Daily Office Readings for Saturday of the 3rd Week of Easter: Year 1
Morning, Psalms 30 and 32; Evening, Psalms 42 and 43;
Daniel 6:16 to 28; 3 John 1 to 15; Luke 5:27 to 39:
“When he came near the den where Daniel was, he cried out anxiously to Daniel, ‘O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God whom you faithfully serve been able to deliver you from the lions?’ Daniel then said to the king, ‘O king, live for ever! My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no wrong.” (Daniel 6:20 to 22)
King Darius was forced to by his own words to place Daniel in the lion’s den, but his heart was not in it. The “Darius – Daniel” situation reminds me of the “Pilate – Jesus” situation. This is a reminder to me to be careful about what commitments I make. John the Baptist lost his head because Herod made a foolish promise to a young dancer. Our tongues cause us much grief if we are not careful. The Letter of James in the Christian Testament also teaches this important lesson.
God intervened in Daniel’s case with an angel again, (remember the angel with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fire?). God will save who God will save. We are never without the Presence of God. But it is God’s will that we live, and die by.
Darius will go on to support the Hebrew people in rebuilding Jerusalem. God tends to intervene for the good and well being of the community of faith. Darius, a Persian, comes to respect the God of Daniel and is grateful that Daniel is alive.
God has gotten me out of dreadful situations that I got myself into from time to time. I always say that while I can’t see where God is in my life right now, I can always look back and see where God was in my life. I can recall times that I was in a downward spiral and God would “cause” something, or someone, to redirect the trajectory of my movement. Like king Darius, I am grateful. Now I just try to slow down and ask God to lead me and guide me. And I will try to be more attentive to God’s hand in my life and the life of my community. Thank You Lord Jesus.
Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Russia, Sudan, South Sudan and our schools.
As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
onewhoponders 