Daniel 6 - Hunting Daniel
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
“On a yacht bound for Rio de Janeiro, a passenger named Whitney points out Ship-Trap Island in the distance, a place that sailors dread and avoid. He and his friend Rainsford are big-game hunters bound for a hunting trip in the Amazon River basin. As the yacht sails through the darkness, the two men discuss whether their prey actually feels fear. Rainsford believes that the world consists only of predators and prey, although Whitney is not as certain. Noticing the jitteriness of the crew, Whitney wants to sail past the mysterious island as soon as possible. He theorizes that sailors can sense danger and that evil emanates in waves like light and sound.
“Whitney then decides to turn in for the night, but Rainsford opts to smoke his pipe on the afterdeck for a while. Suddenly, he hears three gunshots in the distance and moves toward the railing of the deck to investigate. Hoisting himself onto the rail to try and get a better look, Rainsford drops his pipe, loses his balance in an attempt to catch it, and accidentally plunges into the water. His cries for help go unanswered, and the yacht quickly disappears into the night.
“Rainsford decides to swim in the gunshots’ direction. He hears the screeching sound of an animal in agony and heads straight for it, until the cries end abruptly with a pistol shot. Exhausted, Rainsford reaches the rocky shore and immediately falls into a deep sleep. He wakes the next afternoon and sets off in search of food, forced to skirt the thick growth of the jungle and walk along the shore. He soon comes to a bloody, torn-up patch of vegetation where a large animal had thrashed about. He finds an empty rifle cartridge nearby.
“He follows the hunter’s footprints in the growing darkness and eventually comes upon a palatial chateau at the edge of a precipice that drops steeply into the rocky ocean below. At first, Rainsford thinks the chateau is a mirage, until he opens the iron gate and knocks on the door. Ivan, a burly man with a gun, answers and refuses to help Rainsford until another man, General Zaroff, appears from inside the chateau and invites Rainsford inside.
“Zaroff greets Rainsford warmly and has Ivan show him to a room where he can dress for dinner. The huge, lavish dining hall features numerous stuffed and mounted heads, trophies that Zaroff has brought back from his many hunting adventures around the world. As the two men eat borscht, a red Russian soup made of beets, Rainsford praises his host’s specimens, remarking on how dangerous it can be to hunt Cape buffalo. Zaroff states that he now hunts far more dangerous game on his island. He recounts past hunts, from his childhood in the Crimea to hunting big game around the world, but goes on to describe how the sport eventually became too easy.
Zaroff hints, however, that he has found a new kind of animal to hunt, one with courage, cunning, and reason. Rainsford’s initial confusion turns to horror as he slowly realizes that the general now hunts human beings.”
That’s how Richard Connell’s short-story, The Most Dangerous Game, begins.
The most dangerous game to hunt is man, and in Daniel 6 we see some men hunting Daniel.
[READING - Daniel 6:1-9]
1 It seemed good to Darius to appoint 120 satraps over the kingdom, that they would be in charge of the whole kingdom, 2 and over them three commissioners (of whom Daniel was one), that these satraps might be accountable to them, and that the king might not suffer loss. 3 Then this Daniel began distinguishing himself among the commissioners and satraps because he possessed an extraordinary spirit, and the king planned to appoint him over the entire kingdom. 4 Then the commissioners and satraps began trying to find a ground of accusation against Daniel in regard to government affairs; but they could find no ground of accusation or evidence of corruption, inasmuch as he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption was to be found in him. 5 Then these men said, “We will not find any ground of accusation against this Daniel unless we find it against him with regard to the law of his God.” 6 Then these commissioners and satraps came by agreement to the king and spoke to him as follows: “King Darius, live forever! 7 “All the commissioners of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the high officials and the governors have consulted together that the king should establish a statute and enforce an injunction that anyone who makes a petition to any god or man besides you, O king, for thirty days, shall be cast into the lions’ den. 8 “Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document so that it may not be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be revoked.” 9 Therefore King Darius signed the document, that is, the injunction.
[TS] There are three STAGES to the hunt for Daniel…
Major Ideas
Major Ideas
Stage #1: The Trap is Set (Dan. 6:1-9)
Stage #1: The Trap is Set (Dan. 6:1-9)
[EXP]
Daniel’s hunters were looking for a reason (vv. 1-5)
Was is jealousy? Yes. <cf. 1-2a, 3>
Was it frustration? Yes. <cf. 4>
Daniel’s hunters hatch a plan (vv. 6-9)
Someone once said, “A man’s body is remarkably sensitive. Pat him on the back and his head swells.”
Such was the case with Darius.
And because of that flattery, Daniel would suffer.
[ILLUS] If we’re going to suffer, let it be for doing what’s right.
Remember the Apostles in Acts 5.
41 So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name.
They had done what’s right.
They had suffered for it.
They rejoiced.
In Daniel 6, Daniel will only suffer for what is right because they couldn’t find any wrong to make him suffer with.
5 Then these men said, “We will not find any ground of accusation against this Daniel unless we find it against him with regard to the law of his God.”
[APP] God says to us in 1 Peter 4:15-16…
15 Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; 16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.
[TS]…
Stage #2: The Trap is Sprung (Dan 6:10-18)
Stage #2: The Trap is Sprung (Dan 6:10-18)
10 Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously. 11 Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his God. 12 Then they approached and spoke before the king about the king’s injunction, “Did you not sign an injunction that any man who makes a petition to any god or man besides you, O king, for thirty days, is to be cast into the lions’ den?” The king replied, “The statement is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be revoked.” 13 Then they answered and spoke before the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the injunction which you signed, but keeps making his petition three times a day.” 14 Then, as soon as the king heard this statement, he was deeply distressed and set his mind on delivering Daniel; and even until sunset he kept exerting himself to rescue him. 15 Then these men came by agreement to the king and said to the king, “Recognize, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or statute which the king establishes may be changed.” 16 Then the king gave orders, and Daniel was brought in and cast into the lions’ den. The king spoke and said to Daniel, “Your God whom you constantly serve will Himself deliver you.” 17 A stone was brought and laid over the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing would be changed in regard to Daniel. 18 Then the king went off to his palace and spent the night fasting, and no entertainment was brought before him; and his sleep fled from him.
[EXP]
Daniel was caught in the practice of prayer (vv. 10-11)
10 Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously.
Daniel was brought before the King (vv. 12-18)
Darius learned about Daniel’s condemnation <12-13>
Darius labored to free Daniel from condemnation <14-15>
Darius lamented Daniel’s condemnation <16-18>
Darius said, “Your God who you constantly serve will Himself deliver you,” (Dan. 6:16).
OR other translations...
Darius said, “May your God whom you constantly serve deliver you Himself,” (Dan. 6:16).
BUT even if so…
Daniel would’ve said, “…even if He does not deliver me, let it be known to you, O king, that I am not going to stop praying to YHWH, my God.”
[ILLUS] Recall Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel 3.
Daniel 3:17-18, “…our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
They rested in the providence of God.
And like his friends, Daniel rested in the providence of God.
[APP] If we are going to suffer for doing what’s right, let’s rest in the providence of God.
He sometimes delivers from the fiery furnace and the lions den and sometimes He does not.
But He always does what is right as works everything according to the council of His will.
[TS]…
Stage #3: The Trap is Spun (Dan 6:19-28)
Stage #3: The Trap is Spun (Dan 6:19-28)
19 Then the king arose at dawn, at the break of day, and went in haste to the lions’ den. 20 When he had come near the den to Daniel, he cried out with a troubled voice. The king spoke and said to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you constantly serve, been able to deliver you from the lions?” 21 Then Daniel spoke to the king, “O king, live forever! 22 “My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths and they have not harmed me, inasmuch as I was found innocent before Him; and also toward you, O king, I have committed no crime.” 23 Then the king was very pleased and gave orders for Daniel to be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den and no injury whatever was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. 24 The king then gave orders, and they brought those men who had maliciously accused Daniel, and they cast them, their children and their wives into the lions’ den; and they had not reached the bottom of the den before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones. 25 Then Darius the king wrote to all the peoples, nations and men of every language who were living in all the land: “May your peace abound! 26 “I make a decree that in all the dominion of my kingdom men are to fear and tremble before the God of Daniel; For He is the living God and enduring forever, And His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed, And His dominion will be forever. 27 “He delivers and rescues and performs signs and wonders In heaven and on earth, Who has also delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.” 28 So this Daniel enjoyed success in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
[EXP]
Daniel is delivered (vv. 19-23)
22 “My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths and they have not harmed me, inasmuch as I was found innocent before Him; and also toward you, O king, I have committed no crime.”
The angel was perhaps the angel of the Lord, a preincarnate appearance of Jesus.
The Lord had declared Daniel innocent although his accusers and Darius condemned him.
Daniel’s accusers are condemned (v. 24)
This is where the tables are turned.
27 He who digs a pit will fall into it, And he who rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
Daniel and his God are exalted (vv. 25-28)
He was supposed to be eaten by lions, but instead he enjoyed success.
Fear and tremble before the God of Daniel.
[ILLUS] In Psalm 57, David prayed to be rescued from Saul.
6 They have prepared a net for my steps; My soul is bowed down; They dug a pit before me; They themselves have fallen into the midst of it. Selah.
Perhaps this is what Daniel prayed in the lions’ den.
This is certainly what happened to Daniel’s accusers and their families; they perished in the trap they made for Daniel.
[APP] When we suffer for doing what’s right, let us entrust ourselves to Him who judges justly.
Jesus is the perfect example of one who trusted His Father while suffering unjustly.
23 and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;
Like Daniel, we must follow the way of Jesus when we suffer unjustly.
When we suffer for doing what’s right, let us entrust ourselves to Him who must be exalted.
21 For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps,
The suffering of Jesus resulted in the glory of God.
When we follow His example, as Daniel did, the result of our suffering is the glory of God.
When we suffer for doing what’s right, let us entrust ourselves to Him who rewards generously.
20 For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.
The reward for faithfulness in suffering is favor with God.
Favor with God may not equate to increased earthly success as it did for Daniel, but it will equate to heavenly reward when Jesus comes.
[TS]…
Conclusion
Conclusion
Before we go, consider Daniel 6:17 again…
17 A stone was brought and laid over the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing would be changed in regard to Daniel.
Then the angel came and shut the lions’ mouths, and Daniel came out without scratch.
Many years later, after Jesus died to pay the price for our sins on the cross, Matthew 27:66 says…
66 And they went and made the grave secure, and along with the guard they set a seal on the stone.
Surely they thought nothing would be changed in regard to Jesus.
But then Sunday morning came and Jesus rose again, but Jesus came out with a few scars.
How we love those scars.
They remind us the price our Savior paid to deliver us from the pit of death.
[PRAYER]