The Book of Daniel - part 7
Faith in the Lion’s Den : Daniel 6
Main Point : Be faithful in the small things, and God will handle the big things.
The beauty of a good story is that it teaches us lessons while we are captivated by the story. Simple stories with simple morals are well-known for a reason. “The Little Red Hen” and other fables are quick to tell and quick to learn so that their message is quick to learn as well. The hen wants help making some bread, no one helps, so no one else gets to eat. The lesson is pretty simple, don’t expect to share what others have accomplished. Longer stories provide more complex themes and lessons, but the beauty is their ability to speak truth in creative ways.
Today’s story is no different. As we read through Daniel’s story, we will pause through it to discuss the lessons that emerge.
A faith seen by the enemy : 6:1-5
It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps, to be throughout the whole kingdom; 2 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. 3 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. 4 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. 5 Then these men said, “We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.”
Daniel 6:1-5
Consider the faith of Daniel that even his enemies recognize his faithfulness to God and country. We should note three things about Daniel’s faithfulness.
It brought success in his career and reputation
His civic duties did not interfere with his faith for some time.
His faith was well-known among his co-workers.
In case you’ve missed this in other sermons or in life in general, always be aware that when we are doing what God has called us to do, it will always garner attention from the enemy and jealous ones who are out of God’s will. Jesus told us not to be surprised the world hates us. It hated Him first.
The King Signs the Order : 6:6-9
6 Then these high officials and satraps came by agreement to the king and said to him, “O King Darius, live forever! 7 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. 8 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.” 9 Therefore King Darius signed the document and injunction.
Daniel 6:6-9
The law goes into effect, and according to the legal requirements of the empire, the law cannot be revoked. What was the purpose of this law? The word ‘pray’ is quite literally ‘make requests’, so we should not see this as Darius placing himself as god, though it is not far from it. He would issue such a decree in order to test the loyalty of his conquered subjects. By requiring all petitions to go through the king, this required the priests and subjects to consider the king their mediator between them and the gods. Their loyalty would be with the king, or they would face death.
Lions were a common “pet” for Assyrian and Persian royalty. They were kept in cages or pits for the purpose of punishing criminals or simply displaying their power. Not many can claim to tame wild beasts.
Though we may not find ourselves in the same position as Darius, we can learn a valuable principle.
Be careful with your words.
Or, as James puts it, be quick to listen and slow to speak and slow to anger. Anger and pride will cause us to make rash decisions that we will regret later. Here, Darius’s pride places his most trusted advisor in a position to commit a capital offense. Our anger and pride may or may not bring someone physical death, but it certainly won’t bring them life.
Daniel remains faithful : 6:10-13
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. 11 Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and plea before his God.12 Then they came near and said before the king, concerning the injunction, “O king! Did you not sign an injunction, that anyone who makes petition to any god or man within thirty days except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The thing stands fast, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked.” 13 Then they answered and said before the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or the injunction you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.”
Daniel 6:10-13
The key phrase is “as he had done previously”. Daniel’s lifestyle does not change during this 30 day injunction. He remains faithful, but notice what he is faithful to do.
He is not starting a major renovation.
He is not usurping the throne’s authority by picketing the injunction.
He is not building a movement against Persian beliefs.
He is simply continuing to pray as he is accustomed to do.
Because he remained faithful during the easier times, it is easier for him to remain faithful during the persecuted times. Although, we should remember Daniel’s life has been one test after another. His formative years saw him tested by the king’s authority. His entire career has been as an outsider. So, perhaps it is not that extraordinary that Daniel perseveres through the injunction. After all,
Strong faith comes from an exercised faith.
We cannot hope to have the same type of faith as the great heroes if we are unwilling to exercise our spiritual muscles as they did. Many motivational speakers like to talk about what people are able to do when they are willing, but that is only part of the truth. The full truth is what Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” Or, even better, Jesus told us, “With God all things are possible.”
When our minds tell us that we cannot accomplish the thing God is pointing us to, it is quite simply a lack of faith—not a lack of faith in ourselves, but in God. That is a hard truth, but it is one we need to swallow if we are to endure the times when injunctions and lions are at hand.
The king loses sleep : 6:14-18
14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was much distressed and set his mind to deliver Daniel. And he labored till the sun went down to rescue him. 15 Then these men came by agreement to the king and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or ordinance that the king establishes can be changed.”
16 Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” 17 And a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel.18 Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him.
Daniel 6:14-18
The king realizes he’s been had. Manipulative, jealous people have played to the king’s ego and gotten their way. When Darius attempts to save Daniel, he realizes a timeless truth:
Sometimes there’s no going back, and we have to live with the consequences.
There will be no rescue for the king’s actions. He must deal with the reality he has sent his friend to fate filled with lions. Now, someone may say, “Sure, but God is going to deliver Daniel!”
First, no spoilers! Come on, man.
Second, we know that looking back in history, but consider at that time, all the king knew was his friend was about to die, and it was because of his actions and arrogance. Darius will be blessed, because Daniel is going to be blessed, but we should not expect God to rescue us from the consequences of our own failings. Scripture does not tell us to continue doing wrong and wait for God to deliver us from the consequences. On the contrary, we are told as Jesus tells the woman caught in adultery, “Go and sin no more.”
Daniel is vindicated : 6:19-24
19 Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions. 20 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?” 21 Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever!22 My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.” 23 Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. 24 And the king commanded, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and cast into the den of lions—they, their children, and their wives. And before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces.
Daniel 6:19-24
Notice the king goes quickly to the den. There was a custom in capital cases that, if the criminal was found alive the next day, then they would be vindicated. So, it is possible the king is hoping the lions were not as hungry as they might usually be. However, his “tone of anguish” also suggests he had little hope.
But, lo, there is hope in the morning!
Daniel has been preserved by the Lord who sent His angel to shut the lion’s mouth. Notice, he doesn’t say they weren’t hungry, or they left him alone, Daniel says the angel shut the mouth. These ferocious lions were turned to purring kittens.
Now, most children’s Sunday School classes end this story with verse 23. Daniel is raised up from the lion’s den, and they all live happily ever after.
However, look again at verse 24. The king declares justice for Daniel. The malicious officials are cast into the den, along with their entire families. And, before they even reach the bottom, the lions tear them apart and break all their bones.
It is a harsh ending in modern eyes, but remember the law of the ancient world. Punishment for one criminal would extend to the family in order to prevent further rebellion by families seeking vengeance. But, this ending gives us a few more lessons.
1) Our sins do not just affect us.
When we sin against God, we also sin against the people around us. Our actions affect our spouses, our children, our neighbors and co-workers. If we continue in a life of sin, it will continue to destroy those we love most. That is the destructive nature of sin.
2) Daniel was miraculously saved.
In case anyone were to argue the lions were just fed before Daniel got into the den, these lions demonstrated their hunger. They left Daniel alone, but as soon as others fell into the pit, they pounced. Unless, one wants to try and argue the lions were just really picky eaters, it is quite obvious this was a miracle.
3) There is a coming judgement by God.
The angel is sent by God to shut the lions mouth, because as Daniel states, “I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.” Daniel is vindicated before the Lord, because he is innocent. The satraps, however, were guilty—guilty of pride, of manipulation, and entrapment. And even worse, their sin led to the destruction of their families as well.
Friends, there is coming a day when Christ returns and the Lord will execute judgement on this earth. Those who have trusted in the work of Christ for forgiveness of sin will be delivered, just as Daniel was delivered from the lions. Those who have continued in rebellion and sin will be delivered to the lion of everlasting punishment.
It is a harsh reality and harsh ending to our story, but it is the truth nonetheless. Some of you may have not read the full ending of Daniel’s story, because it is not a pleasant one, for kids or adults. But, it is the truth. Hell is not a pleasant ending to the story of humanity, but it is the truth nonetheless.
Seek forgiveness and righteousness while there is still time. Seek Jesus.
The king acknowledge the True King : 6:25-28
25 Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: “Peace be multiplied to you. 26 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.
27 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.”28 So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
Daniel 6:25-28
The king pronounces that all peoples, nations, and languages are to treble and fear before the God of Daniel. His proclamation is a beautiful description of the One True God.
He is the living God who endures forever!
His kingdom shall never be destroyed, and His dominion is forever!
He delivers and rescues!
He works signs and wonders in heaven and earth!
He has saved Daniel from the power of the lions, and He will save you, too, if you will simply ask!
Today, act on this final lesson:
The God of Daniel, who we know to be the Triune God, Father, Son and Spirit, who walked among us, Jesus Christ, He can save you!
The truth is, as much as we would like to think of ourselves as Daniel in this story, most of us are more like the satraps. We get jealous over the success of others. We ridicule the godliest people around us. And, even when we’ve been told time and again about the greatness of the One true God, we go after other things in this life.
That rebelliousness is our spiritual cancer, the Bible calls sin, acting in our hearts and minds. Sin will continue to drive us away from God, and away from the people and things of God, if we allow it. And the truth is, we will allow it, because it has become such a part of us, we don’t know any different.
Jesus Christ came to break the curse and chains of sin. When He died on that cross, He opened up the way to forgiveness. And when He walked out that tomb on the third day, He brought eternal life for all who will believe and trust in Him.
If you have never surrendered to Jesus as the Lord and King that He is, then make today the day of your salvation. Do not wait, because the morning is coming when you realize the ones you’ve been casting into the lion’s den have been vindicated by God, and it is your turn to face the lions. Be forgiven while there is still time to be forgiven.