Daniel in the Lion's Den

Introduction

We’ve been going over the life of Daniel and reading of his amazing faith, starting from the time he was just a young man, and how God has honored him and how his faithfulness caused him to be highly esteemed by the kings of Babylon. At the end of last week, we see where despite the evidence of the greatness of God right in their face, the foolish Babylonian King Belshazzar, descendent of Nebuchadnezzar profanely used the sacred items from the temple and incurred the wrath of God upon himself and the whole kingdom. Belshazzar is now dead, and Babylon is a conquered nation, with King Darius of the Medo-Persian empire as its head, and Daniel - he’s not a kid anymore. He’s a man in his eighties by now, so will this make a difference in how he responds when things get really tough? Well, we’re about to find out, because things are just about to go sideways for Daniel. Not at first, but eventually he finds his faith tested to the most extreme level.

The Trap is Set

Daniel 6:1–9 NKJV

It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom; and over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them, so that the king would suffer no loss. Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm. So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him. Then these men said, “We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.” So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: “King Darius, live forever! All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.” Therefore King Darius signed the written decree.

So, as we start out the chapter, it doesn’t seem so bad for Daniel, I mean, under Belshazzar he had risen to the rank of #3 in the whole kingdom at the festival where the disembodied hand stole the show, only to lose it right away when the new management took over that very night. Not to worry, Look at what it says here - Daniel distinguished himself… but how? It says that an “excellent spirit was in him.” He was so faithful and so godly, that his rivals were frustrated by that, and couldn’t find any dirt on Daniel. Part of the problem for them was that Daniel was showing that one could be successful and honorable at the same time. Politics is dirty business, and palace intrigue is a real phenomenon, not only then, but now as well. They knew he was a godly man, and that he was predictably devout to God, and so they hatched a trap. OK,, they thought, If Daniel wants to be a religious fanatic, we’ll just make it all about his faith, we’ll fore him to make a choice, choose God or choose your life - your choice.

Well that’s not much of a choice is it? I means that we choose death. But pastor, that’s not really happening today is it? Well, you tell me. After the first rounds of vaccines were given it was revealed that every single vaccine that they have for Covid was developed using the tissue cells of aborted babies. That makes it an abomination to many believers. Many Christians will not take the vaccine because many equate knowingly taking a vaccine that you know was manufactured with aborted baby cells, with endorsing the foul act of abortion. Many have been fired from their jobs because of the mandates being made by the government. Saints, at some point or another, the world is going to challenge you on your faith, and make standing for your God seem to be expensive and extreme. They will push you to compromise your beliefs to fit in or to just go along. Has a trap been set for you? If it hasn’t yet, it will.

So here we are, Daniel’s faith brought him great success, but now it made him a target. What will you do when your faith makes you a target?

The Trap is Sprung

Daniel Prays

Daniel 6:10 NKJV

Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.

So what does Daniel do now that the new law against praying has been passed? Well, you know some people may have counseled him and said, “Daniel it’s only 30 days, lay low. Maybe pray in your heart quietly, I’m sure God will understand your predicament.” Bu that’s not what Daniel does is it? Almost as if to say, “You want to see what I think of your decree? I will open all my windows and pray with a loud voice!” and pray he did! Three times a day!

Psalm 55:17 NKJV

Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, And He shall hear my voice.

Toward Jerusalem he prayed.

1 Kings 8:27–30 NKJV

“But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built! Yet regard the prayer of Your servant and his supplication, O Lord my God, and listen to the cry and the prayer which Your servant is praying before You today: that Your eyes may be open toward this temple night and day, toward the place of which You said, ‘My name shall be there,’ that You may hear the prayer which Your servant makes toward this place. And may You hear the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. Hear in heaven Your dwelling place; and when You hear, forgive.

He dropped to his knees when he prayed.

1 Kings 8:54 NKJV

And so it was, when Solomon had finished praying all this prayer and supplication to the Lord, that he arose from before the altar of the Lord, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven.

And look at how he prayed: it says he gave thanks!

Philippians 4:6 NKJV

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

See why it’s my favorite? Anyhow let’s keep going.

Danel Gets Caught

Daniel 6:11–15 NKJV

Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. And they went before the king, and spoke concerning the king’s decree: “Have you not signed a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.” So they answered and said before the king, “That Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah, does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.” And the king, when he heard these words, was greatly displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him. Then these men approached the king, and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is the law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statute which the king establishes may be changed.”

So they catch Daniel and go running to the king! Like a bunch of whiny tattle tales, they go running to the king to tell him what they’ve found. Here’s the part that gets me every time. These scoundrels can’t wait to tell the king the news! They are overjoyed with being able to get Daniel in trouble. They see it as a badge of honor to be able to report this insurrection to the king. But there is no insurrection. There is just a man loving his God, and serving his God. This is the same Daniel that has so faithfully served the king each and every day. So much so, that He is the second highest ranking official in the whole land. This is just very clearly a problem for the king and scripture says he’s displeased with himself.He doesn’t want to lose Daniel, he sees his worth, and this is not something that the evil tricksters had counted on, but it is something that is going to bring about their demise.

So the king is going nuts trying to find a way to spring Daniel from his predicament. He’s going to great lengths to get him off the hook, so the evil plotters go back before the king and remind him that according to the customs and laws, once the decree is made, it can’t be reversed, so he is forced to execute the order to have Danel thrown into the lion’s den.

Daniel in the Den

Daniel 6:16–17 NKJV

So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.” Then a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signets of his lords, that the purpose concerning Daniel might not be changed.

So the king goes to Daniel and says something rather curious. he says to him, “your God, whom you serve continually, He will delivery you.” What an odd thing to say don’t you think? I mean it says a lot about Daniel. First, do you think the king would have said anything if he hadn’t noticed Daniel serving God continually? Would he have said anything if he hadn’t noticed the favor of God upon Daniel? Of course not! But that’s just the thing, if Daniel hadn’t served God continually, would he have the faith to endure the trial that was before him? The fact that the king was confident of it shows that he’d been watching. Church, you never know who is watching you live your life. You never know who is watching you go through the struggles in life, and taking note of God’s hand upon you. It could be that you are a source of inspiration and a catalyst to the growth of someone’s faith without even being aware.

So now the den is about to be closed, and man the picture that is painted here. The stone being set in place, and the king’s signet being used to seal the place up. What does that bring to mind?

Matthew 27:62–66 NKJV

On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, saying, “Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise.’ Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead.’ So the last deception will be worse than the first.” Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how.” So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard.

The Trap Fails!

Daniel 6:18–20 NKJV

Now the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no musicians were brought before him. Also his sleep went from him. Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions. And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?”

Darius is worried. He doesn’t sleep that night, instead he spends the night fasting for the deliverance of Daniel. He stays up until very early the next morning, and goes running to see if Daniel is OK. So let’s pause here, if you are responsible for stealing the king’s sleep, and causing him so much anxiety, here’s the part where you should start to really worry. Daniel was made #2 for a reason, and whenever someone goes to such lengths to usurp God’s appointed authority, well let’s just say that things won’t end well for those people. But I digress, back to the passage.

Daniel is Delivered

Daniel 6:21–23 NKJV

Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.” Now the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God.

So Daniel calls out to the king, “It’s all good king, no worries. God sent His angel to protect me, snuggle time with these big kitties was good.” God is good! He has saved Daniel from the lions. But notice how Daniel addresses the king. He does so respectfully. “O king, live forever!” It doesn’t matter that the king had ordered his execution, he treats the king with respect, think of the principal he’s putting into play here.

Matthew 5:43–48 NKJV

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Daniel also doesn’t come out complaining about his situation. He doesn’t come out bragging about how brave he was, or even how much faith he had that God would deliver him. We see why Daniel was so well regarded by God and by extension the King, and that is this. Daniel knew that this whole situation was about God, Daniel was not a glory-grabber, he didn’t need his kudos or any accolades, instead he was all about giving the glory to God.

And finally, he affirmed his innocence before the king. Not only is Daniel a man of great faith, but he is a man of amazing character as well.

The Trap Backfires!

The Conspirators are Executed

Daniel 6:24 NKJV

And the king gave the command, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions—them, their children, and their wives; and the lions overpowered them, and broke all their bones in pieces before they ever came to the bottom of the den.

They are thrown into the very lions den that they had prepared for Daniel. God’s justice is very ironic that way. He has a tendency to let people pronounce their own demise.

Esther 7:10 NKJV

So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s wrath subsided.

Or this..

Psalm 7:14–16 NKJV

Behold, the wicked brings forth iniquity; Yes, he conceives trouble and brings forth falsehood. He made a pit and dug it out, And has fallen into the ditch which he made. His trouble shall return upon his own head, And his violent dealing shall come down on his own crown.

Proverbs says:

Proverbs 1:10–19 NKJV

My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent. If they say, “Come with us, Let us lie in wait to shed blood; Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause; Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, And whole, like those who go down to the Pit; We shall find all kinds of precious possessions, We shall fill our houses with spoil; Cast in your lot among us, Let us all have one purse”— My son, do not walk in the way with them, Keep your foot from their path; For their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed blood. Surely, in vain the net is spread In the sight of any bird; But they lie in wait for their own blood, They lurk secretly for their own lives. So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; It takes away the life of its owners.

God is Exalted

As we saw with the Babylonians before, whenever people of faith trust their God in the midst of persecution two things happen. 1) His people are delivered, and 2) God is exalted. And here It is no different, Darius makes a decree.

Daniel 6:25–27 NKJV

Then King Darius wrote: To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, And steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, And His dominion shall endure to the end. He delivers and rescues, And He works signs and wonders In heaven and on earth, Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.

God showed once again, He is the living God, and He rules over the indestructible kingdom, and His dominion is everlasting, and yet another king comes to the realization that God rules in the kingdoms of men. Just like old king Neb had learned, and Belshazzar learned - though kinda late to do him any good.

Putting it All Together

Daniel’s Character

What were the noble qualities that made Daniel’s character stand out?

Excellent Character without fault in his business dealings.

Faithful to those in authority over him.

A lifelong commitment to a lifestyle of prayer.

Obeyed God rather than men.

If we had to summarize who Daniel was in a nutshell we go back to Daniel 6:23

Daniel 6:23 NKJV

Now the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God.

Daniel was a man who believed in his God.

Saints, let’s all learn from the example of Daniel, who exemplified what it means to seek first the will of God, and to obey God rather than men!