Daniel under Lockdown
Am I seriously claiming there is any similarity between Daniel in the lions’ den and churches in 21st century America being urged (or forced) to shutdown? You might be surprised. In fact, the Book of Daniel is probably an overlooked model for Christians living in a non-Christian, and often hostile, society.
Here are just two paragraphs from the Concordia Commentary on Daniel written by Dr. Andrew Steinmann, professor of Hebrew at Concordia University Chicago. These examples come from chapter 6. Daniel is now living under Persian rule, and the king has decreed that for the next thirty days no one is allowed to pray except to or through the king. Daniel does not obey.
Daniel, we are told, knows about the king’s decree but continues his habit of prayer “just as he had been doing before this” (Daniel 6:10). While Daniel normally is a scrupulous follower of all laws of the governing authorities, he understands that his first loyalty is to God. When a human authority establishes a regulation that conflicts with God and his Word, then, as the apostles declare, “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). Daniel could have tried to rationalize that simply refraining from prayer for thirty days would not deny the one true God nor his own faith in him. However, he knows that God has commanded prayer and graciously invited his people to bring their requests to him. Prayer expresses his communion with God in faith and also is a testimony to others about his trust in God (6:23). Therefore, God’s command and promise to hear and answer compel Daniel to continue his custom of praying. Thus Daniel understands that refraining from practicing his faith is as good as denying his faith in God. He refuses to abandon his practice of daily prayer and praise. Moreover, we are told that after Darius issued his command, the men found Daniel “praying and seeking favor from his God” (6:11). This implies that Daniel has specifically requested that God look upon him with favor and save him, even if he suffers the consequences of disobeying the king’s command. While Daniel’s enemies rely on Persian law to rid them of Daniel, Daniel relies on God to rid him of all trouble. (p.317)
As you probably know, God does preserve Daniel, even during a night in the lions’ den. And when the king comes back to see him in the morning, Daniel explains how and why this miracle came about: “Then Daniel spoke with the king, ‘Your Majesty, may you live forever! My God sent his angel and shut the mouth of the lions, and they have not hurt me because he found me innocent before him. Also before you, Your Majesty, I have committed no crime’” (6:21–22).
Daniel has honored God as the ultimate King and Savior. God has regarded faithful Daniel as having fulfilled the First and Third Commandments, which address the believer’s proper worship of God. Moreover, God did not regard Daniel as having violated the Fourth Commandment, which addresses proper conduct toward human authority; Daniel confirms this when he adds, “Also before you, Your Majesty, I have committed no crime” (6:22). Daniel is not claiming that he did not disobey the royal decree. Instead, he is claiming that his act of praying, though a violation of the decree, was not a demonstration of disloyalty to Darius. (p.321–322)
What can we start to learn from Daniel? Obviously there is no direct comparison between Daniel under a Persian king who throws dissidents into a den of lions and Christians in modern America during a health crisis. But here are at least a few basic points:
We should ordinarily obey the laws of the land, especially as they do not contradict God’s Law.
We must be on guard against rationalizing away our faith. Refraining from the practice of our faith can result in the denial of our faith.
God’s command to worship and His promises attached to the Word, the Sacraments, and prayer should compel us continue our regular custom of worship as much as humanly possible.
Even though our first loyalty is to God, and we may at times need to disobey the laws of the civil realm, that does not mean we are necessarily disloyal citizens. In other words, it is possible to keep the Fourth Commandment and honor the civil authorities while disobeying certain civil laws.
Finally, let us trust in the favor of God and His deliverance even while suffering the consequences of living holy lives in an evil world.