A surprising love story
by Verena Johnson
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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!’ (Daniel 6:16)
What a great story. It’s got everything. Intrigue, nasty villains who get what’s coming to them, an innocent victim who has been set up for a fall, a happy ending … and a surprising love story.
Yes, I said love story. This is a story of how God won the heart of a selfish and egotistical king.
The satraps and administrators never dreamed that their evil plot to trap Daniel would be overturned and used by God. Who would’ve thought that a decree to worship the king only would result in another decree to fear and revere the God of Daniel?
Through this story, we see an arrogant and proud king tricked into making a decree because of the size of his ego. We read that this same king was greatly distressed when he realised the consequences of that decree for Daniel, and he made every effort to try to save him. Ever wanted to kick yourself for making a wrong decision or doing something stupid, and then you tried to make it right?
This self-centred mighty ruler finally realised that he could do nothing to save Daniel. He was powerless. Ever been in a situation where you felt totally powerless?
I wonder if it was a first for Darius. All his power and status counted for nothing in the face of his decree. Realising this, the king who wanted to be prayed to actually offered this amazing prayer for Daniel as he was thrown into the lions’ den, ‘May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!’
King Darius tossed and turned through a sleepless and solitary night and then got up at dawn and rushed to the lions’ den. Have you ever had one of those nights where you long for morning to come?
Back at the lions’ den, an anguished Darius asked, ‘Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?’
The king is totally overjoyed to find out that God has done an incredible miracle and saved Daniel. However, that joy is nothing to the joy in heaven as this king, who wanted to be worshipped, acknowledges that God is the living and eternal God.
Almighty and all-powerful God, thank you that in and through you, all things are possible. Help me turn to you, not just when I feel powerless but all the time. Help me turn to you before making decisions, not just for the clean-up operations afterwards. Thank you for all you did to win my heart. Amen.
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