Daniel (Greek) 14:33-37: a reflection

33Now there was in Jewry the prophet Habakkuk, who had made stew, and had broken bread into a bowl. He was going into the field to bring it to the reapers. 34But the angel of the Lord said to Habakkuk, “Go carry the dinner that you have into Babylon to Daniel, in the lions’ den.” 35Habakkuk said, “Lord, I never saw Babylon. I don’t know where the den is.” 36Then the angel of the Lord took him by the crown, and lifted him up by the hair of his head, and with the blast of his breath set him in Babylon over the den. 37Habakkuk cried, saying, “O Daniel, Daniel, take the dinner which God has sent you.”

When Daniel is cast into the lions' den in Babylon, far from any help, God does not forget him or leave him without provision. In a distant land, the prophet Habakkuk is preparing a meal for reapers when an angel tells him to carry it to Daniel in the den; and though Habakkuk protests that he does not even know where Babylon is, the angel carries him there by extraordinary means, and Daniel is fed in the pit. God provided for his servant in the very depths, by unexpected and even miraculous means; Daniel was not forgotten in the den, but sustained by a God who reached him even there.

Notice how God provided for Daniel even in the pit, by unexpected means. Daniel was in the lions' den, far from any obvious help, in a place of extremity and danger; yet God did not leave him without provision. He brought food to Daniel by a means no one could have foreseen, carrying a prophet from a distant land to feed him in the den. God reached his servant even in the depths, providing for him where no ordinary help could come. The pit was not beyond God's provision; he sustained Daniel even there, by extraordinary means, showing that no extremity is beyond his reach. God did not forget his servant in the den, but provided for him even in the depths.

That is worth taking to heart, for God can provide for us even in the depths, by unexpected means, and does not forget his own. We can find ourselves in extremity, in a pit of trouble far from any obvious help, and feel that God has forgotten us or cannot reach us there; but God provided for Daniel in the lions' den, by extraordinary means, reaching him even in the depths. No extremity is beyond God's provision; he does not forget his own, and can reach us even in the pit. When you are in extremity, far from any obvious help, do not think God has forgotten you or cannot reach you; he can provide even in the depths, as he fed Daniel in the den. Trust that God does not forget his own and can provide for you even in the depths, by unexpected means, as he fed Daniel in the lions' den through Habakkuk; for no extremity is beyond God's provision, and he can reach and sustain his servants even in the pit, where no ordinary help could come.

Lord, when Daniel is cast into the lions' den in Babylon, far from any help, you do not forget him or leave him without provision. In a distant land, the prophet Habakkuk is preparing a meal for reapers when an angel tells him to carry it to Daniel in the den; and though Habakkuk protests that he does not even know where Babylon is, the angel carries him there by extraordinary means, and Daniel is fed in the pit. You provided for your servant in the very depths, by unexpected and even miraculous means. Show me how you provided for Daniel even in the pit, by unexpected means. Daniel was in the lions' den, far from any obvious help, in a place of extremity and danger; yet you did not leave him without provision. You brought food to Daniel by a means no one could have foreseen. You reached your servant even in the depths, providing for him where no ordinary help could come. The pit was not beyond your provision; you sustained Daniel even there, showing that no extremity is beyond your reach. Take that to my heart, for you can provide for me even in the depths, by unexpected means, and do not forget your own. I can find myself in extremity, in a pit of trouble far from any obvious help, and feel that you have forgotten me or cannot reach me there; but you provided for Daniel in the lions' den. No extremity is beyond your provision. When I am in extremity, far from any obvious help, keep me from thinking you have forgotten me or cannot reach me; you can provide even in the depths, Lord, as you fed Daniel in the den. Help me trust that you do not forget your own and can provide for me even in the depths, by unexpected means.