The Combined Value of Faith

Then the officials went together to Daniel’s house and found him praying and asking for God’s help. So they went straight to the king and reminded him about his law. “Did you not sign a law 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?” “Yes,” the king replied, “that decision stands; it is an official law of the Medes and Persians that cannot be revoked.” Then they told the king, “That man Daniel, one of the captives from Judah, is ignoring you and your law. He still prays to his God three times a day.” Hearing this, the king was deeply troubled, and he tried to think of a way to save Daniel. He spent the rest of the day looking for a way to get Daniel out of this predicament. In the evening the men went together to the king and said, “Your Majesty, you know that according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, no law that the king signs can be changed.” So at last the king gave orders for Daniel to be arrested and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to him, “May your God, whom you serve so faithfully, rescue you.” A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den. The king sealed the stone with his own royal seal and the seals of his nobles, so that no one could rescue Daniel. Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night fasting. He refused his usual entertainment and couldn’t sleep at all that night. [Daniel 6.11-18]

At first today, I thought of writing about Daniel's actions upon learning of Darius' decree (Daniel 6.10). But then, after reading what followed, I was compelled to discuss Darius' situation.

Darius, king of Persia, inadvertently found himself trapped by his own irrevocable royal decree. We know from the context that Darius held Daniel in high regard. And, we know from the context that Daniel's contemporaries maliciously and deceivingly convinced Darius to sign the decree. It was simply a moment of impromptu action on Darius' part that quickly proved its underlying intention.

Darius' response provides us today with valuable guidance on how to proceed when we have made a mistake: he stopped eating.

Think about this story. We have no record of Darius having any type of relationship with God. He simply respected God because of his relationship with and respect for Daniel. We don't even have record of Darius praying! The Word simply says Darius fasted and refused his normal entertainment.

The implications of Darius' actions are HUGE!

How much of Daniel's protection from the lions was the result of his own faith? How much of Daniel's protection from the lions was the result of Darius' fasting?

Again, the implications of this whole story should open our eyes to the combined value of faith and repentance. Daniel's faith was unwavering and Darius' repentance in fasting was remarkable.

If we can see it though, Darius' fasting was an action of faith as well. Even as a man without relationship with God, Darius fasted and refused his normal entertainment because it was obviously all he knew to do on Daniel's behalf... and it worked! Can we deny that Darius' actions contributed to Daniel's rescue? No we cannot, so, we can only combine it with Daniel's faith to concur with Hebrews 11 about the workings of faith:

By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions... [Hebrews 11.33]

We often think only of Daniel when reading the Hebrews account of "the faithful," But we must also at least consider Darius' faith-act of fasting on behalf of Daniel too!

For our application, faith and fasting are both seen a valid "shut-the-mouths-of-lions" strategies.

Father, help me to see the value of fasting to support my faith...