Devoted

Introduction

Think about ways biblical history enters contemporary speech. The phrase “look at the writing on the wall” or “I can see the writing on the wall”. When we say that we usually mean I know something undesirable is about to happen. This phrase comes from the event we talked about last week in Daniel 5.

I think there’s a picture that enters most of our minds when we think about Daniel’s ministry, and it is the picture of Daniel praying in defiance to the king’s edict.

You will notice this artist’s rendition presents a younger Daniel praying and officials of Darius’ court watch.

The next picture also represents what most of us think when we summarize Daniel’s life. Daniel in the den of lions.

These events certainly inspire us to action. I want to tell you ahead of time that I hope this text inspire you to a certain attitude and action.

It is not my desire that you pray more. I want Daniel 6 to inspire you to admire undeterred devotion, and the resulting faithful response in perilous circumstances. This section in Daniel reminds me of Christ’s undeterred devotion. Daniel’s devotion is impressive, but Christ’s devotion has eternal implications. I want to encourage you to live your life in response to Christ’s devotion.

We turn our attention to the 6th chapter in Daniel. This chapter is significant because:

THIS occurs when Daniel is at least 79 year’s old. During the time period where most of us consider to be the “sunset” years, Daniel reveals vibrant faith that has inspired generations. If you are in your sunset years, consider how your life right now can make a significant impact in the kingdom of God.

THIS involves a pagan king’s consternation because he could not protect Daniel from his own officials

I invite you to see this incredible story of devotion by opening your bibles to Daniel 6.

Shall we pray?

Almighty God and Loving Father,

We turn our minds to the study of your word. Free us from distraction and wandering affections as we consider your word this morning. Keep faithful the speaker and hearer so that we treat this time with honor. Renew our minds through Daniel’s teaching. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

I. The Circumstance (Daniel 6:1-4)

Who was Darius?

The name Darius means “holder of the good”. When you read commentaries, you will discover that the name Darius does not appear in any other historical documents. So there’s much discussion about his identity. [1] I will mention two major beliefs; he is either Cyrus the son of Xerxes or he was a governor (Gubaru[2]) in Babylon and “Darius” is a title.2

One of the things he did was to set up 120 satraps to rule the city. A satrap was a provincial governor.[3]

A portrait of Daniel

Daniel now is advanced in age as I mentioned already. He was mostly removed from public service after the death of Nebuchadnezzar and appeared back on the scene during the reign of Belshazzar.

Look at verse 2, we see God’s sovereign hand evident in Daniel’s life once again:

“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. 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 6:2–3, ESV)

This is a recurring theme in Daniel’s life. He was distinguished as a young man in Daniel (Dan 1:20).

Notice what made the difference in Daniel’s life, “an excellent spirit was in him” (v.3)

I remind you dear child of God, an excellent spirit is in you as well, the Spirit of Christ. Paul said:

“If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.” (Romans 8:11, ESV)

Because of this, we are free to live distinguished lives!

A portrait of the high officials

Now let’s look at the high officials. Notice how they are described jealous men who sought to get rid of Daniel:

“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.” (Daniel 6:4, ESV)

Let me go back to Daniel for a moment, I find it remarkable that the only thing Daniel’s enemies could accuse him of was covenant faithfulness.

While I don’t think this encourages us to be legalistic in our way of living, I do think this kind of faithfulness allows us to live in a way that can produce praise to the LORD. Daniel’s faithfulness proved he was faithful to the covenant. Our faithfulness is in response to Christ’s faithfulness to the covenant. We have nothing to prove.

Because of Christ’s spirit in us, what Matthew says can be true of us:

““You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.” (Matthew 5:14–15, ESV)

Now let’s look at the conflict.

[1] Bibliotheca Sacra173 ־ (July-September 2016): 315-23 The Remembrance of Daniel's Darius the Mede in Berossus And Harpocration Steven D. Anderson and Rodger c. Young

[2] Stephen R. Miller, Daniel, vol. 18, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1994), 172.

2 Cf. D. J. Wiseman et al., Notes on Some Problems in the Book of Daniel (London: Tyndale, 1970), 15; J. E. Goldingay, Daniel, WBC (Dallas: Word, 1989), 239.

[3] Paul J. Achtemeier, Harper & Row and Society of Biblical Literature, Harper’s Bible Dictionary (San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1985), 909.

II. The Conflict (Daniel 6:5-13)

The ordinance

What was it?

Some of the high officials and satraps recommended this: look at verse 6

“Then these high officials and satraps came by agreement to the king and said to him, “O King Darius, live forever! 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. 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.”” (Daniel 6:6–8, ESV)

One commentator has correctly remarked: Thus Darius was to be the only priestly mediator during this period.48 In his role as mediator, prayers to the gods were to be offered through him rather than the priests. Such a law might have been allowed for political reasons, and Darius may also have permitted a decree of this kind as a test of loyalty to his new government.[1]

While it is true, I think, that these men tried to set up Darius as the only mediator during this period of time, I remind you that we do have a mediator.

“For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.” (1 Timothy 2:5–6, ESV)

And because of this, while Daniel’s example is commendable, our situation and his are different.

Daniel’s obedience to the covenant validated his place in the covenant.

Our place in the covenant is validated through the action of our mediator, Jesus Christ. Our obedience reveals that we are members of the New Covenant.

As WSC 30 “The Spirit applies to us the redemption purchased by Christ, by working faith in us, and thereby uniting us to Christ in our effectual calling”.

As we go back to the injunction, why couldn’t it be reversed?

According to Daniel 6:8 and 15, once a law of the Medes and Persians is established, it cannot be reverse. Not even the king could reverse it.

This is what can be understood as an impossible situation, for as Daniel 6:14 the king tried to find a way out of this.

What was Daniel’s response?

Daniel’s response was predictable. Look at verse 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.” (Daniel 6:10, ESV)

It is remarkable that Daniel did not modify his behavior at all. He simply did what he did in chapter 1, he refused to defile himself.

48 So Montgomery, Daniel, 270; Keil, Daniel, 211; Young, Daniel, 133; etc.

[1] Stephen R. Miller, Daniel, vol. 18, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1994), 180.

III. The Conclusion (Daniel 6: 14-28)

A. The King’s effort

The king spent a sleepless night trying to find a way out of the injunction.

This is remarkable, because Darius was an advocate for Daniel even though none of his leadership were.

Darius also declared

“May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” (v.16

B. The sentence

Daniel’s civil disobedience was done knowing the cost. The cost was a death sentence.

However, instead of death, Daniel was delivered:

“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?” Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever!” (Daniel 6:20–21, ESV)

He wasn’t delivered from the penalty; he was delivered through. Often, we ask God to deliver us from difficulties don’t we? I think we forfeit witnessing God’s incredible power when we fail go through difficulties.

C. Darius’ Praise

As a result of God’s deliverance Darius made another decree:

“Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: “Peace be multiplied to you. 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. 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.”” (Daniel 6:25–27, ESV)

Living God – when Jeremiah, the one who foretold the Babylonian Captivity, when he spoke of the “living God” said this:

“But the Lord is the true God; he is the living God and the everlasting King. At his wrath the earth quakes, and the nations cannot endure his indignation.” (Jeremiah 10:10, ESV)

The living God is the king who demonstrated his sovereignty so well, that Darius decreed that all people tremble, and fear before the God of Daniel.

D. Final Comments

There’s a final picture I want to show you. This picture is not represented by an artist of Daniel praying, but is articulated by the Apostle Luke. Take at look at this slide of Luke 9:

“When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But he turned and rebuked them. And they went on to another village.” (Luke 9:51–56, ESV)

Christ was undeterred in his devotion to complete the work for which God the Father commissioned Him. In his faithfulness we find our security.

The Apostle Paul provides the words that calls us to action because of Christ’s undeterred devotion we are free to:

“… walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:10–14, ESV)

Because of the forgiveness of sin, we are free to be undeterred in our devotion.

Shall we pray?

Almighty God and Loving Father,

Dismiss us now with your blessing. Remind us as we leave here this morning, that your providential care never leaves us. Order our steps so that our lives can demonstrate an undeterred devotion to promote your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Benediction:

“Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Hebrews 13:20–21, ESV)