Daniel 6:19-28 – An Epic Own Goal
Sir Robert Watson-Watt is sometimes called “The Father of Radar”. His pioneering work made a massive contribution to the Royal Air Force’s victory over the Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain. Years after the war he was pulled over by a policeman and issued with a ticket for speeding. But how did the policeman manage to calculate his speed? Because he had a speed gun which made use of a now commonplace technology called…radar! Watson-Watt’s wry comment? “Had I known what you were going to do with it, I never would have invented it!”
The old Scottish scientist may have been able to laugh about his misfortune, but Daniel’s enemies were certainly not laughing about their situation. Having manipulated the king into throwing Daniel to the lions (v7, 12), they were now about to be tossed in themselves. God may have miraculously protected his faithful servant; they could expect no such salvation. Predictably enough, they were torn to tiny shreds.
In Daniel’s story we see a taster of the even more glorious story of Jesus Christ redeeming his people. Both Daniel and Jesus faced persecution for their faithfulness, both were sentenced to death, both were placed in the tomb, and both rose triumphantly “from the dead”.
Perhaps even more strikingly, Daniel’s enemies sealed their own fate as they lashed out against God’s servant and doomed themselves to the lions’ razor sharp claws. Does that not point us forward to Satan’s epic own goal as he lashed out at our Saviour who went to the cross?
In Genesis 3, God described how Satan would bruise the heel of the promised Messiah, but the Messiah would crush Satan’s head. This is exactly what our saviour accomplished as he died in our place and rose from the grave – Satan may have lashed out, but Christ secured the victory once and for all.
Daniel 6 is a wonderful story of God rescuing his faithful servant. Just don’t forget that it points forward to a better servant and a greater salvation.
Questions
- Can you think of any other ways that Daniel points us forward to Jesus Christ?
Prayer Points
- Give thanks for how, by going to the cross, Jesus won victory over Satan once and for all.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.