Day 256
There were a few amazing similarities between Daniel being put into the lion’s den and Jesus being placed into the tomb.
- A stone was set at the entrance.
- It was sealed with a signet ring.
- An official decree was made to be sure it was not tampered with.
Both looked like the end of the story. Human authority sealed both places/tombs. Both were meant to stay sealed shut forever. But God was not finished. Daniel came out alive. Jesus came out alive. The seal set by humans cannot hold in what God wants to raise.
When your life looks like it is sealed shut and there is no way out, just remember that God is still writing your story, even when you cannot see it yet. When something in your life looks sealed shut and finished, where do you need to trust that God can still roll the stone away?
The “Belt of Faithfulness” is what I use to help me remember the name given to Daniel by King Nebuchadnezzar. It can be difficult when reading the Scripture to remember Belteshazzar and Belshazzar.
Belteshazzar = Daniel’s Babylonian name.
- BELTE = “Belt.” Think: the “Belt of Faithfulness.”
- Belt = better = Daniel
Belshazzar = the later king of Babylon
- Bel = Baal. Think: Bel/Baal = bad.
- This one is not
King Nebuchadnezzar wrote a proclamation to the people about how great God is, and what He had done for him. The king who had created a 90-foot statue now wrote that God’s Kingdom is the one forever. He had a second dream. The magicians, astrologers, and other mediums could not interpret it either. A massive tree in the middle of the earth reached to the heavens. It was beautiful, with abundant fruit where animals could take shelter. The tree was a symbol for a powerful king, representing Nebuchadnezzar. In Daniel 4:13, Nebuchadnezzar saw a messenger, a holy one, come down from heaven and announce that the great tree must be cut down, with only the stump left and bound with iron and bronze. Then in verse 17, the decision was not just that one messenger’s idea. It was the decree of the watchers and the word of the holy ones (plural). The judgment itself came from the heavenly court as a group.
The Scripture then shifted from a tree to an animal. Nebuchadnezzar would live among the beasts in madness until “7 times” had passed over him (often seen as 7 years). God would use the iron and bronze bands around the stump to keep him and his kingdom alive for later restoration. Nebuchadnezzar finally called Daniel in to interpret the dream, since the other wisemen could not seem to do their job. Daniel was terrified of what the vision meant, and the king said, “No worries.” Daniel explained that Nebuchadnezzar would be driven from the people, and that his kingdom (stump) would be restored once he learned that heaven rules. Repent!
Chapter 4 began at the end of the story. In verse 4:1, Nebuchadnezzar was already praising the Lord. That was not a contradiction with verse 4:25. The book was written after Nebuchadnezzar had been humbled, so he opened by looking back as a changed man. The dream itself happened earlier, while he was still proud. Daniel had interpreted it and warned him to turn from his sins and to show mercy to the poor. God gave Nebuchadnezzar one year to repent. A year later, while he was still boasting about Babylon, the judgment fell. His reason left him. He believed he was like an ox, lived outdoors with the beasts, ate grass, and stayed that way until the appointed time passed.
After that time of madness, his sanity returned. He finally acknowledged that the Most High rules, and God restored him to the throne with even greater honor. Just as quickly as the judgment came, the restoration came. “Pride goes before destruction” (Proverbs 16:18). It was a very public lesson on who was really in charge, and it was not Nebuchadnezzar.
When King Belshazzar had taken over the reign, “father” meant his predecessor, not necessarily his parent. In 539 BC, the Medo-Persians were ready to take over the city. The king hosted a party and used the sacred temple cups. The people had learned nothing. The hand of God appeared and wrote on the wall. Belshazzar, the king of Babylon, went from party to panic mode. Again, the king called in the enchanters, who were unable to interpret the writing. The queen remembered that when King Nebuchadnezzar had reigned, that he had someone who had “the spirit of the holy gods.”
Daniel was called in, flattered, and offered the same gifts as before. Daniel told him to keep his gifts and stated that Nebuchadnezzar was given power, then turned mad because he lost sight of God, but later humbled himself. He then explained that the Aramaic writing on the wall used accounting words: Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin, which meant numbered, weighed, and divided. Daniel reminded Belshazzar that he knew the history yet rebelled, which was why God sent the hand to write the four words. Daniel was given the gifts anyway, and his promotion did not last a single day. Belshazzar was slain, and Darius took over. By this time Daniel was in his eighties, and because of his integrity and competence, he had been promoted many times over the years. The 120 officials (satraps) were jealous that it was planned for Daniel to be in charge of the entire kingdom. The officials dug for any dirt but could find nothing against Daniel, as he remained faithful. The men managed to get the king to sign a decree: for thirty days, if anyone prayed to another god or man except the king, that person would die. Daniel knew it had been signed into law and yet still prayed to God, as no threat would keep him from praying or giving thanks to God. The king worked to try and save Daniel, but he was thrown into the lion’s den. Darius told Daniel that his God would deliver him.
The stone was put in front, and a decree was signed not to open the den. The king mourned for Daniel. Through the grace of God, Daniel was protected from the lions. The king signed a new decree, and the accusers and their families were thrown into the lion’s den. God can save the faithful.
Today's Discussion question:
When your life looks like it is sealed shut and there is no way out, just remember that God is still writing your story, even when you cannot see it yet. When something in your life looks sealed shut and finished, where do you need to trust that God can still roll the stone away?
Click here to link to our Facebook group for discussion, questions, and additional content.