Worship God

“Now, when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day. Praying and giving thanks before his God. As he had been doing previously” (Daniel 6:10, NASB).

The decisions we make today will have a significant influence on our decisions tomorrow. When we first meet Daniel in chapter one he is a young man just exiled to Babylon. Daniel makes the decision not to defile himself by eating the king’s food. By making this decision Daniel decides that he will not soil, pollute, and stain himself. If he eats the king’s food he will be disobeying the dietary laws of his God. Eating the king’s food will be an act of worshiping the idols of Babylon. Daniel determines that he will obey the commandments to worship Jehovah alone. Daniel is educated in the science and religion of the Babylonians, and he is given a very important position because he is able to interpret the king’s dream. God gave Daniel the interpretation of the dream, and Daniel makes this known to the king. Daniel serves the king while at the same time he continues to worship God.

After seventy years of Babylonian rule, Daniel is a man over eighty years old. In Daniel chapter five the Babylonians are defeated by the Medes and Persians. Darius, the new ruler in Babylon decides to set three officials over his kingdom. The princes will give an account to these administrators so that the king’s interest will be protected. When the king discovers that Daniel has an excellent spirit in him (exceptional qualities, NIV), the king plans to make him the administrator over the whole kingdom. The other officials try unsuccessfully to find fault in Daniel. They reason that the only way that they will be able to find fault in Daniel is to find something in the law of his God. So, they devise a scheme and presents it to the king. The king is to sign a decree that forbids anyone from asking a petition of any god or man except the king for thirty days or they will be cast into the den of lions. This will mean certain death. The king agrees and signs the decree, and by the law of the Medes it cannot be changed.

The officials know that Daniel has a routine of worshiping God three times a day. Will Daniel obey the law and cease to worship God during the thirty day period? If he does not worship God according to the decree he will be in violation of the law of his God. Daniel will prove to be a man without integrity, credibility, and loyalty. He will prove that his “excellent spirit” is not genuine. Of course, the king is unaware of what the officials are up to. He probably is flattered by the idea that his officials think so highly of him. The stage is set. What decision will Daniel make?

Daniel learns that the king has signed the decree. His dilemma is much like that of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in chapter three. If he obeys the decree will he not be defiling himself? Bad food can make a person sick. Failure to eat good food also can lead to sickness and disease. Just as we need good food for physical health, we need good spiritual food for spiritual health. The only source of spiritual food is God. (See John 6:35-40, 51) Daniel has made a decision, a commitment to keep himself pure before God. This means obeying the commands of God. God is sovereign and He alone is to be worshipped. Here lies the conflict. Do we worship the authorities in the world to save our jobs, our positions on the job, our status, our life? Are we willing to lose our lives for the sake of God (Jesus Christ)? “He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it” (Matthew 10:39, NASB).

Daniel continues his routine of worshiping God. He does nothing to call attention to himself, but the enemies are waiting to trap him. His worship of God includes kneeling, an act of submission to God. Daniel prays speaking to God and hearing God speaks to him. He receives strength and courage by praying to God. Daniel needs courage because based on human reasoning he has every reason to be afraid. He is violating the king’s decree and, if he is caught, by the decree of the king he will die in the lion’s den. Regardless, Daniel is thankful for God’s blessings upon his life. If we believe that God is sovereign we should be thankful regardless of the situation. This is because we are confident that God has the final word as to what will happen to us.

In America today, there are rules and laws that are designed to prevent the free expressions of worship of God. Just as the God of Daniel offends the officials, God is an offense to the ruling powers in our culture. This battle is more than a social or political debate. The battle is spiritual. Often, when Christians are attacked it is not really about the person. It is really a battle between God and the gods of this world: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Eph 6:12, NASB). Of course, Paul is talking about battles between the spirit beings being made manifest in people.

Daniel is reported to the king for his violation of the decree. According to the law he is cast into the lion’s den. The king’s conscience keeps him awake all night. Early the next morning the king goes to see if Daniel’s God has saved him. To his delight Daniel is alive. Daniel’s accusers are brought before the king who cast them and their families into the lion’s den. The king writes to all the people in his kingdom. They are to honor the God of Daniel. He is the eternal and living God. His kingdom will never be destroyed and His rule shall never end. God has used a king who does not know God to declare God’s name throughout the whole kingdom. God is sovereign. He rules over all and His rule cannot be overthrown.

Christians should be aware of the requirements of the job before accepting a position. Christians have to determine if the position will require them to violate their Christian values; the moral and ethical implications. There are times when Christians will have to decline a job for the sake of Christ. In these situations we have to have faith that God will provide for us.

In this story, Daniel does not try to persuade the king or the other officials to allow him to be excused from the king’s decree. The king rules for what he believes is best for him and his kingdom. As Christians in the world we are to be aware that the government’s laws and policies are not designed to serve the best interest of Christians. Rather, laws are made because the government officials believe that they will serve the best interest of all the citizens; including people of faith in other religions Jesus’ kingdom is not of this world, and Christians are to trust God in whatever situation they find themselves.

Throughout the first six chapters, Daniel and his friends are permitted by the kings to worship God. Instead of trying to use persuasion, they demonstrate that their loyalty to God is based on the power of God. They make God known by testifying that their excellent qualities are from God. Daniel determines to worship God regardless of the cost.