The Lions’ Den
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Handout
The last time we went through Daniel, Belshazzar was having a feast to celebrate himself when he saw the fingers of a hand writing on the wall. Daniel came in and read what the writing had said and told Belshazzar that God was taking the kingdom from him and giving it to the Persians. In one night the Persian empire came in and captured Babylon. Today we pick up with Daniel serving under a new king named Darius, ruler of the Persian empire.
Here is an excerpt from the Ancient Greek historian Herodotus about a hundred and fifty years after.
The Babylonians, encamped without their walls, awaited his coming. A battle was fought at a short distance from the city, in which the Babylonians were defeated by the Persian king, whereupon they withdrew within their defenses. Here they shut themselves up, and made light of his siege, having laid in a store of provisions for many years in preparation against this attack; for when they saw Cyrus conquering nation after nation, they were convinced that he would never stop, and that their turn would come at last.
[1.191] Cyrus was now reduced to great perplexity, as time went on and he made no progress against the place. In this distress either some one made the suggestion to him, or he bethought himself of a plan, which he proceeded to put in execution. He placed a portion of his army at the point where the river enters the city, and another body at the back of the place where it issues forth, with orders to march into the town by the bed of the stream, as soon as the water became shallow enough: he then himself drew off with the unwarlike portion of his host, and made for the place where Nitocrisnote dug the basin for the river, where he did exactly what she had done formerly: he turned the Euphrates by a canal into the basin, which was then a marsh, on which the river sank to such an extent that the natural bed of the stream became fordable.
Hereupon the Persians who had been left for the purpose at Babylon by the, river-side, entered the stream, which had now sunk so as to reach about midway up a man's thigh, and thus got into the town. Had the Babylonians been apprised of what Cyrus was about, or had they noticed their danger, they would never have allowed the Persians to enter the city, but would have destroyed them utterly; for they would have made fast all the street gates which gave access to the river, and mounting upon the walls along both sides of the stream, would so have caught the enemy, as it were, in a trap. But, as it was, the Persians came upon them by surprise and so took the city. Owing to the vast size of the place, the inhabitants of the central parts (as the residents at Babylon declare) long after the outer portions of the town were taken, knew nothing of what had chanced, but as they were engaged in a festival, continued dancing and reveling until they learnt about the capture. Such, then, were the circumstances of the first taking of Babylon.
Before we even get to the text I think it is good to remind ourselves that the Bible isn’t a collection of fairy tales and myths. The Bible is recorded history. The Bible is the story of how God has worked throughout the events of human history to bring about the redemption of humanity in Jesus.
As we read through the text we need to consider the historical context. What is happening in the world and cultures surrounding the story taking place. The Bible was written by an author to a specific audience within a specific moment in history and understanding the historical context is essential in helping us understand the Biblical truths being taught in Scripture. Understanding the context helps bring out the nuance in the text. It helps us understand the attitudes and beliefs of the original audience and read clearer the author’s original intent in writing what they do.
Daniel is writing about his experiences during the fall of a major world empire. Within Daniel’s lifetime he has now seen the fall of two nations and now has to learn how he fits into this new role in Persia. In all the uncertainty, there was one constant in Daniel’s life. The Lord was faithful. If God is able to be faithful in the crazy situations Daniel found himself in we can trust that God will be faithful in our circumstances too.
1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps, to be throughout the whole kingdom; 2 and over them three high officials, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss. 3 Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.
Daniel is placed in a position of high authority in Persia. He was responsible over all the satraps in Persia and even amongst the high officials he was distinguished above them. The Lord was working through Daniel in such a way that Darius was ready to put him over the whole kingdom.
We have learned two things about Daniel throughout this whole book. God was faithful to Daniel, and Daniel was faithful to the Lord.
Is your character consistent with your relationship with Jesus?
10 “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. 11 If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? 13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”
Daniel proved himself to be faithful with little and with much. He loved and served the Lord in all that he did. There was nothing Daniel did out of self preservation or selfish ambition. Daniel lived his life in service to the Lord and in turn the Lord proved Himself faithful to Daniel. This wasn’t a transactional relationship. Daniel wasn’t obedient to earn God’s favor or to demand blessings from the Lord. He was obedient because God is holy and sovereign over all things. I think sometimes we can think, well if I’m obedient this time God will owe me. That isn’t how obedience works. We obey God because it is the right thing to do and God promises to care for our every need because He loves us and cares for us as a loving Father.
24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
In this life we will experience all kinds of heart break, difficulties, stress, and brokenness. We will be tempted to think only of ourselves, our passions, our comforts, our interests, and our agendas.
15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
We belong to Jesus who has died for our sins and has been raised to give us new life. Everything we do in life is an offering to Him. Daniel serves as an excellent example of what this looks like.
What would it look like to take that next step of surrender in your life? To live a little bit more for Jesus and a little less for yourself?
4 Then the high officials and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him. 5 Then these men said, “We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.”
All of these men gathered together to plot and destroy Daniel. But it says they could find no ground for complaint or any fault because he was faithful. Daniel wasn’t a perfect man, but he lived his life above reproach.
n.f. reproach — 1. taunt of enemy; reproach cast upon another, scorn, contumely (slander).
In his pastoral epistles Paul calls all those who aspire to the office of Pastor within the church to live lives that are above reproach. Paul thought that a potential pastor’s character was so important that if their character was inconsistent to their call they would be disqualified to fill the office. This standard of character isn’t exclusive to pastors, it should be true of all christians.
1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
If the world looked at your character would they have a case to bring against you?
Obviously this question isn’t to condemn you if you are struggling with a sin. It is to challenge you to take that next step of obedience. The good news of the Gospel is that because of Jesus, we are washed clean and stand innocent before God. Not by our hard work or ability to be obedient but because of what Christ has done for us.
21 And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, 22 yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach— 23 if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.
We stand eternally above reproach before the Father because of what Christ has done. We do not suffer the eternal consequences of sin because we have been forgiven and made new. However, the way in which we live in the freedom Christ has purchased for us is important. We are called to follow Jesus and live in the way He lived. Christ has set us free from our sin so that we might become slaves to righteousness.
What would it look like for you to live above reproach?
6 Then these high officials and satraps came by agreement to the king and said to him, “O King Darius, live forever! 7 All the high officials of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an injunction, that whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. 8 Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be revoked.” 9 Therefore King Darius signed the document and injunction. 10 When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. 11 Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and plea before his God. 12 Then they came near and said before the king, concerning the injunction, “O king! Did you not sign an injunction, that anyone who makes petition to any god or man within thirty days except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The thing stands fast, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked.” 13 Then they answered and said before the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or the injunction you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.” 14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was much distressed and set his mind to deliver Daniel. And he labored till the sun went down to rescue him. 15 Then these men came by agreement to the king and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or ordinance that the king establishes can be changed.”
The satraps convince the king to issue a decree that would put Daniel in the line of fire. Daniel would not be allowed to pray to anyone but the king for thirty days.
What was Daniel’s response?
10 When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.
He went to his room, opened his windows, and prayed to the Lord.
He didn’t try to hide it. He did as he had always done. See Daniel’s obedience wasn’t performative. He didn’t change anything about his routine. This was just another Tuesday for Daniel.
Daniel faced Jerusalem to pray? Do we need to face a certain direction or be in a certain place in order to pray and worship?
21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Why do you think prayer was Daniel’s first response?
What is your first response to adversity?
A healthy relationship with the Lord, to me, is strongly evidenced by a healthy prayer life. If you really believe the words you read in the text and if Jesus is real to you, you will pray. If a person were trying to fake a relationship with Jesus they might do performative acts of good works, they might learn verses from the Bible to convince people they know it, they might do big performative prayers to make them sound holy, but nobody who is faking is going to go into their rooms in secret and pray to the Lord. A faker has nothing to gain from that, does that make sense? But as real followers of Jesus, we have everything to gain from making that effort to go to the Lord in genuine prayer.
16 Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” 17 And a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. 18 Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him.
Darius put Daniel into the lions’ den. What is a lions’ den? It was a pit filled with lions that ancient people would use as a form of punishment. The intention was that whoever was thrown into this pit with hungry lions would quickly be eaten to death. You don’t need me to explain this to you, but I will, there was no possible way for Daniel to ever escape this punishment. The king himself knew it. It made him sick to do this thing to Daniel. In his arrogance he had been tricked into hurting his friend. Darius’ only hope was that the Lord might deliver Daniel.
Darius’ hope to me is an echo of the Gospel story. The Bible says that satan, our enemy, is a roaring lion seeking who he might devour. In our sin we have been cast into the pit. Into the lion’s den to be destroyed as a consequence of sin. We stand condemned, guilty, our only hope is that the Lord might close the mouths of the lions and deliver us from death. Praise the Lord, while Darius was powerless to deliver Daniel, God has sent His Son Jesus, the lion of the tribe of Judah, to enter into our pit, to pay our penalty of death and to rise again from the darkness to shine marvelous light in our lives. The stone that was rolled closed in condemnation has been thrown open in victory. Jesus has in turn closed the mouth of our accuser and we now stand innocent before our King because of what Christ has done. We receive that free gift of Christ’s grace by faith alone. We could do nothing to deliver ourselves. We could not climb the walls or withstand the lion’s jaws, but Christ has done the work!
1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared.
19 Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions. 20 As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” 21 Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! 22 My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.” 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. 24 And the king commanded, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and cast into the den of lions—they, their children, and their wives. And before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces.
Daniel was delivered because he trusted in the Lord. The same cannot be said about his accusers. They were eaten by lions before their bodies even hit the ground.
Remember this truth: Deliverance is only found through trusting in the Lord. There is no other name by which we can be saved other than the name of Jesus.
25 Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: “Peace be multiplied to you. 26 I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to 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 shall be to the end. 27 He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.” 28 So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
What a wonderful conclusion to this chapter. Darius issues another decree, this time in celebration of what the Lord has done.
Nebuchadnezzar
3 “How great are His signs And how mighty are His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom And His dominion is from generation to generation.
34 “But at the end of that period, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever; For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom endures from generation to generation. 35 “All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, But He does according to His will in the host of heaven And among the inhabitants of earth; And no one can ward off His hand Or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’
Darius
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.”
So what does God want you to know about Himself before we go into chapter 7?
He is the living God
He is the Eternal King
He is the Miracle worker
He is the great deliverer
