Transcript Daniel 6 - Thurmans.com

A choice – Seek God, Face the Lions
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The lifting of men who serve God
wholeheartedly
The relationship between a King and the Truth
Daniel faced with a choice that will put his life
at risk – Seek God Face the Lions
The result of faith
The result of treachery
Darius rose to power
when he slew the
previous and
famously evil king
Gaumata, whom he
viewed as an
illegitimate king of
Persia because of his
treachery and deceit.
Gaumata had taken
lands from many and
killed many whom he
thought might have
A close up of “Darius the
known Smerdis, the
Great” showing his feet on the murdered king he had
body of Gaumata the false
been impersonating in
king; right hand raised giving order to take power.
thanks to Ahura-Mazda (per
inscriptions at Biston)
A close up of “Darius the
Great” on a larger than life
relief, part of a larger
picture of Darius receiving
honor
Full view of Biston, the
largest stone relief
and inscription in the world,
near Kermanshah, tells
much of the story of the
conquests of Darius
76 sequential
inscriptions and
numerous life-size
relief carvings tell
the story of Darius
and his rise to power
A Close view of the rock
relief and inscription
with Darius the Great
standing in front of his
defeated enemies. Fravahar,
the symbol of Ahura-Mazda
is seen above them.
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“Now he [Darius], while he was a private man,
had made a vow to God, that if he came to be
king, he would send all the vessels of God that
were in Babylon to the temple at Jerusalem.”
Cf. Antiquities of the Jews – Flavius Josephus
A.D. 93
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Reference the supporting word document
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Daniel 6 - Supporting - Flavius Josephus - Antiquities 11-3.docx
This is the story of Zarubbabel (Zorobabel in
Josephus) gaining the favor of the king,
reminding him of his oath, and gaining his
financial support and covering for the
rebuilding of the temple
Where did this godly influence come from?
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Ahura Mazda (Ahura Mazdā) is the Avestan language name
for a divinity exalted by Zoroaster as the one uncreated
Creator, hence God.
Central to Zoroaster's perception of Ahura Mazda is the
concept of asha, literally "truth", and in the extended sense,
the equitable law of the universe, which governed the life of
Zoroaster's people, the nomadic herdsmen of the Central
Asian steppes. For these, asha was the course of everything
observable, the motion of the planets and astral bodies, the
progression of the seasons, the pattern of daily nomadic
herdsman life, governed by regular metronomic events such
as sunrise and sunset. All physical creation (geti) was thus a
product of - and ran according to - a master plan, inherent to
Ahura Mazda, and violations of the order (druj) were
violations against creation, and thus violations against
Ahura Mazda.
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Daniel 6:1-5 ESV
(1) It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps, to be
throughout the whole kingdom;
(2) and over them three presidents, of whom Daniel was one, to
whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might
suffer no loss.
(3) Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other
presidents and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him.
And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.
(4) Then the presidents and the satraps sought to find a ground
for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they
could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was
faithful, and no error or fault was found in him.
(5) Then these men said, "We shall not find any ground for
complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with
the law of his God."
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Daniel 6:1-5 ESV
(1) It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps, to be
throughout the whole kingdom;
(2) and=over
them
three: presidents,
of whom Daniel was one, to
Satraps
‫ساتراپ‬
(Persian)
Provincial Governors
whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might
suffer no loss.
(3) Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other
presidents and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him.
And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.
(4) Then the presidents and the satraps sought to find a ground
for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they
could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was
faithful, and no error or fault was found in him.
(5) Then these men said, "We shall not find any ground for
complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with
the law of his God."
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Daniel 6:1-5 ESV
(1) It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps, to be
throughout the whole kingdom;
(2) and over them three presidents, of whom Daniel was one, to
whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might
suffer no loss.
(3) Then this
Daniel became distinguished above all the other
Presidents
= ‫סרך‬
presidents
and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him.
sâ
rêk
And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.
saw-rake'
(4) Then the
presidents
and
satraps
sought to find a ground
(Chaldee);
of foreign
origin;
anthe
emir:
- president.
for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they
could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was
faithful, and no error or fault was found in him.
(5) Then these men said, "We shall not find any ground for
complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with
the law of his God."
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Daniel 6:1-5 ESV
Jealousy crept in and overtook the other presidents, and satraps
(1) It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps, to be
(collectively
princes
in other historical writings)
throughout called
the whole
kingdom;
Because Daniel was known (cf. Josephus) for not accepting bribes
(2) and over them three presidents, of whom Daniel was one, to
he
couldthese
not be
trapped
or tricked
compromise
whom
satraps
should
giveinto
account,
so thatand
theruin.
king His
might
ethics
sufferpreserved
no loss. him
(3) Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other
presidents and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him.
And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.
(4) Then the presidents and the satraps sought to find a ground
for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they
could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was
faithful, and no error or fault was found in him.
(5) Then these men said, "We shall not find any ground for
complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with
the law of his God."
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Daniel
ESV his commitment to his God and sought to use it
But
they6:1-5
recognized
against
(1) It pleased
him… Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps, to be
throughout the whole kingdom;
Those
(2) and
who
over
refuse
them
to three
study presidents,
history are destined
of whom
toDaniel
becomewas
history
one, to
whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might
suffersaw
no that
loss.he prayed to his God three times a day, and so they
They
(3) Then
this Daniel
became
distinguished
allirrevocable
the other
sought
to entrap
him by
convincing
the king toabove
edict an
presidents
and satraps,
an excellent
spiritbefore
was in
him.
law
that all should
take a because
holiday from
any petitions
any
Andor
the
king
planned
set himself.
him over the whole kingdom.
man
any
gods,
but theto
king
(4) Then the presidents and the satraps sought to find a ground
for complaint
Daniel with
the kingdom,
but they
Under
the guiseagainst
of “mandating
good regard
for all” to
a “universal
break”
could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was
evil was being concocted towards Daniel AND towards the king.
faithful, and no error or fault was found in him.
(5) Then these men said, "We shall not find any ground for
complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with
the law of his God."
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Daniel 6:6-10 ESV
(6) Then these presidents and satraps came by agreement to the
king and said to him, "O King Darius, live forever!
(7) All the presidents of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps,
the counselors and the governors are agreed that the king should
establish an ordinance and enforce an injunction, that whoever
makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O
king, shall be cast into the den of lions.
(8) Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document,
so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes
and the Persians, which cannot be revoked."
(9) Therefore King Darius signed the document and injunction.
(10) When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he
went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber
open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a
day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done
previously.
Daniel 6:6-10 ESV
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(6) Then these presidents and satraps came by agreement to the
king and said to him, "O King Darius, live forever!
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(7) All the presidents of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps,
the counselors and the governors are agreed that the king should
establish an ordinance and enforce an injunction, that whoever
makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O
king, shall be cast into the den of lions.
Deception
(8) Now,
O king,
establish
the injunction
andand
signtalk
theofdocument,
(what
Darius
hated) started
with flattery
unity,
that
cannot
be changed,
to the
andso
led
to aitcall
for action
– you areaccording
the one who
can law
leadof
us!the
(A Medes
call we
and
the
Persians,
which
cannot
be
revoked."
all long to hear – beware of those who wish to be led as they may simply
be wanting
(9) Therefore
Darius
theofdocument
you to King
lead first
intosigned
the abyss
ill will) and injunction.
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(10) When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he
went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber
open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a
day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done
previously.
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Daniel 6:6-10 ESV
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Then these
andofsatraps
came by agreement to the
The(6)
reference
to thepresidents
irrevocability
Persian/Median/Achaemenid
king and said to him, "O King Darius, live forever!
Empire decrees, is corroborated by multiple sources. This was a
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(7) All the
presidents
of the
kingdom,
thefrom
satraps,
traditional
control
to limit the
weakness
of a the
kingprefects
inclinedand
to run
the counselors and the governors are agreed that the king should
theestablish
consequences
of a difficult
to inspire
careful consideration
an ordinance
andchoice,
enforce
an injunction,
that whoever
before
making
a
decree,
and
to
assert
the
quality
of
“asha”
on allto
the
makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except
you, O
king
publicly
king,
shallspoke
be cast into the den of lions.
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(8) Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document,
so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes
and the Persians, which cannot be revoked."
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(9) Therefore King Darius signed the document and injunction.
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(10) When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he
went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber
open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a
day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done
previously.
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Daniel 6:6-10 ESV
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(6) Then these presidents and satraps came by agreement to the
king and said to him, "O King Darius, live forever!
Was
(7)Daniel’s
All thedefiance
presidents
of the
theof
prefects
the satraps,
contrary
tokingdom,
the teachings
Paul in and
Romans
13?
the
counselors
and
the
governors
are
agreed
that
the
king
should
No! He was willing to pay the price. He was not operating outside the
establish an ordinance and enforce an injunction, that whoever
system,
butpetition
rather defying
openly,
but also
peaceably…
makes
to any justly
god orand
man
for thirty
days,
except to and
you, O
he was
willing
to
pay
the
price.
He
did
not
lack
respect
for
the
system,
king, shall be cast into the den of lions.
rather
could
tolerate
its defiance
of God’sand
requirements
upon

(8) he
Now,
Onot
king,
establish
the injunction
sign the document,
him.
so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes
Hisand
example
of ferventwhich
prayercannot
when cost
was high, is encouragement to
the Persians,
be revoked."
us that
should need
to pray
so much
more
the only
cost
is time.
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(9) Therefore
King
Darius
signed
thewhen
document
and
injunction.
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(10) When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he
went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber
open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a
day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done
previously.
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How comfortable would you be if you were being led into this cage at the zoo, knowing you
would stay the night, all alone, just with them and the other 15 or 20?
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Daniel 6:11-17 ESV
(11) Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and plea before his
God.
(12) Then they came near and said before the king, concerning the injunction, "O king! Did you not
sign an injunction, that anyone who makes petition to any god or man within thirty days except to
you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?" The king answered and said, "The thing stands
fast, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked."
(13) Then they answered and said before the king, "Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah,
pays no attention to you, O king, or the injunction you have signed, but makes his petition three
times a day."
(14) Then the king, when he heard these words, was much distressed and set his mind to deliver
Daniel. And he labored till the sun went down to rescue him.
(15) Then these men came by agreement to the king and said to the king, "Know, O king, that it is
a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or ordinance that the king establishes can be
changed."
(16) Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king
declared to Daniel, "May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!"
(17) And a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his
own signet and with the signet of his lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel.
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Daniel 6:18-24 ESV
(18) Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no
diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him.
(19) Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of
lions.
(20) As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of
anguish. The king declared to Daniel, "O Daniel, servant of the living God,
has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from
the lions?"
(21) Then Daniel said to the king, "O king, live forever!
(22) My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not
harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you,
O king, I have done no harm."
(23) Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be
taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind
of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
(24) And the king commanded, and those men who had maliciously accused
Daniel were brought and cast into the den of lions--they, their children, and
their wives. And before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions
overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces.
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Daniel 6:18-24 ESV
(18) Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no
diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him.
(19) Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of
lions.
The King didn’t sleep well…
(20) As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of
anguish. The king declared to Daniel, "O Daniel, servant of the living God,
has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from
the lions?"
(21) Then Daniel said to the king, "O king, live forever!
(22) My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not
harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you,
O king, I have done no harm."
(23) Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be
taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind
of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
(24) And the king commanded, and those men who had maliciously accused
Daniel were brought and cast into the den of lions--they, their children, and
their wives. And before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions
overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces.
How about Daniel?
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Daniel 6:18-24 ESV
(18) Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no
diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him.
(19) Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of
lions.
(20) As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of
anguish. The king declared to Daniel, "O Daniel, servant of the living God,
has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from
the lions?"
(21) Then Daniel said to the king, "O king, live forever!
(22) was
My about
God sent
his angel
and because
shut the Daniel,
lions' mouths,
and they
havehad
not
God
to receive
Glory
his faithful
servant
harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you,
defied
king’s
evilno
decree
and been willing to endure the
O king,the
I have
done
harm."
punishment
orking
consequences
it might
bring.
(23) Then the
was exceedingly
glad,
and commanded that Daniel be
taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind
of harm
was found
on him,of
because
he had
trusted in
God.
This
is a practical
example
the lesson
of Romans
14his
– resistance
(24) Andthe
thesystem.
king commanded, and those men who had maliciously accused
WITHIN
Daniel were brought and cast into the den of lions--they, their children, and
their wives. And before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions
overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces.
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Daniel 6:18-24 ESV
(18) Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no
Daniel’s
response
attributed
his preservation
God.him.
diversions
were brought
to him,
and sleep fledtofrom
We
pray
for things,
and
preserved
(19)often
Then,
at break
of day,
theeven
kingwhen
arose being
and went
in hastewe
to complain
the den of
of
our lack, yet Daniel was thankful for his preservation.
lions.
We
receive
and
thank
him for
preservation,
(20)should
As he also
camegladly
near to
the den
where
Daniel
was,
he cried out so
in awe
tone of
anguish.
The
Daniel, "O Daniel, servant of the living God,
can
be used
ofking
Goddeclared
the sametoway.
has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from
the lions?"
(21) Then Daniel said to the king, "O king, live forever!
(22) My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not
harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you,
O king, I have done no harm."
(23) Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be
taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind
of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
(24) And the king commanded, and those men who had maliciously accused
Daniel were brought and cast into the den of lions--they, their children, and
their wives. And before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions
overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces.
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Daniel 6:18-24 ESV
(18) Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no
The
reward were
of thebrought
malicious
princes
to discover
wrath of the king.
diversions
to him,
andwas
sleep
fled fromthe
him.
Josephus
tells
thatofthey
him
of feeding
theinLion’s
(19) Then,
at us
break
day,accused
the king
arose
and went
haste to
to save
the den of
lions. So even though he had witnessed a miracle overcoming their
Daniel.
(20) As hethey
came
near tohim
theof
den
where Daniel
criednot
outtolerate
in a tone of
treachery,
accused
orchestrating
it. was,
Theyhe
could
anguish.
Thelording
king declared
to Daniel,
Daniel,
servant of
the living God,
his
(Daniel’s)
over them,
and so"O
their
real motives
became
has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from
exceedingly
the lions?" apparent when they had exhausted all reason and began
accusing
their
ownsaid
kingtofor
failings
of their
treachery. They
(21) Then
Daniel
thethe
king,
"O king,
liveown
forever!
desired
toGod
be lifted
byand
impure
found
themselves
(22) My
sent up
his and
angel
shut methods
the lions'they
mouths,
and
they have not
being
thrown
down.
Josephus
tells
us
that
to
determine
if
they
were
right
harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also
before
you,
O king,
I have
no harm."
(the
Lion’s
weredone
not hungry)
he had them and all of their families cast
(23)the
Then
the Den…
king was
exceedingly them
glad, and broke
commanded
Daniel be
into
Lion’s
“overpowered
all theirthat
bones…”
taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind
of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
(24) And the king commanded, and those men who had maliciously accused
Daniel were brought and cast into the den of lions--they, their children, and
their wives. And before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions
overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces.
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Daniel 6:25-28 ESV
(25) Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations,
and languages that dwell in all the earth: "Peace be
multiplied to you.
(26) I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion
people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel,
for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom
shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the
end.
(27) He delivers and rescues; he works signs and
wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved
Daniel from the power of the lions."
(28) So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius
and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
Daniel 6:25-28 ESV
 (25) Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations,
and languages that dwell in all the earth: "Peace be
multiplied to you.
 (26) I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion
people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel,
for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom
shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the
end.
adversity
was eventually
rewarded
life and
prosperity
 Faith
(27)in He
delivers
and rescues;
hewith
works
signs
and
wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved
Contrast
to thethe
treachery
which
was rewarded
Danielthis
from
power
of the
lions." with death and tragedy
 (28) So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius
and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
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