As well as being an Old Testament prophet and a friend of lions, Daniel was a bloke you could rely on.
King Darius of Babylon rated him. He chose Daniel as one of three administrators to run his kingdom and soon realised he had promotion potential.
‘Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators ... by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom,’ says Daniel 6:3.
But politics being politics, the prospect of Daniel being elevated to higher office kicked up a bigger stink among his colleagues than an MP’s expenses claim for a bag of manure.
Corruption
‘At this the administrators ... tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs but they were unable to do so.
‘They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent.’
How many of our politicians wish they had such attributes? Probably plenty among those who’ve been mauled in the lions’ den of public opinion lately.
Photo: Mark Lang/Tearfund
After so many damaging recent revelations, it’s no surprise that public faith in our political leaders has taken such a savaging.
But there are also plenty who are above the fray, who have acted properly and remain good and faithful public servants. There are maybe some who have been falsely accused.
The key point is that as Christians we should always pray for our leaders and now, more than ever, they need our intercessions.
Paul writing to Timothy said, `I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.’ (1 Tim 2:1-2)
Daniel always put his faith in, and relied on, God, not men, especially when times got tough.
What did he do when his envious, scheming, wrong-thinking fellow administrators got Darius to decree a law that anyone who prays other than to the king will be thrown to the lions?
Cat food
Daniel responds the same way he usually does — three times a day, every day, he prays, ‘giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.’ (Daniel 6:10)
His actions are witnessed by the conspirators and Daniel duly ends up spending a night with a bunch of carnivorous big cats but God delivers his ‘innocent’ servant.
The impact of the miracle on King Darius is immense, leading him to issue an edict about ‘the God of Daniel’:
‘For he is the living God and he endures for ever, his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. He rescues and saves,’ (Daniel 6:26.)
It’s a proclamation for all times, including ours, that all politicians and peoples need to hear.