Because of your innocence - zakah!

Have you ever experienced a total non-believer praising the glory of Jesus ... even making a law that all should worship Him and Him alone?

Unthinkable ... even today. But this was true in the time of Daniel of a certain king ...

Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.

I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the Elohim of Daniel: for he is the living Elohim, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.

He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. Dan 6:25-27

What caused a pagan king to indulge in such radical exhortation and to decide that  there is only one God worthy of all worship?

Darius (his name meaning lord) was deceived by some evil conspirators to make a law prohibiting anyone to pray to any God except him (Darius).

The events that followed are well known.

Daniel prayed to his God.

Daniel was caught.

Daniel was found guilty of a law that can and may not be changed.

Daniel was thrown to the lions - the den of him that lurks around like a roaring lion, who comes to kill, steals and destroy ...

Darius knew that Daniel's God would save him: Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee. Dan 6:16

Darius couldn't sleep. He fasted and lay awake all night thinking of his loyal friend and confidant, Daniel. So, Darius arose very early the next morning and went to the den of lions.

Hear what he says approaching the lion den: Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? Dan 6:20

The answer Daniel gives is profound in so many ways. He says: 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. Dan 6:22

Significant!

Daniel says he was found innocent by God.

Of what?

Of ANY WRONGDOING! Anything before God and king and man!

This is how God judges.

Abba declares your innocence even in the face of a law that can and may not be changed (Medes and Persians)!

He looks at you and sees Jesus!

But with Daniel? Even before the cross. Yes! (We'll get to that in a second ...)

The word used for innocent here is zâkâh or זכה. It means to be found completely pure and justified, clean and ... get this, translucent. Wow! Daniel was translucent.  He was transparent and that is why the enemy could not see him!

The pictograph for zâkâh or זכה is even more mind-blowing. It shows: cut (copied, formed) from (by) the Hand of (by) Grace (Jesus). Wow!

Remember what Isaiah said? "look unto the rock (Jesus) whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged." Isa 51:1

The end result is the praise decree of Darius and those who deceived him were thrown to the lions.

Yet, let's contemplate one important question: How and by Whom was Daniel saved?

And what is the significance to us?

The answer is given by verse 23. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed ('ăman or אמן) in his God. Dan 6:23

Because of ...?

Belief!

'ăman! Remember our post on the Great Amen?

... so Daniel was taken up in the kingdom of God because of the Great Amen (Jesus) and he was found with no harm because of Jesus!

How are we be found in Jesus?

zâkâh! Innocent! Just like Him!

1 John 4:17

As He is, so are we in this world!

Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 1Jn 4:17