Faith in Times of Trouble

Daniel 6:10-11,14,16,19-23,26,27

Daniel’s Response to the Decree (Daniel 6:10-11)

Daniel 6:10 “Although Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he continued to go to his house, which had windows in its upper room open toward Jerusalem, and to get down on his knees three times a day to pray to his God and praise him, just as he had done previously.”

Daniel makes a decision to obey God rather than man’s law. He refused to compromise his beliefs

Praying toward Jerusalem symbolizes praying to God.

Kneeling meant that he humbled himself and praying 3 times a day shows consistency to talk to God.

“He had previously done”…means that he didn’t change his daily routine because of the new decree. (Faith)

Daniel 6:11 “The conspirators came and found Daniel praying and seeking mercy before his God.”

They knew exactly what Daniel was doing.

In verse 10 Daniel is praying a prayer of Thanksgiving. Now in verse 11 Daniel is asking God for help

Daniel 6:14 “When the king heard the charge, he was very much distressed. He was determined to save Daniel, and until the sun went down he made every effort to rescue him.”

The king is distressed because he finds out that the decree that the consipirators approached him about was not to honor him as king but to eliminate Daniel

The king respected Daniel, and he was deteremined to rescue Daniel.

According to the law, the criminal had to face their punishment the same day of the crime. Therefore, the king only had until sun down to find a loophole in the law.

Daniel 6:16 “Then the king gave the command, and Daniel was brought and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you faithfully serve, deliver you!””

When devotion to God turns to deliverance. Daniel lived a life of devotion where others saw that his devotion could led to his deliverance.

The king shifts responsibility from his hand to Daniel’s God (He will deliver you)

It is comforting in this verse to see a friend have hope in you and your situation. However, Daniel’s hope was in God whom could deliver him.

Daniel 6:19 “Then, at break of day, the king got up and hurried to the den of lions.”

Daniel 6:20 “When he came near the den where Daniel was, he cried out anxiously to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God whom you faithfully serve been able to deliver you from the lions?””

Spirit of Expectations here by the king. The king was calling for Daniel before he arrived at the pit.

Daniel 6:21 “Daniel then said to the king, “O king, live forever!”

Daniel 6:22 “My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no wrong.””

Here is the deliverance. When you are faithful to God especially in times of trouble, then he will deliver you.

Man may find you guilty and falsely accuse you, but when you don’t compromise your status as a child of God, then God who has the final verdict will deliver you from the hands of your conspirators.

When you have faith during times of trouble, then the things around you that should harm you (lions) are made to behave and not harm you.

Daniel 6:23 “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.”

Daniel believed and trusted in God

Just like last week when the 3 Hebrew boys came out the furnace not even smelling like smoke. Daniel had no harm happened to him.

Exercising faith during times of trouble helps to endure those times.

Daniel 6:26 “I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people should 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 has no end.”

King Darius acknowledges and makes another decree. The first decree was suggested by individuals that wanted to use religion as a way to trap people. This new decree by the King was motivated by the words...”the day you hear my voice, harden not thy heart”.

In my opinion, to truly be an effective christian during times of trouble, you have to exercise your faith.

Daniel exercised his faith during times of trouble and the people watching him also believed and exercised faith. (You fear of God should inspire others to fear God too)

We cannot expect the government to create a decree to make you follow the Living God. You have to make a personal decision.

Daniel 6:27 “He delivers and rescues, he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth; for he has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.””

God is a saviour and deliverer. He performs miracle in heaven and on earth

God does not perform miracles to show off but to demonstrate to a lost world that he is the True God and should be reverenced