DANIEL 6
It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps, to be throughout the whole kingdom; 2 and over them three high officials, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss. 3 Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. 4 Then the high officials and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him. 5 Then these men said, “We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.” 6 Then these high officials and satraps came by agreement to the king and said to him, “O King Darius, live forever! 7 All the high officials of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an injunction, that whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. 8 Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be revoked.” 9 Therefore King Darius signed the document and injunction. – Daniel 6:1-9
DANIEL 6 WHEN YOU ARE FAITHFUL AND FAULTLESS
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
When you are faithful and faultless, you will be envied
Prepare to be attacked because their hearts are wicked
When you are faithful and faultless, you will be hated
Just like how Jesus was abused and persecuted.
If you are faithful and faultless, the world won’t stop at ostracizing those who look different from them. This is what happened to Daniel. He was envied because he was a man of integrity and wisdom. So, these officials had to pin him down so they could feel superior over him. John 15:18 says that “If the world hates you, know that it has hated Christ before it hated you. 2 Timothy 3:12 says that if you desire to live a godly life, you will be persecuted.
REFLECTION
- Share some insights about how and why believers are hated by the world.
