In the book of Daniel, Daniel shared how King Darius signed a decree that no one was to pray to anyone but him for thirty days, and afterward the men who convinced him to give this command saw Daniel praying and told Darius, “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. Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him. 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 establishes may be changed. Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spoke and said unto Daniel, Your God whom you serve continually, he will deliver you. And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel”, and in chapter six and verse eighteen of his book Daniel shared how, “the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting” where we read,
Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting:
neither were instruments of music brought before him: and his sleep went from him.
The verse reads, “Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting:” Daniel began with the words, “then the king” or “at that time the royal ruler and leader Darius” “went to his palace” which means “left and departed to his, King Darius’, royal mansion”, “and passed the night fasting” or “and lodged the nighttime hungry or denying himself of nourishment”. Daniel shared how King Darius departed to his royal mansion and spent the nighttime without eating.
The verse continues, “neither were instruments of music brought before him: and his sleep went from him.” Daniel continued with the words, “neither were instruments of music” or “no and not in any way were diversions through musical instruments, dancing girls or concubines” “brought before him” which means “carried or presented in front and in the presence of him, King Darius”: “and his sleep” or “and his, King Darius’, ability to rest and slumber”, “went from him” which means “left and departed from him, King Darius”. Daniel shared how no diversions such as musical instruments, dancing girls or concubines were carried into the presence of King Darius, and he was unable to sleep.
When we meditate upon words in this verse, we learn through Daniel how King Darius departed to his royal mansion after telling him that his God would deliver him. Darius spent the night without sleep and musical instruments and other diversions were not carried in before him. We can imagine the turmoil Darius suffered as he knew he was partly responsible for Daniel being in the “lions’ den”. Conviction of wrong-doing is part of the process for a person turning to God, and when this happens, we can be assured that God sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for those sins and was raised from the grave three days later so when we believe and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and teach us to yield to His Holy Spirit every time He convicts us that we are out of alignment with Him.
Next time Daniel shares how, “the king arose early … and went in haste unto the den of lions”, 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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