Truth #222 - In the face of evil we are to show the face of faith - Daniel 1-6

Daniel 6:10
When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.

Truth: The character of a man is demonstrated by his living for God in the face of evil.

At this point in Daniel's life and age he must have been amused by the things that are taking place to bring about the above response.   Daniel, by this time, has been a recognized leader in for three kings and, in the next chapters, will be recognized by a fourth.   In his leadership we find that those who were jealous of him constantly sought his destruction and wished to undermine the influence he had over the kings God gave him to serve.   In the above section the jealousy of the other "wisemen" sought to make a rule that no one could pray to anyone other than the king.  The king (Darius), in his pride, signed such a decree and that put Daniel in a precarious situation.   They presented this concept to King Darius because they knew this was the only way to entrap Daniel. They knew Daniel was a praying man.   What better way to get a praying man in trouble than to make a law against praying.   However, up to this point, Daniel has already outlived and survived so many rivals.   By now Daniel is no longer a young lad.   Daniel knows and believes God has His hand on Daniel.   So, as the above verse states, "when Daniel knew that the document had been signed" he went to his house to pray.   What better way to diminish a law against prayer than to pray.  The reason Daniel prayed and, intentionally praying toward Jerusalem, was because the promise Daniel knew about in God's Word. Note what God's Word says about what happens when those in captivity continue to pray toward Jerusalem:

2 Chronicles 6:38
if they repent with all their mind and with all their heart in the land of their captivity to which they were carried captive, and pray toward their land, which you gave to their fathers, the city that you have chosen and the house that I have built for your name,

Although his adversaries thought they were going to trap Daniel and destroy him, instead they put him in a place to fulfill the promises of God.   When we face evil God expects us to continue to obey His word and have faith in Him to fulfill it.  Daniel didn't just go and pray.  He intentionally prayed "when" he knew about this law and he intentionally prayed with the windows open and he intentionally prayed toward Jerusalem.  Daniel was a man of great character.  He was a man of faith.  He showed that character of faith in the midst of evil.   God rewards that faith by delivering Daniel "from" the mouth of the lions, not from the lions den.   Daniel had faith that God would deliver him and simply prayed.   In the face of evil he showed the face of faith.