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. 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. Then they came near, and spoke before the king concerning the king's decree; Have you not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of you, 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 alters not”, and in chapter six and verse thirteen of his book Daniel shared how the men said, “Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regards not you, O king” where we read,
Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regards not you, O king, nor the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.
The verse reads, “Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regards not you, O king, …” Daniel began with the words, “then answered they” or “at that time responded and replied the presidents and nobles” “and said” which means “and uttered, declared and proclaimed” “before the king” or “in front and in the presence of the royal ruler and leader”, “that Daniel” which means “that Daniel whose name means God is my judge”, “which is of the children” or “that exists from the offspring and progeny” “of the captivity of Judah” which means “pertaining to the exiled ones belonging to Judah whose name means praised”, “regards not you” or “ignores you, Darius”, “O king” which means “O royal ruler and leader”. Daniel shared how the presidents and nobles responded to the royal ruler and leader and told him that Daniel, being of the exiled ones in Judah, ignores King Darius.
The verse continues, “… nor the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.” Daniel added the words, “nor the decree” or “no and not in any way the order or law” “that you have signed” which means “that you, King Darius, have inscribed and engraved”, “but makes his petition” or “nonetheless and moreover seeks, asks and desires, his Daniel’s, request” “three times a day” which means “on three different occasions every sunrise to sunset”. Daniel shared how the “overseers and nobles” told King Darius that he did not pay attention to the order inscribed by him and rather prays “three times” every day.
When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Daniel how the overseers and nobles brought their accusations against him in front of King Darius. They reminded the king that he inscribed an order that no one was to pray to any god or man for thirty days, and that Daniel was not only disregarding him, but also his command. The consequences of this action was to be thrown into the “lions’ den”, and we shall see how that is fulfilled in our next few verses. God desires to have a personal relationship with us through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for our sins and was raised from the dead after three days. When we surrender to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us the power of His Holy Spirit to be determined to be devoted to God like Daniel regardless of the consequences.
Next time Daniel shares how “the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself”, 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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