Bible Study - Impact (6) - Act Faithfully - Daniel 6:6-10, 13-16, 19-22 - November 22, 2015

Bible Study – Impact (6) – Act Faithfully – November 22, 2015

This is lesson six (6) and our final lesson in the Book of Daniel in our series entitled “Game Changer: How to Impact Your World.”

Our focus scripture is Daniel 6: 6-10, 13-16, 19-22.

GOD is greater than those who oppose you.

Christians are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. The world, orchestrated by Satan, tries to maneuver Christians into jobs or political situations which will result in them remaining silent regarding their faith in CHRIST. There are many leaders, workers, teachers, etc. who know the truth yet their hands are tied to express that truth for fear of losing their jobs.

In our previous lesson, Darius (duh-RIGH-uhs) the Mede was made king over Babylon after the joint effort by the Medes and Persians conquered Babylon. Darius implemented a new governing structure where he divided the kingdom into 120 districts ruled by princes or satraps.

These princes or satraps reported to three presidents or administrators who reported directly to King Darius. The primary purpose of these administrators was to reduce corruption in the process of collecting taxes. Since Daniel was a person of integrity, Darius appointed him as one of the administrators and made him chief of the three administrators. In essence, that resulted in Daniel being second in command to King Darius.

Daniel was a Jew and as we see today, when a person of a different race or ethnicity is elevated to a position of authority, jealousy raises its head. It was no different for Daniel. Those equal to and under Daniel’s authority began to look for negative things that would discredit him but could find none. So what do we often do in such situations? We attempt to set traps for the person. They zeroed in on Daniel’s faith and devotion to the One True GOD of the Israelites. Would Daniel compromise his faith in GOD or defy the king’s signed document, which, if he did, would result in him being thrown into the lion’s den? Let’s explore!

Let’s read Daniel 6:1-5: (Background)

The Plot against Daniel

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." 

Let’s read Daniel 6: 6-12:

6 So the administrators and satraps went together to the king and said to him, "May King Darius live forever.”

This was a common greeting to a king. But I wonder if King Darius thought something was up with these guys? 

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. 

Appealing to our ego is always something hard for us to turn down.

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." 

The “law of the Medes and Persians” was “irrevocable and cannot be changed once signed.”

9 So King Darius signed the document.

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. 

Jerusalem was where the temple was located and that was where GOD dwelled.

11 Then these men went as a group and found Daniel petitioning and imploring his God. 

Those who wanted to trap Daniel knew his custom of prayer. Daniel could have just not opened the windows. Those who wanted to trap Daniel must have rejoiced when they saw Daniel’s windows open. “We got him now!” was a likely thought. Daniel’s faith was in GOD. 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." 

I imagine they ran to the king and did high fives when the king confirmed the law of the Medes and Persians. Little did the king know what they had plotted against Daniel.

Let’s read Daniel 6:13-16:

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. 

This news made the king very unhappy but he had to uphold the law of the Medes and Persians. Notice, the king automatically began to consider how he could rescue Daniel from the fate of sure death by hungry lions. Did the king have the lions fed?  If he had, the word would have surely gotten out. The king knew Daniel’s faith was in GOD. Did he secretly ask Daniel’s GOD to protect 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!" 

The king’s hope for Daniel’s protection was in Daniel’s GOD. The king knew that Daniel had consistently and obediently served the One True GOD of the Israelites. The king trusted GOD to watch over him, protect him and rescue him.

Let’s read Daniel 6:17-22:

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. 

The king sealed the entrance to the den of lions.

18 Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting. No diversions were brought to him, and he could not sleep.

The king fasted. Fasting was a practice those who worshipped other gods did. Did King Darius seek the One True GOD or his gods? We do not know. What we do know is that he fasted and was not disturbed and he could not sleep.

Daniel Released

19 At the first light of dawn the king got up and hurried to the lions' den. 

This shows us how eager the king was to check on Daniel.

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 serve continually been able to rescue you from the lions?" 

This may give us a clue that the king was looking to Daniel’s GOD to protect Daniel. What a witness this event was to the king.

21 Then Daniel spoke with the king: "May the king live forever.

Notice, Daniel greeted the king graciously and with respect.

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." 

Daniel had honored GOD by not yielding to the written edict of the king and GOD honored Daniel’s unswerving faith by protecting him. Equally, GOD had examined Daniel’s refusal to honor the written edict and in doing so, Daniel had not sinned against the 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. 

Joy comes in the morning. The king had fasted and had a sleepless night and rejoiced that Daniel’s GOD had protected him. What a witness to the One True GOD of the Israelites.

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.

Were the lions hungry? Without a doubt! Notice that even the children and wives of those who had orchestrated this act against Daniel were included in those who were thrown into the lion’s den.

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 that in all my royal dominion, people must tremble in fear before the God of Daniel: For He is the living God, and He endures forever; His kingdom will never be destroyed, 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 the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

Yes! King Darius placed his faith in the One True GOD of the Israelites. Daniel remained faithful to GOD in the face of losing his life, which resulted in the king receiving salvation. Daniel continued to serve King Darius and GOD. Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den in 539 B.C. and his ministry ended in 536 B.C.

How would we measure up? Daniel was willing to die in the lion’s den rather than compromise his faith in GOD. GOD honors faith and faith honors GOD! Blessings!!!