Faithfulness to God inspires others.

忠于上帝便能激励他人。

He is the living God and He endures forever. Daniel 6:26

祂是永远长存的活上帝。-但以理书6章26节

When I visited a museum in Chicago, I saw one of the original Striding Lions of Babylon. It was a large mural-type image of a winged lion with a ferocious expression. Symbolizing Ishtar, the Babylonian goddess of love and war, the lion was an example of 120 similar lions that would have lined a Babylonian pathway during the years of 604–562 

Historians say that after the Babylonians defeated Jerusalem, the Hebrew captives would have seen these lions during their time in Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom. Historians also say it’s likely that some of the Israelites would have believed Ishtar had defeated the God of Israel.           

历史学家认为，巴比伦人攻陷耶路撒冷之后，被掳到巴比伦的以色列人在尼布甲尼撒的王国，可能看过这些狮子。这些历史学家表示，当时可能有些以色列人会相信巴比伦女神伊丝塔已经击败了以色列的上帝。

Daniel, one of the Hebrew captives, did not share the doubts that might have troubled some of his fellow Israelites. His view of God and his commitment to God stayed steady. He prayed three times a day—with his windows open—even when he knew it would mean entering a den of lions. After God rescued Daniel from the hungry animals, King Darius said, “[Daniel’s God] is the living God and he endures forever . . . . He rescues and he saves” (Dan. 6:26–27). Daniel’s faithfulness allowed him to influence Babylonian leaders.

但是，但以理虽然也被掳，却没有像他的以色列同胞一样心存疑惑。他对上帝忠贞不二，坚信不移。他照常敞开窗户，每日三次祷告上帝，即使这意味着他将被丢进狮子坑里。当上帝从饥饿的狮群中，将但以理拯救出来之后，大利乌王说：“[但以理的上帝]是永远长存的活上帝，……祂护庇人、搭救人”（但以理书6章26-27节）。但以理对上帝的信心，深深影响了巴比伦的领导阶层。

Staying faithful to God despite pressure and discouragement can inspire other people to give Him glory.

不管压力有多大、沮丧有多深，只要坚心信靠上帝，便能激励人们将荣耀归给上帝。

Dear God, give me the strength to continue 

to trust in You when I am discouraged. 

Help me to experience Your never-ending love and 

stay close to Your side.

亲爱的上帝，求祢赐我力量，
让我在心情沮丧时，仍能继续信靠祢。
求祢让我经历祢永不止息的爱，紧靠祢身边。

Daniel 6:19-28New International Version (NIV)

19 At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. 20 When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”

21 Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! 22 My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”

23 The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.

24 At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.

25 Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language in all the earth:

“May you prosper greatly!

26 “I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.

“For he is the living God
    and he endures forever;
his kingdom will not be destroyed,
    his dominion will never end.
27 He rescues and he saves;
    he performs signs and wonders
    in the heavens and on the earth.
He has rescued Daniel
    from the power of the lions.”

28 So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus[a] the Persian.

但以理书 6:19-28Chinese Union Version Modern Punctuation (Simplified) (CUVMPS)

主护但以理不为狮伤

19 次日黎明王就起来，急忙往狮子坑那里去。 20 临近坑边，哀声呼叫但以理，对但以理说：“永生神的仆人但以理啊，你所常侍奉的神能救你脱离狮子吗？” 21 但以理对王说：“愿王万岁！ 22 我的神差遣使者封住狮子的口，叫狮子不伤我，因我在神面前无辜，我在王面前也没有行过亏损的事。” 23 王就甚喜乐，吩咐人将但以理从坑里系上来。于是但以理从坑里被系上来，身上毫无伤损，因为信靠他的神。

讼但以理者遭报见噬

24 王下令，人就把那些控告但以理的人连他们的妻子、儿女都带来，扔在狮子坑中。他们还没有到坑底，狮子就抓住[a]他们，咬碎他们的骨头。

王谕全国敬畏神

25 那时大流士王传旨，晓谕住在全地，各方、各国、各族的人说：“愿你们大享平安！ 26 现在我降旨晓谕我所统辖的全国人民，要在但以理的神面前战兢恐惧。因为他是永远长存的活神，他的国永不败坏，他的权柄永存无极。 27 他护庇人，搭救人，在天上地下施行神迹奇事，救了但以理脱离狮子的口。”

28 如此，这但以理当大流士王在位的时候和波斯王居鲁士在位的时候，大享亨通。

整理：于姊妹