The Law is the Law
“Then they told the king, that man Daniel, one of the captives from Judah, is ignoring you and your law. He still prays to his God three times a day. Hearing this the king was deeply troubled and he tried to think of a way to save Daniel. He spent the rest of the day trying to think of a way to get Daniel out of this predicament.” Daniel 6:13-14
Step into the mind of this king. His officials tricked him into making a law that would take out his best man. Now the king finds himself in a bind. Law is law, but Daniel, he doesn’t want to lose Daniel. Without Daniel in charge things just would not be the same.
A choice had to be made. If he sends Daniel to the lion’s den then he has to replace Daniel and that won’t be easy to do. Of course the king saw the lion’s den as the end of the line for anyone thrown in there. He could make an exception for Daniel, but then he weakens the authority of his law. As the king it has to look like his word is law and it must be obeyed.
Perhaps at this point Darius knows he has been taken advantage of. Still as he sees it he has no choice. The law is what it is. Oh what a difficult place he is in.
So as we consider Darius and his problem let us stop and consider. Have you ever found yourself confronted with your own bad choices? You took out that loan thinking surely you could pay it back and then you get sick and thus get behind and find you can’t manage. Perhaps you gave your child permission to go to that friend’s party and after all is said and done your child, a teenage girl, is pregnant. I could give more examples, but you get the point. Things don’t always go the way we think they should. Now what?
Remember this morning the last time you found yourself in a bind created by one of your own decisions. How did it work out? How did it make you feel? Did you take the matter to God?
These morning meditations written by Christian believer and author, Patricia Hawkins, who offers these meditations for your personal edification. You may contact Patricia at prayerpartnerpat@gmail.com.