DANIEL 6:10-15 THE GLORY OF OBEDIENCE

Written by , Rector of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, Richmond, Virginia
 

¹⁰ Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.
¹¹ Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help.¹² So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or man except to you, O king, would be thrown into the lions’ den?” The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”
¹³ Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.”
¹⁴ When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him. ¹⁵ Then the men went as a group to the king and said to him, “Remember, O king, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.”

Faced with a civil law that was in direct contradiction to the will of God, there was no hesitation on the part of Daniel as to which he would obey. Yet in his obedience to God he did not publicize or flaunt his disobedience to the earthly authority, nor did he publically challenge that authority. Clearly Daniel’s intention was to continue to obey and worship God, rather than disobey the edict and dishonor the king. It was a matter of conscience and he merely continued to do what he had always done. He neither abdicated to the culture nor attacked the decree. His accusers had to go and find Daniel in his daily routine in order to report him to the king.

There is certainly a time and place for civil disobedience which provokes the authorities and exposes a social abuse. However, in most situations our most effective response to a demand that is against our conscience is to merely continue to do what we have always done. Like Daniel, Polycarp the Bishop of Smyrna and pupil of St. John stood firm in his witness.

“Polycarp was one of the leaders of the Church who carried on the tradition of the apostles through the troubled period of Gnostic heresies in the second century…An authentic account of the martyrdom of Polycarp on February 23 is also preserved. It probably occurred in the year 156. The account tells of Polycarp’s courageous witness in the amphitheater at Smyrna. When the proconsul asked him to curse Christ, Polycarp said, ‘Eighty-six years I have served him, and he never did me any wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?’” (Lesser Feasts and Fasts, p. 148).

Our motive must be first obedience to God and only then civil disobedience, if we are to truly glorify God.

Let me not, O Lord, attempt to fix the injustices with which the world presents me without first seeking to obey the holy calling to demonstrate your glory through obedience to your will. Amen.

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