NOT FOR A MINUTE

NOT FOR A MINUTE

Water dripped from the masoned walls and pooled in the middle of the dungeon. Sounds echoed about so that one could not discern its direction. The stench of carcass remains lingered in the damp air. Although something brushed against his foot, he did not wince; he was resolute in meditation. By now he knew not to wonder why, or to give into the deception that lies in the darkness. Instead, he reflected on a time when he first learned how to dwell in a secret place.

As a young boy, he was aware of his position and destiny. His parents made certain of it. He was knowledgeable, gifted in wisdom, and well versed in the law and he knew the severity of breaking it. Many times, he had witnessed the punishment for young men about his age who did not follow it. Yet, in all his learning of God’s wrath, he found faithfulness, pleasure, and protection in His ways. Good-looking and quick-witted, he was a born leader, drawing the attention of impressionable boys. He delighted in the psalms and was intrigued by the prophet's foretelling of Israel’s demise. Still, he believed his future looked promising for he was destined to be an elite.

“Daniel?” the fear-filled voice cried out. “Are you here, Daniel?”

Daniel’s eyes tried to adjust once again in the sheer darkness and the unsettled dust.

“I am here.” He declared.

He heard muffled voices and chains dragging stirring up the dust yet again. Soon a hand laid hold of him causing him to pull away in defense until he heard the snickering of his friends Hanania, Mishael, and Azariah.

“What is to become of us, Daniel?” Their plea for comfort burned in Daniel’s heart.

“Where do you suppose we will end up?”

“Well, I overheard whispers in the Chaldean tongue. The only word I recognized is Babylon.”

Even in the darkness, Daniel perceived their hearts filling with fear. He encouraged them and they sang psalms together to fill the long hours of the night and to brighten whatever cave they were placed.

As his friends drifted off to sleep, Daniel quieted his own spirit repeating Psalms 118:6 “The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” “The Lord is on my side; I will not fear, What can man do to me?”

Although questions filled his mind about his future now, he dared not question the Lord. He would not allow himself to indulge in pity. He set his mind to learn the ways of God through uncertainty and follow what he knew of God’s faithfulness.

The arduous journey from Jerusalem to Babylon paled in light of current challenges. Placed in the warmth of the palace, Daniel sought all the more to pray. He witnessed one by one as his friends knelt before the king and pledged to give into the “new” normal.

Behind the walls of ivory and gold, Daniel began to understand the proverbs warning against fleeting beauty. When walking beyond the protection of the palace, Daniel’s eyes traced the crowds of his people enslaved and laboring, hoping to see a familiar face. Instead sneering looks and taunting whispers about being “Privileged!” or “fortunate!”

However, he was resolved to not turn from God’s ways. He perceived the deception of the enemy that when everything looks as though it is good and peaceful, it is a ploy to take your eyes off of God’s ways. He knew he was being groomed to lead and deceive others to follow Babylonian ways.

Lost in volumes of the epidemiology of conquests, Hanania’s note dropped directly in front of Daniel, suspending his attention. Looking up, he saw the urgency in the messenger's face as he rushed by. Unraveling the paper he quickly read, “furnace bound.” And destroyed its evidence.

Daniel could hear Nebuchadnezzar’s voice bellowing through the corridor. As he peered into the court, he witnessed his three friends declare God’s authority and goodness. He was encouraged when he heard them declare: “But even if He does not, we will not bow.”

The King’s red face deepened, spittle and sweat shook from his chin as he fiercely ordered the heat of the furnace be turned up seven times more than normal. With his finger pointed, Nebuchadnezzar commanded the men from his army to bind Hanania, Mishael, and Azariah hand and foot.

A crowd of governors, counselors, officials of the provinces gathered around to watch. With shock and horror, the crowd gasped as the strong men were killed due to the high flames of the fire, but Hanania, Mishael, and Azariah were not burned. They began singing and marching around inside the furnace.

Nebuchadnezzar was astonished saying, “Look!” (Daniel 3:25) “I see four men lose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the son of God.”

Daniel’s old eyes squinted to see as clearly as possible. He found a dry spot along the wall to lean against. He closed his eyes again and his heart began to sing songs of gratitude when he remembered the joy of his friend’s faces as they were greeted by the king with humility before their God.

Daniel recalled the praises coming from Nebuchadnezzar himself. It is amazing when one sees God’s faithfulness. Daniel noted the miracles that abounded. Just then a rumbling roar from within the cell shook pebbles from the walls. Daniel did not shift, he lifted up his voice all the more.

King Darius lay in bed late that night looking up at the ceiling. He could hardly ignore the obvious scheming of his governors and satraps. He finally pieced together that they were behind the whole sabotage of his friend Daniel. The King’s heart burned within him for fear of Daniel’s end. Long waiting to hear the lark, he jumped out of bed and merely dressed to run and see if Daniel’s God delivered him.

Slowly the sealed stone was separated and opened. Searching into the deep, dark cell, Darius longed to see the man that continually stood for truth, honor, and God’s faithfulness. Part fear, part surges of hope rushed through him as looked into the den. Just when his heart fluttered with fear he heard a soft song rising up.

I believe he sang words close to these words:

"Not for a minute

Was I forsaken

The Lord is in this place

The Lord is in this place

Come Holy Spirit

Dry bones awaken

The Lord is in this place

The Lord is in this place"

You may feel you have a certain destiny and it is true; however, there is a greater call to all of us. That is to pierce the darkest of places in our lives with the hope and love of Jesus. We are never forsaken, there is no darkness that He cannot fill with the light of His love and grace.

Citation/References

“Here Again” Elevation Worship, Album Hallelujah Here Below

songwriters: Chris Brown / Steven Furtick / AMY MOODY CORBETT

Here Again, lyrics © Be Essential Songs. Retrieved 12/31/2020 from: https://www.christian-songlyrics.net/.../here-again...

All biblical references are taken from the New King James Version of the book of Daniel Chapter 1, 2 and 3; This story is an interpretation. This is not a translation please refer to your bible for factual information regarding the story of Daniel.