Trust Exhibited - Dan 6
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
While we may be quite familiar with this passage, do we understand how it is viewed in circles outside of conservative Christianity?
“The Book of Daniel is not regarded by scholars as a reliable guide to history.[8] The broad consensus is that Daniel is not a historical figure and that the author appears to have taken the name from a legendary hero of the distant past mentioned in the Book of Ezekiel.[9][10] The book that bears his name is an apocalypse, not a book of prophecy, and its contents form a cryptic allusion to the persecution of the Jews by the Syrian king Antiochus IV Epiphanes (reigned 175–164 BCE).[11][12] There is broad agreement that the stories making up chapters 1–6 are legendary in character, and that the visions of chapters 7–12 were added during the persecution of Antiochus, the book itself being completed soon after 164 BCE.[13]”
Why is this so strongly believed? Because if Daniel is historical and was written when it says it was, then its fulfilled prophecy demonstrates the supernatural character of the book.
“Outside of the Pentateuch, no book of the OT has been subjected to as much scrutiny as the Book of Daniel. The detailed and accurate prophecies contained in that book have motivated many, Skeptic and professed believer alike, to subscribe to the theory of a late date of composition for Daniel in the time of the Maccabees.”
Why does the truth of the book of Daniel seem so plain to us and so foreign to unbelievers? The Holy Spirit’s ministry of illumination.
jn 16 13 “13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.”
Brad Klassen, The Master’s Seminary
1. The Spirit’s ministry of illumination is not his ministry of revelation.
2. The Spirit’s ministry of illumination does not occur apart from the Bible.
3. The Spirit’s ministry of illumination does not change the nature or message of the biblical text.
4. The Spirit’s ministry of illumination does not ensure inerrant interpretation.
5. The Spirit’s ministry of illumination is not limited to certain members of the church.
6. The Spirit’s ministry of illumination does not negate the need for pastor-teachers.
7. The Spirit’s ministry of illumination does not negate the need for disciplined study.
Illumination is that ministry of the Holy Spirit whereby He develops in the believer a clearer understanding of, a stronger certainty in,
a deeper love for, and a greater obedience to the meaning of the text of Scripture
1. Illumination is a ministry of the Holy Spirit;
2. It applies only to those who are regenerate;
3. It occurs only in conjunction with the word of God—whether spoken or read;
4. It improves the believer’s cognitive understanding of the objective, unchanging meaning of the text;
5. It testifies within the believer that the text he is reading is indeed the word of God, nurturing a fullness of conviction that this word is ultimately authoritative and necessary for life;
6. It nurtures the believer’s appreciation and hunger for the truth communicated by the text; and
7. It motivates the believer to apply what he has come to understand, and in turn serves as the means of sanctification—the transformation of the believing reader into the image of Jesus Christ, the Word of God.
1. The Trap Set
1. The Trap Set
1 Darius decided to appoint 120 satraps over the kingdom, stationed throughout the realm, 2 and over them three administrators, including Daniel. These satraps would be accountable to them so that the king would not be defrauded. 3 Daniel distinguished himself above the administrators and satraps because he had an extraordinary spirit, so the king planned to set him over the whole realm. 4 The administrators and satraps, therefore, kept trying to find a charge against Daniel regarding the kingdom. But they could find no charge or corruption, for he was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was found in him. 5 Then these men said, “We will never find any charge against this Daniel unless we find something against him concerning the law of his God.” 6 So the administrators and satraps went together to the king and said to him, “May King Darius live forever. 7 All the administrators of the kingdom—the prefects, satraps, advisers, and governors—have agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an edict that, for thirty days, anyone who petitions any god or man except you, the king, will be thrown into the lions’ den. 8 Therefore, Your Majesty, establish the edict and sign the document so that, as a law of the Medes and Persians, it is irrevocable and cannot be changed.” 9 So King Darius signed the written edict. 10 When Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house. The windows in its upstairs room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before. 11 Then these men went as a group and found Daniel petitioning and imploring his God. 12 So they approached the king and asked about his edict: “Didn’t you sign an edict that for thirty days any person who petitions any god or man except you, the king, will be thrown into the lions’ den?” The king answered, “As a law of the Medes and Persians, the order stands and is irrevocable.” 13 Then they replied to the king, “Daniel, one of the Judean exiles, has ignored you, the king, and the edict you signed, for he prays three times a day.” 14 As soon as the king heard this, he was very displeased; he set his mind on rescuing Daniel and made every effort until sundown to deliver him.
v.1 Darius - may be a title like Caesar or Pharoah; if so then likely this is Cyrus.
v. 3 “an extraordinary spirit” - how rare it would be to be able to succeed in successive, different administrations.
v. 4 “no negligence or corruption” - how rare and commendable!
v. 7 “All the administrators…have agreed” - false!
“anyone who petitions any god or man except you” - Egyptians and Roman leaders also claimed to be gods; such gods were not understood to be all-powerful, infallible, etc.
v. 8 Babylon/head of gold, unlimited power
Medo-Persion/arms of silver, some limits on power. The same legal conditions were in effect in the book of Esther.
v. 10 Daniel’s behavior - unchanged. Was he tempted to hide his obedience? Would this have been a “small compromise”?
v. 14 “he was very displeased”
Chess illustration - sacrificing a knight for a queen
2. The Door Shut
2. The Door Shut
15 Then these men went together to the king and said to him, “You know, Your Majesty, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no edict or ordinance the king establishes can be changed.” 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 continually serve, rescue you!” 17 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den. The king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing in regard to Daniel could be changed. 18 Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting. No diversions were brought to him, and he could not sleep.
v. 15 “You know, your majesty...” - what a weaselly bunch of rulers
v. 16 “May your God rescue you” - Did he have any belief in this?
v. 18 “He could not sleep” - probably not
Esther - Ahasuerus could not sleep; had the history books read to him
3. Tables Turned
3. Tables Turned
19 At the first light of dawn the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. 20 When he reached the den, he cried out in anguish to Daniel. “Daniel, servant of the living God,” the king said, “has your God, whom you continually serve, been able to rescue you from the lions?” 21 Then Daniel spoke with the king: “May the king live forever. 22 My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths; and they haven’t harmed me, for I was found innocent before him. And also before you, Your Majesty, I have not done harm.” 23 The king was overjoyed and gave orders to take Daniel out of the den. When Daniel was brought up from the den, he was found to be unharmed, for he trusted in his God. 24 The king then gave the command, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and thrown into the lions’ den—they, their children, and their wives. They had not reached the bottom of the den before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.
v. 19 “first light of dawn”
v. 20 “in anguish” - shows the king’s mental state
v. 22 “My God sent his angel” - Daniel’s habit was to always give the glory to God.
The same angel for Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego?
Many of God’s saints were not miraculously delivered:
Heb 11 35-40 “35 Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. 36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— 38 of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.”
Application:
We can trust God in all circumstances
We can trust that God knows our situation, and will act in it to bring honor to Himself as we remain faithful to Him
