His Dominion will Never End
“19 At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. 20 When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”
21 Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! 22 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, Your Majesty.”
23 The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
24 At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.
25 Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language in all the earth:
“May you prosper greatly!
26 “I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.
“For he is the living God
and he endures forever;
his kingdom will not be destroyed,
his dominion will never end.
27 He rescues and he saves;
he performs signs and wonders
in the heavens and on the earth.
He has rescued Daniel
from the power of the lions.””
Daniel 6:19-27 recounts a powerful declaration of God’s sovereignty and eternal reign. Despite the scheming of his officials, King Darius witnessed God’s mighty protection over Daniel, who was thrown into the lions’ den. At dawn, the anxious king rushed to the den, calling out to Daniel. To his amazement, Daniel was unharmed, testifying that God had shut the lions’ mouths.
Overwhelmed by this miraculous deliverance, King Darius issued a decree proclaiming the greatness of Daniel’s God: “His kingdom will never be destroyed, and His dominion will endure forever.” This proclamation from a pagan king underscores a profound truth: God’s authority extends beyond human empires, and even earthly rulers can be instruments of His will.
Darius’ acknowledgment reminds us that all power and responsibility ultimately come from God. Romans 13:1 teaches that all authority is established by God, calling leaders and believers alike to steward their roles with humility and integrity.
As we journey through Advent, we eagerly anticipate the fulfillment of God’s kingdom. The same God who preserved Daniel and moved the heart of a foreign king reigns today. Trusting in His eternal authority, we can face life’s uncertainties with confidence, knowing that His purposes will stand forever.
Prayer: Lord, we praise You for Your everlasting dominion and unfailing power. We surrender our lives to Your sovereign will, acknowledging that all authority belongs to You. We confess that our loyalty and hope are not in this world but in the eternal kingdom of God and Jesus Christ, and we pray for the same protection from God that was with Daniel to be with us as well. Amen.
(Note: This summary was created based on an AI draft.)
Devotional content is available on the Our Daily Bread website.