Trial By Ordeal

Refresher on King Nebuchadnezzar and the Fiery Furnace

Golden statue made to be worshipped

Some refused to bow to it

The king was furious with rage

There was a fourth man in the fire

King Darius and the Lion’s Den

Daniel appointed top administrator

Other administrators got jealous and sought to discredit him

No corruption could be found in Daniel, so they conspired to trap him using his faithfulness to God

King Darius and the Lion’s Den

Jealous conspirators tricked the king into making a law that would make Daniel’s faithfulness illegal and punishable by death

Daniel continued in his faithfulness, despite the new law

Conspirators presented an indictment of Daniel to the king

Daniel 6:13–23 NIV

13 Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.” 14 When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him. 15 Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, “Remember, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.” 16 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 serve continually, rescue you!” 17 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. 18 Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep. 19 At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. 20 When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?” 21 Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! 22 My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.” 23 The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.

The King’s Response

Greatly distressed

Determined to rescue Daniel

Unable to save Daniel by any human means

Prayed for Daniel

Daniel 6:16 NIV

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 serve continually, rescue you!”

God Saved Daniel

Sent His angel to close the mouths of the lions

“because I was found innocent in his sight”

King Darius rejoiced!

Similar Stories, Different Characters

An angry king applied capital punishment out of wrath and mocked God as unable to save the convicted

A distressed king was forced to apply capital punishment after being tricked and prayed that God would save the convicted

Same Outcome

God showed His power to be sovereign above all human efforts

No matter the intentions of the efforts or the injustice of the circumstances

Living Within His Will

Following God doesn’t make conflict go away

It doesn’t even guarantee rescue from conflict

But it does mean that no authority on Earth is sovereign over the conflict

Will you recognize God’s Sovereignty over Earthly circumstances?

Are you fighting against God as Nebuchadnezzar was?

Are you fighting in place of God as Darius was?

Like Darius, will you declare God’s sovereignty over His kingdom?

Daniel 6:25–27 NIV

25 Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language in all the earth: “May you prosper greatly! 26 “I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. “For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. 27 He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.”