http://www.stpauls-weston.org.uk/

Beloved at St Paul's, Weston-super-Mare (2026)

15/03/2026

As this page appears to be getting more views I thought I would say again that, to clarify, this page is now not being used since my handover of Beloved at St Paul's on 8 January to Sally Tooze.

I will therefore not be in a position to populate the talks from the group but the group at St Paul's or St Paul's church may populate separately going forward.

It was a pleasure to pop in last week and to see the group and team flourishing.

The group is still running term time only on Thursdays 12.30-2.30pm at St Paul's Church, Walliscote Road, Weston-super-Mare in the Church hall.

Judi Keates
Beloved founder

08/01/2026

Soul Food by Judi Keates

Beloved will be exploring the seven I AM statements of Jesus over the coming weeks and today we'll consider Jesus' statement: I AM the bread of life.

We’re going to share some food in a short while but I was amused that some of you in readiness for today put comments in the Beloved WhatsApp chat about our shared lunch today and feeding the 5000!

Well we’re not talking about that specifically, but what I want to share is about soul food!

This actually comes on the back of Jesus feeling sorry for a bunch of people who had followed him after seeing the miracles of healing he performed and who had potentially begun gathering in readiness for the Jewish festival of Passover. The crowd had gathered to watch him perform various healing miracles but it had gotten late hadn’t it and so we do touch on what happened next.

Jesus asked one of his followers Philip where they could buy food for all of them but it was a trick question really because Jesus already had a plan in mind. Philip responded in exasperation – it would take half a year’s wages to feed this lot and that would only give them a bite!

Andrew, Simon-Peter’s brother overhears and says – there’s a boy with a lunch box with 5 small barley loaves and 2 small fishes but how far will that go among this lot?!

Anyway some of you may know the rest of the story and to cut a long story short, they sit and Jesus thanks God for the boy’s lunch and then distributes it to the people. In his giving, a miracle happens and the multiplication occurs so that in excess of 5000 people are fed, and there were even left overs!

The next day the crowd having worked out that Jesus and the disciples had moved on, took a boat and followed after them.

Jesus questioned them as to why they had followed them. He clocked that they were really just there for entertainment as spectators. They weren’t really interested in hearing what Jesus had to say; they were just there for another free lunch possibly.

Jesus tells them that food is not the main thing – yes, they need to eat and that’s necessary for us to do so too, but they shouldn't get distracted by this, so that they miss the real work that Jesus had come to do. He hadn’t come to give out free food; his mission was more important than that. Believing in Jesus was the key. They had just rocked up for the show, but Jesus was actually trying to do a more important work. He was trying to give them a glimpse of Heaven, where no one goes hungry, sick or won’t just get you a free lunch but will sustain you. Not a quick fix but a long-term gain – because everyone who believes in Jesus can have eternal life. That’s why Jesus says to them ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty’. John 6:35

I don’t know about you but I can concur with the fact that if we eat normal bread, normal food, we’ll eat but we’ll be hungry again later. On Tuesday on my way back home I realised it was 2pm and I hadn’t had lunch, so I popped into MacDonalds. Why am I telling you this? Today we will eat again of natural food over lunch, but by teatime, I’m guessing like me you’ll be peckish again. That MacDonalds has done little to sustain me. But still the point remains – you can eat physical food and be hungry again within a few hours.

Jesus in this statement saying I AM the Bread of Life was in a way saying: let me be the one you come to, not only can I provide for physical needs, but I will also provide the needs of your soul. Soul food is not a takeaway, a snack but something that satisfies our needs deep within and is not meant to be a temporary fix but a permanent one.

I AM is the name God gave when speaking with Moses – when Moses said who shall I say has been speaking – God say to him – say 'I AM'. God saying I AM, Jesus saying I AM means the one who has always been there, the one who created all the wonderful things we see and experience around us, the one who has provided all things for our enjoyment. He doesn’t want to be just someone we call upon when we’re in trouble.

Bread is a good staple it gives energy and strength, good for eating, life-giving but temporary because natural bread goes off, goes mouldy.

God wasn’t trying to win them over with miracles he was purely providing for their need. 'I AM' holds gravitas – the God who created all we see; the sun, the moon, the stars, the seas, the sand, the land, the trees, animals, birds, reptiles, fish, people – ‘I AM’ can be trusted – he holds the power to make the things we have around us but he's also looking to finish what he has started.

He doesn’t want us to go through life just concerning ourselves about our next meal, next bit of entertainment, next temporary pleasure. God knows exactly what we need, and we are told that if we will put him first, then all the other stuff will get sorted out as well.

He tells us elsewhere don’t work for food that spoils but for food that endures to eternal life. (John 6:27)

Jesus came with a purpose in mind. He came to our rescue in providing the remedy for the sin that had separated us from a holy and righteous God and to reconnect us with God, not just in the here and now but to give us an eternal future.

My daughter challenged her teenage son on Monday who had been working out at the gym but not really getting on with some of the more important things he needed to be doing. Her comment was pithy and held a lot of truth. She said to him don’t be spending time looking at yourself, but looking to the future. She was concerned that he doesn't just look at the immediate, the temporary, but looks ahead and works and plans towards his future.

So I guess I’ve kind of stolen that sentiment as well. Our account of Jesus today means he was there to help them when they were hungry but knew that they’d get hungry again real soon. He was wanting them to look to their future. In a sense he was giving them direction – as another verse suggests where he says in John 14:6 I am the way the truth the life – believe in me and I’ll show you the path, the way to Heaven. He was and does teach them/us to look beyond physical needs and believe in Him for eternal life.

God loved the world so much that he gave his only son, that whosoever believes in him will have everlasting life. (John 3:16) Let’s safeguard our eternal future and not just get distracted by the temporary distractions of this life. Believe in Jesus and you’ll never be hungry or thirsty again.

01/01/2026

Happy New Year.

Just to let know that this page is coming into land on 8 January 2026. Thank you for journeying with us since 2021.

May the Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face towards you and give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26.

Judi Keates

04/12/2025

Isaiah – his life and work as a prophet – listening and passing it on!

Background/history – lived circa 739-681BC so lived nearly 800 years before Jesus was born. He wrote approximately 35000 words in 66 chapters of the book in the Bible: so he played a significant part in passing on information.

Illustration: When I did three years of distance learning at Bristol Baptist College 2014-2017, I wrote approximately 36000 words, in 24 essays and approximately 1500 words per essay.
So, I get it; he was diligent in writing but not like me on subjects set by lecturers: but by intently listening to God.

He served during the reigns of several kings of Judah a region in Israel including Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah for you history boffins. He spoke both to Judah, Jerusalem and surrounding nations at the time, but his words have an enduring quality that goes beyond his era. They were both given to bring correction, comfort and hope. The various chapters have themes that include correction, comfort and hope for us today too.

Isaiah was a man who listened to God – he credits God with giving him the ability to listen in such away that he is being given instructions, for me like the old days taking dictation – specifically Teeline shorthand; listening and scribing in order to superimpose the thoughts of the one who is speaking being subsequently typed on to the page, e.g. a letter to a customer or a memo to a colleague, so that those who read it are clear as to the thoughts of the one who spoke in the first place. (Isaiah 50:4-5). He had spiritual insight not conjured by natural intelligence.

Not to be confused with a fortune teller or clairvoyant. But inspired by God; not there to deceive or give false hope but to bring genuine messages of hope and insight into God’s plans. He was willing to put himself out there; his words were resisted because they often challenged rebellion and dysfunction; lives and systems that were out of order, so not an easy job to do. He had a different perspective – he provided godly wisdom and spiritual understanding, not bending to cultural mindsets. God used him to write what needed to happen and what was going to happen, to bring things back into right order. The overarching theme of the entire Bible can be referenced in the book of Isaiah.

Like books in general Isaiah’s transcript, the exact words that he heard were the words that he wrote.

Illustration: When I worked for North Somerset Council, I was tasked with creating both accurate and detailed records of all the words spoken during a couple of disciplinaries, much like a court transcriber or stenographer (the difference being they use a machine). I found this stressful because you had to listen intently to every word, whilst typing extremely fast! Thankfully for Isaiah he didn’t write it all in one sitting!

The Book of Isaiah is the combination of his writings and do include themes that as well as bringing correction, comfort and hope, point also to Jesus’ life. God’s promise to bring restoration to our fallen world. Like the Bible that has 66 books, Isaiah has 66 chapters 1-39 focus on judgement and a call for a change of heart towards God; the warnings because there are consequences to rebellion; sadly, they didn’t always listen and therefore they brought judgement on themselves; in contrast, 40-66 offer messages of comfort and hope for restoration both now and in future events.

In chapter 6:9-10 God commissions Isaiah to go and speak on his behalf – but he tells him up front that there will be those he speaks to who don’t bother to listen and therefore wouldn’t get what he is saying, or change their ways, but thankfully there will be those that would hear with their ears and also understand what he is saying in their hearts and would turn to God and find healing, peace and promise for the future.

The significant words in Isaiah’s transcriptions are words pointing to the coming of Jesus who ultimately has come to redeem the world; the act of coming to the rescue to bring the world back into right order but more than that to come back into relationship with God as he first intended back in the garden of Eden and before the fall.

You may hear or already have heard in this season of Advent, Isaiah 7:14 I will give you a sign: the virgin/young woman will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel (meaning God with us). He will know enough to reject the wrong and choose the right even as he is being weaned… Chapter 9:6 a more familiar verse: For unto us a child is born, and to us a son given, and the government will be upon his shoulders and he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end…

Isaiah is both accurate in speaking about Jesus’ birth but later his crucifixion in chapter 53:4 he bore our pain and our suffering… he was pierced for our transgressions (where we have broken God’s laws that were given for us to live well together); crushed for our iniquities (immoral or unfair behaviours that cause us and others harm), the punishment that brought us peace was on him and by his wounds we are healed… these have both happened already; and our chronology; our history pivots on the birth of Jesus does it not.

Isaiah’s writing despite giving warnings also convey messages of hope; assuring the people that God will restore them after they have gone through a process of correction or discipline to bring them back in to right order, so they are not out of order (40-66). The last few chapters provide a vision of a new heaven and new earth where God’s justice and peace will override the injustice and destruction caused by sin and separation from God and ultimately, we’ll be restored to the manufacturer’s intention or factory settings!

Isaiah 65:17 See, I will create new heavens and a new earth… the sound of weeping and crying will be heard in it no more, never again will there be an infant who lives but a few days or an old man who doesn’t live out his years, they will build houses, plant vineyards they will not labour in vain, they will be a people blessed by the Lord, they and their descendants with them. Before they call, I will answer; while they are speaking, I will hear – so a switch from listening to God and Isaiah writing what he said; to us speaking and God coming to our aid like the loving parent that he is.

We do need to be corrected when we stray or rebel against his good plans for us, because it is never his intention for us to suffer; it pained the Father of the Prodigal to stand and wait for him to come to his senses and return home, but too there was rejoicing when this happened. God like the Father is faithful in waiting for us too and he is pleased when we come to our senses and come to him. Again, Isaiah concludes with a chapter 66 that focuses on God’s promise of comfort and also God’s faithfulness, to fulfil the promises yet to be realised.

Conclusion:

The Book of Isaiah is a rich tapestry of words from God that Isaiah transcribed that does combine themes of judgment, hope, and the promise of a coming Messiah.

It serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty, the seriousness of sin, and the hope of redemption for those who turn back to Him. Through its powerful messages, Isaiah calls for faithfulness and trust in God's ultimate plan for His people and the world.

We have the advantage that we can read what God spoke to Isaiah and that Isaiah has written down what he heard so that we too can benefit from his words.

If we can read about people messing up in the Bible and God still committed to things coming good for them, then if he can do it for them, he will do it for us; that gives us hope for our future and knowing the best is still to come!

So maybe this Christmas for the first time – you won’t just hear a lovely little story about baby Jesus but know there has always been a golden thread running through our history that can extend to our destiny if we will also listen to these instructions.

27/11/2025

Abraham and Isaac: Life and Faith

Talk by Sally Tooze

In 1988 I gave birth to a precious long awaited daughter after losing a son at twenty weeks gestation and twins later. I know speaking to some of you, you have had similar experiences.

Today we have the story of Abraham and Isaac.

Abraham was called by God to journey to a new land in Canaan where he became the father of many nations Despite his and his wife Sarah’s old age, God promised them a son, Isaac, and their precious beloved son was born when Abraham was 100 years old.

I am going to pick up the story from Genesis chapter 22 which includes one of the most challenging stories we have in the Bible. The title of the chapter: 'God tests Abraham’s faith'.

When Isaac was in his teens or thereabouts, he was on a three day journey walking with his Father, two servants, a donkey, and a load of wood for a burnt offering. To any passing stranger nothing would seem amiss as there were many sacrifices at that time. There is no record of any conversation along the way. Without warning they stop and Abraham tells his servants to stay with the donkey while he and Isaac continue on their journey to worship God. Abraham tells his servants that they will be back... (Verse 5). As they journey, Isaac asks, "where is the lamb for the offering?“ Abraham replies: “God will provide the lamb.” They continue on their journey until they reach a spot where
Abraham tells Isaac to unload his wood.
He builds an altar, places the wood onto it and bound Isaac, his precious son, on the altar. Abraham takes the knife to kill his son and just then an Angel of the Lord calls from Heaven and says: “Abraham, Abraham, do not kill him.” Abraham sees a ram caught in a thicket and offers the ram as a burnt offering to God.

That a father could take his beloved son on a three day journey for the purpose of killing him as a sacrifice to God is mind boggling, but it speaks of Abraham’s outstanding faith, trust and love of God.
I believe that Abraham knew that God would spare his son as he told his servants that 'we' would return. What incredible faith Abraham had. I wouldn’t have had faith like that if it were my daughter. Such faith! But let me tell you Abraham’s faith had grown, because if you read previous chapters, Abraham didn’t always trust God as he should; he was on a journey of faith.

The disciples said to Jesus: "increase our faith” of which the Lord replied “if you only had faith the size of a mustard seed it would be enough.

If only I had more faith! I think most of us have struggled with that at some point in our lives. If I just had more faith, God would answer all of my prayers, if I had more faith I would be an even better spouse, parent, person. If I had more faith, life would be different. But faith is a relationship of trust and love. In faith we journey together with our Lord.

Sometime ago I was walking up the Angel falls in Scotland when it started pouring with rain, it absolutely emptied. On the journey I walked across some stepping stones in the middle of a large lake and it was very slippery and I became stuck. I couldn’t go forward and wanted to go back. I was scared and prayed to God. God answered my prayers with a group of young people who walked across towards me. They saw my distress and said “we have got you" and they helped me across. Our faith is sometimes like that; we get stuck and cannot go forward.

How are you doing today? There are times when we are walking with Jesus and there are other times when we are being carried by Jesus himself.

There is a well known poem by Mary Stevenson entitled 'Footprints in the sand' which you may all know.

Let’s finish with it today.

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there were one set of footprints.
This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life; when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat I could only see one set of footprints. So I said to the Lord, “You promised me Lord that if I followed you,
You would walk with me always, but I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there have only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, you have not been there for me?” The Lord replied,
“The times when you have seen only one set of footprints is when I carried you.”

Listen, God is whispering to each one of us:

My precious child, I love you and I will never ever leave you. During your darkest moments I will carry you and together, yes together, we will get through this, then once again we will journey hand in hand.

Lord increase our faith we cry, and God says "take my hand; your faith, my precious child, is enough." Amen.

21/11/2025

Jonah the recalcitrant - talk by Phillipa Heather

Jonah, the guy who had an obstinately unco-operative attitude, especially towards God.

This short book of the bible is full of both irony and grace.

Jonah obviously had a relationship with God. That’s why he could hear Him. This is the most important thing about all God’s children, that we hear the voice of our Father. It is as natural and simple as the reflex of breathing. We tend to overcomplicate it as we get older. It is the voice of steadfast love and encouragement because that is the nature of God.

But here we have a guy, commissioned to do a very distasteful job. Jonah says 'here I am Lord'. God replies well; I want you to go to Nineveh and tell them that I have seen what they are doing, and unless they stop of their own accord, I will stop them.

Jonah did not like the people of Nineveh. The capital city of the Assyrian empire. Empires are built on the suffering of the people who resist them often. We could maybe say that Jonah was a racist, but with good reason. The Assyrian army attacked Israel viciously. God said - you Jonah, one man, go to their capital city and cry out against them. One man in a very large city crying out an unfavourable message from God!

Humph thinks Jonah. He packs his bag and makes a run for it. The Jews assumed that God only spoke in Israel.
I’m running as far as I can away from God. In fact, he gets on a ship and heads for the end of the world where God can not continue to tell him to go to Nineveh.
Anybody else ever felt like every time you stop, you sense God telling you to do something you most assuredly do not want to do.

Wonderfully we cannot go anywhere where God will not continue to pursue us. He truly is the parent that never gives up on any one of us.

I’m going to hide at the bottom of the boat, says Jonah to himself, and off he goes, falling asleep. God can’t get me here. No more uncomfortable feelings. Perhaps he’d been so disturbed by the voice of God in his heart that he had been sleeping very badly for possibly weeks. But the bible says. The Lord hurled a great wind at the sea and there was an impossible storm. The sailors are terrified and begin to pray. Jonah. The man of God doesn’t pray. He snores.
The sailors (who do not know the true God in the fullness that the Israelites do) wake him up and urge him to pray. It’s interesting when those who would not profess faith can be more alert to the need for prayer than we are!

Jonah admits that he is the reason for the storm and tells the sailors to throw him overboard. Reluctantly they do so and the storm stops. Why did Jonah tell them to throw him overboard? Interesting question. There is no mention of him repenting. No mention of him talking to God, who he clearly knows can see and hear him as he sent the storm. Is he still refusing to go to Nineveh?

“I’d rather die than obey you.”

He tells the sailors that he fears God, and yet he clearly does not! The sailors do beg forgiveness from Jonah's God. Jonah does not.

Goodness me, you are a very obstinate man thinks God. Jonah, you are not going to die in this watery grave.

So, we probably all know the story. Along comes a great fish and swallows Jonah. Which must have been totally disgusting.

In this smelly prison of the fish Jonah finally prays a very beautiful prayer.
A prayer of regret, of gratitude “as my life was ebbing away, I remembered the LORD.”

He remembered the goodness of God who had helped him in the past. God thinks, at last, my dear son. Come on let’s get you out of that fish. Come on fish let’s get rid of this bellyache.

The fish vomits and alongside all the yuk out comes Jonah onto dry land. After a wash and due time to recover God recognizes it’s time to remind Jonah that he has a job to do.

Have Jonah’s experiences grown him in obedience through his terror and revulsion at what God is asking. Has his experience of near death softened him up to the plight of his enemies?

Jonah sets off and walks through the city crying out that Nineveh is about to be overthrown in 40 days. They respond to Jonah's warning from God; the bloodthirsty gentiles fast and put on sackcloth, an itchy cloth and a sign of mourning and repentance; from the King down to the animals, in the hope that God will change His mind.

The mission of God in terms of the Ninevite’s is a resounding success. God does not need to bring calamity on the people of Nineveh.

Jonah is depressed and disgusted and very displeased. Watching from the hill to see what is going to happen to these people he hates.

He was furious. Isn’t this what I said when I was at home “that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and ready to relent from punishing”? I want to die. My own people won’t relent and yet these gentiles have.

Tenderly God causes a bush to grow very quickly to protect Jonah from sunstroke. Jonah feels protected and so he gets a bit happy, however his comfort is short lived. After a little respite, God thinks, I’ve got to help my man through this. I need to expand his mind.

The bush gets eaten by a worm and the heat causes Jonah to want to die again. He is seriously angry and fed up. His core beliefs have been shaken. He wanted God to smite his enemies not love them. But God loves Jonah too, he wants to call him deeper in what it is to be a man who carries the image of God, that is what it is to be human.

"Jonah", says God. "Is it right for you to be in such a strop.” "Yes, it bloomin' well is”, says Jonah. I’m angry enough to die. Jonah's last words in the book...

Gods’ response: “Jonah, you are angry about a bush dying, don’t you think I should be concerned about a city where there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who do not know their right from their left hand, and also many animals.” He could have added. This is who I am Jonah. I am gracious and I am merciful. You who does know your right from your left, did not die in your disobedience. Here is the invitation for you to know me better.

What can we learn from this story?

God does not give up on us.

The people of Nineveh were sinners and outsiders to the company of faith, God did not give up on them despite their murderous attitude towards His particular people, (the Israelites). He is Love.

God kept pursuing Jonah and did not let him off the hook. Jonah was his son, in a very real way. There was no pretense in him, he was a passionate and very real son, he was an intimate son, and God took his fathering of him seriously as he does us.

The more real we are with God about how we actually feel, the more we will experience his answers, and as we are close to Him, we have our hearts expanded to love and embrace others like he does.

So, the question I ask myself out of this is this: Do I know that God loves me enough to pursue me? Do I trust the depths of His love for me? Not that I intend to walk away from Him at all, but there are areas in my life that I am slow to respond in and areas where I make a good start and then get tired or discouraged and give up the good intention.

For some people here maybe, you felt a call on your life years ago and are worried that because you did not do it that God will not commission you to do anything. Whilst I think sometimes the call changes as the vicissitudes of life occur, God does not give up on us or His desire to see His kingdom come more fully because of the difference we make in life.

So, if any of those things ring true in you. If you are uncertain that God is pursuing you, and would, even if you wander off into some bonkers direction. If you are worried about really telling God how it is with you, and so you are not really very intimate with God. If you had an impression that God wanted you to do something for Him but you didn’t do it for whatever reason. Maybe ask someone to pray with you.

God loved the people of Nineveh.
He loved his recalcitrant prophet.
He loves me even in my muddled emotions, motives and desires.
And he loves you too …. very much!

The real question that arises out of this for me though is, how deeply formed by love am I? Do I love people who have hurt me enough to be glad when God blesses them, when they are forgiven. Is there prejudice in me? We live in an age of so much prejudice and racism. Is there any in me? God is not like that.

God, the one who gives us a second chance even when we are obstinate!

13/11/2025

Beloved talk: Daniel by Judi Keates

Let me read you a story!

Daniel and the scary sleepover! Page 152 from the Jesus Storybook Bible. (Daniel and the Lion's Den, from Daniel chapter 6).

Things were not looking good for God's people. They had been captured and taken far from home - and now they were slaves of the King of Babylon. But God had not left his people. He was with them and he was looking after them.

Daniel loved God and obeyed him. Now God made Daniel able to understand lots of difficult things, so it wasn't long before the King of Babylon noticed him. King Darius liked how clever Daniel was. So he made Daniel his most important helper of all, and put him in charge of lots of other helpers.

But the other helpers didn't like this. They wanted the king to like them best. They wanted to get rid of Daniel. So they spied on Daniel. They tried to find things wrong with Daniel, things they could tell the king, things they could... but there weren't any. None. They couldn't find anything at all!

Except there was just the one thing; every day, three times a day - without fail, no matter what - Daniel went to his room, closed the door, and prayed. They smiled to themselves. "Let's get the king to make a law - no-one is allowed to pray to anyone EXCEPT TO THE KING! Daniel won't obey this law and he will be punished!" They were pleased with themselves for being so clever and hurried off to tell the king. The king liked the idea. He didn't know they were tricking him. So he made it into a law: "Everyone must pray - only to ME! If you don't, the lions will have you for their dinner!"

Daniel heard this. He knew it was wrong to pray to anyone except God. He had to do what God said - whatever it cost him, even if it meant he would die. So Daniel went to his room, closed the door, and prayed.

That's just what the bad men knew Daniel would do. They skipped straight off to tell the king. "Oh, Your Most Glittering Highness, your law says, does it not, that everyone must pray to you alone, Sire?" "Yes," said the king. "Oh, Majesterial Brightness, then correct us if we're wrong but ... it would seem that Daniel is praying to God - NOT TO YOU!"

The king was sad. He had been tricked! He didn't want to hurt Daniel, but he couldn't change his law. And so he let the soldiers throw Daniel to the lions. "May your God, who you love so much, rescue you!" the king said.

The king went back to his palace, but he didn't sleep that night. Not a wink. He tossed and turned until finally, at the first glimmer of dawn, he leaped out of bed and ran straight to the den. "Daniel?" he cried. "Has your God rescued you?" "YES!" Daniel shouted. "God sent an angel to close the lions' mouths!"

And there, (a bit of poetic license I feel?) resting his head on Daniel's lap, was the biggest lion, purring like a little kitten. The king brought Daniel out of the den. "Look!" he said. "Daniel doesn't even have a scratch!" The king made a new law: "Daniel's God is the true God. The God who Rescues! Pray to him instead!"

God would keep on rescuing his people. And the time was coming when God would send another brave hero, like Daniel, who would love God and do what God said - whatever it cost him, even if it meant he would die. And together they would pull off the Greatest Rescue the world has ever known.
*
Doing the right thing – God stands on the side of the innocent, those who have made friends with God and want to follow him and try to do what’s right, those who are just and deal fairly with others.

There is a common phrase 'what goes around, comes around' – what is sent out, comes back to us. Or another phrase 'what you sow, you reap' – if you sow tomato seeds you get tomatoes, if you sow kindness, love, work hard, there are obvious rewards for our behaviours towards others; equally those who do evil, receive their just desserts!

Daniel had nothing to be ashamed of – he served the King well; he was trustworthy and was not corrupt or negligent.

He had been stitched up or set up by corrupt/jealous colleagues – they had coerced the King into creating a law that could not be revoked for some 30 days. Perhaps they thought this is enough time to get rid of Daniel. His good nature kind of exposed their meanness.

As it turns out, as we have heard already, God is on the side of the innocent, the poor, the widow, the orphan, of those who do right but who are often overlooked by the rich and/or powerful.

The King is amazed to find that God would indeed come through for Daniel. God did of course, but Daniel's colleagues shouldn’t have messed with him, because Daniel honoured God; God honoured Daniel and dealt with his enemies in the same way they had sought to deal with Daniel.

The King quickly arranged for David to be lifted out of the den – no wound was found on him because he trusted God and God commanded his angels to protect Daniel to close the lion’s mouths.

Daniel was willing to go through with it; God was with him as he went through the injustice of it all. Maybe like me you have been miss-sold, misrepresented, misunderstood at times – those jealous of you who had it in for you have to stand before a just God.

We didn’t read it in the children’s storybook account, but the King sent them to the lions instead – and the lions after not eating all night were very hungry! What goes around comes around! The men who had falsely accused Daniel, who had set a trap for Daniel were instead brought and thrown in the lion’s den. The lions had them for breakfast!

The outcome: God causes good to come out of all the things and times we have been ripped off, maligned and he is just and promises to compensate you for those losses. Joel 2:25-26 in the Bible says: Despite all the injustices you have suffered, I will pay you back for those years of trouble. Then you will have plenty to eat. You will be full. You will praise the name of the Lord your God. He has done wonderful things for you.

A silly little example but I’ve had a tumble dryer I’ve not been able to utilise for 11 months because of risk of fire and although the engineers came out to address the fault, I didn’t get a resolution until last week when they finally wrote it off. The outcome; they came on Monday and just installed a new one, free of charge. So not all our injustices or problems are spiritual, but just to say God is interested in the practical details of our lives if we bring them to him and go through the process with him, and don’t think that’s too incidental a thing to bother him about.

Raise your expectations – that which was sent to harm you – God is just and willing to work it out for your good. As in Daniel’s case, God proved his power in a tangible way to the King through Daniel’s obedience; so much so he recommended that everyone honour God who rescues/saves, exonerates, performs signs and wonders, ‘suddenlies’ if you like, sudden answers to our problems.

I’d also say that is an impressive show of power by sending Angels to shut the mouths of lions. If you consider that Daniel’s friends were thrown in a fire also and they emerged unharmed because God was with them also, so not an isolated incident.

I had a chip pan fire just months before I got married and I bore the scars of this – I had burned my leg slightly and my right foot bore the brunt of the hot cooking oil; my eyebrows and hair were singed and therefore it smelt funny. Fire truly has an impact, but in the case of Daniel’s friends, there was none – they emerged without even smelling of smoke. I share this additional story because that too is a promise from God that whatever it is you go through with him, you can emerge ready to tell the tale of his protection and provision. The fire was inconvenient you could say, but I maintain I was protected and my mum’s house didn’t burn down (she had curtains in the kitchen and thankfully they didn’t catch light as I threw the burning pan out of the back door onto the grass). Today you wouldn’t see a scar unless you looked very closely. The scar in itself stands as a witness to God’s protection.

God redeems Daniel – an old-fashioned phrase we don’t use much but it means to recover, to save or free someone from a difficult situation. To make amends for a fault.

A day for exposing the culprit – Daniel was accused wrongly but still went through the process and God saw that he was vindicated, he had done nothing wrong in the eyes of God and the King honoured him, rewarded him even.
Daniel like us would not have been squeaky clean he was born with a sin nature like us but because he trusted God, what they tried to pin on him didn’t stick.

We can be free of the effects of past troubles – those who have done us harm we can leave to our just God to sort out – for us to be vindicated and repaid for any injustice done to us also. The ones that stitched you up or ripped you off – let God deal with them on your behalf. Walk forward freely knowing he has your back.

I am trusting God that where we were mis-sold, mis-advised, even misunderstood, mis-handled, God is in the business of redeeming his people from harm.

The timing is critical also – Daniel went 'through' the difficulty but emerged at just the right time and unscathed – you wouldn’t know he’d spent the night with hungry lions. His enemies however… their bones were crushed before they hit the floor of the den!

Daniel might have been set up – but he was to make his comeback in a spectacular way that exposed his enemies and glorified God.

We have this encouragement for our lives. Bring to God the injustices you feel you have endured, the misunderstandings, the hurts you’ve suffered at the hands of others and let him deal justly and bring healing and restoration in your lives too.

Daniel – a person who was misunderstood and maligned. If God can protect and provide for Daniel, he can protect and provide for us also. If God can vindicate Daniel, he can vindicate us too!

Often God knows we have a shopping list of concerns, but Jesus said – God knows what you need help with before you even ask so just do this instead – pray:

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.

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