Resolve Day 5: Righteousness

Day 5: Righteousness

²¹ Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! ²² My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.”

Righteousness before God and others: Resolving to pray does not guarantee a righteous lifestyle, but it does help. Prayer encourages us to confess our sins before God. Encountering God in prayer reveals conviction to our sins. Prayer through the 
Holy Spirit makes us want to have a holy lifestyle.

     Daniel was able to say that he was innocent before God and before the king in part because he had had a resolute prayer life and a consistent godly lifestyle prior to the crisis. Too often we have a repentant heart AFTER we come into a crisis. A resolute prayer life that leads to a righteous life does not simply recite a wish list to God, seeking His blessings on us and our loved ones. Instead our prayers need to include repentant confession of sins, with a line-item listing of sins we have committed and a requesting of God’s forgiveness. Confession means more than just saying you are sorry but that you are in agreement with God that those sins are wrong, hurtful to your relationship with God and others.

²³ Now the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God.

²⁴ And the king gave the command, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions—them, their children, and their wives; and the lions overpowered them, and broke all their bones in pieces before they ever came to the bottom of the den.

Retribution from God: The same God who is loving is also equitable and just. He does send punishment and discipline to others as a vindication and even a righteous retribution to teach others not to blaspheme against God and His servants.

     There are numerous Psalms called retributive psalms, “imprecatory prayers,” or “psalms of vengeance,” in which the writer calls out to God to punish the evil doers. 

     Because Christ calls us to love those who hate us, we recoil in actually praying that way. However, even in the New Testament, there are instances in which believers seek God’s retribution. 

     What happens to our enemies when we resolve to pray? “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord.” Rom. 12:19. 

     Paul also turns some of his enemies over to Satan so that they may be taught not to blaspheme. Peter (1 Peter 2:14) wrote on how government is to execute retribution on those who do evil and reward those who do good. No matter how greatly the wicked prosper in this life, know this, that ultimately, God will have His vengeance on sin. Therefore we are to leave retribution in His hands and not take justice into our own.