Daniel:Faith Refuses to Compromise - Daniel 6 - June 11, 2006

Sunday School Lesson – Daniel: Faith Refuses to Compromise – June 11, 2006

This is lesson two (2) in our study “Godly Men of Faith.”

Last week we studied Caleb, a man of solid faith in GOD. This week we again study a man with solid faith, Daniel.

Our scripture is Daniel 6:1-28. Let’s read the entire Chapter but first some background.

Daniel is not only a man of great faith but a man of solid character. What you see in Daniel is the real thing. In 605 BC, King Nebuchadnezzar captured a young teenager, named Daniel, when he invaded Jerusalem. Daniel was taken to Babylon, where he was faithful to GOD, WHO guided Daniel’s life such that he became a trusted servant to the king. As you may recall Daniel and his three (3) friends refused to eat the food the king fed his servants but ate the Jewish diet which proved to be better than the Babylonian diet. Then Daniels three (3) friends were thrown into the fiery furnace and GOD protected them. GOD gave Daniel the gift of interpreting dreams and visions.

The Babylonian Empire fell to the Medes and Persians. The Persian Empire was governed by an absolute monarch. Darius is the king over the Persian Empire and he recognizes the character of Daniel and has a place of service in his kingdom for Daniel. In fact King Darius was planning to make Daniel next in command to himself. This triggers much jealousy among those who would have to report to him.

King Darius has a plan to divide up his kingdom by having three (3) Presidents or administrators or governors and 120 Princes or satraps to prevent the king from being defrauded. The King was planning to make Daniel second in authority because of his character.
Our first scripture sets the stage. Human nature has not changed in a long time. We still have people who would love to have us thrown into the lions den. So our relationship with GOD is very important. Who do we trust when we are in the lions den?

Let’s read Daniel 6:1-10:
The Plot against Daniel
1 Darius decided[1] Lit It was pleasing before Darius 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[2] Lit Now this 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 30 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 document.

To the dismay of Daniels peers they could not find any flaw with Daniel. So they had to devise a plan to trap him.

How would we measure up if our life was put under the microscope?

The administrators and satraps knew Daniel was a man of GOD and prayed three (3) times each day facing Jerusalem. They also knew Daniel was a man of character and would not bend by changing his prayer life for anyone or if he did they would point out his flaw for not being faithful to his GOD. Could the king trust a person who would compromise his faith to his GOD? Either way they had a plan to compromise Daniel one way or the other.

King Darius signs the document that for 30 days no one was to petition any man or god but the king. If anyone violates this decree they will be cast into the lions’ den. The administrators and satraps got all who had any authority with the king onboard with this scheme. They appealed to the king’s ego and the king signs the edict.

So the trap is set. Isn’t GOD great!

Let’s read Daniel 6:10-18:
Daniel in the Lions’ Den
10 When Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house. The windows in its upper 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 30 days any man 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. 15 Then these men went to the king and said to him, “You as king know 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 serve continually, 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[3] Hb obscure were brought to him, and he could not sleep.

Daniel does not waste any time, once the king signs the document Daniel goes to pray. Daniel could have prayed in private but he does not compromise one iota. Those plotting against Daniel do not have to wait long until they see that Daniel does not compromise. They run to the king with the news. Prejudice has also been with us for many ages. They first get the king to acknowledge that his decree is irrevocable. Then they tell the king that Daniel, the Judean exile has ignored you and the edict you signed. They refer to Daniel as a person different from them implying that is why he is defying you, which is true to a point. Daniel is a man of faith to GOD. Daniel’s heart is to be obedient to GOD. He is not just going through a routine but he has a genuine relationship with GOD. GOD is real to him.

The king realizes he had been had and is not a happy king. It is not good to have an unhappy king. In fact the king works hard to get the penalty revoked but his governing body reminds him that the law of the Medes and Persians is irrevocable.
So King Darius gives the order, “Throw Daniel into the lion’s den.” I can hear those lions roaring from fierce hunger. Notice, they brought Daniel and threw him into the lion’s den.

They were not letting anyone do the final deed except themselves. They wanted to make sure it was done correctly and that Daniel would surely die.

Then we notice that king Darius knows of Daniels great faith in GOD. It seems to become a test to determine if the GOD Daniel worships can keep him safe. So king Darius tells Daniel, “May your GOD rescue you.”

The king seals the entrance to the lion’s den and tells his servants not to bother him. He spends a very sleepless night. I wonder if the king just might have prayed to the GOD of Daniel and asked HIM to protect Daniel? All we know is that as dawn breaks the king is eager to learn of the fate of Daniel.

Let’s read Daniel 6:19-24:
Daniel Released
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,[4] Lit said to Daniel “has your God whom you serve continually 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. They haven’t hurt me, for I was found innocent before Him. Also, I have not committed a crime against you my king.” 23 The king was overjoyed and gave orders to take Daniel out of the den. So Daniel was taken out of the den, uninjured, for he trusted in his God. 24 The king then gave the command, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel[5] Lit had eaten his pieces [6] Dn 3:8; 6:12–13 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.

At first light the king runs to the lions den. He shouts out with a loud voice filled with all hope that Daniel has survived the night, “Daniel, servant of the living God,” the king said,[4] Lit said to Daniel “has your God whom you serve continually been able to rescue you from the lions?”

Notice “Servant of the living GOD.” WOW! I think king Darius had a conversion experience some time during the night.

GOD always has a plan and purpose in all things that come to us in life. We have to be obedient and trust GOD for the out come.

What a relief it must have been for the king when he heard Daniel reply. Daniel replies with words showing respect for the king. Daniel did not flaunt the fact GOD had shut the mouths of the lions or attempt to threaten the king with something GOD would do to the king for throwing him into the lions’ den. Daniel saw his deliverance as proof enough that GOD demonstrated HIS power to the king and to others aware of the event.

GOD had demonstrated that Daniel was innocent of any wrong doing. GOD had demonstrated HIS power to protect Daniel. The king is overjoyed.

Then the king ordered all who had plotted this dastardly deed, along with their families to be thrown into the lions den. Notice the lions were ready to eat. All were killed by the time their body hit the floor of the den. No question GOD had shut the mouths of the lions while Daniel was in the lions’ den.

Why were the entire families thrown into the lions’ den? Many believe that eliminated any future revenge toward Daniel or the king. We have to pay the consequences for sin and often our sin impacts our family. If we confess our sins, GOD is faithful and will forgive us, cleanse us and restore us. However the consequences of our sin may impact us or our family for a long time or even for life. Only the grace and power of GOD will help each person influenced by some sin cope with the consequences of that sin.

Divorce can have a lasting effect upon a family. Rape, incest and murder will have a lasting effect upon a person. The list goes on.

This is not to discourage but it takes the grace and power of GOD to restore us when bad things have happened to us. We all must have an intimate loving relationship with GOD and especially when we are the victims of bad things.

GOD is in all things working for the best to come from them.

Let’s read Daniel 6:25-28:
Darius Honors God
25 Then King Darius wrote to those of every people, nation, and language who live in all the earth: “May your prosperity abound. 26 I issue a decree[7] Dn 3:29; 4:6 that in all my royal dominion, people must tremble in fear before the God of Daniel:[8] Dn 5:19 For He is the living God, and He endures forever; His kingdom will never be destroyed,[9] Dn 2:44; 7:14 and His dominion has no end. 27 He rescues and delivers; He performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth, for He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.” 28 So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and[10] Or Darius, even the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

What a testimony to GOD. I think this shows that king Darius did have a conversion experience the night Daniel was in the lions den. GOD has a plan and purpose for all situations that come our way along life’s journey.

We have the joy of seeing the beginning and end of a circumstance in the life of Daniel. We are all on a journey with our SAVIOR and LORD JESUS CHRIST. The end to our story has not been written where we can see what it is. This is why we must trust in the sovereignty of GOD and remain faithful such that regardless of the conclusion, we will be faithful to our LORD.