The vice-regents and governors got together to find some old scandal or skeleton in Daniel’s life that they could use against him, but they couldn’t dig up anything. He was totally exemplary and trustworthy. They could find no evidence of negligence or misconduct. So they finally gave up and said, “We’re never going to find anything against this Daniel unless we can cook up something religious.”
The vice-regents and governors conspired together and then went to the king and said, “King Darius, live forever! We’ve convened your vice-regents, governors, and all your leading officials, and have agreed that the king should issue the following decree:
For the next thirty days no one is to pray to any god or mortal except you, O king. Anyone who disobeys will be thrown into the lions’ den.
“Issue this decree, O king, and make it unconditional, as if written in stone like all the laws of the Medes and the Persians.”
King Darius signed the decree.
When Daniel learned that the decree had been signed and posted, he continued to pray just as he had always done. His house had windows in the upstairs that opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he knelt there in prayer, thanking and praising his God.
Daniel 6:3-10
Daniel was a good worker. He was so thorough, so careful and so successful in his work that his co-workers were jealous and plotted to bring him down.
I have friends like Daniel who have worked hard only to have jealous co-workers plot to bring them down.
Most recently, it was an assoicate pastor brought down by the jealousy of her senior minister. She worked so hard and introduced so many people to the saving grace of Jesus that he began spreading malicious rumors about her. Eventually he was able to fire her. He lives in a posh house forty seven miles from his church and leaves ministering to his associate pastors. He shows up sober enough on Sunday mornings to preach.
Daniel didn’t focus on those co-workers intent on bringing him down.
Instead, he focused on God. He got down on his knees three times a day and gave thanks.
Wow. What a powerful lesson.
In a similar circumstance, I’m afraid my focus would be on those who brought me down, not on God.
My friend followed the guidance of Daniel.
In spite of the pain of her betrayal, she kept her focus and found another church. She poured her energy into a new ministry, and although it was a public ministry rather than a church ministry, she contined to do God’s work with a joyful heart.
Daniel’s story has a happy ending on this earth. The bad guys got punished and the good guy got rewarded.
Go, Daniel.
My friend didn’t get any miraculous rescue from her lion’s den. But she keeps her eyes on Jesus all the same.
Go, Girl.