10 But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God. 11 Then the officials went together to Daniel’s house and found him praying and asking for God’s help. 12 So they went straight to the king and reminded him about his law. “Did you not sign a law that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human—except to you, Your Majesty—will be thrown into the den of lions?”
“Yes,” the king replied, “that decision stands; it is an official law of the Medes and Persians that cannot be revoked.”
13 Then they told the king, “That man Daniel, one of the captives from Judah, is ignoring you and your law. He still prays to his God three times a day.”
Daniel 6:10-13 (NLT)
DEFIANT PRAYER
Jealousy is a dangerous influencer of behavior. It can lead to poor choices and regret, and it can bring harm to others. As we studied Daniel chapter six this week, we read the remarkable story of Daniel being sent to the lion’s den and his incredible protection from the Lord in that moment.
Daniel was an established leader, held in high regard within the kingdom—even among his peers. A faithful man, Daniel prayed three times a day—every day. His performance, along with the praise and attention it garnered, drew the jealous ire of the administrators and satraps (which, by the way, means “a provincial governor who oversaw administration, security, and tax collection within their assigned territory”).
They schemed to trap Daniel by convincing Darius to sign an edict limiting prayer and praise to be directed only to Darius himself. In response, Daniel “got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, as he had done before” (verse 10). This led to his apparent condemnation—yet Daniel didn’t seem worried.
Interestingly, the name Daniel has a very relevant meaning: “God is my judge.” Daniel lived up to his name, fearing only the judgment of God—not the judgment of his fellow men. He was not going to stop praying to his God because of an edict or any form of earthly authority. He understood to which judge he ultimately had to answer.
Pastor and author John Piper described Daniel’s prayer life as “daring, disciplined, and defiant.” He goes on to say, “If what God thinks matters most, then you consult him most. If what God does matters most, then you ask him to act first. In other words, you live your life by prayer.”
Consulting God the most should be the default reflex of any believer, but I have a feeling I’m not alone in saying it’s not always mine. Daniel’s example is simple to see but hard to follow. When we have decisions to make or fears that begin to creep in, what should we do? We should PRAY!
You and I may not be faced with a literal lion’s den—at least, I sure hope not—but we are undoubtedly faced with new troubles every single day. Let’s respond by following Daniel’s example and falling to our knees in prayer.
Lee Wilson and his wife, Deanna, have been NorthStar Church members since 2010. They are parents to Everett, Henry and Roselyn. Lee is passionate about sports (Go Braves, Go Dawgs) and has the pleasure to serve on the worship team as a bassist.
