Daniel 6:10
“Now when Daniel learned that the document was signed, he entered his house (and in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and offering praise before his God, just as he had been doing previously.”
Daniel is breaking the law, man’s law. The bible does say we are to obey the law. However, there is a higher law we are to obey, His Law. Acts 4:29,20 says, ‘But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, make your own judgment; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”’ This is what Daniel is doing. If man’s law contradicts God’s Law, the His Law supersedes.
The only law I can think of that our country has that I would disobey is not going along with transing a child. I have heard of parent’s jailed for that. Culture is certainly against God, the church and the bible. But it’s not illegal.
We’ve come close and may again. We’ve seen in the past few years how a population can be swayed to evil. I have grown up with the question how the german people could go along with Hitler. Our present world is giving us a demonstration.
Daniel’s coworkers tricked the king into making the law in today’s passage. They were jealous of Daniel and wanted him out of the picture. They said amongst themselves that they only way they would get Daniel was in relation to his God. So they got the king to make a law that it was illegal to worship anyone, but he king. Daniel had to disobey that.
Daniel’s coworkers did not fear God. Quite the opposite. They sought to use God and those who feared Him to get Daniel in trouble. It worked. We may know some that will use methods to get us out of their way. I’ve experienced this. It was frustrating.
Daniel did not seek to hide his disobedience. Three times a day he would pause his duties, open his windows and pray towards Jerusalem. He was visible. We are to obey God without shame. Hebrews 11:24-26 says, “By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the temporary pleasures of sin, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.” Luke 9:26 says, “If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.”
Moses suffered ill treatment. Jesus and the apostles experienced the ridicule as well. Acts 7:58 has Stephen calling out his persecutors, “Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, and you have now become betrayers and murderers of Him”. The world brings this shame. They are opposed to God and His children and they seek to shame us.
Daniel did not parade his disobedience as with a loud speaker. But quietly worshipped without shame. He trusted God to take care of him.
Lord, help us to obey You, no matter what. Help us not to be ashamed, but to confidently, yet without show, obey You.