Eddie Murray played over 20 seasons in the major leagues. While he never hit more than 33 home runs in a season, barely over half Babe Ruth’s then-record of 60, Murray ended up 28th on the all-time home run list with 504. “Steady Eddie” rarely missed a game, and only 12 players got more hits. Cal Ripken Jr., who set the all-time record by playing in 2,632 consecutive games, credited Murray with teaching him his work ethic.
How did “Steady Eddie” do it? By working hard and being consistent. While Murray’s consistency took him to a World Series championship and the Baseball Hall of Fame, Daniel’s consistency took him to the lion’s den!
Daniel’s abilities, achievements, and consistent faithfulness threatened some government officials, who then desperately and wickedly plotted against him. Daniel 6:4-5 tell us “Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm. So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him. Then these men said, “We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.”
So they flattered King Darius into signing a decree that they planned to use against Daniel. Verses 6- 7 say “So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: “King Darius, live forever! All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions.”
Daniel 6:10 adds “When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.”
Daniel did not let anything get in the way of his consistent prayer time and chose to obey God rather than men. The group that had it out for Daniel spied on him and saw this, so they tattled on him to King Darius, who was “greatly displeased with himself” and “labored till the going down of the sun to deliver Daniel.” But the laws of the Medes and Persians could not be changed, “So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.”
And you know the rest — God delivered Daniel from the lion’s den without a scratch and the King then sent Daniel’s enemies to the lion’s den, where they did not fare as well.
King Darius then said, “I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, and steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, and His dominion shall endure to the end. He delivers and rescues, and He works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.”
Daniel lived another 70 years, faithfully serving God and helping many people.
Malachi 3:6 says God does not change. Hebrews 13:8 says “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” What a comfort to know our God is consistent and can be trusted in all circumstances. We can consistently follow Him by learning to “pray without ceasing” (I Thessalonians 5:17) and to “not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” (Galatians 6:9). In summary “what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)
Guy Crockroft is the executive director of Love INC Juneau.
