Transcript Daniel and the Den of Lions: Kept by Faith

Daniel and the Den of Lions:
Kept by Faith
Daniel 6
Daniel 6:1
“It pleased Darius to
set over the
kingdom one
hundred and twenty
satraps, to be over
the whole kingdom.”
Daniel 6:2
“And over these, three
governors, of whom
Daniel was one, that
the satraps might give
account to them, so
that the king would
suffer no loss.”
The King’s Confidence in Daniel
Daniel 6:3
“Then this Daniel distinguished
himself above the governors and
satraps, because an excellent
spirit was in him; and the king
gave thought to setting him over
the whole realm.”
Whole Realm???
Daniel’s Faithfulness
• No fault found in Daniel.
• Darius had three presidents—Daniel was one.
• Babylon fell in 539 B.C.
• Darius the Meade ruled in the kingdom.
• His reign was short-lived.
• The land under his administration in this province
Daniel’s Faithfulness
• Daniel “distinguished himself” because
of his “excellent spirit.”
• King of a mind to place him over the
whole realm!
• The king’s esteem for Daniel gave rise to
jealousy among the other two presidents
and the satraps.
Daniel 6:4
“So the governors and satraps
sought to find some charge against
Daniel concerning the kingdom; but
they could find no charge or fault,
because he was faithful; nor was
there any error or fault found in
him.”
They Sought to Find Fault…
Daniel 6:5
“Then these men said, ‘We
shall not find any charge
against this Daniel unless we
find it against him
concerning the law of his
God.’”
Knew Daniel’s Character
Daniel 6:6
“So these governors and
satraps thronged before the
king, and said thus to him:
‘King Darius, live forever!’”
Setting the Trap…
Daniel 6:7
“All the governors of the
kingdom, the administrators
and satraps, the counselors
and advisors, have consulted
together to establish a royal
statute and to make a firm
decree…”
Setting the Trap…
Daniel 6:7
“…that whoever petitions any
god or man for thirty days,
except you, O king, shall be
cast into the den of lions.”
Setting the Trap…
Daniel 6:8,9
“Now, O king, establish the decree
and sign the writing, so that it
cannot be changed, according to the
law of the Medes and Persians,
which does not alter. Therefore,
King Darius signed the written
decree.”
The Decree is Signed!
The Plan…
• Determination of the fellow officials
• Sought fault with Daniel concerning “the kingdom”
• Grounds for a legal complaint
• Tried to find something amiss in Daniel concerning
his official duties
• They found no fault—nothing was amiss!
• He lacked nothing when it came to discharging his
duties.
The Plan…
• Sought to find occasion “concerning the law of his
God.”
• A compliment to Daniel’s character, integrity and
fidelity.
• Rare in a politician’s character
• Acted in concert and harmony
• Asked the king to make a new decree—a religious
decree.
The Plan…
• Decree prevented anyone from making a
petition (prayer) to any “god or man,”
except Darius himself.
• King to be the sole representative of deity.
• King’s decree would be valid for 30 days.
• “Interdict” was unchangeable, the penalty
for disobeying would be “death in the den
of lions.”
The Plan…
• They appealed to the king to sign the
decree.
• According to the “law of the Medes and
the Persians.”
• The king signed the decree.
• Officials appealed to the king’s pride.
Daniel 6:10
“Now when Daniel knew that
the writing was signed, he
went home. And in his upper
room, with his windows open
toward Jerusalem, he knelt
down on his knees three
times that day...”
Daniel Knew the Decree Was Signed!
Daniel 6:10, 11
“... and prayed and gave thanks
before his God, as was his custom
since early days.
Then these men assembled and
found Daniel praying and making
supplication before his God.”
Daniel Offers Prayer to God!
Daniel prayed
to God three
times each
day—he did not
change his
practice!
Daniel’s Dilemma
• If he obeys the king’s decree, he will not
be able to pray directly to his God.
• If he disobeys it, he will appear disloyal to
the king, whom he devotedly serves.
• Daniel continues his “custom” of praying
regularly, even though he knows the king’s
decree is now law!
Daniel’s “Custom”
• On the rooftop
• With the windows open
• Facing Jerusalem
• Giving thanks
• The expression “before his God”
graphically and truthfully characterizes
Daniel’s entire life.
Conspirators Discover Daniel
• The order of the wicked conspiracy is:
– Determination
– Decreed
– Discovered
– Death
• This is what they had been looking
for—an accusation they could make
stick!
Daniel 6:12
“And they went before the
king, and spoke concerning
the king's decree: ‘Have you
not signed a decree that
every man who petitions any
god or man within thirty
days...’”
King Reminded of the Decree!
Daniel 6:12
“... except you, O king, shall
be cast into the den of lions?"
The king answered and said,
‘The thing is true, according
to the law of the Medes and
Persians, which does not
alter.’
King Reminded of the Decree!
Daniel 6:13
“So they answered and said before
the king, that Daniel, who is one of
the captives from Judah, does not
show due regard for you, O king, or
for the decree that you have signed,
but makes his petition three times a
day.”
Accusation Against Daniel
The Trap Sprung!
• The manner of accusation exposes the despicable
character of the conspirators.
• They described Daniel as “an exile from Judah.”
• Rather than an appointed official who was “head” of
the other presidents.
• They depicted him as deliberately disregarding the
king by disobeying his decree.
Daniel 6:14
“And the king, when he heard
these words, was greatly
displeased with himself, and
set his heart on Daniel to
deliver him; and he labored till
the going down of the sun to
deliver him.”
The King’s Love for Daniel
Daniel 6:15
“Then these men approached
the king, and said to the king,
‘Know, O king, that it is the
law of the Medes and Persians
that no decree or statute
which the king establishes
may be changed.’”
Demand That Punishment Be Enforced!
A King in a Box
• The king is sorely displeased and distressed
• He strives to deliver Daniel
• “Set his heart”
• “He labored”
• Tries in vain to find a solution—”until the going
down of the sun.”
• The decree still stands and the evil men press for the
king to carry out Daniel’s punishment!
Daniel 6:16
“So the king gave the command, and
they brought Daniel and cast him
into the den of lions. But the king
spoke, saying to Daniel, Your God,
whom you serve continually, He will
deliver you.”
Daniel Sent to the Lions’ Den!
Daniel 6:17
“Then a stone was brought
and laid on the mouth of the
den, and the king sealed it
with his own signet ring and
with the signets of his lords,
that the purpose concerning
Daniel might not be changed.”
Daniel Sent to the Lions’ Den!
Daniel 6:18
“Now the king went to his
palace and spent the night
fasting; and no musicians
were brought before him. Also
his sleep went from him.”
The King Paces the Floor!
Daniel’s Punishment Executed
• The king’s dilemma—his decree (law),
versus his devotion (love) for Daniel
• The decree is upheld; Daniel is cast into
the lions’ den.
• King’s hope—”Your God will deliver
you.”
• King’s signet placed on the stone that is
over the opening of the den.
Daniel’s Punishment Executed
• The king, having exhausted every effort to
free Daniel, is now thoroughly frustrated.
– He cannot eat
– He has no interest in diversions
– He cannot sleep
Daniel 6:19
“Then the king arose very
early in the morning and went
in haste to the den of lions.”
King Goes to the Den
Daniel 6:20
“And when he came to the den,
he cried out with a lamenting
voice to Daniel. The king spoke,
saying to Daniel, ‘Daniel,
servant of the living God, has
your God, whom you serve
continually, been able to deliver
you from the lions?’”
The King Calls for Daniel…
A Deliverer for Daniel
• King’s emotion and concern
• “Is thy God able?”
• Voice full of anxiety and concern regarding
whether the “God who preserves life” is
able to deliver Daniel
– Matthew 10:28
– John 10:29
– Romans 8:39
– Ephesians 3:20,21
Daniel 6:21
“Then Daniel said to the
king, ‘O king, live
forever!’”
Daniel Answers the King!
Daniel 6:22
“My God sent His angel and
shut the lions' mouths, so that
they have not hurt me,
because I was found innocent
before Him; and also, O king, I
have done no wrong before
you.”
Daniel Is Safe
Daniel 6:23
“Then the king was exceedingly glad
for him, and commanded that they
should take Daniel up out of the den.
So Daniel was taken up out of the
den, and no injury whatever was
found on him, because he believed
in his God.”
Daniel Is Taken out of the Den
Daniel’s Life is Preserved
• Prophet’s reply…
• “My God hath sent His angel…”
• He proclaimed his innocence—before God
and the King.
• He has shut the lions’ mouths.
• The lions had “done no hurt,” and Daniel
had “done no hurt!”
Daniel’s Life is Preserved
• The Prophet’s faith is a demonstration of:
– Clarity—he believed/trusted in God.
– Loyalty—continuous trust.
– Fixity—death better than compromise
– Certainty—in God’s care and protection.
– Abraham—Romans 4:18-21
– Paul—2 Timothy 1:12
Daniel’s Life is Preserved
• The Prophet’s deliverance is a
demonstration of:
– A miraculous rescue—not even a button
chewed off!
– Instruction—not saved “from” but “in” den
– Completeness—providential protection
– Conviction—God is able!
Daniel 6:24
“And the king gave the
command, and they brought
those men who had accused
Daniel, and they cast them
into the den of lions-them,
their children, and their
wives...”
Punishment of the Conspirators
Daniel 6:24
“... and the lions overpowered
them, and broke all their
bones in pieces before they
ever came to the bottom of the
den.”
Punishment of the Conspirators
Punishment of the Conspirators
• The accusers become the “accused.”
• The accusation has proven false and therefore
amounts to slander.
• Punishment of “children and wives” was according
to Persian custom
– Joshua 7:24,25
• Cast into the lion’s den where the lions had the
“mastery.”
• Overpowered and consumed!
Daniel 6:25
“Then King Darius wrote: To
all peoples, nations, and
languages that dwell in all the
earth: Peace be multiplied to
you.”
Darius’ Decree
Daniel 6:26
“I make a decree that in every
dominion of my kingdom men
must tremble and fear before
the God of Daniel. For He is
the living God, and steadfast
forever...”
Darius’ Decree
Daniel 6:26
“... His kingdom is the one
which shall not be destroyed,
and His dominion shall endure
to the end.”
Darius’ Decree
Daniel 6:27, 28
“He delivers and rescues, and He
works signs and wonders in
heaven and on earth, Who has
delivered Daniel from the power
of the lions. So this Daniel
prospered in the reign of Darius
and in the reign of Cyrus the
Persian.”
Darius’ Decree
Darius’ Decree
• Darius praised Daniel’s God.
• Darius, like Nebuchadnezzar, regarded his empire as
universal.
• Darius does not rise above pagan philosophy of
polytheism.
• He confesses Daniel’s God to be above other gods;
thus, does not condemn the worship of such “gods.”
– Daniel 5:18
Darius’ Decree
• Darius acknowledges the “rescuing and delivering”
power of Daniel’s God.
• Daniel’s God caused Daniel to prosper
– In Nebuchadnezzar’s reign
– Now in Darius’ reign
– Later, in the reign of Cyrus the Persian king
• Why?
– Walked by faith, not by sight (Corinthians 5:7)
– Pure in heart (Matthew 5:8)