THE ESSENCE OF WORSHIP (PART 20): DANIEL (The Faithful Worshipper)

DANIEL THE FAITHFUL WORSHIPER

A Worshiper Is One Who is Intimately Acquainted With 

And Has A Daily Relationship With God Exhibited Through Obedience 

 John W. Stevenson

Daniel was a man who was greatly beloved of God. Daniel had a fervent love for God and had set his heart to worship Him all the days of his life.
We know that Daniel was a man of prayer. Three times a day he would get down on his knees and give thanks to God (Daniel 6:10). This was a practice he observed every day, and evil men would use it against him to seek to destroy his life. But Daniel’s love for God outweighed any fear of what man could do to him, and he continued to openly display his love for his King. Unashamedly opening the windows of his house, he prayed to the God of heaven just as he had done every other day. Even though it meant he was signing his own death warrant, Daniel preferred to worship God and die, than to live and not pray.
What possesses a man to seek God and pray even when it means certain death? I believe the answer to this question lies within the heart of the worshiper. Daniel was a worshiper of God, and he would bow to no one and no thing other than Him! Nothing could prevent him from worshiping the living God. Not fear. Not death by hungry lions. Not anything.

Daniel In The Lions' Den

As a worshiper, Daniel had enjoyed God’s favor all his life, and when king Darius appointed Daniel as one of 3 administrators to oversee the kingdom he so distinguished himself that king Darius thought to give him sole administrative authority over all the kingdom. This of course made the others jealous and they sought to discredit him, but Daniel was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent (Dan 6:4). Finally they devised a scheme to trap Daniel by making it illegal for him to worship God. They convinced king Darius to make it mandatory for all his subjects to worship him for the next 30 days and anyone caught worshiping anyone else must be thrown into a den of hungry lions (Dan 6:6-9).
Daniel of course remained true to his God and since he made no attempt to hide this, he was caught praying and worshiping God and was thrown into the lions' den. From the original language of Dan 6:16-20 it appears that king Darius believed God was obligated to save Daniel because he was intimately acquainted with and has a daily relationship with God exhibited through obedience. 
"So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den.The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!” A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep. At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?” (Daniel 6:16-20 NIV)
In Dan 6:23 the word translated trusted means to trust continually. The fact that the lions immediately devoured Daniel’s accusers in the morning proves they had been hungry all night long. 
"The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God." (Daniel 6:23 NIV))
This faith became one of the great examples in “The Hall of Faith” (Hebrews 11:33). “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:11 (NIV). Faith is trusting what the eye can’t see. The natural eyes see the prowling lion but faith sees Daniel’s angel. 

THE PSALM 84 WORSHIPPER (PART 3) - DESIRING GOD

Theme: The Blessedness of Dwelling in The House of God 
Author: The sons of Korah (temple assistant)
Background: Psalm 84 expresses the thoughts of a passionate Worshipper who wants to go to Jerusalem to celebrate one of the three annual feasts (Exodus 23:17; 34:23) but could not. The psalmist inability to attend the feast did not rob him of the blessings of fellowship with the LORD. All who are pilgrims can make the same three affirmations that he made:
1) His Delight Is In The LORD (VV1-4) - the important thing is that we have a HEART devoted to the LORD, a spiritual hunger that cries out for intimate fellowship with the LORD (Psalm 42:1-2; Matthew 5:6)
2) His Strength Is In The LORD (VV5-8) - true worshippers "go from strength to strength" (Deuteronomy 33:25; Isaiah 40:28-31; Philippians 4:13) and trust God to enable them to walk a step at a time even in difficult situation [valley of Bara (weeping) - V6]
3) His Trust is In The LORD (VV9-12) - when we walk by faith, we put the LORD and His will first, and we keep our priorities straight (V10). This is the Old Testament version of Matthew 6:33 and Philippians 1:21
Do we delight in the LORD and seek Him? Do we depend on His strength? Do we walk by faith and trust in Him? Yes, "Even faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God" (VV1-2).

 "Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young" (V3). In other word, God's Living house is to his soul what a nest is to a swallow - a place of rest and security and satisfaction. The psalmist even envies the priests. "Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; they will still be praising You" (V4). Outsiders were not allowed to live there, and they were limited in where they cold go inside. Only the priests could enter the Holy of Holies.
Today, we have the privilege of fellowshipping with God without going through a priest. Do we have a desire and a hunger to worship Him? Does our hearts cry out for the living God. Or are we happy for an excuse to be somewhere else from God's house?
May we pray and hunger like David, "As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God" (Psalm 42:1-2).
Be blessed with this song: A Place At Your Altar - Hosanna Music

THE PSALM 84 WORSHIPPER (PART 1)

"How lovely is Your tabernacle, O LORD of hosts! 

My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the LORD; 

my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God" 

Psalm 84:1-2  (NKJV)

Psalm 84 expresses the thoughts of a Worshipper who wants to go to Jerusalem for a feast [there are three annual feast - Exodus 23:17; 34:23] but cannot. His great desire was not to go to Jerusalem solely to observe a holy day. Instead, he wanted to go to the temple to meet God. "Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young" (verse 3). In other word, God's Living house is to his soul what a nest is to a swallow - a place of rest and security and satisfaction. The psalmist even envies the priests. "Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; they will still be praising You" (verse 4). Outsiders were not allowed to live there, and they were limited in where they cold go inside. Only the priests could enter the Holy of Holies.

Today, we have the privilege to fellowship with God without going through a priest. Do we have a desire and a hunger to worship Him? Does our hearts cry out for the living God. Or are we happy for an excuse to be somewhere else from God's house? The important thing is that we have a heart devoted to the LORD, a spiritual "appetite" that cries out for nourishing fellowship with the LORD. How easy it is for us to take for granted the privilege of worshipping "the living God," [see also Psalm 115:1-8] a privilege purchased for us on the cross.

May we pray and hunger like David, "As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God" (Psalm 42:1-2).
Jesus said, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled" (Matthew 5:6).

Be inspired and blessed with this song: