Even when we suffer ... it is not about us

Daniel 6:16-23 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." 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. 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. Then the king arose at dawn, at the break of day, and went in haste to the lions' den. 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?" Then Daniel spoke to the king, "O king, live forever! "My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths and they have not harmed me, inasmuch as I was found innocent before Him; and also toward you, O king, I have committed no crime." Then the king was very pleased and gave orders for Daniel to be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den and no injury whatever was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. Next to the Joseph narrative, this was one of my favourite passages in the Old Testament. As I was reading it today, I wondered how Daniel would have felt as he was thrown into the lion's den. The interesting thing was that in the entire narrative, nothing was mentioned about Daniel's experience or emotions in the den. The focus of the entire passage was on the king, how regretful he was in making that decree and how worried he was over Daniel, who was albeit commended for this trust in God. What then was the intent of the passage? I found in John Goldingay's commentary on Daniel (WBC, 2002) this structure of Daniel 6 that may shed some light: 1–3 introduction: Daniel’s success    4–10 Darius signs an injunction but Daniel takes his stand.       11–15 Daniel’s colleagues plan his death.          16–18 Darius hopes for his deliverance.          19–23 Darius witnesses his deliverance.       24 Daniel’s colleagues meet with their death.    25–27 Darius signs a decree and takes his stand. 28 conclusion: Daniel’s success (I have not been talking about chiasm for a long time now, and it is time I do!) From the structure, we see the crux in Darius hoping for deliverance and Darius witnessing the deliverance. As he said to Daniel, "Your God whom you constantly serve will Himself deliver you," he soon witnessed the amazing work of the power and grace of God. In a sense, we can see that regardless of how Daniel would have felt and experienced in the ordeal, the more important thing is that God's glory was revealed. It is not that Daniel was not important. He was and God delivered him because of his trust in Him but what is more crucial is the witness that Daniel carried for God. In the same way, in our own lives, we must be mindful of that when we suffer. It is not that we are not important, we are very precious in God's sight. But there is a bigger picture than our suffering. What is more crucial is the witness and testimony that we show forth to the people around us - that even when we are suffering, God is gracious and merciful to see us through. We must see to it that through us, His love and glory will be evident to all. We must realise that even when we are surrounded by hungry lions, it is not about us, it is about God. pearlie