July 11: JOY IN THE MORNING (part 1)

Then a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signets of his lords, that the purpose concerning Daniel might not be changed. Daniel 6:17

Daniel knew that he was safer in the den of lions with God’s protection than in the royal court of the Medes and the Persians without it. Even the threat of death could not dislodge his loyalty to the LORD. This very night, there was notable activity in the city. God had permitted evil angels and wicked men to reach a point of seeming success in their scheme, for He had allowed Daniel to be cast into the lions’ den. The conspirators were surely having a night of celebration over the apparent victory. Daniel had fallen asleep peacefully among the lions after a prayer of turning his situation over to his God whom he loved. Now the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no musicians were brought before him. Also his sleep went from him. (v.18)

There are aspects of Daniel’s experience that carry certain parallels to that of our Lord Jesus. Both were falsely accused of wrongdoing. Both held the law of God above the rules of man, and both were ensnared because of men who regarded manmade rules above God’s law. The stones that were placed over the mouth of the den of lions and the tomb of Jesus were placed there by friends who believed in their innocence: King Darius and Joseph of Arimathea (Matthew 27:60). Both stones were sealed with wax and imprinted with government signet rings (v.66). Their times behind the sealed stones were both celebrated by evil angels and wicked men. In contrast, this was a dark night of severe distress for those who cared for them and keenly sensed their own contributions to the disasters playing out. In both settings, there were wicked ones who believed their own selfish purposes could be protected by the sealed stone.

In both settings, faith in the sovereignty of God was the common denominator of the miracles that followed. The “disasters” only served to magnify the greatness of the Providential Power that far surpasses every wicked plan. Sundown marked both entrances into their places of rest. When the earthly mission of Jesus was complete, He rested peacefully in the tomb throughout the Sabbath Day, and then arose to begin His vital work as our heavenly High Priest.

In both settings, there was joy that came in early morning. Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5b).

Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions. And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” (Daniel 6:19-20)  Already, the faith of King Darius had grown! In verse 16, he said Daniel, “Your God, whom you serve continually”, but this morning, he calls Him the living God. Such a declaration shows an essential distinction between false gods and the True God. King Darius, the friend of Daniel, is becoming a friend of God.

But we all, with unveiled faces, beholding as in a [dim] mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:18