Prayer Closes the Jaws of Lions

Prayer Closes the Jaws of Lions

My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me.
—Daniel 6:22

King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon besieged the city of Jerusalem, taking some sacred objects from the temple of God along with captives from Judah’s royal family and other noble families. These captives were loaded into long caravans, and among them was a young teenager named Daniel. The captives were young men who were strong, healthy, good-looking, well versed in every kind of learning, and of good judgment, and they were to be trained in the ways of the Babylonians.

Daniel was educated in “astronomy, astrology, divination, and the revelations of the instincts of the animal world.”9 He proved to be one of the wisest among his peers. “God gave Daniel the special ability to interpret the meanings of visions and dreams” (Daniel 1:17). Daniel’s interpretation of King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream resulted in Daniel being appointed to a high position, receiving many valuable gifts, ruling over a whole Babylonian province, and becoming chief over the king’s wise men.

After Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, his son Belshazzar took the throne but kept Daniel by his side. King Darius overthrew Belshazzar, but he also looked at Daniel with great favor—so much so that he planned to set him over the entire kingdom. (See Daniel 6:3). Before God would allow Daniel to receive a greater measure of authority, He had to test him.

The Lord always sends a test before a promotion. “The Lord trieth the righteous” (Psalm 11:5 KJV). These moments are always gut-wrenching; they feel like there is no end in sight and hope is slipping away. Hope fades when we imagine a future without the favor of God. Times of distress make us feel like some sort of loss is inevitable. The most challenging part is that a teacher rarely speaks while you’re taking a test. The Lord is testing your mettle to be sure that when He blesses you with more influence, your faith is strong enough to carry the responsibility.

To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, to be certain of the things we cannot see. (Hebrews 11:1 GNT)

If you knew what was happening to you was only a test, you would certainly have the strength to carry on. Therefore, children of God must learn to whisper to themselves, “This is only a test.” When someone provokes you, just say, “This is only a test.” When anger begins to boil, just say, “This is only a test.” When temptation rushes in, just say, “This is only a test.”

King Darius signed into law a devious plan put forth by his administrators and high officers designed to test Daniel’s faithfulness to the king. “Give orders that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human—except to you, Your Majesty—will be thrown into the den of lions” (Daniel 6:7).

The only way to stand in the midst of trouble is to remain kneeling before God. Prayer gives us the power to carry on and the grace to bounce back from our moments of weakness. Despite the new decree, Daniel continued to pray to the Lord three times a day with his windows open in the second-floor room of his home. King Darius’s officials found Daniel in prayer and informed the king. The king could not go back on his law no matter how much he respected Daniel. Consequently, Daniel was immediately arrested and was sentenced to be thrown into the den of lions.

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9. Hezekiah Butterworth, “The Education of the Young Prophet,” The Biblical World 10, no. 6 (Dec 1897): 444-53, https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/pdf/10.1086/472179

Excerpted from Ignite Your Life: 14 Powerful Things That Happen When You Pray, © 2024 by Frankie Mazzapica. Published by Whitaker House, New Kensington, PA. Used with permission. All rights reserved. www.whitakerhouse.com.