Focus
Experience silence in the midst of your busy day. Take some time to relax into a time to be with God.
Read
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual 20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 22 The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, 23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.
24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?”
They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.”
25 He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”
26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!”
So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, 27 and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.
28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.”
30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
Reflect
The punch line of an old joke is a judge saying: “I have before me the owner of a bar who believes in the power of prayer and a pastor who does not believe in the power of prayer.” In today’s reading, we have a foreign king who believes in the power of prayer. In this case Daniel also had a strong belief in the power of prayer. The king was duped into having Daniel thrown into the lion’s den. Many were jealous because of Daniel’s successes. Rather than strive harder and improve themselves they sought ways to tear him down. Isn’t that the way it goes all too often? King Darius tried every way he could think to free Daniel. He was forced to throw Daniel into the lion’s den.
I love the response of the King. As Daniel was being thrown in the lion’s den, the king was praying that Daniel’s God would deliver Daniel. He fasted and prayed all night. As soon as the sun was coming up, the king hurried to Daniel and asked if God had delivered him. Darius was elated to hear Daniel’s voice and made a decree that Daniel’s God was the true and living God. If a foreign king has that much belief in the power and presence of God, then we should have that same faith.
Pray
God you are our Deliverer. No matter what lions we are facing, You are more than capable of delivering us. Help us as believers to have the belief in the power of prayer that sometimes non-believers have. We praise you, our great Deliverer. Amen.
Go with God!
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