The Roaring Around You

Like Daniel who emerged triumphant from the lions’ den by God’s grace, you’re certain to emerge from your trials because God still shuts the mouth of the roaring lion.

King Darius was tricked into a painful predicament. He didn’t want Daniel to be eaten by lions but he had made a law that condemned anyone who prayed to a god or man other than Darius. The king’s jealous satraps who had duped Darius into making the unrighteous law quickly caught Daniel in the act of praying to the Lord and informed Darius of the crime.

Darius was gripped with an agonizing choice: either break his own law or execute a good man. If Darius refused to keep the law of the Medes and the Persians, Darius would be unjust and dishonest. If he punished Daniel, he would be unjustly condemning a very good man.

There had to be a third way. There had to be a way that did not violate the law but did not kill the man that Darius loved.

The third way required a miracle that shocked everyone. A supernatural figure, some sort of angelic being, came into the lions’ den and “shut the lions’ mouths.” Daniel, though convicted was “found blameless.”

The glory of God’s redemption plan is awesome. All humanity is guilty of sin against God from the time of Adam until this very day. God had decreed from the beginning, “do not eat of the tree lest you surely die.” The wages of sin is death. If God did not keep His own law, He would be unjust and dishonest. But, if He destroyed the creatures that He made in His own image, He would be heartbroken and His promise to bless humanity would fall empty to the ground. There had to be a third way.

Christ came to intervene for us. He alone could shut the mouth of the Accuser, the roaring lion. Christ took the penalty as a human being for all humanity. The evil lion roared and mocked. God’s Word was upheld. Sin was punished. All who trust in Christ are forgiven and set free. Like Daniel, we are “found blameless” because of the miraculous plan of God.

God had never wanted you to die – He came to give you abundant life. He knew that you’d broken the law, but He’d rather die in your place than lose you. Thus, the roaring lion has no accusation to make against you. You’ve been declared righteous. And that’s the Gospel!