In Awe of the Living God (Daniel 6:25–27)

Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: “Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end. He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.
– Daniel 6:25–27

Is that not amazing? This is a pagan king declaring, making a decree to all the peoples, nations and languages that dwell in all the earth, that the God of Daniel is worthy of worship. That he is the living God whose kingdom will never be destroyed. Who delivers, rescues, and works signs and wonders in light of how God saved Daniel from the lion’s den.

Daniel 6:25–27 pictures the spread of God’s glory through salvation.

Oh, this is the whole point of these stories in the book of Daniel. Especially in the first half. Notice how every single one of them leads to God receiving glory. Whether it’s Daniel being able to interpret dreams. Whether it’s Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego being delivered out of a fiery furnace. Or Daniel being delivered from a den of lions.

The result is always, look at it. Daniel 6:25–27 here, Daniel 3:28–29 before that. And Daniel is very intentional throughout this book, just as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are, to point to the fact that it’s God who gives power to interpret dreams. It’s God who is with them in the fire and brought them through it. It is God who has rescued Daniel from these lions. And together these stories drive us, lead us to pray that God would do what Psalm 67 says. It’s what’s happening in Daniel. That God would be gracious to us, bless us, make his face to shine upon us. So that his ways, his glory, his goodness, and his grace… That he would be known as the living God among the nations.

Daniel 6:25–27 reveals the global impact of God’s redemption.

So let’s make that our prayer today. God, we pray for your favor, for your grace, for your wisdom, for your help, for your strength, for your peace. For all the things that flow from your hand that we see evident in Daniel’s story and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s story… For your deliverance, for your rescue, for your redemption. So that your name might be glorified through our lives. God, we pray that you would bless us for your glory, that you would lead us for your glory. That you would guide us today for your glory.

God, we pray that the fruit of our lives would be people around us who don’t know you, seeing that you are the living God, enduring forever. That you deliver and rescue and redeem and provide for all who trust in you. Lord, we pray for your grace over us, for your glory through us. Among the people around us, and God among all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth.

Prayer for the Uyghur People

God, we pray for this over the Uyghur people today of Northwestern China, of Kazakhstan, and other places around Northwestern China where Uyghurs have been scattered.

God, we pray for your grace in your Church in China and that part of Asia. And for your Church around the world to live to lead Uyghur men, women, and children who have been persecuted and treated so harshly. Lord, we pray for your grace and your mercy to spread among the Uyghur people through your church. That they might know you, Jesus, as the One who delivers and rescues and saves. God, we pray, please help us to live today and every day by your grace for the spread of your glory as the living God among the people around us today and among all the nations to the ends of the earth. We pray all this in light of your Word in Daniel 6:25–27. In Jesus’ name, amen.