross for our sins and was raised from the dead after three days as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins grant us everlasting life and give us the power of His Holy Spirit to be resolved to follow Him like Daniel regardless of the consequences we may encounter with others. 

Next time Daniel shares how, “these men assembled, and found Daniel praying”, 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".