Daniel 6

Daniel 6

Henry - The life of a Christian is a race, wherein he must run, and hold on, if he would obtain the prize. It is not enough that we profess Christianity, but we must run well, by living up to that profession. Many who set out fairly in religion, are hindered in their progress, or turn out of the way. It concerns those who begin to turn out of the way, or to tire in it, seriously to inquire what hinders them. What about one's posture in prayer? Do you need to kneel? God is interested not so much in the position of our body as in the position of our heart. A humble heart is a dependent heart which in turn bows to God and is thereby in the best position to receive God's grace (Jas 4:6). When one knows how to kneel in prayer he has no problem standing firm against opposition in the strength of the Lord. Strauss - I am somehow of the persuasion that this is the position best suited to prayer, especially private prayer. Luke reminds us that in the garden our Lord "kneeled down, and prayed" (Luke 22:41). The first recorded martyr of the Christian Church, when in his dying moments, "kneeled down" (Acts 7:60). When Peter came to where the dead body of Dorcas lay, he "kneeled down, and prayed" (Acts 9:40). When Paul gathered with the Ephesian elders on the dock at Miletus, "he kneeled down, and prayed with them all" (Acts 20:36). Then as he concluded his visit to Tyre, Luke says, "we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed" (Acts 21:5). Our Lord said, "And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men" (Mt 6:5). (See Luke 18:11.) I am not suggesting that prayer, in order to be effectual, must be offered on one's knees. I have met some bedridden saints who engaged in daily intercessory prayer. But what a blessed sight it must have been to see the aged prophet of God kneeling in sweet communion with his Lord! Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego were standing when everyone else in the empire was kneeling before Nebuchadnezzar's image, and God honored them because they would not kneel. Now the people in Darius' empire were standing before a man, but God was about to honor one lonely saint who was kneeling before Him. (Ibid) Miller - Daniel knelt to pray (cf. 1Kgs 8:54; Ezra 9:5; Ps 95:6), but sometimes prayers were offered while standing (cf. Ge 18:22ff.; 1Sa 1:26; Lk 18:13; Mt 6:5). Praying with hands spread out toward heaven also was common (cf. Ezra 9:5). (Miller, S. R. Vol. 18: Daniel. The New American Commentary. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers) Martyn Lloyd-Jones once said that "Man is at his highest and greatest when upon his knees he comes face to face with God." Praying and giving thanks - Not grumbling. Not complaining. Not trying to negotiate with God. But giving thanks, even though he knows that his next appointment will be the lion's den! (cp 1Thes 5:18-note, Php 4:6-note, Php 4:7-note). Notice in the NT that thanksgiving is associated with Spirit filling (cp Ep 5:18-note, Ep 5:19, 20-note)