Daniel: Courage and Conviction – Rev Dave Stedman – Daniel 5: Falling Asleep with Lions

“Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before Him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.” Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.”

(Daniel 6:21-23)

Despite being a foreigner in exile, surrounded by lions of jealousy, intolerance and racism, Daniel is succeeding in every area of life until he is set up by his opponents and finds himself condemned to death in a physical lions’ den for the night. Because Daniel was innocent and trusted in God, angels closed the mouths of the lions and, unlike King Darius who condemned him to the pit, Daniel had a peaceful night. If we want to rise above challenges and opposition, finding strength, having capacity to fall asleep with lions, we should cultivate a better understanding where and to whom we belong, ensure our conscience is clear, maintain a disciplined spiritual life, trust in God and not bear false witness.