Run With Perseverance

At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?” (Daniel 6:19–20, NIV 1984).

My Musings – The king was in a fix. He did not want to send Daniel to the lion’s den, but the decree he had written could not “be altered—in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians.” (Daniel 6:8, NIV 1984). He was also “greatly distressed; [and] was determined to rescue Daniel [making] every effort until sundown to save him.” (Daniel 6:14, NIV 1984). But he could not violate his own edict.

After sealing Daniel in the lion’s den “the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.” (Daniel 6:18, NIV 1984). Until “the first light of dawn,” when “Daniel answered, ‘O king, live forever! My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king.'” (Daniel 6:21–22, NIV 1984).

The king may not have been able to go back on his decree, but he was able to execute justice on those who maneuvered him into the corner. “At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.” (Daniel 6:24, NIV 1984).

My Advice – “And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about [so many others]…who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword…Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword.” (Hebrews 11:32–37, NIV 1984).

We won’t know beforehand which of these two groups we will fall into. But we will know this – “the world [will] not [be] worthy of [us]. (Hebrews 11:38, NIV 1984). Not on account of our own worth, but on account of the worth of Him who called us. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” (Hebrews 12:1, NIV 1984). Whichever of the two races He has marked out for us.