Daniyel Cast Into The Lions' Den
6:1It
pleased Daryavesh to set over the kingdom one hundred twenty satraps, who
should be throughout the whole kingdom; 6:2and
over them three presidents, of whom Daniyel was one; that these satraps might
give account to them, and that the king should have no damage. 6:3Then this Daniyel was distinguished above
the presidents and the satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the
king thought to set him over the whole realm.
6:4Then
the presidents and the satraps sought to find occasion against Daniyel as
touching the kingdom; but they could find no occasion nor fault, because he was
faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. 6:5Then said these men, "We shall not find
any occasion against this Daniyel, except we find it against him concerning the
law of his Mighty One."
6:6Then
these presidents and satraps assembled together to the king, and said thus to
him, "King Daryavesh, live forever. 6:7All
the presidents of the kingdom, the deputies and the satraps, the counselors and
the governors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to
make a strong interdict, that whoever shall ask a petition of any mighty one or
man for thirty days, save of you, O king, he shall be cast into the den of
lions. 6:8Now, O king, establish the
interdict, and sign the writing, that it not be changed, according to the law
of the Madai and Paras, which doesn't alter." 6:9Therefore king Daryavesh signed the writing and the
interdict.
6:10When
Daniyel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house (now his
windows were open in his chamber toward Yerushalayim) and he kneeled on his
knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his Mighty One, as
he did before. 6:11Then these
men assembled together, and found Daniyel making petition and supplication
before his Mighty One.
6:12Then
they came near, and spoke before the king concerning the king's interdict:
"Haven't you signed an interdict, that every man who shall make petition to
any mighty one or man within thirty days, save to you, O king, shall be cast
into the den of lions?" The king answered, "The thing is true,
according to the law of the Madai and Paras, which doesn't alter." 6:13Then answered they and said before the king,
"That Daniyel, who is of the children of the captivity of Yahudah, doesn't
regard you, O king, nor the interdict that you have signed, but makes his
petition three times a day."
6:14Then
the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased, and set his heart on
Daniyel to deliver him; and he labored until the going down of the sun to
rescue him. 6:15Then these men
assembled together to the king, and said to the king, "Know, O king, that
it is a law of the Madai and Paras, that no interdict nor statute which the
king establishes may be changed." 6:16Then
the king commanded, and they brought Daniyel, and cast him into the den of
lions. Now the king spoke and said to Daniyel, "Your Mighty One whom you
serve continually, he will deliver you." 6:17A
stone was brought, and laid on the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it
with his own signet, and with the signet of his masters; that nothing might be
changed concerning Daniyel.
6:18Then
the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting; neither were
instruments of music brought before him: and his sleep fled from him. 6:19Then the king arose very early in the
morning, and went in haste to the den of lions. 6:20When
he came near to the den to Daniyel, he cried with a lamentable voice; the king
spoke and said to Daniyel, "Daniyel, servant of the living Mighty One, is
your Mighty One, whom you serve continually, able to deliver you from the
lions?" 6:21Then said Daniyel
to the king, "O king, live forever. 6:22My
Mighty One has sent his angel, and has shut the lions' mouths, and they have
not hurt me; because as before him innocence was found in me; and also before
you, O king, have I done no hurt." 6:23Then
was the king exceeding glad, and commanded that they should take Daniyel up out
of the den. So Daniyel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt
was found on him, because he had trusted in his Mighty One.
6:24The
king commanded, and they brought those men who had accused Daniyel, and they
cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the
lions had the mastery of them, and broke all their bones in pieces, before they
came to the bottom of the den.
6:25Then
king Daryavesh wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages, who dwell in
all the earth: "Shalom be multiplied to you. 6:26I make a decree, that in all the dominion
of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the Mighty One of Daniyel; for he is
the living Mighty One, and steadfast forever, His kingdom that which shall not
be destroyed; and his dominion shall be even to the end. 6:27He delivers and rescues, and he works signs
and wonders in Heaven and in earth, who has delivered Daniyel from the power of
the lions." 6:28So this
Daniyel prospered in the reign of Daryavesh, and in the reign of Koresh the
Parsian.
Pray Your Prayers Facing In The Direction Of
Yerushalayim
6:10 shows that Daniyel prayed his prayers facing in the direction of Yerushalayim. This clearly shows that Daniyel understood the validity of Shelomo's prayer at the time of the dedication of the temple, and Yahweh's acceptance of Shelomo's prayer.
Therefore, following Daniyel's example, all servants of Yahweh should pray their prayers facing in the direction of Yerushalayim.
6:10 also shows the posture that Daniyel adopted for his prayers - kneeling on his knees. It also shows the frequency of his prayers - three times a day. It also shows what he prayed about - giving thanks to the Mighty One. Servants of Yahweh should indeed follow Daniyel's commendable example.
The Vital Importance Of Praying To Yahweh
6:10 also shows that Daniyel ignored the royal statute and interdict, and continued on as before with his regular prayer routine, giving thanks to Yahweh the Mighty One. In other words, Daniyel clearly perceived that praying to the Mighty One was more important than submitting to the royal statute and interdict, a statute and interdict forbidding regular prayer to the Mighty One for 30 days. It did not matter that violating this royal statute and interdict had a penalty that potentially meant death to its violator. In other words, Daniyel was quite prepared to die, seeing that the penalty for so praying to Yahweh the Mighty One during this forbidden period was death!
In this Daniyel teaches us that it is vitally important that we pray to Yahweh on a regular basis, thanking him for the various blessings he accords us and for all his wonderful works. He also teaches us that regularly praying to the Mighty One, regularly giving thanks to the Mighty One, is more important than even the preservation of our physical lives! He also teaches us that where we are faced with a dilemma between regularly praying to Yahweh, or otherwise obeying Yahweh, and obeying a command that forbids us from so praying to Yahweh, we should submit to Yahweh, and continue to regularly pray to him, rather than submit to the forbidding command. In other words, we should clearly understand that Yahweh is indeed HaElyon - the Most High. It is his words that are supreme, and not those of other entities, especially if the words of these other entities are contrary to Yahweh's words.
Servants Of Yahweh Are Required To Pray Regularly To
Yahweh
It should also be clear that it is indeed a requirement of servants of Yahweh that they pray regularly to Yahweh. As earlier seen, Shemuel indeed said that it was sin for him not to pray for the welfare of the people. It was also seen that Yahweh required Iyov to pray for his errant friends, that they may be forgiven their iniquity, before Yahweh restored Iyov to his former fortunes. It should therefore be clear that it is indeed Yahweh's requirement that his servants pray regularly to him, both in thanksgiving and in making other petitions, including asking for mercy for repentant sinners.
6:11 shows that Daniyel was making prayer and supplication before the Mighty One.
6:16 shows that king Daryavesh, the king of Madai and Paras, believed that Daniyel's Mighty One could indeed deliver Daniyel out of the mouth of the lions in the den. Yahweh the Mighty One is indeed the deliverer.
6:19-22 shows that Yahweh indeed delivered Daniyel from harm that the lions would have done to him.
6:22 gives the reason why Yahweh delivered Daniyel. Because he was a faithful servant who served innocently, so serving both Yahweh the Mighty One and the king of Madai and Paras. It should therefore be clear that servants of Yahweh should not only be faithful in their service to Yahweh, but also to all others whom Yahweh places in authority above them.
Servants Of Yahweh Are To Submit To All In Authority
Over Them
In other words, from Daniyel's experience, it is indeed evident that it is also a requirement of Yahweh that his servants be faithful and submissive to all he places in authority over them, such as various governments.
Daniyel Was Tried For Yahweh's Glorification
6:25-26 shows that Yahweh used Daniyel's difficult experience of faith for his own glorification. For Daniyel's faithful service to Yahweh, even unto death, resulted in Yahweh being glorified in the entire kingdom under the domain of king Daryavesh.
We should therefore learn from Daniyel's experience that Yahweh indeed allows us to undergo difficult situations, even situations that are potentially fatal, for the glorification of his own name. Provided we remain faithful to him, even under great pressure, his purpose will indeed be done, and we will eventually be commended before him.
Daniyel's Prayer For Yerushalayim's Restoration
9:1In
the first year of Daryavesh the son of Achashverosh, of the seed of the Madai,
who was made king over the realm of the Kasdim, 9:2in
the first year of his reign I, Daniyel, understood by the books the number of
the years whereof the word of Yahweh came to Yirmeyahu the prophet, for the
accomplishing of the desolations of Yerushalayim, even seventy years. 9:3I set my face to the Sovereign Mighty
One, to seek by prayer and petitions, with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.
9:4I
prayed to Yahweh my Mighty One, and made confession, and said, "Oh,
Sovereign, the great and dreadful Mighty One, who keeps covenant and
lovingkindness with those who love him and keep his commandments. 9:5We have sinned, and have dealt perversely,
and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even turning aside from your
precepts and from your ordinances; 9:6neither
have we listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our
kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. 9:7Sovereign, righteousness belongs to you, but
to us confusion of face, as at this day; to the men of Yahudah, and to the
inhabitants of Yerushalayim, and to all Yisra'el, who are near, and who are far
off, through all the countries where you have driven them, because of their trespass
that they have trespassed against you. 9:8Sovereign,
to us belongs confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our
fathers, because we have sinned against you. 9:9To
the Sovereign our Mighty One belong mercies and forgiveness; for we have rebelled
against him; 9:10neither have we
obeyed the voice of Yahweh our Mighty One, to walk in his laws, which he set
before us by his servants the prophets. 9:11Yes,
all Yisra'el have transgressed your law, even turning aside, that they should
not obey your voice: therefore has the curse been poured out on us, and the
oath that is written in the law of Moshe the servant of the Mighty One; for we
have sinned against him. 9:12He has
confirmed his words, which he spoke against us, and against our judges who judged
us, by bringing on us a great evil; for under the whole sky has not been done
as has been done on Yerushalayim. 9:13As
it is written in the law of Moshe, all this evil is come on us: yet have we not
entreated the favor of Yahweh our Mighty One, that we should turn from our
iniquities, and have discernment in your truth. 9:14Therefore
has Yahweh watched over the evil, and brought it on us; for Yahweh our Mighty
One is righteous in all his works which he does, and we have not obeyed his
voice. 9:15Now, Sovereign our Mighty
One, who has brought your people forth out of the land of Mitzrayim with a
mighty hand, and have gotten you renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we
have done wickedly. 9:16Sovereign,
according to all your righteousness, let your anger and please let your wrath
be turned away from your city Yerushalayim, your holy mountain; because for our
sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Yerushalayim and your people are
become a reproach to all who are round about us. 9:17Now
therefore, our Mighty One, listen to the prayer of your servant, and to his
petitions, and cause your face to shine on your sanctuary that is desolate, for
the Sovereign's sake. 9:18My Mighty
One, turn your ear, and hear; open your eyes, and see our desolations, and the
city which is called by your name: for we do not present our petitions before
you for our righteousness, but for your great mercies' sake. 9:19Sovereign, hear; Sovereign, forgive;
Sovereign, listen and do; don't defer, for your own sake, my Mighty One,
because your city and your people are called by your name."
9:20While
I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people
Yisra'el, and presenting my supplication before Yahweh my Mighty One for the
holy mountain of my Mighty One; 9:21yes,
while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gavri'el, whom I had seen in the vision
at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the
evening offering. 9:22He instructed
me, and talked with me, and said, "Daniyel, I am now come forth to give
you wisdom and understanding. 9:23At
the beginning of your petitions the commandment went forth, and I am come to
tell you; for you are greatly beloved: therefore consider the matter, and
understand the vision. 9:24Seventy
weeks are decreed on your people and on your holy city, to finish disobedience,
and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to
bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up vision and prophecy, and to
anoint the most holy. 9:25Know therefore
and discern, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to
build Yerushalayim to the Messiah the prince, shall be seven weeks, and
sixty-two weeks: it shall be built again, with street and moat, even in
troubled times. 9:26After the
sixty-two weeks the Messiah shall be cut off, and shall have nothing: and the
people of the prince who shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary;
and the end of it shall be with a flood, and even to the end shall be war;
desolations are determined. 9:27He
shall make a firm covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week
he shall cause the sacrifice and the offering to cease; and on the wing of
abominations shall come one who makes desolate; and even to the full end, and
that determined, shall wrath be poured out on the desolate."
9:2 shows that Daniyel was a student of Yahweh's words contained in the books - the Scriptures. Yahweh's servants should likewise be regular and serious students of his words contained in the books - the Scriptures.
It was from studying the Scriptures that Daniyel obtained understanding of the plight of his people - why they were exiled away from their own land, and scattered among the various countries of all the earth. It was also from studying the Scriptures that he learnt about the timing of the end of that exile that they were then experiencing, and the time for the restoration of Yerushalayim.
It is therefore evident that servants of Yahweh can learn much from studying his words contained in the Scriptures.
Pray For The Fulfilment Of Yahweh's Prophecies
9:3-19 shows that Daniyel prayed for the restoration of Yerushalayim, the very restoration that he had learnt from the Scriptures would take place at about the time that he was praying.
In this there is a lesson for us. Yahweh had already purposed to restore Yerushalayim after the stipulated 70 years. And seeing that Yahweh's purposes stand, he was indeed going to restore it as he stipulated, irrespective of man's conduct pertaining to Yerushalayim. Yet we see Daniyel petitioning Yahweh, with fasting and sackcloth and ashes, to do according to what he had already said that he would do!
In other words, servants of Yahweh are not to rest on their laurels just because they have learned that Yahweh has stipulated his performance of a certain action at a certain point in time. They should be involved in Yahweh's prophesied action. And that involvement commences by their seeking Yahweh in prayer and petitions, including fasting, that Yahweh indeed fulfils that which he has already prophesied that he will fulfil. It should therefore be evident that a reason why Yahweh reveals to his servants particular prophecies involving his conduct is for these servants of his to be involved in the fulfilment of these prophecies.
Serving Yahweh According To His Will
In other words, it is Yahweh's will that his servants serve him in the manner that he has allotted to them. Some are to serve in one manner, while others are to serve in another. Once Yahweh has revealed to a particular servant of his the meaning of his will in a particular area of life, that servant should do what Yahweh has allotted to him to do. This includes praying for the fulfilment of Yahweh's will in that matter. It may also include undertaking additional specific duties that Yahweh shows that servant that he or she should do.
Therefore, when Yahweh gives us understanding of his prophecies showing that matters prophesied long ago are about to be fulfilled, it is indeed our duty to pray for the realisation of these prophesied matters. It is indeed our duty to pray to Yahweh that he may show us the details of the service he desires from each one of us. And it is indeed our duty to do that which he shows us.
What The People Of Yahweh Should Now Do
Earlier on, in Shelomo's prayer, it was seen that the people of Yahweh, the children of Yisrael, would indeed repent of their iniquities in the last days, while they are in the lands of their captors, scattered throughout all the nations of the whole world. They would seek Yahweh wholeheartedly, and Yahweh would be found by them.
Seeing that we are already in the last days, it is indeed incumbent upon servants of Yahweh to pray for the repentance of the people of Yahweh, the children of Yisrael. It is incumbent upon servants of Yahweh to follow the example set for them by Daniyel, and petition Yahweh with fasting, even in sackcloth and ashes, that Yahweh may indeed be wholeheartedly sought by the children of Yisrael, and be found by them. That Yahweh may forgive them their sins and iniquities, and that he may restore them back to their own land after the soon-coming return of the Messiah.
It is indeed now time for Yahweh's servants to undertake the various works the Father has given them with respect to facilitating the children of Yisrael repenting of their sins. It is indeed now time for Yahweh's servants to ascertain from Yahweh what their detailed service ought to be, and then to faithfully undertake that service.
When The Scattering Of The Children Of Yisrael Took
Place
9:7 shows that by the time that Daniyel was praying this prayer to Yahweh, the children of Yisrael had already been scattered throughout the entire world, to the various countries where Yahweh had driven them. The scattering of the children of Yisrael throughout all the various countries in the world therefore took place a very long time ago.
Daniyel's intense prayer in 9:3-19 is just as valid today, as it was when Daniyel prayed it. For the issues that Daniyel prayed about are likewise valid today. Servants of Yahweh should therefore pray Daniyel's prayer to Yahweh, that Yahweh may restore both Yisrael and Yerushalayim!
9:21 shows that Daniyel was praying this prayer at about the time of the evening offering. It appears that Daniyel timed his prayers to coincide with the times of the daily offerings to Yahweh.
Daniyel Did Not Understand All Of Yahweh's Will
9:22-23 shows that when Daniyel commenced to pray his prayer and supplication, he understood only a small portion of Yahweh's will, that which he had understood from studying Yahweh's word contained in the Scriptures. But there was more to understanding Yahweh's will that had not even been written in the Scriptures that Daniyel was studying. Yahweh therefore sent his angel Gavriel to impart more understanding to Daniyel concerning Yahweh's will.
How Yahweh Answered Daniyel's Prayer
Yahweh's conduct in this matter should also be noted. Daniyel was praying for the restoration of Yerushalayim. He was, presumably, therefore expecting an answer concerned with the prayer that he was praying. Yet Yahweh chose not to respond to him as he might presumably have been expecting - beginning to see the restoration of Yerushalayim. Instead Yahweh chose to show him how he Daniyel would serve Yahweh at the time that he was praying this prayer. In other words, the prayer had the effect of Daniyel receiving more knowledge and understanding of Yahweh's will, including his own role in the dissemination of Yahweh's knowledge and understanding to other servants of Yahweh.
It should therefore be noted that the response Yahweh gives to the various prayers his servants pray to him are not necessarily what those servants were expecting at the time they were offering their supplications to Yahweh. Yahweh sometimes responds in a manner whereby he gives us additional revelation of his will, both applicable to us individually and collectively, or applicable to some other person or persons.
It should also be noted that when a time has come to pray to Yahweh over a particular matter, it invariably also is the time for Yahweh to show us his will for us individually, showing us those things that he desires we do in our serving him. Servants of Yahweh should therefore be fully prepared to serve Yahweh in any manner Yahweh stipulates. For unless Yahweh has shown them beforehand, they do not really know the specific manner that Yahweh desires that they serve him. And when shown how we are to serve Yahweh, we should so commence to serve Yahweh as he shows us.
9:23-27 contains the knowledge and understanding that the angel Gavriel was sent to impart to Daniyel, something that Daniyel had no clue would be given to him when he was praying for the restoration of Yerushalayim.
Yahweh the Mighty One, how great and unsearchable are his ways! Praise Yahweh! Halleluyah!
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