You have heard people say … “I’ll get you back” or “you will pay for this”. Others with a milder temperament say … “the wheel turns” or “your time is coming”. If you are honest you will agree that whatever your temperament, you, if not have said or at least thought of revenge and curses upon those who have done wrong to you, your family or your friends … as well as when you read of State Capture and the money that could have been used for job creation, improvement of roads, lower the electricity bills, build houses for the homeless, improve government hospitals and clinics, purchase more medical machinery for the desperately ill, etc. etc. … you want revenge. You want someone to pay. You want someone to suffer. You want a tooth for a tooth and an eye for an eye … and then you realize … “I belong to God. I have been washed in the Blood of Jesus. I cannot hold those wicked and evil thoughts even if those people deserve it.” God has a better way of presenting those feelings and emotions. He says:
Na 1:2The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD takes vengeance and is filled with wrath. The LORD takes vengeance on his foes and maintains his wrath against his enemies. 3 The LORD is slow to anger and great in power; the LORD will not leave the guilty unpunished.
You must understand that all of State Capture affects the people of God and all sinister business dealings affects the people of God. All crime affects the people of God. This means the perpetrators of such wicked deeds are God’s enemies. He is jealous and He is an avenging God. His wrath shall overflow. In His time, He strikes! Then He also says in:
Ro 12:17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
As much as we want to, God will. It is His right and prerogative to respond to evil … and He will. The wheel does turn and He uses the most amazing people to do His revenge! 1) There was happiness in the palace once more. The king heard Daniel’s voice. He heard God rescued Daniel and without interacting with his nobles
Da 6:23The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
What a testimony! “No wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. God might not come to the rescue of his people today in this way, but no one shall touch our souls because these belong to Jesus. They are blood bought.
2) There was extreme punishment for those who deceived the king.
Da 6:24 At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.
(1) We do not know whether it was all the 120 satraps or a few who were thrown into the Lions’ Den. It seems as though it was just a handful. Problems and disruptions in a church normally comes from one person or a small group of people.
(2) The punishment was in line with Persian custom. The wife or wives and children were also recipients of the punishment. This might have been a deterrent to prevent crimes against the “crown” and the “state”.
(3) They were cast into the Lions’ Den. This would have been from the opening at the top. Before their bodies touched the ground, the lions devoured them … crushing their bones. What a horrendous sight!
(4) Daniel knew God’s protection in that den. His accusers knew their fate in that den. For the one the lions were tame and for the others the lions were raging hungry animals of prey! O yes … the wheels turns … but never forget, God is the avenger, not you, nor me! You might think such justice was extreme but apart from punishment it was a teaching aid. People would think more than twice before committing crimes against the “crown” and “state”. Here is a question to ponder through … “In the light of a secular state, a democracy, a bill of rights … are our laws to lenient or are they to harsh when it comes to punishing offenders for crimes, be it against the state, business or private people? Do offenders become repeat offenders because the prison conditions are too good and because their sentences are too light?”
3) The conspiracy was not kept under wraps. It was exposed for a number of reasons, but chiefly for the king to acknowledge Daniel’s God as a great God.
Da 6:25 Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations and men of every language throughout the land: “May you prosper greatly!”
Whether it was Nebuchadnezzar, his son Belshazzar or Darius, they considered their kingdom a universal one because it stretched across all known and inhabited territories. Where his opening words … “May you prosper greatly” is almost a blessing, he seems positive this a reality because Daniel will oversee their security as nations within a kingdom.
4) A missed opportunity of salvation and evangelism. Where it seems as though Darius is promoting Daniel’s God as the only God, as you read closer you notice that he did not reject the other pagan gods and idols. Everything he says about Daniel’s God is right and good but he personally does not confess this God as his God, not does he insist that his subjects follow this God. All he decrees is that Daniel’s God is to be feared and reverenced. What a missed opportunity and what a loss of salvation!
Da 6:26 “I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. “For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. 27 He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.”
Be cautious about people who speak all the right things about Christianity, the Gospel and the Lord Jesus, but don’t themselves acknowledge they follow Jesus as Lord and Savior and as King and God. Personal confession of faith must accompany speaking about Christianity or else there is no commitment. We will return to consider verse 29 tomorrow. For today, do you declare Daniel’s God the true sovereign of all creation and heaven and do you follow Him through Jesus Christ?
Our Heavenly Father, we stand in awe as we reflect upon You protecting Daniel in the Lions’ Den. Thank You for protecting us. Amen.