Daniel: Standing Against the World

1 It seemed good to Darius to appoint 120 satraps over the kingdom, that they would be in charge of the whole kingdom, 2 and over them three commissioners (of whom Daniel was one), that these satraps might be accountable to them, and that the king might not suffer loss. 3 Then this Daniel began distinguishing himself among the commissioners and satraps because he possessed an extraordinary spirit, and the king planned to appoint him over the entire kingdom.

-(v.1) Darius the King decided that the kingdom needed more structure. This was most likely do to the expansion of the kingdom. He put 120 Satraps we might calls these men governors.

-(v.2) Three men supervised these 120 Governors. 3 into 120 means that each man supervised 40 Governors a piece. Daniel is one of those men. This also tells us that Daniel was one of the most powerful persons in the kingdom.

-(v.3) After sometime just like Joseph Daniel began to separate himself from everyone on the job. The text says he had an “extraordinary spirit” Daniel was standing tall in a perverse generation. It is important to note like Joseph Daniel is a practicing Jew in a foreign land with a different God.

What kind of confidence to Darius Have in him? (v.3) and the king planned to appoint him over the entire kingdom

I. This World Plans

Daniel 6:4–9 NASB95

4 Then the commissioners and satraps began trying to find a ground of accusation against Daniel in regard to government affairs; but they could find no ground of accusation or evidence of corruption, inasmuch as he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption was to be found in him. 5 Then these men said, “We will not find any ground of accusation against this Daniel unless we find it against him with regard to the law of his God.” 6 Then these commissioners and satraps came by agreement to the king and spoke to him as follows: “King Darius, live forever! 7 “All the commissioners of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the high officials and the governors have consulted together that the king should establish a statute and enforce an injunction that anyone who makes a petition to any god or man besides you, O king, for thirty days, shall be cast into the lions’ den. 8 “Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document so that it may not be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be revoked.” 9 Therefore King Darius signed the document, that is, the injunction.

Daniel 6:

-(v.4) The Satraps were looking for anything they could on Daniel. Does he come in late all the time, Does he punch out later so he can stay on the clock and make more money, Does he talk about the Boss to his co-workers. The Governors were looking for anything they could to destroy Daniel based on his job. Look at what the text says about him: “he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption was to be found in him” What a wonderful testimony that Daniel had in the wicked, godless kingdom.

-(v.5) The Governors got desperate and basically said “This brother does his job we are not going to find anything job related on him. Let’s make a law that contradicts the law of his God.” vis a vis: abstinence doesn’t work, don’t pray in school, Don’t mention God at school or the work place, keep religious conversation to yourself. The World does not want to hear anything about God in regular conversation

-(v.6-9) The Governors came up with an ingenuis plan. Know one in the kingdom can pray to any God, or any man besides the King. If anyone is found to be praying to anything besides the king he will be thrown into the lions den. A pit full of hungry lions.

SIdenote- The World desire is conformity. The World wants you to walk, live, and function according to it’s direction.

-(v.8-9) The Governors asked the King to sign the document with a seal the even he could not violate. These men also tricked King, by catering to his ego.

II. This World Plots

Daniel 6:

Daniel 6:10–16 NASB95

10 Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously. 11 Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his God. 12 Then they approached and spoke before the king about the king’s injunction, “Did you not sign an injunction that any man who makes a petition to any god or man besides you, O king, for thirty days, is to be cast into the lions’ den?” The king replied, “The statement is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be revoked.” 13 Then they answered and spoke before the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the injunction which you signed, but keeps making his petition three times a day.” 14 Then, as soon as the king heard this statement, he was deeply distressed and set his mind on delivering Daniel; and even until sunset he kept exerting himself to rescue him. 15 Then these men came by agreement to the king and said to the king, “Recognize, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or statute which the king establishes may be changed.” 16 Then the king gave orders, and Daniel was brought in and cast into the lions’ den. The king spoke and said to Daniel, “Your God whom you constantly serve will Himself deliver you.”

What did Daniel do after the document was signed? (v.10) He entered his house and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day. Daniel did not break routine, nor did he cry and complain he got on his knees as was his normal activity.

-(v.10) Notice that Daniel prayed in front of an open window. Daniel knew that by praying he was essentially submitting to a death sentence. Doing the will of God was so important to him, that he was willing to lose his life for it.

-(v.11) These men made “a Law” that they knew Daniel would probably violate. They knew how important his prayer time with God was. They also knew what time he would be out there praying.

-(v.12-13) The Governors reminded the King of the document that he has signed. Oh King you remember you signed that document saying no one could pray. Well one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O King. Notice the disrespect of Daniel, they would not even call him Daniel. They knew who he was, and King Darius knew who he was.

-(v.14) The King realized that he made a law, that he now deeply regrets. Lets remember from (v.3) “and the King planned to appoint him over the entire kingdom” The King wrestled all the way until morning trying to think of way to get out of this law. Daniel was that valuable to the Kingdom.

-(v.15) The Governors remind the King that not even a King can go back against a written edict, and that he must punish Daniel

The World Plans, Plots and then it Plunders. This world system is looking to destroy anything that goes against it. If you swim against the flow of the world the world will try to drown you.

III. This World Plunders

Daniel 6:16–22 NASB95

16 Then the king gave orders, and Daniel was brought in and cast into the lions’ den. The king spoke and said to Daniel, “Your God whom you constantly serve will Himself deliver you.” 17 A stone was brought and laid over the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing would be changed in regard to Daniel. 18 Then the king went off to his palace and spent the night fasting, and no entertainment was brought before him; and his sleep fled from him. 19 Then the king arose at dawn, at the break of day, and went in haste to the lions’ den. 20 When he had come near the den to Daniel, he cried out with a troubled voice. The king spoke and said to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you constantly serve, been able to deliver you from the lions?” 21 Then Daniel spoke to the king, “O king, live forever! 22 “My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths and they have not harmed me, inasmuch as I was found innocent before Him; and also toward you, O king, I have committed no crime.”

-(v.16) The King sadly put Daniel in the Lions Den full of hungry Lions. Now Notice what the King said: “Your God whom you constantly serve will Himself deliver you” Daniel reputation was not based on his appearance, Daniel reputation was not based on his family, Daniel reputation was not based on his athleticism. It was based on one thing, it was based on his relationship with the Lord. Darius held out hope that Daniel God would save him. Darius was not a believer, but he knew that Daniel’s God was unique. I would argue that he knew that because he heard about the Three Hebrew boys under Nebuchanazzer.

-(v.17-18) The King sealed the den. And then wrestled all night I don’t want any food, or female dancer in my room. The King was worried.

-(v.19-20) In the Morning the King “made haste” he ran to the den to see if his boy was alright.

-(v.20) The King called with his voice trembling… “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you constantly serve, been able to deliver you from the Lions?” Look at what Darius calls Daniel’s God “servant of the living God” now why would he put “living” there, and that is because even he recognized that Daniel’s God is different from these idols of stone and wood that we bow down to. Daniel’s Supernatural God makes things happen in the natural world.

-(v.21-22) Daniel answered with Confidence as he was laying down using the Lions as a pillow and footstool. Daniel said “We alright” God sent his angels and they shut the mouths of the Lions.

-(v.22) Daniels say God has seen my innocence and he has vindicate me.

Conclusion

-(v.23-24) What Happened to The Accuser: Darius took Daniel out of the den, and then put his accuser in the den. Darius realized that he had been set up then he put those men and their families into the Lions den. “And the had not reached the bottom of the den before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones” Those same Lions that just had a sleepover with Daniel, woke up and had some breakfast.

Application: When you go against the world it may put you in the Lions Den, but God will be with you! He will protect you against your enemies.

-(v.25-27) What Happened to Darius: He made a powerful decree just like the one made to not pray to any God. Early in this scripture Darius agreed that the only one people may pray to is me, but after the Lions Den he has changed his position. He has decreed that Daniel’s God is not to be played with, he is to be respected for at least four reasons:

a. He is a living God(not and Idol)

b. He has a Kingdom which is undefeated

c. His Kingdom expands throughout the whole world.

d. He is close to his children and he performs miracles on their behalf.

-(v.28) What happened to Daniel: Daniel enjoyed success in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian. Daniel out lived Darius and he remained in high position with the next ruler of Persia Cyrus.

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