The King Who Could Not Save 君王救不了他
Dexu Xia
Today's Insights When King Darius signed a decree that anyone who prayed to someone other than himself would be tossed into the lions’ den (Daniel 6:7), he was commanding a sentence of trial by ordeal—an ancient Near Eastern practice designed to put someone accused of a crime into a dangerous situation. If the person survived, it was seen as proof of their innocence because it would’ve taken divine intervention to save them. When the king realized his decree would condemn Daniel, he couldn’t reverse it since Persian law was irrevocable (vv. 8, 12, 15). Daniel’s survival proved both his innocence of wrongdoing and God’s presence with him, which meant he could legally walk free (vv. 21-22). God’s presence with Daniel reminds us today that no matter our circumstances, He’ll never leave us.
Today's Devotion Sentenced to life in prison, Vic shared with friends his sense of longing. When they said that Jesus would fill the empty spaces in Vic’s life, he mocked their statements. To Vic, Jesus being a man who died yet still lived today seemed fantastical. Although skeptical, sometime later he began listening to a Christian radio station and even reading the Bible. Eventually he asked God to reveal Himself to him.
Vic’s anxieties and fears began to fade. He reflected, “Physically, I was incarcerated in a prison with two massive cage-like fences keeping me in, but mentally I was free and protected like Daniel when he was in the den with the lions.” Shortly thereafter, he received Jesus as his Savior.
Vic read the Old Testament story of Daniel, an exile from Judah who was thrown into a den with lions. Daniel had refused to stop praying to God three times a day, even when the king signed an edict disallowing all prayer for thirty days except to himself (Daniel 6:6-10). The king was “greatly distressed” and regretted having to punish him with a certain death by the lions (vv. 14, 16). But God, revealing His power and authority, kept Daniel safe, and “the king was overjoyed” (v. 23).
Whatever our circumstances, including great hardship, God never leaves us. We need only to turn to Him.
Reflect & Pray How can you find safety and security in God? How can you look to Him for help and strength today?
Freeing God, thank You for canceling my debt of sin through the death of Your Son, Jesus. I look to You for my salvation.
全国人民要在但以理的的神面前颤兢恐惧 （但以理书6：26）
今日经文：但以理书 6
今日洞见： 大流士王颁布法令，凡在王以外向别人或别神求告的，都要被扔进狮子坑（但以理书 6:7）。他实际上是在施行古代近东的一种神判，旨在将被告置于危险境地。如果被告能活下来，就被视为无罪的证据，因为只有真神才能拯救他们。当大流士王意识到他的法令会使但以理定罪时，他已无法撤销，因为波斯的法律是不可更改的（8、12、15节）。但以理的幸存既证明了他的清白，也证明了神与他同在，也就是说，他可以合法地获得自由（21-22节）。神与但以理的同在提醒我们，无论我们身处何种境地，神都永不离弃我们。
今日灵修 被判终身监禁的维克向朋友们倾诉了他的渴望。当朋友们说耶稣会填补维克生命中的空虚时，他却嘲笑他们。对维克来说，耶稣明明已经死去，说他仍然活着简直不可思议。尽管心存疑虑，但过了一段时间，他开始收听基督教广播，甚至开始阅读圣经。最终，他祈求上帝向他显现。维克的焦虑和恐惧开始消退。他反思道：“我的身体被囚禁在监狱里，被两道巨大的铁丝网围困，但我的精神却像但以理在狮子坑中一样自由自在，我受到保护。”不久之后，他接受耶稣为他的救主。 维克读了旧约中但以理的故事，即使国王颁布诏令，三十天内任何人只可向他自己求告，不可求告其他人或神（ 6:6-10），但以理仍然坚持每天三次向神祷告。结果这位犹大支派的流亡者被扔进了狮子坑。国王“极其忧愁”，后悔不得不将他交给狮子处死（14、16节）。然而，神彰显祂的大能和权柄，保守但以理平安，“王就欢喜快乐”（23节）。
无论我们身处何种境地，即使是极大的苦难，神也从未离弃我们。我们只需要转向祂。
反思与祷告 你如何在上帝里面找到平安和保障？今天，你如何仰望祂，寻求祂的帮助和力量？ 救赎的神啊，感谢你藉着你爱子耶稣的死，赦免了我的罪债。我仰望你，寻求你的救恩。
（译自《Our daily Bread》）