Just As He Had Done Before

Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. (Daniel 6:10, NIV 1984).

My Musings – Having seen success and been given favor by two kings, “Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king [Darius] planned to set him over the whole kingdom.” (Daniel 6:3, NIV 1984). Out of jealousy, the other administrators and satraps conspired to find a fault that they could bring before the king to discredit Daniel. “But they were unable to do so…because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent.” (Daniel 6:4, NIV 1984).

But everyone has a weakness, and Daniel’s “weakness” was his faithfulness to God. At least it was a weakness in a pagan culture. To exploit this, “the administrators and the satraps went as a group to the king and said: ‘O King Darius, live forever! The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or man during the next thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into the lions’ den.'” (Daniel 6:6–7, NIV 1984). Caving in to his vanity, “King Darius put the decree in writing.” (Daniel 6:9, NIV 1984).

A Godly person like Daniel might naturally respond in one of three ways. Close the curtains and continue to worship God in secret, go to the rooftop and make a show of his worship for all to see, or take a break from worshipping God for the thirty days. But not Daniel. He continued to worship His God “just as he had done before.” His worldly circumstances may have changed, but his relationship to God had not. He did not retreat, nor did he turn to the left or the right. He remained steadfast and kept His eyes fixed “toward Jerusalem.” Fixed on His God.

My Advice – In a post-Christian culture, people might conspire against us as well. How will we choose to respond?

“You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.” (Galatians 5:7–8, NIV 1984). Let’s not allow the circumstances or culture of this world to “cut in on [us]” and persuade us to alter our course or quit the race altogether.

God calls us to press on. Until “the time…come[s] for [our] departure [we must fight] the good fight, [we must finish] the race, [we must keep] the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:6–7, NIV 1984). “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, [we must] press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called [us] heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13–14, NIV 1984).

Finally, “all of us who are mature [like Daniel] should take such a view of things. And if on some point [anyone] think[s] differently, that too God will make clear to [them]. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.” (Philippians 3:15–16, NIV 1984). Hopefully, “just as [we] had done before” the culture shifted away from the message of the cross.