Pinned Down in the Pit

By Jerry D. Ousley

            We hacked our way through the thick undergrowth.  I was leading a group of men through the jungle when we stumbled on a small clearing.  In the middle of that clearing was an old concrete block foundation, not large, around 10’ x 10’.  I stepped over into the old foundation to see what could be found there when I heard the distinct sound of multiple rattlesnakes.  Half way joking, I looked over at the other men and said, “Man am I glad I have on these thick pants and boots.”  Then, looking down, I was no longer in long pants and boots but was clad in shorts and I was barefooted.  What a predicament!  Then I woke up, scared and sweating, but thankful that it had only been a dream.

            Daniel, the prophet, found himself in a much worse predicament.  He was a Hebrew who had been a young man when Judah was first taken into captivity by the Babylonian Empire.  He had gone through several things over the years.  When Babylon fell to the Medes and Persians, Daniel now served under their king, Darius.  Daniel had favor with King Darius and because of his faithfulness was advanced into the upper ranks of the Persian government.  This was the cause of a lot of jealousy from his peers.  They began to see what they could find in Daniel’s life that they could use against him, but his record was impeccable.

            He did have one habit.  He prayed three times a day.  He would open the windows to his upper room, look towards Jerusalem and lift his hands to God Almighty.  This inspired a devious plan in the minds of those other leaders.  They went to Darius, appealed to his pride, and had him make a decree that for the next thirty days no one in their empire could worship or pray to any god but King Darius.  This elated the king’s ego and without thinking he signed it into law and sealed it with his own signet ring.  It made it official and irrevocable.

            Of course, this didn’t stop Daniel.  He was not being rebellious, just faithful and loyal to the only true and eternal God.  So, without fail, he continued his practice.  I can see in my mind’s eye those leaders setting up surveillance around Daniel’s home.  When he did what they expected him to do, they immediately had him arrested and taken before king Darius.  You can read the complete account in Daniel 6.  But in a nutshell, the king, who suddenly realized that he had been used to set up this trap for his best man, Daniel, searched to try to reverse the proclamation but could find no loop-hole with which to free his friend from his fate.  So, as a good king, keeping his word, he had Daniel thrown into a pit of starving lions, and sealed up the pit.  Daniel found himself pinned down in the pit of lions.  The king did, however, have a certain faith in the God of Daniel for as they lowered him into the pit he said, “Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.” (Daniel 6:16).

            Most of you know the outcome of this story.  We are told in the Bible that God stopped the mouths of these hungry lions.  They should have torn Daniel into pieces immediately, but their mouths were closed, tightly shut by an angel of God.  I can see in my mind’s eye, those hungry lions pacing and circling Daniel.  They couldn’t open their mouths but could only let out a low growl.  This took place all night long but Daniel remained faithful and the next morning, when the king went to check on him, he was safe and unharmed.  Oh, and just so you know that they weren’t defective lions, he had the men who had devised the plan against Daniel thrown into the pit and they were torn to shreds before they hit the ground!

            What a great God we serve!  How awesome He is to protect His people like that.  But in the shadow of this most wonderful story of deliverance, I can hear the echoes of those who may be saying, “I wish God would do that for me.”  You find yourself in a like situation.  You may not be down in a pit with literal hungry lions, but it feels like it.  Creditors circle you like man-eaters wanting to finish you off. Family problems loom like monsters in the night threatening almost certain destruction.  Sickness may seem looming, incurable and life threatening.  You want it all to end.  You wish for Heaven and hope to go today.  If God did it for Daniel, (and He did), surely, He can do it for me too, right?

            I don’t have all the answers.  I wish I did.  How I’d love to say a magic prayer and make it all go away for all those I know. I have full faith in the God of Daniel for He is my God too.  And He is also yours. LORD God of miracles, just give us a little one!

            But then I also think of the Christians in the early days of the Church.  They were severally persecuted.  Treated as criminals, many were placed in arenas before blood-thirsty spectators who cheered as lions were released into the arena.  They watched as believers were torn to bits, cheering in glee at each kill and the blood-bath occurring before them.  Why couldn’t God deliver them like He did Daniel?

            Again, I don’t have all the answers.  But this I know – God was with those who died in the arenas just as He was with Daniel in the den of lions.  Faith in God got Daniel through the night and delivered from the lions.  And faith in God kept those believers as they were transferred from Earth to glory.  You see, faith in God doesn’t always result in great miracles.  But it always does result in the miracle of trusting Him despite circumstances and outcomes.  Faith is not just in expecting great things from God, but also in expecting His presence to be with us despite our situation.

            Even though at this writing I am nearing seventy years old, I know that there are still trials that I will face.  As long as we live on this Earth under human government, we will face difficulties.  Whether God fixes them for us or we endure through them, we will make it.  The old saying is “This too shall pass.”  And it will.  It probably won’t be easy, but we will make it. And if we don’t, as long as we stand fast in our faith, whether we live or die, we will be with God.

            Pinned down in a pit, or delivered from life’s lions, keep the faith.  Be steady in knowing that God can and will get you through.  Hold to His hand regardless and never let go.  The pit will be uncovered.  You will come out.  How and in what shape may be up to you.  So, hold on in faith even when pinned down in the pit.

Jerry D. Ousley is the author of ?Soul Challenge?, ?Soul Journey?, ?Ordeal?, ?The Spirit Bread Daily Devotional and his first novel ?The Shoe Tree.?  Visit our website at spiritbread.com to download these and more completely free of charge.