Daniel walked with such a faith that many around him seemed to be wrestling with God themselves and stepping forward with questions about Him.

King Darius respected Daniel greatly, putting him in a place of authority as a commissioner overseeing the satraps in charge of the land.  Darius planned to appoint him over the entire kingdom, when those around Daniel became jealous and plotted a way to bring him down through enticing the king to issue a narcissistic decree to worship King Darius alone, which Daniel would not obey.  This decree and Daniel’s disobedience to it, led to a rather precarious sleeping arrangement for Daniel…and a nervous king:

16 Then the king gave orders, and Daniel was brought in and cast into the lions’ den The king spoke and said to Daniel, “Your God whom you constantly serve will Himself deliver you.”  17 A stone was brought and laid over the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing would be changed in regard to Daniel.  18 Then the king went off to his palace and spent the night fasting, and no entertainment was brought before him; and his sleep fled from him.  19 Then the king arose at dawn, at the break of day, and went in haste to the lions’ den. (Daniel 6:16-19)

In the beginning, the King seems to be trying to convince himself that everything will turn out okay (“your God will deliver you”), but the true state of his faith is seen in the lack of sleep and his haste to attend to the den in the early morning.  Then comes the question, which had me marveling this morning:

20 When he had come near the den to Daniel, he cried out with a troubled voice. The king spoke and said to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you constantly serve, been able to deliver you from the lions?” (Daniel 6:20)

Notice three things: 1) King Darius acknowledges Daniel’s God as “the living God” (I try to imagine any of my friends saying that and it just seems astounding), 2) King Darius acknowledges that Daniel serves the living God constantly, and 3) by rushing to the den and asking the question (even in a “troubled voice”), King Darius acknowledges that this living God may just be mighty enough to save from death.

Yes, King Darius, He is able, MORE than able, to accomplish what concerns us today.  Oh that I would have faith to live like I believe that, so others might see Him and be led to ask the question, “Has Your God Been Able.”