A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                                   FAR FROM HOME PART XIII

"I, king Darius the Mede, had an unexpected visit this morning.... A group of my administrators and satraps came to see me..... I wondered what they wanted to talk to me about..... I noticed that my administrator Daniel was not among them.... I plan to promote him as administrator over my whole kingdom...... The other administrators may not be too pleased with my decision..... However, it is not for them to agree with my decision or not.... They will have to accept it whether or not they approve of it.... After all, I am the king and as such I am the only one who can make such decisions.... I did not ask my administrators why Daniel was not among them....They did not mention him either..... We had a very interesting meeting.... They proposed that I issue a decree that for the next thirty days everyone in my kingdom should pray to me only....Anyone who disobeys this decree will be thrown before lions.... I approved their proposal for it will bring me the honour that I deserve due to my position as king... Moreover, it will bring unity to  my kingdom... The decree has already gone out."....Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn of a decree king Darius has approved that everyone is to pray to him for the next thirty days....


                 ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                                FAR FROM HOME PART XIII

The administrators of king Darius the Mede believe they have found a way to deal with their enemy Daniel as you can read in Daniel 6:6-9

So the administrators and the satraps went as a group to the king and said, "O, king Darius, live forever! The royal administrators, satraps, advisors and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or man during the next thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into the lions' den. Now, O king, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered - in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed." So king Darius put the decree in writing.

King Darius, no doubt very flattered by the request of his adminstrators, puts out the decree as requested by them. Their flattery has made him forget one very important thing and that is that his foolish action may well cause him to lose his most treasure servant Daniel to the lions. For Daniel has never in all his years of service at the Court giving up on worshipping the God of Israel.