Monday, November 4, 2013

Daniel 6

Remember that there are no chapter breaks in the original story. In each chapter, we read of Daniel's encounter with a different king and in each story, we learn of how Daniel and his three friends witness to that king.

Remember that the main plan of Satan is to stop God's redemptive game plan. God was working on sending the Messiah though the nation of Israel; so, the best way to prevent the coming of the Messiah was to cut off the descendants of Jacob (Israel).

The book of Daniel is primarily known for its prophecies, so why do we have to traverse six chapters before getting to the "good stuff?" We need to fully understand Daniel himself (his character, his faith and his own prophetic gift) and we need to fully understand the historical background of the empires of the day and their cultures and religions before we can even begin to understand the visions of the future given to Daniel by God and where the Israelites and Israel fit into the future. Thus far, the book of Daniel has been sequential in time, but the next chapter goes all the way back to the reign of Belshazzar.

The story of Daniel in the lions' den in chapter 6 is similar to the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel 3. David Syme Russell notes a number of parallels between the two chapters, including the trials suffered, the jealousy of conspirators, rescue by an angel, accusers meeting the same fate they had intended for the protagonists, and the fact that the king praises God and issues a royal decree protecting Jewish worship. (Russell, D. S. (1981). 1. Bible. O. T. Daniel - Commentaries. Philadelphia: Westminster Press. ISBN 978-0-664-24567-2.)

(1) *Darius the Mede decided to divide the kingdom into 120 provinces, and he appointed a **prince to rule over ***each province.

  • *Darius the Mede: Secular history of this period has no record of a ruler named Darius. There are several possible explanations for the Darius of Daniel 6:
    1. It may be that Darius is simply another name for Cyrus, who ruled of the Medo-Persian Empire during this period.
    2. It may be that Darius was actually Cambyses, son of Cyrus, who served under his father as a ruler of Babylon and later inherited the throne of the entire empire.
    3. It may be that Darius is an ancient official known as Gubaru in ancient documents, whom Cyrus appointed as ruler over Babylon immediately after its capture. This Gubaru is most likely the same person as Darius. Ancient documents show that the man Gubaru had the power to make appointments, to assemble an army, to levy taxes, and to possess palaces. Gubaru (Darius) was, in a very real sense, the king over Babylon.
    4. “Darius” may be an honorable title, meaning “holder of the scepter.” Used of five later Persian rulers.
  • **prince: Literally "satrap." “The word undoubtedly refers to the Persian satraps, or governors or viceroys in the large provinces of the empire, possessing both civil and military powers” (Barnes, E-Sword).
  • ***each province: So, there would have been 120 "princes".
  • The historical record in the Nabonidus Chronicle, was that Babylon was conquered by Ugbaru, governor of Gutium, who entered the city of Babylon the night of Belshazzar’s feast. After Ugbaru conquered Babylon on October 12, 539 B.C., Cyrus entered the conquered city on 17 days later. Ugbaru was then appointed by Cyrus to rule on his behalf in Babylon. Eight days after Cyrus’ arrival, Ugbaru died.

(2) The king also chose Daniel and two others as administrators to supervise the princes and to watch out for the king's interests.

(3) Daniel soon proved himself more capable than all the other administrators and princes. Because of his great ability, the king made plans to place him over the entire empire.

  • It is amazing to think about Daniel at this point in his life. He is now approximately 80 years old. He served most of his adult life as an administrator in the Babylonian Empire under King Nebuchadnezzar. He rose to power to be the #2 man It is rare, or downright impossible for a top official for a conquered kingdom to also be a top official for the next kingdom. Any king would be suspicious of Daniel's loyalty. Daniel spent his whole life serving in the Babylonian kingdom, and now he is trusted enough to serve as a top official in the kingdom that overthrew Babylon That alone says a lot for Daniel's character. Daniel didn't serve in the Babylonian kingdom because it was a "good place to be". Daniel served there because it is what God called him to do! Daniel's loyalty was to God and God alone. It is because of that loyalty and dedication that Daniel had the character to be a good servant. That should be something for Christians to learn as well. As Christians, we should be outstanding at whatever role or function we are in, assuming you are doing what God called you to do! The secret is that our strength and abilities come from God himself. Once we realize and acknowledge that, we then have the ability to be an outstanding citizen in the world itself.
  • The reputation of Daniel was well known throughout Babylon and those whom he served with clearly knew his character, beliefs and behavior patterns which are why they will later exploit that character in an attempt to have him removed from office evidencing their own jealousy and envy toward Daniel.

(4) Then the other administrators and princes began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling his affairs, but they couldn't find anything to criticize. He was faithful and honest and always responsible.

  • Simply, there were no skeletons in Daniel’s closet. His enemies examined his life and found nothing to attack - they had to make up something.
  • Wow! Wouldn't we be shocked if a politician's enemies could find absolutely no dirt on a candidate! So, why not make up something false?
  • The world may not know the intricacies of doctrine or the intimacies of worship with God but they can tell a bad temper, selfishness, conceitedness or dishonesty when they see it. “The world is a very poor critic of my Christianity, but it is a very sufficient one of my conduct.” (Maclaren)
  • Daniel’s shining testimony of his faith in God had obviously attracted the attention of God’s archenemy Satan, who decided to destroy this man.
  • As a Jew, Daniel cannot have loved life at the Babylonian or Persian court. His heart was in Jerusalem. But, he understood that his being led into captivity had been an act of God. Instead of pouting over the injustice done to him and blaming God for his fate, he accepted God’s will for his life and decided to glorify God in his circumstances. This made the light of God shine through him in the darkness of these pagan palaces. It was this light that had attracted the attention of the king and the hatred of his colleagues.
  • When anyone lives a righteous and godly life there will always be those who are offended. Paul states this in 2 Timothy 3:12 saying "Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution." A life of godliness will stand in sharp contrast to the lives of those who live worldly lives. A worldly man will resent having his sins exposed and often will seek to silence or destroy that which exposes him. This was the case with Daniel. His godly character, and God's blessings on his life, had elevated him to a position above all others in Babylon. His subordinates then hatched a plan to bring him down.
  • One human tendency is to drag someone down who is doing better than they are - to bring them down to their level.

(5) So they concluded, "Our only chance of finding grounds for accusing Daniel will be in connection with the requirements of his religion."

(6) So the administrators and princes went to the king and said, "Long live King Darius!

  • Flattery!

(7) We administrators, prefects, princes, advisers, and other officials have *unanimously agreed that Your Majesty should make a law that will be strictly enforced. Give orders that for the next thirty days anyone who prays to anyone, divine or human -- except to Your Majesty -- will be thrown to the lions.

  • *unanimously: Flattery and then a lie! Of course, they lied when they said all the governors, because Daniel was one of the governors and he was not consulted.
  • If the enemies of Daniel knew him, they also knew Darius. They knew they could appeal to his pride and his desire for a unified kingdom.
  • "What pretence could they urge for so silly an ordinance? Probably to flatter the ambition of the king, they pretend to make him a god for thirty days; so that the whole empire should make prayer and supplication to him and pay him Divine honours! This was the bait; but their real object was to destroy Daniel." (Clarke)
  • Esther 3:8-9: Then Haman approached King Xerxes and said, "There is a certain race of people scattered through all the provinces of your empire. Their laws are different from those of any other nation, and they refuse to obey even the laws of the king. So it is not in the king's interest to let them live. If it please Your Majesty, issue a decree that they be destroyed, and I will give 375 tons of silver to the government administrators so they can put it into the royal treasury."
  • The proposition brought by the satraps must have been presented in the guise of a measure to find a solution for the religious tensions that were plaguing the nation at that time. The Pulpit Commentary gives us a possible reason for Darius’ reason to accept this proposal. We read: “To understand the point of this decree, that seems to us so absurd, and comprehend how any one with sufficient mental vigor left to be placed by Cyrus as governor in Babylon could be led to yield to confirm it, we must recognize the state of matters in Babylon. During the reign of Nabunahid there had been many religious changes. The seclusion of the monarch had led to the neglect of many of the regular rites of the gods of Babel. The policy he pursued of bringing the gods of various provinces to Babylon tended, as did the similar policy in Rome, to draw off from the importance of the national religion by forming rival cults. One of the first acts of Cyrus’s reign was to order the replacing of these deities in their ancient shrines. This would necessarily be most distasteful to the worshippers of these imported deities. There would be much murmuring among the huge heterogeneous population; and there would be thus a well-grounded fear of a religious riot. A bold soldier as Gobryas (Darius) was, he probably was but a timid ruler, and nothing would he dread more than a religious riot. Would it not be a plausible way of meeting this difficulty to order for one month all worship to cease?”
  • It was not until the proposition had been signed into law, that Darius understood that the purpose of it was not to ease the religious climate of the empire but to remove Daniel from office.

(8) And let Your Majesty issue and sign this law so it *cannot be changed, a law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked."

  • *cannot be changed: The decrees of a Persian king were unchangeable because he was thought to speak for the gods, who could never be wrong and never needed to change their minds. Babylonian kings did not have this, or any other, restriction.
  • When King Xerxes in the Book of Esther chapter 8 changed his mind about the law, which he had signed, that ordered the extermination of the Jews, he could not revoke that law. Instead he permitted Esther to issue another edict that allowed the Jews to defend themselves. Esther 8:8: Now go ahead and send a message to the Jews in the king's name, telling them whatever you want, and seal it with the king's signet ring. But remember that whatever is written in the king's name and sealed with his ring can never be revoked."

(9) So King Darius signed the law.

  • The plotters got their law on the statute books, and then argued that because it was law, it must be enforced, right or wrong. That was the argument of those who crucified Jesus. “We have a law” said the plotters, “and by our law He ought to die” (John 19:7 KJV). Religious persecution has usually wrought its iniquities in the name of law.

(10) But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open *toward Jerusalem. He prayed **three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.

  • Daniel was confronted with a test of loyalties. He wanted to render unto Caesar things that rightfully belonged to Caesar but he would not give to the government that which belonged to God alone.
  • It isn’t hard to see why people are men-pleasers; it seems as if people have the power to hire or fire us; to break our hearts; to slander us; to make our live generally miserable. The power to obey God and stand for Him comes from a settled understanding that God is really in control.
  • "Unless you are prepared to be in the minority, and now and then to be called 'narrow,' 'fanatic,' and to be laughed at by men because you will not do what they do, but abstain and resist, then there is little chance of your ever making much of your Christian profession." (Maclaren)
  • It would have been compromise or pride to change in either direction. “This was not the act of a person courting martyrdom but the continuation of a faithful ministry in prayer which had characterized his long life.” (Walvoord)
  • What was Daniel's custom in prayer?
    • He prayed in his upper room - this was private prayer, made with no intention to impress others
    • He prayed with his windows open toward Jerusalem, remembering the place of sacrifice even when there was no sacrifice
    • He prayed according to Scripture, because in 1 Kings 8, Solomon asked God to give special notice to the prayers of His people when they prayed towards Jerusalem and the temple: And may You hear the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place.
    • He prayed three times that day, knowing that though a little prayer is good, much prayer is far better. We also remember that Daniel was one of three governors over an empire - yet still had time to pray. "That does not tell you how often he prayed, but how often he was in the posture of prayer. Doubtless he prayed 300 times a day if necessary-his heart was always having commerce with the skies; but thrice a day he prayed formally." (Spurgeon)
    • He prayed and gave thanks, because great prayer is filled with thanksgiving. "Prayer and praise should always go up to heaven arm in arm, like twin angels walking up Jacob’s ladder, or like kindred aspirations soaring up to the Most High." (Spurgeon)
  • Cornelius was a man that prayed in his own house (Acts 10:30) and Daniel went into his house, kneeled and prayed three times a day. Watch and pray.
  • *toward Jerusalem: The principle of praying in the direction of Jerusalem, the place where God had revealed Himself, the place where the altar had stood and the sins of men had been atoned for, was based upon the prayer King Solomon had pronounced at the dedication of the temple: 2 Chronicles 6:36-39: "If they sin against you -- and who has never sinned? -- you may become angry with them and let their enemies conquer them and take them captive to a foreign land far or near. But in that land of exile, they may turn to you again in repentance and pray, 'We have sinned, done evil, and acted wickedly.' Then if they turn to you with their whole heart and soul and pray toward the land you gave to their ancestors, toward this city you have chosen, and toward this Temple I have built to honor your name, then hear their prayers from heaven where you live. Uphold their cause and forgive your people who have sinned against you.
  • **three times a day: Psalm 55:17: Morning, noon, and night I plead aloud in my distress, and the LORD hears my voice.
  • Daniel was a man of prayer, before, during and after this event. It was part of his character - and they knew it!
  • Daniel was focused on the hope of the coming Messiah. Even though Jerusalem was in ruins during this time period, Daniel trusted and believed in the literal promises of God and he directed his prayers accordingly. Facing toward Jerusalem was Daniel expressing his faith in that promise.
  • The temple Solomon had dedicated had been filled with the glory of God. In the days Daniel kneeled before his open window, that temple did no longer exist. The glory of God had left the temple, as Ezekiel had witnessed in some of the visions God had given to him. After the glory of God departed, all that was left was an empty hull. When the Spirit left, the temple died. The building King Nebuchadnezzar sacked was merely a structure of stone, wood and precious metals. In a way, Daniel’s prayer was also a statement of faith; it expressed the hope of the resurrection. Daniel knew that God was not dead, even though the place in which He had lived had returned to ashes. Daniel had experienced God during the years of his captivity.
  • He knew the law. He knew the penalty. And he went to pray.
  • There are several things worth noting here:
    • Daniel was aware of the decree
    • Daniel was not consulted on this decree and apparently did not advise the king, otherwise Daniel would have made his position clear.
    • Daniel’s prayer life was no secret to his enemies and his pattern of worship was also well known to his enemies.
    • Neither this decree nor anything else disrupted Daniel’s prayer life or his dedication to God and His ways. (Daniel 1:8, 2:17-18, 3:8-12, 16-18)
  • Philippians 4:6–7: Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
  • What did Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego do? Probably, the same thing but they weren't the target and they may have been less open about their prayer time. They're not mentioned here, just as Daniel is not mentioned in chapter 3.

(11) The officials went together to Daniel's house and found him praying and asking for *God's help.

  • *God's help for what - to prevent what's next, his help to live a Godly life, his help to serve the kingdom in the name of the Lord?

(12) So they went back to the king and reminded him about his law. "Did you not sign a law that for the next thirty days anyone who prays to anyone, divine or human -- except to Your Majesty -- will be thrown to the lions?" "Yes," the king replied, "that decision stands; it is a law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked."

(13) Then they told the king, "That man Daniel, one of the captives from Judah, is paying no attention to you or your law. He still prays to his God three times a day."

(14) Hearing this, the king was very *angry with himself for signing the law, and he tried to find a way to save Daniel. He spent the rest of the day looking for a way to get Daniel out of this predicament.

  • *angry with himself: There is a lot to like about King Darius, and one of the admirable things about him is that he is displeased with himself. Instead of blaming others, he knew that he was at fault. We can be sure that he wasn't happy with Daniel's enemies, but he knew that ultimately he was responsible. I love Harry Truman's "The Buck Stops Here" sign on his desk - I wish our modern presidents had the same attitude.

(15) In the evening the men went together to the king and said, "Your Majesty knows that according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, no law that the king signs can be changed."

  • They recognized that the king was dragging his feet on carrying out his own order - so, they made sure it was carried out!

(16) So at last the king gave orders for Daniel to be arrested and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to him, "May your God, whom *you worship continually, rescue you."

  • Darius had faith, and it was faith born out of Daniel’s faith in the Lord. The idea is, "I tried my best to save you Daniel, but I failed, Now it is up to your God."
  • *you serve continually: This made Daniel's testimony. Many of us occasionally display godly character and wisdom before the world, but we then counter-act our good by then being bad. Daniel didn't just worship when others were watching, he wasn't on his best behavior just in the public, his record and his testimony were impeccable. He was a REAL man!
  • Note the king states Daniel served the Lord "continually." Daniel's testimony was well established which was the reason the plot against him was foolproof. Daniel lived his life for the Lord and everyone knew it. Darius too, recognized where Daniel's character came from.

(17) A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den. The king sealed the stone with his own royal seal and the seals of his nobles, so that no one could rescue Daniel from the lions.

  • Christ's tomb was sealed too. Peter's cell doors were locked. So were Paul's.
    • Matthew 27:64-66: So we request that you seal the tomb until the third day. This will prevent his disciples from coming and stealing his body and then telling everyone he came back to life! If that happens, we'll be worse off than we were at first." Pilate replied, "Take guards and secure it the best you can." So they sealed the tomb and posted guards to protect it.
    • Acts 12:1-10: About that time King Herod Agrippa began to persecute some believers in the church. He had the apostle James (John's brother) killed with a sword. When Herod saw how much this pleased the Jewish leaders, he arrested Peter during the Passover celebration and imprisoned him, placing him under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each. Herod's intention was to bring Peter out for public trial after the Passover. But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him. The night before Peter was to be placed on trial, he was asleep, chained between two soldiers, with others standing guard at the prison gate. Suddenly, there was a bright light in the cell, and an angel of the Lord stood before Peter. The angel tapped him on the side to awaken him and said, "Quick! Get up!" And the chains fell off his wrists. Then the angel told him, "Get dressed and put on your sandals." And he did. "Now put on your coat and follow me," the angel ordered. So Peter left the cell, following the angel. But all the time he thought it was a vision. He didn't realize it was really happening. They passed the first and second guard posts and came to the iron gate to the street, and this opened to them all by itself. So they passed through and started walking down the street, and then the angel suddenly left him
    • Acts 16:23-26: They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn't escape. So he took no chances but put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks. Around midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly, there was a great earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off!

(18) Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night fasting. He refused his usual entertainment and couldn't sleep at all that night.

  • Undoubtedly, Daniel had a better night’s rest than Darius.

(19) Very early the next morning, the king hurried out to the lions' den.

  • It is remarkable that the king went personally to the lions’ den to check on Daniel’s condition. It indicates how deeply he felt himself involved in this. He realized that he had been used as a pawn by his advisors for the destruction of his beloved servant.

(20) When he got there, he called out in anguish, "Daniel, *servant of the living God! Was your God, whom you **worship continually, able to rescue you from the lions?"

  • *servant of the living God: Darius’ use of the words “servant of the living God” is unusual. This constitutes a confession that God is the source of all life and the Supreme Being over all other deities. The Wycliffe Bible Commentary observes: “The king’s Zoroastrian faith was the nearest that paganism ever came to Jewish ethical monotheism. God was glorified by the destruction of His enemies, by the king’s confession, and by His servant’s reward.”
  • **worship continually: Can it be said of you that you worship God “continually”? “Continually” is all the time. How often we sin against our loving Lord by the harsh word, by the unkind thought, by the overt act, or by the neglected duty! A heathen king could say of Daniel that he served his God “continually.” May the Lord Jesus help us to be such witnesses to His love and grace! 1 Thessalonians 5:17: Pray without ceasing.

(21) Daniel answered, "Long live the king!

(22) My God sent his angel to shut the lions' mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty."

  • Psalm 22:21-22: Snatch me from the lions' jaws, and from the horns of these wild oxen. Then I will declare the wonder of your name to my brothers and sisters. I will praise you among all your people.
  • Hebrews 11:33-34: By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight.
  • But, didn't Daniel break the king's law? Yes, but he did not go against the king nor against the king's best interests.
  • Daniel was preserved through faith. Though his cause was righteous and he was unjustly accused, those things in themselves did not protect him before the lions. Daniel needed a living, abiding faith in God, even in the most difficult circumstances.
  • The disobedience of Daniel was not because of any contempt for the king, but because of his regard to the King of Kings. To disobey kings, presidents and governors may sometimes become the duty of Christians for the Christian’s first duty is to Obey God and then honor the king.

(23) The king was overjoyed and ordered that Daniel be lifted from the den. Not a scratch was found on him because he had trusted in his God.

(24) Then the king gave orders to arrest the men who had maliciously accused Daniel. He had them thrown into the lions' den, *along with their wives and children. The lions leaped on them and tore them apart before they even hit the floor of the den.

  • This is obviously severe, but it was also according to ancient customs among the Persians. An ancient writer named Ammianus Marcellinus wrote of the Persians, “The laws among them are formidable . . . by which, on account of the guilt of one, all the kindred perish.” This was contrary to the Law of Moses. It was not God's law; it was pagan man's terrible law.
  • Darius probably would have cast these accusers to the lions even if Daniel had perished in the lion's den.
  • This proved that it genuinely was angelic protection that saved Daniel. Daniel's accusers perished in the same trap they set for Daniel.
  • *along with their wives and children: Darius’ act of vengeance was not unusual among the Persians. The king may have been afraid that the offspring of those condemned to death would later plot to take revenge upon the king. Wiping out the whole family would take care of that threat.
  • Deuteronomy 24:16: "Parents must not be put to death for the sins of their children, nor the children for the sins of their parents. Those worthy of death must be executed for their own crimes.
  • Esther 7:9-10: Then Harbona, one of the king's eunuchs, said, "Haman has set up a gallows that stands seventy-five feet tall in his own courtyard. He intended to use it to hang Mordecai, the man who saved the king from assassination." "Then hang Haman on it!" the king ordered. So they hanged Haman on the gallows he had set up for Mordecai, and the king's anger was pacified.
  • Although it is possible that all 120 plus officials could have been tossed to the lions; it is more probable that it was the primary or principle accusers (the other two commissioners) and their families that were cast to the lions.

(25) Then King Darius sent this message to the people of every race and nation and language throughout the world: "Peace and prosperity to you!

  • Much like Nebuchadnezzar's proclamation.
  • The Book of Daniel follows a familiar pattern. God's people stand firm in their convictions, God honors and protects them and the testimony of God's work makes the ungodly see and tell of the greatness of God.
    1. Daniel and his four friends stood firm and Nebuchadnezzar saw the fruit of it (Daniel 1:20)
    2. Daniel boldly and wisely interpreted Nebuchadnezzar's dream and king honored Daniel and his God (Daniel 2:46-47)
    3. Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego stood firm and Nebuchadnezzar gave glory to God (Daniel 3:28-30)
    4. Daniel boldly told Nebuchadnezzar the truth and the king humbled himself and gave glory to God (Daniel 4:34-37)
    5. Daniel stood firm and boldly told Belshazzar the truth and the king honored Daniel (Daniel 5:29)

(26) "I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel. For he is the living God, and he will endure forever. His kingdom will never be destroyed, and his rule will never end.

  • Darius is not saying that God is the only God, just that Daniel's God is one to be respected.

(27) He rescues and saves his people; he performs miraculous signs and wonders in the heavens and on earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions."

(28) So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

  • Verse 28 may have been written by another inspired writer who compiled the writings of Daniel - possibly Ezra.

PERSONAL APPLICATION

  • Daniel was a man of upright character. That is what the world cannot stand. This is why Satan attacks so hard people like Daniel. When Billy Graham was active, there were constant attempts to compromise his testimony. Satan is well-aware that God uses people to witness to the world. An upstanding role model like Daniel is an outstanding witness for God, and thus, Satan uses whatever forces at his disposal to stop Daniel. Ephesians 6:12: For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms.
  • Can you think for a moment about what many have lost at not being faithful. To some family, children, a job, hobbies, a home, and a thousand other things are more important to them than being faithful to the Lord. The test comes not as dynamic as was Daniel's, but just as critical and important. Many people in the crisis show their lack of faith. At a restaurant in a public place some are ashamed to pray. Spouses with unsaved wives and husbands do not pray at meals at home. On the job, people hide their being a Christian afraid of offending or subjecting themselves to ridicule. Many refuse to witness to others because they feel it is too embarrassing. The world (and our government) wants us to hide our Christianity. Of course, the world and our government have no problem with false religions, even those calling themselves "Christian."
  • We will not be cast into a lion's den, but the world around us is full of intimidating vicious lions who will rail on us with their mouths and abuse us personally when we take a stand for the Lord Jesus.
  • I saw on the web a tombstone with a name, a date of birth and a date of death, and this simple five-word epitaph: “A man of unquestioned integrity." Five words to sum up an entire life. Sixty-plus years distilled into five words.
  • For showing us to survive and thrive in a pagan world, there is no better example than Daniel.  He spent almost his whole life serving God in a pagan land under pagan kings in a totally pagan culture. And he never compromised his faith. Not even once.
  • Daniel’s enemies envied him, but they couldn’t deny the reality of his faith.
  • Here are three lessons for modern-day Daniels who find themselves facing the lions every day:
    1. It is possible to live a pure life in the midst of a thoroughly pagan world.
    2. God can use us to touch unlikely people when we are faithful to him.
    3. God is able to deliver his people from any danger they face.
  • God did not save Daniel from the lion's den. He saved him in the lion's den. God will not remove all trouble from you either, but He will be there to help you through those problems.
  • We started with Daniel as a teenager and have seen glimpses of his faith and of God working through him all the way into his 80's.
  • The only really safe place is in the will of God. While it is not always God’s will to deliver every believer from danger, and many have given their lives for Christ, what a reward God promises even in that circumstance!
  • How did Daniel manage to rise above the rest? Was he a man that scrambled his way up the top using politics and maneuverings? By trying to buddy up to the right people? Climbing the corporate ladder by any means necessary? No. Scripture tells us that he advanced in the ranks because he possessed an extraordinary spirit. What is an extraordinary spirit? In this day and age, it wouldn't be hard to recognize in a man. An extraordinary spirit manifests itself like it did in Daniel in intelligence, wisdom, understanding, and a servant's heart (1:4). When someone has an extraordinary spirit, He Is bold enough to stand on godly principles (1:8), and has discretion and discernment (2:14). It is someone who prays when he or she doesn't have the answers (2:18), and who gives thanks when God answers (2:23). It is someone who watches out for his or her friends (2:49). Someone who is courteous, but no respecter of persons, and doesn't give in to greed or worldly temptation (5:17). This is what an extraordinary spirit looks like in a person, and this is how Daniel advanced so highly in both the Babylonian and the Medo-Persian empires.
  • Satan hates God and all the people of God. He is ever on the alert to make a stroke at the Almighty, by whatever means he can. Furthermore, the closer one lives to the Lord, the more vehement is Satan's anger against him. To everyone who reads the book of Daniel, it becomes apparent that Daniel was a God-fearing man. Such a person is an immediate target for Satan.
  • Like Darius, our foolish decisions often haunt us. Often all we can do is pray and ask God to mercifully and miraculously intervene when we make foolish decisions.
  • Philippians 2:15: so that no one can speak a word of blame against you. You are to live clean, innocent lives as children of God in a dark world full of crooked and perverse people. Let your lives shine brightly before them.
  • 1 Peter 2:11-12: Dear brothers and sisters, you are foreigners and aliens here. So I warn you to keep away from evil desires because they fight against your very souls. Be careful how you live among your unbelieving neighbors. Even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will believe and give honor to God when he comes to judge the world.

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