Daniel's Hope in God

Today is the first Sunday of Advent, the season where followers of Christ prepare their hearts and minds for the return of Christ. As the ancients awaited his coming, so we too await his return! ARE WE READY?

Daniel in the Lion’s Den is usually a story of faithfulness, and it certainly is that. But we usually look at that theme to the exclusion of others. Today, on this first Sunday of Advent, I want us to look at HOPE.

In the familiar story, the political leaders under Daniel become jealous, get a law passed to make his worship illegal. Daniel defies the unjust law, is cast into a lions den, God rescues him, and they all live happily ever after.

That’s the story we tell with the object lesson of being faithful to God at all costs. Amen!

But I think we’re missing the context of the whole Book of Daniel!

There is a huge theme in this book about the untrustworthiness of politicians…government officials. Whether it is kings or governors, or any other, when reading Daniel it becomes clear that it is a waste of time and energy to place any hope in these people, or their positions.

There are 3 main characters in Daniel 6:

Administrators and Satraps: Power hungry, self-absorbed, vindictive, jealous, bureaucrats! No hope here!

King Darius: Barney Fife with a crown basically. Easily fooled, inept, puppet king, powerless against his own incompetence and the conspiracy of others.

Daniel: Ideal of faithfulness in an Israelite. Faithful in every way, even when it cost him his life. Willing to follow Torah at all costs. He is sold out for God!

So far in this story, who do you trust to do the right thing? Or put it another way, which character shows you any kind of hope?

Let’s look at the story as it unfolds.

Daniel 6:16–23 NIV

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.

Daniel had HOPE because he had placed his trust in the God who keeps his promises!

Daniel knew his innocence, and knew God rescues the faithful. Even in death, God will rescue his people!

This display of power, of RESCUE, and Daniel’s amazing HOPE in what God could do moves Darius to issue the following edict:

Daniel 6:26–27 NIV

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.”

This is important language, which ties into the very next chapter. Daniel 7 is Daniel’s own dream. He had interpreted dreams earlier, now he has one himself.

Daniel sees all these beasts, animals that are strange…kind of like King Nebuchadnezzer who became a beast in chapter 4 for becoming so prideful and arrogant.

Just like chapter 4, these beasts represent kings that would become so prideful and arrogant and powerful that they acted like beasts.

Long story short, every one of these beasts will be destroyed, and all their power and authority will be stripped from them. And that’s where verse 13 picks up.

Daniel 7:13–14 NIV

13 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

What Daniel is seeing is that there is a coming King who is truly human! He is no beast, swayed by selfish desires and corrupt political ways! He is the true example of what it means to be human, the way God intended.

And He is elevated to rule over all kingdoms, and he will reign forever. His Kingdom will have no end!

And what does the angel say to Mary when telling of the coming birth of Jesus?

Luke 1:32–33 NIV

32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

What was Jesus’ most common way of referring to himself? Son of Man.

Every time that Jesus uses that phrase, Son of Man, he’s activating this entire Daniel narrative. He’s challenging the hearer to see Him as the one with the true authority.

The beasts on this earth have no power other than what has been given to them temporarily by Heaven (Jesus says this to Pilate).

The one who has true power is Jesus, the Son of Man.

And what are we told about the Son of Man…Jesus?

When Jesus ascends into the heavenly realm, the angels tell the disciples?

Acts 1:11 NIV

11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

“The kingdoms of earth pass away one by one, but the Kingdom of Heaven shall stand!”

Daniel could remain hopeful of a God that rescues, even in Babylon, even in captivity, knowing that Rescue, Salvation was coming.

Daniel knew that the administrators and satraps, and King Darius were nothing, because the Son of Man has true authority!

The Son of Man would be given authority over everything, and his reign would never end.

Just as Daniel had hope in the Salvation through the Son of Man, we too have hope that Jesus, the Son of Man will return in the same way he went into the heavenly realm.

HE IS COMING! HE IS IN CHARGE!

Are you ready?

Where is your allegiance? To a temporary kingdom, or to the True King whose Kingdom has no end?