Good Morning!
Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live forever. My God
hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have
not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me;
and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt (Daniel 6:21-22).
Daniel is in a good mood and courteous. Mind you, at age 90, he has gone through an ordeal in spending the night with these huge, vicious lions. These were not old, toothless lions as we will see tomorrow. They ate whatever raw flesh was dropped through the hole to them and were shut up in an unnatural setting with no ability to run across fields and exercise. We have to assume that in this lion's den—lion's prison—the stench was strong. The Bible does not say that the angel who came to minister to Daniel brought a mop bucket and a bottle of perfume. Only that the angel shut the lions' mouths.
God does many life-saving things to help us and oftentimes goes far beyond our necessities. But we also learn that there is God's part combined with our part. Daniel's part was almost nothing but to trust God to see him through it. But in many life situations our part is more involved than was Daniel's part. God feeds the birds but He doesn't make the worms jump into the birds' nest. Scripture tells us that Adam was provided a garden but that Adam was responsible to dress it and keep it (Genesis 2:15). In Paul's day we are told that we are laborers together with God: (1Corinthians 3:9). When Peter was in prison and set for execution, God's angel came to visit Peter to set him free, but Peter was instructed to do several things to help himself.
It is interesting what the angel did for Peter and what Peter had to do.
And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. The angel did five things for Peter that he could not do for himself. Peter couldn't get an angel to come into the prison, so an angel simply showed up. Then a light shined in the prison because Peter didn't have a flashlight. The angel gently slapped Peter on the side and then took hold of him and raised him up. Peter is dead asleep! Then the angel spoke to Peter and gave him directions. Now look what Peter had to do for himself.
And his chains fell off from his hands. (8) And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. (9) And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision (Acts 12:7-9).
Peter was told to rise up quickly. He was told to gird himself and then told to put on his shoes. And then the angel had to tell him to put on his outer garment and then he was told to follow the angel. All of this happened so quickly that Peter is still not wide awake. He still doesn't know if an angel has met with him or if maybe he has had a vision. But God showed Peter enough to get him up and out of jail.
We can only imagine the interaction between Daniel and his angel. I don't think they discussed the weather or who was going to win the World's Series. It was all business. Daniel was tired from a long busy day and he needed a pillow. The softest thing in the lion's den was a lion. I like to think that Daniel rubbed his hand over the mane or the flank of of the fattest lion (none of them was actually fat since they could not hunt for themselves) laid his head on the lion and in a few seconds was out like a light.
God has this to say about angels, which extends down to our present day and also to you if you are an heir of salvation:
Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares (Hebrews 13:2).
But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? (Hebrews 1:13-14)
God has this to say about satan: Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you (1Peter 5:8-10).
God has this to say about you if you are trusting Him daily and walking with Him:
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee (Isaiah 26:3).
I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety. (Psalm 4:8)
It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep (Psalm 127:2).
Have you ever had to depend on the Lord to make you safe through the night? Your lion's den may not look like Daniel's. Here's a good verse for you:
What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee (Psalm 56:3).
Memory Verse for this week:
(Psalm 103:13-14) Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust (Psalm 103:13-14).
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