狮子坑

虽然被流放至巴比伦，但以理仍然忠心跟从主；他被王委任为一名高级官长，可是，其他的官员却妒忌他，他们希望除掉他。于是他们施计哄骗王设立禁令，不拘何人，除了向王祈求以外，不可向任何神祈求，违命者必被扔在布满饥饿狮子的坑中（但以理书6:1-9）。

获悉这个禁令后，但以理有什么反应呢？他向神祷告，祈求神的帮助。但以理信靠神，因为他知道神的能力比任何君王或法令更加强大。

但以理有没有埋怨神。但以理一生都忠于神，他是否认为在狮子坑中结束自己的生命是不合理的呢？没有。但以理并没有这样做，面对这个困境，他反而赞美神，为祂所赐的一切感谢祂。次日黎明，当王到来查看他的情况时，但以理说：“我的神差遣使者封住狮子的口，叫狮子不伤我。”

事后，当企图杀害但以理的敌人被王扔在狮子坑时，神便惩罚他们了。“他们还没有到坑底，狮子就抓住他们，咬碎他们的骨头。”

全能的神，求你以你的能力，帮助我们胜过任何可能会临到我们的试炼，又引导我们时常去寻求你和尊崇你。奉耶稣名祈求，阿们。

16王下令，人就把但以理带来，扔在狮子坑中。王对但以理说：“你所常侍奉的神，他必救你。”
17有人搬石头放在坑口，王用自己的玺和大臣的印封闭那坑，使惩办但以理的事毫无更改。
18王回宫，终夜禁食，无人拿乐器到他面前，并且睡不着觉。
19次日黎明王就起来，急忙往狮子坑那里去。
20临近坑边，哀声呼叫但以理，对但以理说：“永生神的仆人但以理啊，你所常侍奉的神能救你脱离狮子吗？”
21但以理对王说：“愿王万岁！
22我的神差遣使者封住狮子的口，叫狮子不伤我，因我在神面前无辜，我在王面前也没有行过亏损的事。”
23王就甚喜乐，吩咐人将但以理从坑里系上来。于是但以理从坑里被系上来，身上毫无伤损，因为信靠他的神。
24王下令，人就把那些控告但以理的人连他们的妻子、儿女都带来，扔在狮子坑中。他们还没有到坑底，狮子就抓住他们，咬碎他们的骨头。
25那时大流士王传旨，晓谕住在全地，各方、各国、各族的人说：“愿你们大享平安！
26现在我降旨晓谕我所统辖的全国人民，要在但以理的神面前战兢恐惧。因为他是永远长存的活神，他的国永不败坏，他的权柄永存无极。
27他护庇人，搭救人，在天上地下施行神迹奇事，救了但以理脱离狮子的口。”
28如此，这但以理当大流士王在位的时候和波斯王居鲁士在位的时候，大享亨通。

The Lions' Den

"The king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions' den." - Daniel 6:16

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Daniel was a faithful follower of the Lord, even though he lived in exile in Babylon. And he had been appointed as one of the king's top administrators. The other administrators were jealous of Daniel, however, and they wanted to destroy him. So they tricked the king into making a decree that said anyone who prayed to any god except the king should be thrown into a den of hungry lions (Daniel 6:1-9).

What did Daniel do in response to that? He prayed to God, asking for help. Daniel trusted in God because he knew that God is more powerful than any king or decree.

Did Daniel complain to God? Did Daniel claim it was not right to end his life in a lions' den when he had been faithful all his life? No, Daniel did not do things like that. Instead, he praised God and gave thanks for all of God's blessings, even in this difficult situation. And the next morning, when the king went to check on him, Daniel said, "My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions."

Later, however, when the king had Daniel's enemies thrown into the lions' den for trying to destroy Daniel, God punished them. "Before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones."

God is alive and has power over even our worst enemies. Hallelujah!

Prayer

Almighty God, help us in your strength to overcome whatever trials we may face. Guide us to seek you and to honor you always. In Jesus' name, Amen.