Read: Daniel 6:1-28; 2 Peter 3:1-18; Psalm 119:129-152; Proverbs 28:21-22
Yesterday, we read where the Medes and the Persians took over and the king changed from Belshazzar to Darius. Once again, Daniel was exalted to leadership because of his excellent qualities and was about to be promoted to the highest position in the kingdom. His fellow satraps heard about this and wanted to bring Daniel down so they devised a wicked plan. They tried to bring up some filth from his past but could find none so the only thing they thought they could nail Daniel on was his faith in God. They played on Darius’s pride and came up with a law that anyone who didn’t pray to only him for the next thirty days would be thrown into the lion’s den. Darius fell for their scheme and signed it. When they found Daniel praying to God they reported it to Darius. He spent the whole day trying to find a loophole so he wouldn’t have to throw Daniel to the lions. When he couldn’t he told Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually rescue you!” The king was so upset when he threw Daniel in the lion’s den that he couldn’t sleep. Early the next morning he ran to the den and desperately called to Daniel asking if his god was able to deliver him. Daniel answered back that his God sent angels to shut the mouths of the lions. Daniel was lifted out unharmed and his false accusers were thrown in with their wives and children and before they reached the floor, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones. Darius wrote a new decree that all the people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.
What a change of events happen when we put our trust in God and don’t worry what man or lions can do to us. God is our defender and he will bring justice.
Peter wants to change our thinking. He reminds us to remember the things spoken by the prophets years ago and not forget them. It is easy to get weary in waiting for God’s promises, but they are as sure as the sun rising every morning. God explains that with him a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. He is not making a metaphor as much as he is giving us a huge clue about his ways. Every thousand of our years is a day in his calendar. For example, he raised Lazareth on the fourth day because it was the end of the fourth thousand years that Jesus rose from the dead. God’s week ends with rest on the seventh day. It will be rest for the children of God but fire for the world. Sodom and Gomorrah was a picture of the judgment and fire that will fall on the ungodly. We experience the fire of cleansing as we walk through this life striving to be spotless, blameless and at peace with Him. It is possible to walk in holiness, because it was possible for Daniel to walk unspotted by the world. We do this by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Lord, help us to grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
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