Title: Daniel in the Den of Lions
Theme: Trusting God for His Deliverance.
Text: Daniel 6
Daniel 6:1-28
(1) It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom;
(2) and over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them, so that the king would suffer no loss.
(3) Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm.
"an excellent spirit"
excellent - above the ordinary, extreme and above others.
Matthew 22:37-39
(37) Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' (38) This is the first and great commandment. (39) And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'
The Haters - Jealously
(4) So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him.
Proverbs 10:9 He who walks with integrity walks securely, But he who perverts his ways will become known.
Proverbs 20:7 The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him.
Titus 2:7 in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility,
Jealously
Fall of Cain
Division of Jacob and Esau
Sin of Jacob's sons
FOUR INVADERS OF THE HEART - Andy Stanley
Andy says there are four “invaders” or enemies of the heart. He says that left on their own these enemies will grow in power and influence. Each of these enemies numbs your soul, steals your life and threatens your relationships.
Guilt says “I owe you.” Andy says it is the result of having done something we perceive as wrong. The only way to make things right is to pay up.
“Nothing less than paying the debt will relieve a guilty heart,” says Andy. “And it must be paid or canceled for a guilty heart to experience relief.”
Anger says “You owe me.” Anger is the result of not getting something we want.
The root of anger is the perception that something has been taken,” explains Andy. “Something is owed you. And now a debt-to-debtor relationship has been established.” It is the most obvious and perhaps most dangerous. Anger leaves a trail of destruction in its wake.
Greed says “I owe me.” Greedy people believe they deserve every good thing that comes their way. Unlike anger or guilt, greed hides behind several virtues. Andy says while greed is easy to hide, it isn’t difficult to see in people around us. Greedy people talk and worry about money. They are not cheerful givers and are reluctant to share. They are poor losers and quibble over insignificant sums of money.
“Greed is not a financial issue,” says Andy. “It’s a heart issue.”
Jealousy says “God owes me.” Of all four invaders, Andy says jealousy betrays the true condition of our heart more than any other. Envy is a powerful force that can wreak damage on any relationship or organization. The remedy cannot be found by balancing the scales or tipping them in the other person’s favor. “The fact is, somebody’s upset with God and in most cases, they don’t even know it,” says Andy.
Like physical exercise, there are four spiritual exercises we can do that will effectively neutralize the enemies of the heart. Confession, forgiveness, giving and celebration. Confession allows us to come out of hiding. Forgiveness allows others to come out from under cover. Generosity allows us to partner with God. Celebration makes us a vehicle through which God communicates His pleasure.
James 3:14-16 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
Philippians 2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
faithful - honest, faithful, trustworthy
(5) Then these men said, "We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God."
Why do the nations rage,
And the people plot a vain thing? …
The rulers take counsel together,
Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying,
"Let us break Their bonds in pieces
And cast away Their chords from us."
—Psa_2:1-3
1 Peter 3:15-17 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; (16) having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. (17) For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
1 Peter 3:16 MSG Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick. They'll end up realizing that they're the ones who need a bath.
(6) So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: "King Darius, live forever!
(7) All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions.
(8) Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter."
How to Please a King - Pride
(9) Therefore King Darius signed the written decree.
Psalms 1:1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
Prayer Time
(10) Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.
KEYS TO A DYNAMIC PRAYER LIFE: by David Dykes
1) A specific place
Daniel had a place where he prayed, his room. He opened the windows toward Jerusalem. During this time, Jerusalem was only a pile of rubble. But he wasn’t praying to Jerusalem, he was praying in faith to the God whom he believed could rebuild Jerusalem.
It helps to have a designated place for you to have your quiet time.
The Bible indicates that Jesus sought out a special place to pray. Look at Mark 1:35, “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” You need to find a special place where you can get alone with God and meet Him every day.
2) A regular time
Did you see Daniel had a regular schedule of praying? He did it three times a day, probably based on Psalm 55:17, which says, “Evening, morning, and noon I cry out in distress and He hears my voice.” The Jewish day began with sunset; that is why he started by saying evening.
For most of us our day begins in the morning. That’s a good time to start. Have a regular time set aside to meet the Lord in prayer. If you don’t think you have time to do it in the morning, try setting your clock 15 minutes earlier. Get up, get awake, and find a place to be alone. Read a psalm and then start talking to God. Set that time as your regular prayer time, you’ll be amazed at the difference it will make in your life.
3) A devoted posture
Notice Daniel got down on his knees–he was in his eighties! The Bible doesn’t command us to kneel when we pray.
There are several prayer postures mentioned in the Bible, kneeling, eyes uplifted to heaven, standing, arms raised or a combination of all of them. It’s interesting that the one posture most of us adopt, bowing our head and closing our eyes is never mentioned in scripture! The picture of hands pressed together is probably a form of lifting hands to God. I think kneeling is a good posture, because we only kneel to someone that we surrender and submit to. Some people are too proud to bow their knee to anyone.
In the Garden of Gethsemane, the night before He was crucified, we are told that Jesus knelt down to pray. Paul wrote in Ephesians 3:14, “For this reason, I kneel before the Father ... ”
(11) Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.
First we read that Daniel was giving praise. Now we read that Daniel was offering supplication unto the Lord. In other words he was crying out to the Lord for help. Trying to figure out what to do. Making this problem not only Daniel’s problem but also the Lords.
The Trap
(12) And they went before the king, and spoke concerning the king's decree: "Have you not signed a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?" The king answered and said, "The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter."
(13) So they answered and said before the king, "That Daniel, who is one of the captives [19] from Judah, does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day."
(14) And the king, when he heard these words, was greatly displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him.
(15) Then these men approached the king, and said to the king, "Know, O king, that it is the law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statute which the king establishes may be changed."
The Den of Lions
(16) So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, "Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you."
Daniel had so much of an influence on the king that even though he was a follower he was a believer in what God could do.
(17) Then a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signets of his lords, that the purpose concerning Daniel might not be changed.
They thought they had Jesus set in stone but thank God on the third day he rose from the dead.
They thought they had Paul and Silas set in stocks and prison, yet in the middle of their problem they started to praise and the prison shook and the gates fell open.
I just feel impressed of the Lord to tell somebody you need to praise in your prison, you need to quit focusing on the stocks and the bars and start praising. When you do the jail will shake. When you do the prison bars will open.
Don’t you tell me that behind the stone that Daniel just sit there and did not move. He just shook in fear the whole night. I believe that when he noticed that the mouths of the lions were shut he just started dancing.
(18) Now the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no musicians were brought before him. Also his sleep went from him.
As you can tell this really bothered the King. He didn’t want to do it but was bound by the law. Most of all he was reaping the consequences of his pride.
(19) Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions.
(20) And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, "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, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you."
Joseph’s Response
Genesis 50:19-20 Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? (20) "But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.
(23) Then the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God.
Here is the mention of faith. Daniel had faith in God and trusted Him. He believed His promises no matter the circumstances.
Matthew 10:28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Luke 12:11-12 Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. (12) For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say."
In the Den of Lions
(24) And the king gave the command, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions--them, their children, and their wives; and the lions overpowered them, and broke all their bones in pieces before they ever came to the bottom of the den.
Romans 12:19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord.
The Decree
(25) Then King Darius wrote: To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you.
(26) I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, And steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, And His dominion shall endure to the end.
(27) He delivers and rescues, And He works signs and wonders In heaven and on earth, Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.
(28) So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
Conclusion
Psalms 11:1-4 In the LORD I take refuge.
How then can you say to me: "Flee like a bird to your mountain?
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
(3) When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do [1] ?"
Psalms 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!
(4) The LORD (Jehovah –self existent one) is in his holy temple;
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? (20) For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
1 John 4:4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
the LORD is on his heavenly throne.
He observes the sons of men; his eyes examine them.
KJV {b) [his eyelids try, the children of men] His eyelids are drawn close together so as to get a more single, direct, and penetrating look at people.
—Dake's
2 Chronicles 16:9 "For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars."
Get Ready! Get Ready! Get Ready!
