Daniel: Conviction Without Compromise

Introduction

Well church, today we continue our Boys of Summer sermon series by taking a critical look at Daniel and his convictions. The reality is that it is easy to have convictions when they cost us nothing. We come into this place and declare out convictions around like-minded people, but what happens when we leave this place to enter into a world that doesn’t agree with us? What happens when obedience costs us acceptance...friendships...promotions...our reputation...our comfort?

Daniel discovered that convictions are eventually tested. King Darius’ officials manipulated him into a decree that would shine a spotlight upon Daniel’s convictions, and force the king’s hand to deal with him regardless of the favor he found with Daniel. The tool was prayer, but the issue was lordship. Daniel’s convictions were going to be weighed and measured with his very life on the line. Let’s unpack today’s text, but only after we first review the historical context.

Historical Context

Like Nehemiah from last week, Daniel’s scriptural purpose was shaped by the Babylonian Exile though they lived in different eras. Nehemian was born into a post-exilic world while Daniel would have experienced being taken from Judah to Babylon as a young man, traditionally dated around 600 BC, during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar.

For decades, Daniel served within the Babylonian government until things changed in 539 BC when Babylon fell to the Medo-Persian empire under Cyrus the Great. Daniel 5 ends with the death of Belshazzar with “Darius the Mede” receiving the kingdom as recorded in Daniel 5. So as we peer into Daniel 6, we know that he is working in and under a new political regime, having not only survived multiple kings, but the collapse of an entire empire.

(Slide 2) If you look to the screens, you will see a biblical depiction of today’s scripture done by William Hollman Hunt from 1849 entitled “Daniel Praying”. This work is held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and as its title suggests, it depicts Daniel praying. A closer look reveals others discovering his disobedience to the decree they manipulated into existence. A peaceful act, but one in direct defiance of the king’s decree. Daniel would have been a teenager when taken from Judah, but this moments would take place much later, likely in his 80s. He had been practicing his prayer life through perhaps 6 or 7 decades. So nothing has changed on his part, but his convictions are now placing him on trial because others were jealous of the favor King Darius was showing him. Let’s move on and begin unpacking the nuggets we see in today’s scripture.

Convictions are Built Before Crisis

Let’s take a closer look at Daniel 6:10 “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.”

So Daniel changed nothing in His routine to honor God; he continued “as usual”. It doesn’t say that the crisis he was facing drove him to his knees, it was his routine expression of devotion that he would not allow to be swayed. He was resolute to honor God regardless what may come. It was his practice, and he did it every single day, 3 times each day. His faithfulness in this extraordinary moment grew from faithfulness in ordinary moments.

We romanticize an idea that our courage will shine in moments of great trial, suddenly becoming extraordinarily courageous. But, friends, crisis rarely creates character. Character is created in the daily routines we practice. In our pursuit of holy reverence and observance, it is usually in the daily exercises of praying, reading scripture, worshipping, and serving that our character of holy reverence is formed. It is simply in moments of crisis that they are highlighted. So our convictions are most always built before the crisis comes.

Convictions Know Where the Lines are Drawn

Let’s go back and read a little broader section of this scripture. Daniel 6:6–10 “So the administrators and high officers went to the king and said, “Long live King Darius! 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. 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.” So King Darius signed the law. 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.”

This can be difficult for Christians to wrap their heads around, but Daniel served pagan kings. He worked within a pagan government. He respected their authority and served with excellence. He was not looking for a fight. He was simply serving within the life that God had placed him. But eventually, he was asked for something he could not do: temporarily give up his worship. That was his line!

Many Christians work secular positions, and they need to do so with both grace and conviction. Grace without conviction becomes compromise. Conviction without grace can be self-righteousness. Daniel had the wisdom and maturity to demonstrate both. He didn’t organize a protest or defame those God called him to serve. He simply continued to make honoring his God an uninterrupted priority and made no apologies about it. He drew a line and honored it in godly fashion.

Convictions Remain Clear Under Scrutiny

Let’s take another look at Daniel 6:10–11 “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. Then the officials went together to Daniel’s house and found him praying and asking for God’s help.”

We would be naïve to think that a man this wise and mature in his walk with God was unaware that others were trying to catch him going against the decree. He knew that they wanted to catch him praying, but his devotion to God was stronger than his fears. He was not performing for the crowd, but neither was he hiding his faith. Friends, there is a difference between private faith and secret faith. We need private devotions with our Lord, but Christianity was never intended to become something we hide. Matthew 5:16 reminds us to let our light shine before others. Our world doesn’t need obnoxious Christians. It doesn’t need argumentative Christians. The world needs to see Christians who simply live in a manner where their lives unmistakably say “Jesus is LORD”. So convictions must remain clear under scrutiny.

Convictions Do Not Guarantee Easy Outcomes

Let’s move on to Daniel 6:16–17 which reads “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.” A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den. The king sealed the stone with his own royal seal and the seals of his nobles, so that no one could rescue Daniel.”

Daniel honored God and still found himself in the lion’s den. Sometimes, Christians unconsciously believe that faithfulness removes the difficult journey. But if our purpose is to testify about the goodness of God, what would have been the more powerful testimony: for God to move Darius to not send Daniel to the lion’s, or for Daniel to go to the lions and come out unscathed?

You, in your faithfulness to Christ Jesus, may be called to endure a trial, a trial that may cost you painful loss. But never interpret the trial as evidence that God has abandoned you. Daniel went into the lion’s den, but God went in with him.

Convictions Create Witness

Let’s take a look at the final portion we will review. Daniel 6:19–23 “Very early the next morning, the king got up and hurried out to the lions’ den. 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?” Daniel answered, “Long live the king! 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.” 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.”

How remarkable! Darius had been watching. He knew Daniel served God continually. Daniel’s consistency had created credibility. And when he emerged from the lion’s den unscathed, his testimony point to God.

Friends, people are watching your Christian walk. They watch:

How we handle disappointment

How we respond to criticism

How we treat others we disagree with

How are faith disappears when life becomes hard

Make no mistake...your greatest testimony that Jesus is Lord is not made with our lips, it is made by being faithful even when it costs us something.

Closing Thoughts

Friends, if you want to see the power of God, look to the lion’s den. If you want to see an example of faith, look to the prayer at the window. Both are appropriate to gaze upon in wonder. The lion’s den shows us a God who never fails us. The window shows us a conviction that we should desire as His servants. Where are your convictions being tested today? Do we compromise our faith at times, or are we stalwarts to our convictions? Is our faith unwavering?

(CALL MICHAEL FORWARD)

We all have pasts. Michael is no exception to that, and part of his testimony is that God has delivered him from his. However, there are s9me consequences that he needs to go and face to be completely free…