Chapter II

Daniel also had mesirus nefesh concerning prayer. G-d revealed Nevuchadnetzar's dream to Daniel along with its interpretation. Daniel revealed the meaning of the dream to Nevuchadnetzar, whereupon the king raised Daniel's status, appointing him to a key government post1 and housing him in one of the royal palaces.

King Darius the Mede considered himself Divine, and demanded2 that everyone pray to him rather than to their G-d. Whoever disobeyed the decree would be thrown into a pit containing hungry lions.

In the residence given him by the king, Daniel set aside a room for prayer that had a window which faced Yerushalayim and the Sanctuary. Three times a day he prayed in this room Shacharis, Minchah and Maariv.3 One day, spies informed the king that Daniel was disobeying the royal edict and praying to his G-d three times a day. The king held Daniel in great esteem, and would have liked to save him, but according to the laws of Persia and Mede, even the king is subject to royal decree, so Daniel was thrown to the lions. A massive stone was placed on the entrance of the pit, and the edges were secured with the royal seal. But G-d saved Daniel from the lions.

And so it was that Daniel constantly had mesirus nefesh concerning prayer. One of Daniel's prayers was: "And now, our G-d, hearken to the prayer of Your servant and to his supplications, and let Your countenance shine upon Your desolate Sanctuary for the L-rd's sake."

We must understand the meaning of the word "now" which Daniel used.4 "Now" seems to mean "at this moment," i.e., during the time of prayer. But prayer does not have a fixed time, for in all times of trouble and travail be it collective or personal there is a command to pray to G-d for salvation.5 Underlying this command is the belief that G-d sustains everyone with kindness, guides all creation with mercy, and oversees the life of each individual with Divine Providence. Why then does the verse say "now," referring to a specific time?

In summary: Darius considered himself divine, and decreed, upon penalty of death, that everyone must pray to him instead of to G-d. Again displaying mesirus nefesh, Daniel continued to beseech G-d three times a day. One of his prayers was: "And now, our G-d, hearken to the prayer of Your servant...." But prayer implies a constant belief in G-d. Why then did Daniel say "now"?