Daniel 6:21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. 22 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. 23 Then was the king exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.
This passage of scripture deals with another aspect of divine protection, as it often occurs when Christians are found to be walking in obedience to the word of God. Whatever the case, or situation may be that we come across in life's experiences, we should settle it once and for all that it is of the utmost importance, that we do not encourage persecution or danger by a careless or deliberate disregard of the instructions of God.
In this instance, Daniel had refused to follow the laws of the land that prohibited anyone from praying to any god for thirty days, so when he learned of this singular and unusual law, he immediately understood it to be a gross overreach of secular authority into God's arena, where the relationship with the beings He has Created was being interfered with, only because of covetousness. Let's read:
Daniel 6:3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. 4 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. 5 Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God. 6 Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said"... 7 "To make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. 9 Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.
The Bible cautions us not to be found suffering as an evildoer, or as busybodies in other people's business, but if and when we suffer, it should be for doing the right thing, for this is honorable and acceptable in the sight of God. In Daniel's case, the accusation was prayer, an accusation that all Christians should be guilty of, for no one on this planet has the freedom or the authority to interfere with our conversations with The Most High God, and since Daniel did the right thing by disobeying the king's orders, God was about to respond in marked ways, that would both set the record straight, and signally eliminate His foes and Daniel's enemies. Let's read:
Daniel 6:19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. 20 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? 21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. 22 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. 24 And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.
[Patriarchs And Prophets pp. 457] When Balaam was called to curse the Hebrews he could not, by all his enchantments, bring evil upon them; for the Lord had not “beheld iniquity in Jacob,” neither had He “seen perverseness in Israel.” Numbers 23:21, 23. But when through yielding to temptation they transgressed God’s law, their defense departed from them. When the people of God are faithful to His commandments, “there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel.” Hence all the power and wily arts of Satan are exerted to seduce them into sin. If those who profess to be the depositaries of God’s law become transgressors of its precepts, they separate themselves from God, and they will be unable to stand before their enemies.
In our day we are often thrown into the proverbial "Lions den" for daring to stand up against the powers that be, when we are forced to do evil. We recently witnessed with our own two eyes such a den of lions when the Kentucky clerk refused to bow to the laws of the land, which tried to coerce her conscience, contrary to God's will. Whatever might be our own den of lions, let us therefore be found faithful to truth and duty, regardless of what the outcome might be, for God is well able to rescue and protect His children from the enemy of all righteousness.
We therefore end with a passage of scripture which deals with the sufferings and protections which may be expected and experienced by the people of God, but one thing is certain, that whether we live or die in Christ, we are more than conquerors, if we stand for the right though the heavens fall. Let's read:
Isaiah 43:1 But now thus saith the Lord that created thee".... "Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. 2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. 3 For I am the Lord thy God"... "thy Saviour"... 4 Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.
May The Lord add His blessing to the study and practice of His every word. God bless!