God Sent His Angel

God Sent His Angel

by Patricia Dailey
Senior Pastor, Bethel Revival Center
43 Norwood St.
Everett, MA 02149

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Daniel 6:1-9
It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom; and over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.

Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.

Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.

Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.

Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever. All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.

It had pleased king Darius to set over his kingdom 120 princes, with three presidents over them. Of the three presidents Daniel was preferred above the others.

This Daniel . . .

This Daniel was just a young man when he was taken among the captives in Jerusalem and brought to the king's palace in Babylon.

This Daniel was a young person who really loved God. He wouldn't defile himself with the king's meat nor give into sin whatsoever.

This Daniel trusted his God whom he served, the same true and living God whom we serve today. And just as God did great things for Daniel, He will do the same for you and me.

Malachi 3:6a
For I am the Lord, I change not . . .

The Lord never changes. Times change, weather changes, people change. Many things change in this life, but the Lord is the same yesterday, today, and forever — Hebrews 13:8.

He doesn't change just because the world changes. He doesn't change just because people change, even though many think He is changeable to the present times.

Psalm 119:89
For ever, O Lord, Thy Word is settled in heaven.

What the Lord has spoken in His Word remains the same today as back when it was written. His promises are yea and amen — 2 Corinthians 1:20.

We read in chapter one of Daniel, where Daniel had an excellent spirit and was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.

The other two presidents and the 120 princes, along with others, got together to come against Daniel. They looked to find something against him but could find nothing. So they looked to find it concerning the law of his God.

THE EVILS OF JEALOUSY AND ENVY

This type of thing still happens today, where people try to find everything they can against those they want to put down. Yet, many times that one is proven to be innocent of the accusations.

A jealous person gets upset when somebody else gets what they were wanting. Jealousy and envy can cause them to tear down the reputation of another, wanting to turn people against them.

Why does this happen? The old carnal nature causes envy and jealousy, wanting to do others in who are getting ahead of them.

This is what happened to these men who wanted to do Daniel in. But Daniel had a living God, the same God whom I serve today. Daniel outshone the other two presidents and all the princes. He had an excellent spirit. He was faithful, and there was no fault or error found in him.

He had a custom of praying three times a day. Prayer was very important to him. And, just think, many of God's people don't take time to pray even once a day!

Know that we can pray any moment of the day or night, any hour. Yes, even in the night hours we can take time to pray and talk with the Lord. We can even pray while we're busy working around the house or driving down the street. Many times, we may only be able to pray short prayers. The Lord might put someone on our mind to pray for, and we can pray for them then and there, regardless of what we are doing.

When someone is sick and afflicted, we often pray for them many times during the day as we go about our business. Praying more than once about something doesn't mean we don't believe God has heard our prayer the first time; it just shows our concern.

O King, make a firm decree!

What had Daniel done to them that they were watching to do away with him? The king preferred him above the others, but Daniel hadn't gone after the high place that had been given him. He didn't push for it. His position was given him of the king.

Sometimes, just the very fact that you love God, have separated yourself unto God, are living a godly life — just your walk with the Lord — will often cause people to come against you. There will always be someone who will come against you; the devil will see to it.

Expect Persecution

We are warned of what we can expect when we choose to live unto God with all of our heart:

II Timothy 3:12
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

Often, others will see that a man or woman is being prospered of God. They get jealous and envious and begin to persecute them. But you know something, the Scripture would tell us to endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ:

II Timothy 2:3
Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please Him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

Enduring hardness is being able to stand firm under persecution. Stand firm! Stand firm in our belief, keeping our character clean and pure, not caving in under the pressures of persecution.

Don't cave in! Stand up! Quit yourselves like men! God is with those who will separate themselves unto Him, those who will live a holy and godly and upright life.

We've got to learn to be able to endure hardness. That doesn't mean we get hardened in our hearts towards those who persecute us, where we can't pray for those who despitefully use us.

Matthew 5:44
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you

This is our duty and our obligation before God: loving our enemies, praying for them, praying for those who persecute us.

The Decree

Daniel 6:6 ,7
Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever. All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.

Daniel went into his house after he found out the decree had been made, and he went before an open window to pray as he always did. He didn't close his window for fear of being caught. He knew the decree had been signed, yet he got down on his knees before the open window and prayed like he always did:

Daniel 6:10
Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

Daniel 6:11-13
Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king's decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?

The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah , regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.

God has promised to be with us, yet it doesn't look here like He was with Daniel.

Oh yes, God was with Daniel! When the king heard it was Daniel who had been found praying, he felt bad about what he had done in signing the decree. He was sore displeased over it. In his heart he wanted to free Daniel, but the writing could not be reversed under the law of the Medes and Persians.

Daniel 6:14
Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.

The accusers came back and reminded Darius that the law could not be broken.

Daniel 6:16a
Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions.

Can God Deliver?

At this point it doesn't look like God was with Daniel, does it? If we stopped here in this account, we'd ask why God would allow something like this to happen to Daniel.

Daniel 6:16b
Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, He will deliver thee.

Listen to the king! What a testimony Daniel had: that he served his God continually. This is the testimony that all of God's people should have, that they serve their God continually.

Daniel 6:17-20
And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.

Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of music brought before him: and his sleep went from him. Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.

And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?

Is Daniel's God able to deliver him from the lion's den?

God Sent His Angel!

Daniel 6:21 ,22
Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. My God hath sent His angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before Him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.

Psalm 34:7
The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them.

God sent an angel to come to Daniel's aid. And I believe that every one of us has an angel who looks after us. We don't know how many times they have protected us from harm.

Colossians 1:16
For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him

Now, angels are supernatural beings who are higher than man. All things in heaven were created by Jesus Christ, including the angels, and all things that are in the earth. All were created by Him and for Him!

Psalm 91:11
For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

The angels have been given a charge over us to keep us in all our ways. This is the work of angels: and they're with us right now.

Now, you know, there are good angels and there are evil angels. A third of the angels fell with Satan, who was called Lucifer, when he tried to exalt himself above the throne of God. These angels are evil angels, known as evil spirits.

If we could have our eyes opened spiritually, we'd see the forces of evil spirits in this world. But, thank God, He has given His angels charge over us — to aid us, protect us, and deliver us. Did not an angel shut up the mouths of the lions for Daniel?

That was the testimony Daniel shared when the king called out, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?

Yes, God shut up the mouths of the lions and delivered Daniel. He came out whole, without even any scratches. This is such a beautiful story of God's faithfulness. And to realize that God has given angels charge over us: we who live for Him, living a holy and a righteous life. He said that His angels are encamped round about us.

The Angel Of God At The Red Sea

Exodus 14:19 ,20
And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them: and it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.

The children of Israel had taken their flight from Egypt, with Pharaoh and his army pursuing after them. But Israel wasn't alone. The angel of God went before them to lead the way.

God instructed Moses to lift his rod and divide the sea. Listen, you can't pile water up in a heap. Try it. Take a glass of water and pour it out. It won't stand up in a heap; it will run all over. But doesn't God work in mysterious ways His wonders to perform!

Moses did as God told him, and a strong east wind blew all night: and, as the waters stood up on either side, God told Israel to pass over on dry land.

God is with us in all of our troubles. The children of Israel were in trouble, and He sent His angel to help them. And we may find ourselves in trouble where we are fenced in with no way out, yet God will be with us — His hand will bring us out.

Of course, Israel was afraid, and there may be times when we're afraid because of what we face. One thing, when troubles come our way, we must learn not to take them within to worry over. Know that it is in God's hands and He will take care of everything. Man may fail, but God is faithful, and He will deliver us out of all our troubles.

Psalm 34:17
The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

So, we see Israel was fenced in. The angel moved from before them and went behind them to protect them from the adversary: Pharaoh and his army.

The children of Israel were like many of us, questioning why is this happening? Why that? But remember, God does all things well. Always remember that fact. He might not do things to suit our fancy, yet He does do all things well. He does not make any mistakes. Man makes mistakes, but God never makes a mistake. God knows what He's doing — even when we don't know what He's doing. And we'll understand it better when it's over with.

Now, Moses did just as the Lord told him to do, stretching his rod out over the Red Sea. What a crazy thing to do! Try it some day! Go to the waterfront with a rod and hold your hand out over the water all night. See if the water parts and stands in a heap!

Not only did the water part and stand in a heap, but the ground was totally dry. They could walk right over on dry ground. This was a miracle of God. Supernatural miracles of God are against the laws of nature.

So, Israel walked across on dry ground. Then Pharaoh and his army came and followed right in after them. They all got in there and the wheels of their chariots fell off, and then the waters came down over them, drowning them all.

See how God protected His people! See how He sent His angel to protect them, to lead them, to assist them, to deliver them. We talk about Moses being a deliverer, but it was God working to deliver the children of Israel from Pharaoh and his army. It was God taking care of them.

And we can trust that God will take care of us when we are loving and serving Him. He'll send His angels to take charge over us, and if He needs more angels, He'll send more.