Daniel 8- The Trial of well doing

There is a biblical principal: those who serve God will not be well liked or recieved by the world.

The world does not like God or being holy but we as Christians are to live holy in an unholy land.

What does that look like?

1 Peter 3:17 “For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.”

John 15:18 “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.”

1 John 3:13 “Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.”

Daniel is a perfect example of what trying to live for God in an evil society looks like! Everything about Daniel was different; he worshipped differently, he ate differently, he even worked for the king differently. Daniel was a man commited to God through and through.

Daniel 1:8 “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.”

Daniel’s commitment and faithfulness to God not only took care of him under every king he served it also got him promoted!

Daniel 6:1-2 “It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom; And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.”

Daniel’s faithfulness not only made the king like him it made his peers and colleagues hate him

Daniel 6:4-5 “Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.”

Don’t be surprised if being sold out for Jesus causes those with out him not to like you

1 John 3:12 “Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.”

He was so faithful and integral that nobody could find a fault with him! What a testimony!

Daniel does so well that those against him literally have to have a law change to get Daniel in trouble.

They convince the King to change the laws about prayer

Daniel 6:7-8 “All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellers, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.”

Although the law changed Daniel’s devotion didn’t.

Daniel 6:10 “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.”

He prayed just like he always had even though it cost him

Notice how broken the king is when he finds out what transpired

Daniel 6:13-15 “Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day. Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him. Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.”

Notice Daniels faith had an impact on the king

Daniel 6:16 “Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.”

The King knew from watching Daniel’s God work that’d he do it again.

We may never know the affect obedience to God may have on others

Daniel is cast into the den of lions

Notice the trust Daniel has in God. Rather than him being fearful the king is fearful and worried.

Is it not amazing how God can bring peace in the worst of trials

When Daniel come up from the den listen to whom he gives credit

Daniel6:2-23 “And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage. Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God. Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever. All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellers, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any…”