Solomon completed the temple of the LORD around 959 B.C. Solomon’s prayer of dedication begins in I Kings 8:22. In verse 30 he says “Hear the supplication of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place.” Daniel knew this and prayed toward Jerusalem (Daniel 6:10-11). This was over 400 years after the dedication.
Around 586 B.C. Jerusalem fell and King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon destroyed the temple. Knowing this, Daniel still prayed toward Jerusalem. He is in bondage in Babylon, however, he was chosen to be in the king’s service and distinguished himself. The king is so impressed that Daniel becomes ruler over the province of Babylon (Daniel2:48).
As the years pass and Daniel is nearing 80 he is one of three presidents that direct the governors of the empire. Darius, the current king, has plans to set Daniel over the whole kingdom (Daniel 6:3). This doesn’t go over well with the governors and they hatch a plan to get rid of Daniel--convince Darius to sign an edict that those who are found praying to anyone other than Darius the next 30 days would be thrown into the lions’ den. Does Daniel stop praying for the next 30 days? Hebrews 11, the great chapter on faith tells in verse 33 of one who “stopped the mouth of lions”. That would be Daniel. Obviously, he was thrown into the lions’ den for what? praying of course.
Our pastor has a knack for weaving a story in such a way that it makes the heart jump in one’s chest. Little by little modern examples pop up--one about a sign at Camp Joy, another about a pair of boots, and a few from the New Testament, and so on. Then, he says, “Today’s society is like the lions’ den. What we do when we are tried is important…We’ll either be delivered or sin will have us…God doesn’t move the benchmark…How the body lies down is how the soul will wake up.”
Around 586 B.C. Jerusalem fell and King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon destroyed the temple. Knowing this, Daniel still prayed toward Jerusalem. He is in bondage in Babylon, however, he was chosen to be in the king’s service and distinguished himself. The king is so impressed that Daniel becomes ruler over the province of Babylon (Daniel2:48).
As the years pass and Daniel is nearing 80 he is one of three presidents that direct the governors of the empire. Darius, the current king, has plans to set Daniel over the whole kingdom (Daniel 6:3). This doesn’t go over well with the governors and they hatch a plan to get rid of Daniel--convince Darius to sign an edict that those who are found praying to anyone other than Darius the next 30 days would be thrown into the lions’ den. Does Daniel stop praying for the next 30 days? Hebrews 11, the great chapter on faith tells in verse 33 of one who “stopped the mouth of lions”. That would be Daniel. Obviously, he was thrown into the lions’ den for what? praying of course.
Our pastor has a knack for weaving a story in such a way that it makes the heart jump in one’s chest. Little by little modern examples pop up--one about a sign at Camp Joy, another about a pair of boots, and a few from the New Testament, and so on. Then, he says, “Today’s society is like the lions’ den. What we do when we are tried is important…We’ll either be delivered or sin will have us…God doesn’t move the benchmark…How the body lies down is how the soul will wake up.”
