Background Information
The Babylonian kingdom fell to the Medes and Persians just as Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar that it would. The judgement of Belshazzar for drinking from the vessels of God came swiftly as spoken through the prophet, Daniel. What God says He does!
So, we are introduced to the new king in Daniel Chapter 6 by the name of Darius. He has to set up a new government to oversee the whole kingdom. The way that the Babylonian did government is not the way that the Medes and Persians do government. And that is to be expected. The way we do government in American is not the way that they do government in England. Each nations way of doing government is different (from a little different to way different).
So, King Darius method of government called for one hundred and twenty satraps spread out over the kingdom. They would be like our modern-day mayors who governed over a certain portion of land. And above them were three governors to whom they were to be held accountable. And one of those governors was Daniel.
So, lets what we can learn about Daniel, the governor. We are going to read Daniel 6:1-9.
Scripture
Daniel 6:1–9 (NKJV)
6 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. 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. 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.”
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.” 9 Therefore King Darius signed the written decree.
Point #1
Daniel, the governor, who had the spirit of God within him, teaches us that we must be helpful to whosoever God places in our path.
Daniel 6:3 (NKJV)
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.
Daniel had been very helpful to King Nebuchadnezzar while he ruled Babylon. Daniel took great care of the kingdom while Nebuchadnezzar was suffering the judgment of God and after the judgment period was over, he returned to Nebuchadnezzar the kingdom in good order.
Daniel was helpful to King Belshazzar by coming at his request to explain the handwriting on the wall.
And now, we see that Daniel is helpful to King Darius so much so that the King had thoughts of setting him over the whole kingdom- setting him over the governors and the satraps.
I can hear the self-talk in your head right now. I am always helpful to my family and friends. If somebody I know needs a hand, I am right there to help them.
However, I need to remind you that these are Daniel’s enemies. These were the ones who took him from his beloved Jerusalem. These were the ones who taught him the ways of the Babylonians. These are the ones that made him a eunuch.
Not only was Daniel probably taking some heat from his fellow Jewish captives, but he was also probably taking heat from his homeland. Why are you helping them? You are a traitor; you are a turn coat.
Let us may sure you see this. If our helpfulness is not to everyone (those we love and those who are unlovable) than others will not see the depth of Jesus’ love. If Christians did not help those God has placed in their path, then this world would know nothing about the love of God.
We can tell people all day long what God’s Bible says but we got to show them that we live our lives according to the Bible. Daniel is the real deal; he knows the Word of God and he lives it out for others to see.
Maybe that is why James tells us faith without works is dead.
Do you live like Daniel? We should because that same spirit that was in Daniel is also in us. Can it be said of you that you are helpful to those whosoever God sets in your path?
Point #2
Daniel, the governor, teaches us that it is possible to maintain good character no matter how evil the world.
Daniel 6:4 (NKJV)
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.
Daniel, in Chapter 6, is now about 86 years old. He has been in government for some seventy years. His enemies the other governors and satraps search back the life of Daniel, and they could not find any faults or errors with him.
First thing that tells me is without a doubt we need more men and women of God in politics than we need politicians. People who will lead our nation with the Bible as their guidebook. Let us be honest, if we took any career politician’s life today and did what these men did to Daniel, search back his or her time in office, we would probably find a whole lot of skeletons in the closet. Daniel had none.
I admire Billy Graham. He was truly a man of God. I am sure that there were people who searched back his life to see what errors or faults so they can tumble the great Billy Graham, but they could find no errors or faults in him. So, what David did in the Old Testament can be done by New Testament Christians.
But the most important thing I learn in this verse is just because everybody else is doing it does not make something right. If the situation were reversed and Daniel is looking into these people’s lives, I am sure you would not be able to say that they are without fault.
Listen, the criteria to determine if something is right or wrong is not whether our society says it is right or wrong. This past Tuesday, the House of Representatives in our own United States, passed a law that approves of same sex marriages. They were afraid if they do not take that action, the Supreme Court might knock down same sex marriages. Now, the bill must go to the Senate which will probably kill it. But even the suggestion of putting that into law is crazy because moral standards are not based on what I want to do. It is based upon what God says I must do.
Daniel did not do government like those other governors and satraps did. He did government with the Word of God as his guidebook. And as result of putting God’s Word first, Daniel maintained his good character in an evil world.
You can maintain your good character in an evil world if God’s Word is first and at the forefront of your life. If it is not, you probably will fall into the trap of doing whatever body else does.
Point #3
Daniel, the governor, shows us that if you are living for Christ, the world is going to hate you. But Daniel was not caught off guard when they lied about him to the king. He did not go pout or fall into a depression he kept doing what God wanted him to do.
First let me show you the lie that the governors and satraps told about Daniel.
Daniel 6:7 (NKJV)
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.
These officials told the king that all the governors are on board with this new law to you king, god for a month. Daniel was a governor and they officials never talked to him. They just lied on him. Daniel would never have agreed to that. And let me tell you if you are a Christian who is practicing your faith, you are going to be lied on too.
I have so many Christians come to me so distraught because someone lied to them or about them. If you are doing what you should be doing, they will lie about you. Didn’t the Jewish leaders lie about Jesus to have him crucified? And Jesus told us, if they did it to me that they will do it to you.
Daniel knows that they lied about him, but nothing chances as he continued to do what he has always done. Daniel did not fall apart, he expected as much. Let’s see how Daniel responds to the lie.
(NKJV)
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.
Daniel says to them- Oh well, you lied about me, but it is not going to change a single thing I do.
How do you handle it when people lie to you or lie about you to others? Do you fall apart or keep moving ahead? Daniel kept moving ahead.
Conclusion
Daniel acted this way because of one thing and the Scripture tells us that one thing in verse four “he was faithful.” And we know from the Scriptures his faithfulness was first and foremost to God.
Faithfulness to God allows us to serve our enemy. Faithfulness to God allows us to stay pure in an evil world. Faithfulness to God allows us to keeping going when people lie about us or to us.
Is God first and foremost in your life?
