Giving Thanks in Troubling Times

Introduction

Scripture Reading: Daniel 6:1-10

Over the years we have celebrated the Thanksgiving Holiday by spending time with family and friends and by taking the time to consider God’s goodness and to thank Him for His numberless blessings in our lives.

This year for most of us has been more difficult than we could have ever imagined and now once again the Thanksgiving holiday is upon us. We may consider the circumstances that surround us and we may find it difficult to be thankful this year.

In this passage of scripture we find Daniel has been set in a prominent position in the kingdom of Babylon. He has been carried away from his country but he has prospered in spite of being forced to leave his homeland and being taken into captivity.

Yet there were some who apparently envied Daniel’s prosperity and sought to put and end to his life.

The law was passed which threatened to restrict Daniel from praying and praising God and yet Daniel continued to do as he had always done and even knowing the consequences Daniel would not be deterred from praying and giving thanks to God.

Like you and I have experienced this year Daniel experienced an unexpected:

Reversal (Vs. 1-9)

As we begin this passage of scripture Daniel is on top. Everything is going great and he has risen to a position of prominence in the kingdom and he is a trusted adviser to the king.

It seems that life really could not get much better for Daniel under the circumstances. What Daniel doesn’t know is that there are some in the kingdom who are seeking an opportunity to ruin him.

Ultimately Daniel’s enemies appeal to the king’s vanity and convince him to pass a decree that they are convinced will bring about Daniel’s downfall.

Just when it seems that everything is going his way, Daniel finds out that a decree has been passed which makes it illegal to worship God as he has always done.

Daniel is now at a crossroads. He can choose to continue to worship God knowing that the penalty is to be thrown to the lions or he can submit to the decree and cease to worship for the thirty day period for which the decree stands.

Daniel had already seen a similar circumstance first hand in the lives of Shadrach Meschach and Abednego his companions from Israel . Daniel 3:13-18- these men had also been forced to put their life on the line for their failure to worship the king.

Undoubtedly Daniel must have taken into account their bold stand as he considered what he must do in response to the kings decree.

For many of us 2020 was a year that started out as any other. Everything was going well and our expectation was that 2020 would be a year full of promise and blessing.

Now as we look back across the year it is safe to say that it has not been what any one of us would have expected. There have been financial reversals, substantial restrictions on how we live our lives, unexpected developments socially and politically and today you and I also stand at a crossroads.

Will we continue to praise God in spite of the circumstances and restrictions or will we give in to fear and frustration and turn our backs on God and let the circumstances cause us to cease from praising Him?

This reversal was certainly not something that Daniel took lightly in his response we see his:

Resolve (Vs. 10)

Daniel knew that the king had signed the decree and that it was legally binding. He knew the consequences that it detailed for those who failed to heed it.

Daniel did not pray and give thanks in ignorance, not knowing the consequences of his actions. Daniel prayed and gave thanks knowing exactly what the punishment would be if he were found out by the authorities.

Notice that Daniel did not attempt to hide what he was doing, he did not attempt to evade justice but he openly worshipped as he had done in the past.

It is vital that we understand that Daniel did not pray and give thanks to God in rebellion of the authority of the king but simply in obedience to the King of kings.

Daniel was not trying to make a statement, he was not trying to stir up trouble, he was not looking for a fight, he was simply determined to obey God.

Daniel simply continued to do what he had always done. He bowed before God in prayer and gave Him thanks.

Daniel was willing to put his life on the line to continue to worship God. He did not go out and try to pick a fight with the lions but he was resolved that he could not yield to the king’s decree without dishonoring God.

There is an important lesson to be learned here in the fact that Daniel’s decisions were not made in fear but were grounded in his faith in God.

Just like Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego were convinced that God had the power to deliver them from the flames of the fiery furnace, so also was Daniel convinced that God could deliver him from the mouth of the lions.

In the midst of these troubling times will we shrink back in fear or will we commune with and give thanks to God in spite of our circumstances?

Many may have questioned “Daniel why do you pray and give thanks to God knowing the punishment that you will surely face?” Others may have asked “Daniel how can you pray at a time such as this?”

Daniel’s reply would likely have been that though his circumstances may have changed God was still the same. Daniel may have spoken of God’s love, His mercy, His goodness, and His grace.

Daniel believed that God was still worthy of praise even if it cost him his life to pray and give Him thanks!

We must be resolved to continue to worship and give thanks to God in spite of our circumstances for though our circumstances have changed God is still the same!

Now more than any time in my lifetime, the world needs to see us praising and thanking God! The world needs to know that circumstances do not dictate our praise because our God abides faithful not matter what may come.

Daniel made the decision to continue to pray and to give thanks to God and this decision provoked an interesting

Results (Vs. 11-28)

Daniel prayed and gave thanks as his enemies expected he would. His enemies then report Daniel’s illegal activity to the king.

It is certainly possible that God could have worked on Daniel’s behalf and kept him from ever being tossed into the lions den but instead of delivering him from the lion’s den he chose to deliver him out of the lion’s den.

Daniel faced the punishment he expected and he had no promise that he would not be eaten by the ravenous lions. The king sought to prevent his punishment but could not prevail and ultimately Daniel is cast into the lion’s den and sealed in for the night.

Daniel’s steadfast faith in God and his willingness to quite literally put his life on the line to pray and to praise God stood as a striking testimony to the king.

God supernaturally stopped the mouth of the lions and Daniel miraculously escapes the lion’s den absolutely unharmed. What a testimony to the power of God!

This fact was not lost on the king as he pulls Daniel from the lion’s den and subsequently casts the conspirators and their families into the den and the punishment that was meant for Daniel now befalls those who had orchestrated it.

We must however take special notice of the statements given by the king in verses 25 through 27. He declares that the God of Daniel is to be feared , that the God of Daniel is the “living God” for he has witnessed His power first hand, and that the God of Daniel’s kingdom shall endure forever.

It was Daniel’s willingness to pray and give thanks to God even in the worst of circumstances which made such a strong impression upon the king.

Imagine for a moment the impression that could be made upon the world if believers would pray and give thanks even in the midst of these troubling times.

Imagine if the unbelieving world saw we who name the name of Christ continuing to worship and praise our God in spite of the circumstances we are facing and in spite of the dangers that may be present.

The world needs to know that we are going to pray and praise God when circumstances are in our favor but also when it seems that our world is falling apart.

Conclusion

As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches lets get away from the noise and the chaos and the frustration and get in the presence of God and remember His faithfulness, His love, His mercy, His grace, and His goodness!

Let’s make certain that when the eyes of the unbelievers are upon us that they catch us praising and thanking God not complaining about the circumstances we are facing.

God has not changed and He is still good!

If you have never placed your faith in Christ, God is so good and loves you so much that He sent His own son to take the penalty for your sins and He wants you to know Him and to begin a relationship with you today if you will only turn to Christ in faith trusting Him as your savior!