Judgment and Deliverance: God's Sovereignty - From Judaism’s Holy Tanakh: Book of Daniel Chapters 5 – 6, Part 2 of 2

Today, it is a pleasure to share selections from Chapter 6 of the Book of Daniel about faith and integrity and God’s protection.

“[…] And when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, He went into His house – now His windows were open in His upper chamber toward Jerusalem – and He kneeled upon His knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before His God, as He did aforetime.

Then these men came tumultuously, and found Daniel making petition and supplication before His God. Then they came near, and spoke before the King concerning the King's interdict: 'Have Thou not signed an interdict, that every man that shall make petition unto any god or man within thirty days, save unto Thee, 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.'

Then answered they and said before the King: 'That Daniel, who is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regards not Thee, O King, nor the interdict that thou hast signed, but makes His petition three times a day.'

Then the King, when He heard these words, was sore displeased, and set His heart on Daniel to deliver Him; and He laboured till the going down of the Sun to rescue Him. Then these men came tumultuously unto the King, and said unto the King: 'Know, O King, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians, that no interdict 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: ‘Thy God whom Thou serve continually, He will deliver Thee.' 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 nothing might be changed concerning Daniel.

Then the King went to His palace, and passed the night fasting; neither were diversions brought before Him; and His sleep fled from Him. Then the King arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. And when He came near unto the den to Daniel, He cried with a pained voice; the King spoke and said to Daniel : ‘O Daniel, servant of the living God, is Thy God, whom Thou serve continually, able to deliver Thee from the lions?' Then said Daniel unto the King: 'O King, live forever! My God has sent His angel; and has shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not hurt me; forasmuch as before Him innocence was found in me; and also before Thee, O King, have I done no hurt.’

Then was the King exceeding glad, and commanded that they should take Daniel out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon Him, because he had trusted in His God. […]”