Daniel: Living a Life of Integrity Chapter 6 Part 2

Announcements:

Prayer on Tuesday at 5 PM, here at the church

No SG this week

On Oct. 31 OFA will be hosting an event here at the church. I’m still figuring out the details, but put that on your calendars if you would like to be a part. Last year we didn’t do anything.

Preaching Calendar

Lonnie’s son will be bringing down supplies to a church in N. Carolina.

Introduction:

Good morning, today we are continuing our series in the book of Daniel. We are continuing in Chapter 6, which I decided to break up into 2 parts.I’m not going to take much time to recap, as we have much to cover. I’ll do a recap of the series next week.

Last week we began Daniel chapter 6, which is the very well known story of Daniel and the Lion’s den. In the timeline of the book of Daniel, by the time we get to chapter 6, the Babylonian empire has fallen, defeated by the Medo-Persian empire. Nebuchadnezzar is dead and a guy named Darius has become King. Like the kings before him, Daniel found much favor in his eyes…however, was very much disliked by his peers…the other people in the kingdom that were also in leadership.

Because of this, they conspired against Daniel by getting King Darius to sign a new law that forbade people from praying to or even acknowledging any form of authority, other than King Darius. In other words, it made Daniel’s regular habit of praying to the God of Israel illegal and punishable by death…more specificity, being thrown into a lion’s den. Probably not a pleasant way to go.

Daniel 6 Outline

I. The Prominence of Daniel (6:1–3)

II. The Plot of the leaders (6:4–9)

III. The Prayer of Daniel (6:10–11)

IV. The Prosecution of Daniel (6:12–18)

V. The Preservation of Daniel (6:19–24)

VI. The Pronouncement of the king (6:25–28)

Conclusion: The Extraordinary Spirit of Daniel

Last week we covered verses 1-11, or Roman Numerals 1-3; this wee we will pick up in verse 12 and cover roman numerals 4-6. As we ended last week, Daniel had been caught praying, surprise, surprise. Let’ pick up the story and find out what happens next. Let’s begin with verse 12.

IV. The Prosecution of Daniel (6:12–18)

Last week we covered verses 1-11, or Roman Numerals 1-3; this wee we will pick up in verse 12 and cover roman numerals 4-6. As we ended last week, Daniel had been caught praying, surprise, surprise. The men who conspired against Daniel knew him 0well enough to know that he would not stop praying to God, even though a law was enacted. Once they see Daniel praying, these men run to the king to tattle. Let’ pick up the story and find out what happens next. Let’s begin with verse 12.

Daniel 6:12 “So they approached the king and asked about his edict: “Didn’t you sign an edict that for thirty days any person who petitions any god or man except you, the king, will be thrown into the lions’ den?” The king answered, “As a law of the Medes and Persians, the order stands and is irrevocable.””

If you were not here last week or have not watched the sermon online, I would encourage you to check it out, as I dive into the evil motivation of these men conspiring against Daniel. The Medo-Persian dynasty was a bit different than that of Babylon…it was different in 2 significant areas:

Babylon: Kings are not gods; Medo-Persian: Kings are gods

Like the ancient Egyptians, the Medo-Persian kings thought themselves to be gods…perfect. For all of Babylon’s problems, the kings were not considered gods…they had “patron gods” that would bless them with favor, but they did not think themselves actual gods.

Because of this difference, King Darius, who was presented as a perfect God could not nullify a law that he had enacted. Nullifying a law means that the law was not perfect and therefore, the one who enacted the law was not perfect. There was one caveat to this rule, another “greater” god could intervene and nullify the rule. However, what are the chances of that happening?

So, the men remind the king of the law…which he then admits that the law can not be taken back. The men then reply to the king, starting in verse 13:

Daniel 6:13–15 “Then they replied to the king, “Daniel, one of the Judean exiles, has ignored you, the king, and the edict you signed, for he prays three times a day.” As soon as the king heard this, he was very displeased; he set his mind on rescuing Daniel and made every effort until sundown to deliver him. Then these men went together to the king and said to him, “You know, Your Majesty, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no edict or ordinance the king establishes can be changed.””

It’s a very real possibility that the men sensed some hesitation or even regret in the king for foolishly signing this law into effect. After all, Darius valued Daniel very highly and these men standing there accusing Daniel knew this. Whether the men knew it or not, they had actually put themselves in a very precarious and dangerous situation....I’ll come back to that in a few minutes.

Notice what the men say to the king…they don’t come to him and simply say…Daniel has broken the law. No, they first remind the king that Daniel was a Jew…this was not meant to be a compliment. Next, they tell Darius…listen, this great guy just ignored the law you just signed. In other words…this foreigner, who doesn’t even belong here just disobeyed a direct order. These men were trying to paint Daniel in the worse possible light, hoping the King’s anger for being disobeyed would overrule his affection for Daniel.

That did not happen though. Verse 14 says that the King was “displeased,” (which is probably an understatement) but not only that, Darius liked Daniel so much that he wanted to find a way to rescue him, without going back on the law. This was not possible though, the King had made a foolish decision because he fell victim to flattery…which we talked about last week.

Daniel 6:16–18 (CSB) So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you continually serve, rescue you!” A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den. The king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing in regard to Daniel could be changed. Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting. No diversions were brought to him, and he could not sleep.

One of the resources I use had this to say about this section of Daniel chapter 6:

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament (Daniel Chapter 6)

“The king realized what a fool he had been, but even his power and wealth could not alter the law of the Medes and Persians. God did not want Darius to deliver Daniel; that was a privilege He was reserving for Himself. Daniel was not depending on the king either (Ps. 146:1–6). He had learned long ago to trust the living God. God did not want to save Daniel from the lions’ den; He wanted to deliver him out of it.”

The king was besides himself over the situation that he had caused. Imagine the evil delight of the men who put all of this into motion by going to the king and getting him to make a new law. Imagine the absolute hate you must have for a person to want to see them eaten alive by lions. Think for a moment about why these men hated Daniel so much. Was it because Daniel was cruel to people and was vengeful to his enemies? Had Daniel done something to these men that would cause such resentment and disdain? Absolutely not. While Daniel wasn’t Christ, so he wasn’t perfect, Daniel is one of the best examples in scripture of a man who lives with integrity and uprightness. There is nothing the enemy and people being used by the enemy hate more than a person who lives with humility, meekness, and devotion to the Lord. We will come back to that idea when I wrap up.

So, the king summoned Daniel and, much to his displeasure, threw Daniel in the lion’s den. From what I’ve read about Persian kings, it was common for royalty to have exotic animals…not a lot different than today, if you look at the Oil Barons in the middle east. There is actually a psychological reason behind why individuals feel the need to keep dangerous and exotic animals. Only wealthy people do it, because it is very, very expensive, as you can imagine.

Perhaps you remember,. but when Mike Tyson was in his prime, he bought 3 white tigers and kept them at his house. I suppose it makes sense if Tyson buys tigers why Michael Jackson kept monkeys....anyway. sorry. Also important to mention, the lions would be kept hungry…which would make them very aggressive and angry.Of course the king knew this. Verses 17 and 18 explain that the King basically wished Daniel luck (sorry Daniel, good luck) then was up all night worrying about Daniel. Verse 18 said that no

“diversions”

were brought to the king.

Diversions can mean many things. Other translations say: that no music was played for the king, or no musicians were brought in for the king. The NIV says that no entertainment was brought in for the king. Entertainment is probably the best way to describe the word diversions.

So, Daniel is now in a den of hungry lions. King Darius is a nervous wreck…which again, tells us exactly how much the Persian king cared for Daniel. Have you ever had a night where you couldn’t sleep because your mind was racing or you were worried about something? Imagine that you got in a bad care accident and the person you hit had to be airlifted to the hospital…you had no idea whether or not the person would live or die, but you are told to go home and wait to hear from the police. Do you think you could sleep that night? I hope not. Well, times that by a factor of 10 and we might get close to how the king was feeling that night.

Well, morning finally arrives,

V. The Preservation of Daniel (6:19–24)

Daniel 6:19–20 “At the first light of dawn the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. When he reached the den, he cried out in anguish to Daniel. “Daniel, servant of the living God,” the king said, “has your God, whom you continually serve, been able to rescue you from the lions?”

Verse 19 again lets us know the mental condition that the king was in as he approaches the lions den…he calls out in anguish Notice that the king calls out to Daniel, not with a statement, but with a question. The king had some hope that Daniel would be OK, after all, there is no reason to call out to someone you know for a fact isn’t going to answer back; but because Darius places his hope on his crown and authority, he doubted Daniel’s God and his ability to deliver Daniel out of this situation.

Of course, Daniel does answer the king

Daniel 6:21–22 “Then Daniel spoke with the king: “May the king live forever. My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths; and they haven’t harmed me, for I was found innocent before him. And also before you, Your Majesty, I have not done harm.””

It is interesting to compare the anguish of King Darius versus the seemingly clam demenour of Daniel. Think about how easy it would have been for Daniel to sit there in the lion’s den and just stew all night; letting his unforgiveness and resentment build at the injustice that has been done to him. Instead of that though, Daniel responds to the King with respect, using the formal greeting that was common back then...”May the King live forever.” Today this saying has changed a bit, when the King of England is announced, you will often hear: Long may he reign” or “may his reign be long.” I suppose that is a bit more humble sounding.

Daniel tells the King that God had delivered him from the lions…not only that though…and notice what Daniel says here:

for I was found innocent before him. And also before you, Your Majesty, I have not done harm

There has been considerable debate about what Daniel meant by his words. Of course we will never know for sure, but we can, perhaps make some reliable inferences, given what we know about Daniel.

Daniel makes 3 claims:

1. He was found innocent before “Him” (God)

2. He was found innocent before the King.

3. He (Daniel) did no harm.

Think of Daniel getting thrown into the lion’s den and then being declared innocent before God and the King as an old style trial by combat. In trial by combat, the person charged with a crime could fight or choose someone to fight the crown’s champion. If that person is able to beat the champion, then they were declared innocent of all charges. Daniel being thrown into the lion’s den was, in a sense, trial by combat. Daniel chose God to represent him, and you can’t get better than that. Therefore, Daniel declares that he has been found innocent before God and before the king.

His final statement, that he did no harm is directed toward the king and is speaking to the kings reputation. Even though Daniel had indeed broken the hastily written and foolish law, Daniel coming out victorious via the trial by combat means that the king’s reputation is still intact. Daniel did not say to the King: Told you so…ha-ha, you idiot, you should be ashamed of yourself.

After discovering that Daniel is alive, the King has a sense of relief. Now that he knows Daniel has survived, he now turns his anger against the men who conspired against Daniel.

Daniel 6:23–24 “The king was overjoyed and gave orders to take Daniel out of the den. When Daniel was brought up from the den, he was found to be unharmed, for he trusted in his God. The king then gave the command, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and thrown into the lions’ den—they, their children, and their wives. They had not reached the bottom of the den before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.”

Perhaps for the first time, Darius sees that Daniel truly serves a God that is greater and more powerful than his own gods, or even the one that he is supposed to represent. Verse 23 says that Daniel was brought up out of the den unharmed, “For he trusted in his God” I love this simple, yet powerful statement of faith. Daniel is the kind of guy who’s faith increases with adversity. He faith is not damaged when faced with devastating circumstances. This is one of the many reasons why, in scripture, Daniel is one of the greatest examples for us to follow.

In verse 24 we get the King’s reaction to Daniel’s succeeding in this trial by combat. Earlier on I mentioned that the only way in the Medo-Persian society for a law to be overwritten is when another deity intervenes and nullifies the law. As you can imagine, this probably had never happened…outside of a super rare instance of coincide. I say that because, although the devil is very much real, the god’s they worshiped were not…they are merely extensions of the enemy.

I do like to point out, just for the record, even though the King decided to take such drastic actions, that does not mean it comes from our Lord. Hopefully that goes without saying…but I like to say it anyway. Let’s now finish up the chapter by looking at the King’s pronouncement in verses 25-28

VI. The Pronouncement of the king (6:25–28)

Daniel 6:25–28 “Then King Darius wrote to those of every people, nation, and language who live on the whole earth: “May your prosperity abound. I issue a decree that in all my royal dominion, people must tremble in fear before the God of Daniel: For he is the living God, and he endures forever; his kingdom will never be destroyed, and his dominion has no end. He rescues and delivers; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth, for he has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.” So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.”

Much like King Nebuchadnezzar, Darius makes a decree that the God of Israel must be feared above the other god’s. I do not wish to make light of it, as it’s a good think that Darius made this declaration, but it reminds me of when our government will release an official statement, paying lip service to something, but in the end, it doesn’t really mean anything. What Darius declares is very true, but at the end of the day, the God of Israel was considered just one of many gods. Not only that, and maybe this is just my own personal issue, I have a hard time taking the decree serious, as the man just murdered women and children.

The story of Daniel and the lion’s den is a great example of how, when we have chosen God as our champion, we can rest in perfect safety, no matter our circumstances. This is why Jesus tells us not to fear people

Matthew 10:28 “Don’t fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

The Extraordinary Spirit of Daniel:

Last week I introduced the idea that Daniel is one of the best examples in Scripture, other than Christ, of a man who displays the character qualities outlined in the beatitudes. In the beginning of Chapter 6, the writer says that King Darius liked Daniel because he an an “extraordinary spirit.”

Daniel 6:3 “Daniel distinguished himself above the administrators and satraps because he had an extraordinary spirit, so the king planned to set him over the whole realm.”

Daniel was highly regarded by the king…this becomes very clear later in the chapter when he puts Daniel in the lion’s den. So, last week I posed the question:

How can we grow to resemble the extraordinary spirit seen in Daniel?

I realize this is a pretty big topic, one that I can only briefly cover in the next 10 minutes. It’s my hope though that by drawing a comparison between Daniel and the Beatitudes that we can better visualize what these character qualities look like when faced with overwhelming circumstances. In fact, I am working on a lengthy study of how different men and women in the O.T. displayed the various qualities that Jesus describes in the Beatitudes. It will either be a Sunday morning series next year or a less formal midweek study. There are a number of O.T. individuals that display these character qualities, but Daniel stands out in that crowd for sure.

Let’s quickly look at the character qualities that Jesus describes in Matthew chapter 5, versus 3 to 10. I have included the verse in your handout.

Matthew 5:3–10 (CSB) “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the humble, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

The first four Beatitudes summarize the attitude of the true disciple of Christ.

“Poor in spirit” recognize their helplessness and have no one to trust but God;

“They that mourn” are keenly conscious of their sin and deeply sensitive to the needs of others;

“The meek” are the teachable, those who are always willing to learn new truth and new ways;

Those who “hunger and thirst after righteousness” have an insatiable longing for a deeper relationship with God.

If the first 4 are about our attitude, the next 3 are focused more on our activity..or, how we live out the first 4.

“show mercy,” bending down in the spirit of Christ to bind up the wounds and lift the spirits of the broken lives;

“pure in heart,” singleness of purpose—they are absolutely committed to one overriding mission in life—to live as a disciple of the kingdom;

“the peacemakers,” actively involved in making peace and reconciling the hostile and estranged.

Jesus concludes these seven Beatitudes with the warning that such a life will bring persecution…yet those who endure the race, as Paul puts it, will inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. At the same time, while no doubt, it will bring persecution, at the same time, it brings honor and respect from those who appreciate a person who lives with humility and integrity.

Daniel almost perfectly mirrors every one of the character qualities and their corresponding actions. Daniel was, indeed, persecuted by those who live with jealousy, envy, or malice in their hearts…yet he was also appreciated by many, even those who did not follow the God of Israel. k

Such a life is the secret of true happiness and contentment, no matter how difficult the way may be. Living out these character qualities allows us to take a nap in the lion’s den, as we have chose Christ as our Champion!

It is my challenge for all of us this week to chose just 1 of the first 4 beatitudes and begin to pray very intentionally to the Lord that He begins to work that character quality into our lives. Let’s not forget that our own effort will always come up short. Again, like Daniel, we must be in constant contact with the Lord, relying on the Holy Spirit to affect change in our lives. Also note, the enemy and our society has counterfeits for every one of these qualities. Character qualities that may look similar from the outside, but are, in reality, all about “me.” Spiritual pride and a wrapped sense of “tolerance” are good examples of this.

PRAY

I look forward to sharing more about these things once my study is complete.