July 23 – Fast and Pray

Daniel 6:18 – 28

The king then went back to his palace. He refused supper. He couldn't sleep. He spent the night fasting. At daybreak the king got up and hurried to the lions' den. As he approached the den, he called out anxiously, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve so loyally, saved you from the lions?" "O king, live forever!" said Daniel. "My God sent his angel, who closed the mouths of the lions so that they would not hurt me. I've been found innocent before God and also before you, O king. I've done nothing to harm you." When the king heard these words, he was happy. He ordered Daniel taken up out of the den. When he was hauled up, there wasn't a scratch on him. He had trusted his God. Then the king commanded that the conspirators who had informed on Daniel be thrown into the lions' den, along with their wives and children. Before they hit the floor, the lions had them in their jaws, tearing them to pieces.  King Darius published this proclamation to every race, color, and creed on earth:

Peace to you! Abundant peace!
I decree that Daniel's God shall be worshiped and feared in all parts of my kingdom.
He is the living God, world without end. His kingdom never falls.
His rule continues eternally.
He is a savior and rescuer.
He performs astonishing miracles in heaven and on earth.
He saved Daniel from the power of the lions.

From then on, Daniel was treated well during the reign of Darius, and also in the following reign of Cyrus the Persian.

The king fasted and prayed. He knew how to humble himself before the true God, our God. Fasting—going without food—is mentioned on many occasions in the Bible, both in the Old and New Testaments. In Isaiah 58:5 it says, "Is it a fast like this which I choose, a day for a man to humble himself? Is it for bowing one's head like a reed and for spreading out sackcloth and ashes as a bed? Will you call this a fast, even an acceptable day to the Lord? Is this not the fast which I choose, to loosen the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free and break every yoke? It is likely that by example Daniel had taught Darius to fast and pray. When we fast our entire attention is turned to the Lord. Jesus taught in Matthew 6:16-17 that fasting shouldn’t change our outward appearance, "Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you." (NASB) God listens to us, He hears our prayers and answers them. That is a reward.

O king, live forever! Daniel was very respectful of Darius. He really wanted the best for this Babylonian king who had hoped that the true God would keep him safe. Now Darius rejoiced that Daniel was not harmed by the lions and he acknowledged and worshipped the God who had protected Daniel. This is the “they lived happily ever after” part of the story—although it was not a happy ending for those vice-reagents who had plotted to kill Daniel so that they themselves would have more power. Those lions were especially hungry.

Darius was a powerful king, ruling a huge dominion of land. It is not clear which Darius in history this king Darius is—but that he would be addressing every race, color and creed on earth does show that he has a great influence on the known world. He had quite an opportunity to witness as to the power of the true God—His power to save not only Daniel from the lions’ den but His power as savior and rescuer. Can you acknowledge that God has that power in your life?

Dear Jesus, Thank you for being our savior and rescuer. It is great that You rescued Daniel from the lions. Continue to show us Your love and power in our lives today that we could tell others about what You are doing in our lives—today.

© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

Scripture from The Message, except where noted