“Surrounded but Safe”
By Rev. Everett R. Kimble, Sr.
Daniel 6:19-23 (NLT)—Very early the next morning, the king got up and hurried out to the lions’ den. When he got there, he called out in anguish, “Daniel, servant of the living God! Was your God, whom you serve so faithfully, able to rescue you from the lions?” Daniel answered, “Long live the king! My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty.” 23 The king was overjoyed and ordered that Daniel be lifted from the den. Not a scratch was found on him, for he had trusted in his God.
This story of Daniel’s rescue from the lion’s den is just one of many examples of how God takes care of His people. It reminds us that faithfulness to God will ultimately prove His faithfulness to us. Here is Daniel in what appears to have been and could very well have been one of the worst nights of his life. The irony of this story is he did not get there because he had done something wrong, he was there because he had done everything according to Gods plan for his life. He was given a job to do, and through the power of God he excelled and found favor with the king. But as many of you have probably experienced, being the best at something often will put you at odds with those around you. Daniel felt this from those close to him and because they did not like seeing Daniel rise to the top the other administrators searched for flaws in his work, but when they could not find any, they attacked his religion and his prayer life. Daniel is ultimately thrown into the lion’s den because he refuses to relinquish his prayer time.
Reading the passage, I saw Daniel on what had to be a glorious morning of deliverance after a frightening night. But then I remembered Daniel had seen God deliver before and maybe he was not frightened at all. Chapter 3 lays out the story of the three Hebrew boys Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who were delivered from the fiery furnace when they refused to bow down to the gold statue of Nebuchadnezzar. I don’t know if scripture ever tells us that Daniel was friends with them, but I must assume that they were because of all they had endured together. Through their experience, they give us one of the most profound proclamations of faith in the Bible, one that had to be ringing in Daniel minds that night in the den. Daniel 3:17-18 (NLT) “17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. 18 But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”
And here is where I want to encourage you today. Wherever you are and whatever you are going through, check your friends. Not only are they part of your story they will help write your story and often when you get to your struggle seeing and remembering the strength of those closest to you in may be the encouragement you need to press through to your victory. Faithful friends will help encourage faithful living. Now you think about that. Have a fabulous, faithful Friday!
