Daniel
A Man Of Courage
Author: Heather Lynn
Illustrator: Lauren Mays
What do you think of when you think of Daniel? The lion’s den probably comes to mind. Well, Daniel was so much more than just the man who survived the lions. He was a man of courage and a man who trusted the Lord in every situation. He was an everyday hero. Let’s take a look at the beginning of Daniel’s story starting with Daniel 1.
The king of Babylon was looking for smart, young men to help him rule his kingdom. He brought some of the men who were living in captivity to the palace. These were Jewish men from royal families. They were strong, healthy, and good-looking. They also were knowledgeable, men of good judgment, and well suited to serve in the palace. Once they were brought to the palace, they were trained in Babylonian language and culture. They were given specific food and wine and trained for three years. Among these men, there was one man who won over the chief of staff. God had given him respect and care for a man from the tribe of Judah: Daniel. While the lion’s den is a big part of his story, he was so much more to the Lord and the generations who came after him.
Daniel had much love and respect for himself and trusted that God would provide. He would not be defiled by the food and wine the king gave, so instead, he asked the chief of staff for permission to abstain from these delights. The chief was afraid that Daniel would be thin and not suitable to serve. He would be beheaded if he couldn’t present healthy young men to the king. Daniel told him to test him and his three friends (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) with a special diet of vegetables and water, and see if they weren’t stronger than the other men at the end of the ten days. Daniel trusted God to come through for him. He was a hero because he trusted God instead of joining the other men in the palace. At the end of ten days, he and his friends were healthier than all of the other men and were chosen to serve in the king’s palace. He had trusted that his God would provide.
Daniel also trusted God would be His guide. When King Nebuchadnezzar needed his dreams interpreted, he consulted all of the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers to tell him what the dreams meant. When they couldn’t deliver, he ordered all of the wise men killed. This distressed Daniel and his friends, so they prayed and asked God to show them mercy and tell them the secret of the king’s dreams. That night, God gave Daniel a vision. The next day, Daniel went to the king and not only interpreted the dreams, but also proclaimed the name of the Lord before the king. He was so thrilled that he bowed down before Daniel and worshipped him. He then promoted Daniel and gave him many gifts. Daniel would continue to interpret dreams for the king and his predecessor and even became the third highest ruler in all of Babylon. Daniel allowed God to be the one who gave him wisdom and guidance.
Daniel trusted that God would deliver him. He had found favor with the next king, King Darius, and proved he was more capable than the other administrators. This made them very jealous, so they devised a plan to end Daniel’s reign and his life. They convinced King Darius to sign a decree forbidding the people to pray to anyone but him. Daniel responded by going home and immediately praying to God. He trusted God even when he knew it was dangerous. What could men do to him? His fear of the Lord was greater than his fear of men. He not only prayed once, but he prayed continuously, three times a day, knowing that it could be his end. The other administrators saw what he was doing and went before the king. When the king found out that Daniel had broken his law, he was deeply troubled. He even tried to think of ways to rescue Daniel, but at the end of the day, his kingdom and reign was more important than Daniel. For Daniel, though, his God was more important.
Daniel trusted that God would make His name known throughout the land. His consequence for praying to God was to be thrown in a den of lions. So the stone was placed in front of the den and Daniel’s fate was sealed. However, the next morning, the king ran to see if Daniel’s God had rescued him. Not a scratch was found on him. Daniel responded by giving glory to God for shutting the mouths of the lions and he continued to prosper throughout his days. He had brought honor to the name of the Lord. When Daniel trusted the Lord, others saw the truth and God was glorified. God blessed him for always putting his trust in Him.
This everyday hero never stopped trusting in the Lord. He trusted him in the beginning of his journey, every moment of his life in the kingdom, and even in times when his future seemed bleak. He always sought the Lord before anyone else. He sought His wisdom through prayer. He had the courage to pursue the Lord in the midst of a godless culture. He made the name of the Lord known throughout the land every time he chose God over possessions, riches, and even living his life. He was willing to face death if it meant that God would get the glory. His courage shows us that God is trustworthy and wants us to trust him with every part of our lives. Afterall, He is the creator, the healer, the Savior, and the One who delivers. Who better to trust than Him? Be courageous and see everything the Lord can do. Be a hero like Daniel and put your trust in the Lord today.
Heather Lynn
Heather Lynn is a teacher, mom of three children, and a pastor’s wife. She and her husband have been serving churches for the last 15 years. Writing, reading, blogging, and women’s ministry are just a few of her passions. She also loves studying the Word and teaching women to grow deeper in their walk with the Lord through Bible studies and conferences. You can read her personal blog at: www.hisbrokenremnant.wordpress.com
