When the Most Powerful Man on Earth Can’t Save You

Daniel 5:13-6:28; Psalm 121; Proverbs 28:27-28

Sometimes, people simply can’t. Can’t protect. Can’t provide. Can’t be strong. Can’t get there in time. Can’t think straight. Can’t come up with a solution. Can’t buy their way out. Even the most famous, most wealthy people on earth can’t overcome every obstacle they face. Nicolas Cage is struggling to stay financially afloat. John Travolta couldn’t save his son’s life. Barack Obama can’t keep everyone happy.

When fellow-rulers grew jealous of Daniel, they came up with a plan that effectively tied the hands of the world’s most powerful ruler at the time, King Darius. Why? Because King Darius truly appreciated Daniel; he was going to promote Daniel to oversee every other ruler in the kingdom, he valued Daniel so much. So if these murderous fellow-rulers wanted to get rid of Daniel, they had to find a way to keep Darius from interfering.

They appealed to Darius’ vanity. They urged him to pass a law that anyone who prayed to any god or man but to Darius himself—for the next thirty days—would be thrown to the lions. And Darius issued the decree.

When Darius realized what he had done and tried to save Daniel, who would never honor a man above the true God, it was too late. The other rulers came to King Darius and reminded him:

Remember, O king, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed. – Daniel 6:15

Suddenly, there was something even Darius, the world’s most powerful man, could not do: He couldn’t save Daniel.

Enter God.

The next morning, when King Darius went to the lions’ den to see whether Daniel had survived or not, he was greeted by an unscathed, peaceful Daniel, who told him:

O king, live forever! My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king. – Daniel 6:21-22

What the most powerful man on earth couldn’t do, God did. He shut the lions’ mouths.

Why don’t we go to this God more often?

Share a time when God came through for you!