Daniel, Chaper 6

8 quick lessons, pick your top 3

Review

Chapter 5, Handwriting on the wall story - lack of humility brought a quick end to Babylonian rule, and a whole new regime and administration is now in charge.

Daniel 6:1–2 NLT

1 Darius the Mede decided to divide the kingdom into 120 provinces, and he appointed a high officer to rule over each province. 2 The king also chose Daniel and two others as administrators to supervise the high officers and protect the king’s interests.

King divides this large empire into 120 sections, and each has a leader. Then the king put three people over these 120 leaders. (40 each).

Daniel was one of these top three

Daniel 6:3 NASB95

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.

Daniel did such a great job, so trustworthy, that the king was going to elevate him over everybody.

Daniel 6:4–5 NLT

4 Then the other administrators and high officers began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling government affairs, but they couldn’t find anything to criticize or condemn. He was faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy. 5 So they concluded, “Our only chance of finding grounds for accusing Daniel will be in connection with the rules of his religion.”

Maybe because of jealousy, greed, want for power, and probably not wanting to be under an honest person . . . the other guys started looking dirt on Daniel . . . . but could find any (no skeletons in the closes after 50 years of service)

The only thing they could do was use his dedication to his God to trap him

Most people worshipped many gods, and had no strong allegiance or dedication to any god . . . but dedicated Jews like Daniel insisted on serving only one God and Him alone. (This was very different and weird for their time). They will use this difference to set him up

Lesson #1 - Live right

we should strive to live a life that the only thing people can use against us is our religion (because people are watching and/or digging)

they only thing they can say . . .

you are narrow minded

you think you are so holy

you are too churchy for me

(sign that you are living a Christian life before them)

and NOT live a life where they have plenty to say, you can’t tell me nothing because . . .

you have a side chick/side dude

stealing from the job like the rest of us

cussed everybody out last week

you gossip more than we do

you lie all the time

if you have made a mistake (as we all have), you should be able to say, “True, I did it, and I repented of that”

Daniel 6:6–9 NLT

6 So the administrators and high officers went to the king and said, “Long live King Darius! 7 We are all in agreement—we administrators, officials, high officers, advisers, and governors—that the king should make a law that will be strictly enforced. Give orders that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human—except to you, Your Majesty—will be thrown into the den of lions. 8 And now, Your Majesty, issue and sign this law so it cannot be changed, an official law of the Medes and Persians that cannot be revoked.” 9 So King Darius signed the law.

they set a trap for Daniel by appealing to the king’s ego . . . make a law that no one can pray to anyone for 30 days except for you . . . you are a god . . . and if they break this law they must be thrown into the lion’s den

In this culture if a king made a law, it could not be revoked or changed, not even by the king. . . once decreed, that was it

upheld the notion that the king is a god - he cannot make mistakes. You never told a king directly that he was wrong

Daniel 6:10 NLT

10 But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.

Lesson #2 - You HAVE time for a strong prayer life

I know you are busy, but Daniel was busy too. He is over a third of the kingdom . . . for us that’s equivalent to being over 16 of the 50 states. Yet he found time to pause three times each day to pray.

Lack of a strong prayer life reveals a lot about what you think of God

God doesn’t answer prayer

it’s really not worth my time, I could be doing something else more important

I don’t need God that much

Lesson #3 - Let thanksgiving be a daily part of your prayer life

“giving thanks to his God” praying and giving thanks” - note that giving thanks was a part of his daily prayer, even when he knew he was being set up (even in tough times)

giving thanks is a good starter

Daniel knew it was a trap and knew he would get in trouble, so why did he pray, and pray with windows open towards Jerusalem?

Lesson #4 - Let Scripture guide your prayers

way back before Daniel was even born, this was Solomon’s prayer when dedicating the temple of God

1 Kings 8:46–50 NLT

46 “If they sin against you—and who has never sinned?—you might become angry with them and let their enemies conquer them and take them captive to their land far away or near. 47 But in that land of exile, they might turn to you in repentance and pray, ‘We have sinned, done evil, and acted wickedly.’ 48 If they turn to you with their whole heart and soul in the land of their enemies and pray toward the land you gave to their ancestors—toward this city you have chosen, and toward this Temple I have built to honor your name— 49 then hear their prayers and their petition from heaven where you live, and uphold their cause. 50 Forgive your people who have sinned against you. Forgive all the offenses they have committed against you. Make their captors merciful to them,

after this prayer, Fire came down and burnt up the offering and the glory of the Lord was so heavy that the priest could not even enter the building

Daniel was standing on the word of God

God promised to maintain my cause/fight for me

God promised to forgive my people and cause the people who have captured us to have compassion on us

King Darius signed a law, but Daniel is trusting in a higher law

Let scripture guide your prayer too . . . my favorite

My God shall supply all your need

bless me according to your goodness, unfailing love, mercy, kindness . . . I come to a throne of grace

Psalms is a good book to use - see many of the same feelings you have about situations now

Daniel 6:11 NLT

11 Then the officials went together to Daniel’s house and found him praying and asking for God’s help.

Daniel not only gave thanks, but asked for God’s help during his prayers . . . making supplications

Lesson #5 - ask for God’s help when you pray

whatever it is, don’t be too proud, don’t worry about feeling unworthy . . . ask for help, spell it out!

v 12-15

Daniel got caught because he wasn’t hiding, and they told the king

The king liked Daniel and recognized this was politics, a plot against Daniel but there was nothing he could do because laws could not be changed.

Daniel 6:16 NLT

16 So at last the king gave orders for Daniel to be arrested and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to him, “May your God, whom you serve so faithfully, rescue you.”

So they threw Daniel into the lion’s den

the fact that Daniel served the God of Israel was no secret . . .

I can’t deliver you

may your God whom you serve faithfully, deliver you

Lesson #1 was try to live right

a part of living right is being faithful (steady) in living right, not seasonal (some-timey)

people know if we are seasonal or all year long

v 17-18

A stone was brought to cover the mouth of the den and a seal of the king was put on it . . . so that no one would try to rescue Daniel

King went to his palace and fasted. couldn’t sleep

Daniel 6:19–23 NLT

19 Very early the next morning, the king got up and hurried out to the lions’ den. 20 When he got there, he called out in anguish, “Daniel, servant of the living God! Was your God, whom you serve so faithfully, able to rescue you from the lions?” 21 Daniel answered, “Long live the king! 22 My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty.” 23 The king was overjoyed and ordered that Daniel be lifted from the den. Not a scratch was found on him, for he had trusted in his God.

Lesson #6 - God CAN rescue you

(from the worst of situations)

not killed, not even an injury because he trusted in his God

Daniel 6:24 NLT

24 Then the king gave orders to arrest the men who had maliciously accused Daniel. He had them thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. The lions leaped on them and tore them apart before they even hit the floor of the den.

wow talking about a plot backfiring - evil people are plotting on themselves

Lesson #7 - Don’t worry about people plotting on you.

(You just be faithful to God.)

Proverbs 26:27 NLT

27 If you set a trap for others, you will get caught in it yourself. If you roll a boulder down on others, it will crush you instead.

Daniel 6:25–27 NLT

25 Then King Darius sent this message to the people of every race and nation and language throughout the world: “Peace and prosperity to you! 26 “I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel. For he is the living God, and he will endure forever. His kingdom will never be destroyed, and his rule will never end. 27 He rescues and saves his people; he performs miraculous signs and wonders in the heavens and on earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.”

different king

different empire

different nationality

different circumstances

same conclusion - . . .

Lesson #8 - Ain’t nobody like our God

our God is an awesome God!

Daniel 6:28 NASB95

28 So this Daniel enjoyed success in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

Daniel was successful during the reigns of Darius and the next king

8 Lessons Review

1 - Live Right

2 - You have time for a strong prayer life

3 - Let thanks be a daily part of your prayer life

4 - let scripture guide your prayers

5 - ask for God’s help when you pray

6 - God can rescue you

7 - Don’t worry about people plotting on you

8 - ain’t nobody like our God

Announcements

Each one reach one - invitation image is going out at 8pm tonight, you can text it or email it to friends (have some printed out invitation cards this Sunday)