Over the past few weeks, we have focused on scriptural texts that come to us from the Old Testament book of Daniel. Two weeks ago, we focused on the story of the exiled Daniel coming to the king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, and interpreting his dream about a giant statue. Last week, we focused on the story of what happened when King Nebuchadnezzar made the statue of his dreams – he required his subjects to bow down and worship it. Daniel’s friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to worship the false idol. They were thrown into a fiery furnace in response – fortunately, God protected them and they survived their ordeal.
Now we are looking at chapter 6 of Daniel’s book. The unpredictable king, Nebuchadnezzar, had been deposed....Darius the Mede was the new ruler of the land of Babylon. The Jewish exiles from Judah were still living in exile in Babylon. Even though the ruler of Babylon was now Darius, Jewish men still served in the court of the king. Daniel was described as an exemplary leader, although he was a loyal follower of God and did not compromise his faith to be loyal to his new king. Listen now to how Daniel was put to the test as we the story of his trials in Daniel chapter 6:
Scripture Daniel 6:6-27
It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss.
Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.
At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent.
Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.”
So these administrators and satraps went as a group to the king and said: “May 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 human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den.
Now, Your Majesty, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”
So King Darius put the decree in writing.
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.
Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help.
So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the lions’ den?”
The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”
Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.”
When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.
Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, “Remember, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.”
So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!”
A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed.
Then 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.
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 answered, “May the 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, Your Majesty.”
The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
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.
Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language in all the earth:
“May you prosper greatly!
“I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.
“For he is the living God
and he endures forever;
his kingdom will not be destroyed,
his dominion will never end.
He rescues and he saves;
he performs signs and wonders
in the heavens and on the earth.
He has rescued Daniel
from the power of the lions.”
So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
Here ends this reading of the word of God for the People of God. Thanks be to God. Amen...
And, let us pray....
Sermon Lion’s Pit (And Open Windows)
Although the events of the Book of Daniel took place almost three thousand years ago, the behavior of the people in the book is jarringly familiar. Think about the cast of characters – we have the righteous follower of God, Daniel. He was very sincere – the scripture states: “They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent.” We have the new king, Darius, who appreciates Daniel and his cautious leadership. And, we have Daniel’s jealous co-workers.... they manipulate the boss to pass a law that calls for the death of people who don’t worship the boss. And, then the co-workers use that law to trick the king into being required to kill Daniel – they were eager to get him out of the way. So, jealous co-workers, a weak boss, and a steadfast, ideal employee.... we could make a sitcom out of this story – maybe I have already watched the sitcom!
As we enter the story of the text, Daniel was becoming more and more successful, and the king was ready to give him the responsibility of ruling over the people... Daniel was about to be promoted. And he was on the brink of promotion for all the right reasons.... he was a just and fair leader...he was responsible and diligent in his service to the king.
But, jealous foes worked to destroy Daniel...... They tricked the king into throwing Daniel into the lion’s den. And, once again, our God protected his faithful and righteous servant and saved him from a gruesome death.
Daniel is an example of someone who continues to practice their faith in God despite the great risks they face. Daniel was ordered to worship his king, and to follow the laws of his government instead of worshiping the God of his people, the true God. And despite Daniel’s reputation as a faithful and obedient subject to King Darius, this ruling and this law was “where the buck stopped.” Daniel was so intent on defying the king’s law, he threw open his windows and prayed three times a day. Daniel wanted everyone to see him praying and know Daniel was defying the king’s orders. He prayed facing Jerusalem, which was not apparently a “thing” for the Jewish people in that period. But it was important for Daniel, a Jew in exile, to pray facing the land he longed for – the land of his youth, the land of his ancestors, and the land where he believed God would eventually return his people. Despite Daniel’s reputation as a faithful subject to the king, he wanted everyone to see his defiance...
Mahatma Ghandi talked about the book of Daniel as he advocated for non-violent resistance to Apartheid in South Africa. Gandhi called Daniel “one of the greatest passive resisters who ever lived.” When the South African government passed unjust and racist laws, Gandhi advocated that his countrymen and women should throw open their windows and doors so witnesses could see them disobeying those laws. When Ghandhi talked about Daniel, he emphasized that he was otherwise a model citizen but disobeyed unjust and unfair laws.
We can turn our attention to our country and our history as American Christians. Throughout our history, there have been faithful examples of our ancestors in the faith standing up for what is right and what is Christian even if the laws of our land have mandated otherwise. When slavery was enshrined into law, faithful Christians worked to advocate against it publicly and participate in acts of resistance like sneaking people through the underground railroad out of the country. When racist Jim Crow laws were on the lawbooks of our nation, faithful Christians advocated against them publicly and committed acts of nonviolent resistance by participating in boycotts, sit-ins, and freedom marches. Currently, we have laws on the books that punish people for being poor. Christians have been on the forefront of work to increase the federal minimum wage, end the cash bail system for people who have been arrested, and stopping the practice of suspending driver's licenses when people have outstanding court debts. As people who have faith in God, we also must have faith that God will bless us as we strive to faithfully follow God’s law that demands we work for justice on behalf of “the least of these” -- the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick, and those in prison.
As we review the stories of the heroes of our faith, it is important to note why they were heroes – Daniel was a just and faithful man...he was loyal to God, and dutiful in his public service on behalf of his government. But, when the laws of his land went against the laws of his faith, Daniel bravely disobeyed. He risked his life to obey and serve our God. We must remember Daniel’s disobedience and do likewise when our faith is put to the test. We must remember that we serve God before all others. And, when the laws of our land, or the conditions of our land, are contrary to the teachings of our God and our scripture, we must work to advocate for God’s teachings here on earth....even when it is hard, even when by doing so we are put at risk, even when it is scary. Let us work for what is right and what is faithful to our God.
Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment