t’s one of the most recognizable stories in the Bible: Daniel and the Lion’s Den.

If you wanted to compose a “Best of” Bible stories compilation, Daniel and the Lion’s Den would have to be included along with such classics as Jonah and the Whale, David and Goliath, and the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

But while nearly every Sunday School student is familiar with the perils of the lion’s den and Daniel’s escape from it, the back story of how he got there is far less known.

In short, the king at the time signed a decree barring prayer to any gods for 30 days while demanding all reverence be directed toward him.

Daniel, who would be a unanimous, first-ballot selection in the Bible Faith Hall of Fame if one were ever created, naturally ignored the decree and upon learning it was official, immediately went into his house to pray.

And while he was a favored advisor of the king, he blatantly disregarded the law which mandated he be cast into the lion’s den.

And the rest is history.

I thought of Daniel and his plight recently when I read a story about a guy named Raymond. Raymond’s plight sounded vaguely familiar, but it took a few days for me to make a connection to Daniel.

Both Daniel and Raymond had several things in common, including professional success that made them the envy of their peers, who would also come to revere them.

Both Daniel and Raymond were known to not only have a strong physical presence, but the kind of intestinal fortitude that allowed them to be leaders of men.

And both Daniel and Raymond expressed their devotion to God, while crediting him with providing them that inner and outward strength that allowed them to do things other men could only dream of.

Beyond sharing those common characteristics, the men’s lives intersected in experiences as well. Much like Daniel, Raymond regularly took to his knees in prayer. And much like Daniel, Raymond would be vilified for it.

Those peers who had previously admired and revered Raymond turned on him when he professed his devotion to God. They scorned and criticized him, publicly mocking him while questioning his faith.

Raymond tried to defend himself, explaining to friends and enemies alike that he was turning to God in a time of chaos.

They didn’t care.

The similarities end there. Daniel was tossed in a lion’s den. Raymond? Well, we don’t know yet what is going to happen to the man you know as Ray Lewis.

The former All-Pro linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens has been steadfast this week in stating his act of kneeling with his former team last week was not one of belligerence or disrespect, or even protest.

“I didn’t drop on one knee in order to protest. I dropped on two knees, both knees, so I can simply honor God in the midst of chaos,” he said in an interview this week.

Let me be the first to say, I don’t know what’s in Ray Lewis’ heart. He may be sincere. He may be, as some claim, a con man. He may be some of both, I just don’t know.

But after President Trump’s remarks last weekend, and the resulting (and fully expected) onslaught of protests the next couple of days on the part of the NFL players he criticized, the national anthem protest debate has reached a new level.

And it’s an odd one. America’s patriotic fervor and infatuation/reverence of encompassing symbols, rituals and customs has grown over the years, teetering in my opinion with idolatry at times. But never before has it conflicted so starkly with a tenant of Christianity.

It’s difficult to look past the source of this discussion, a man with a lengthy criminal history up to and including two counts of murder. But when you do, what is left is seemingly a conflict between patriotism and Christian devotion.

I am not theologically astute to know the answer to the question of whether or not there is a wrong time to pray. The 50,000 or so signees of a petition urging Lewis’ statue come down from the outside of Ravens’ stadium sure seem to think so.

Maybe they are right. But I’m not sure Daniel would agree.