FIND ME FAITHFUL (DANIEL 6)
In the second century, when early Church Father Polycarp, student of Apostle John, was asked to recant his Christian faith, he boldly declared, “86 years I have served Him, and He has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King Who saved me?” The proconsul threatened, “I have wild beasts. I will throw you to them, if you do not repent.”
The proconsul then threatened Polycarp with fire, but he responded: “You threaten me with a fire that burns an hour and is soon quenched, for you are ignorant of the fire of the coming judgment and eternal punishment stored up for the ungodly.”https://www.persecution.com/stories/stories-of-christian-martyrs-polycarp-of-smyrna/
What constitutes persecution? How can we handle persecution with faith and fortitude? Why is God’s grace sufficient and His strength perfected for us and in us through trials and tribulations?
Faithfulness Over Future
1 It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, 2 with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss. 3 Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. 4 At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. 5 Finally these men said, "We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God." 6 So the administrators and the satraps went as a group to the king and said: "O King Darius, live forever! 7 The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or man during the next thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into the lions' den. 8 Now, O king, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered — in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed." 9 So King Darius put the decree in writing.
A voter asked, “How many presidents does it take to change a light bulb?” The answer, “None. They only promise change.”
“Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build a bridge even where there is no river.” Nikita Khrushchev.
“Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedies.” Groucho Marx.
How many politicians does it take to change a lightbulb? The answer is 1,000,001: One to change the bulb, and one million to write various bylaws, regulatory acts, amendments, and other completely useless legislation.
How many civil servants does it take to change the light bulb? 45. One to change the bulb, and 44 to do the paperwork. https://maaw.info/GadgetsandGames/PoliticalJokes.htm
What was special about Daniel? First, according to the king in the area of performance, he had distinguished himself, or “excellent” + “spirit” (v 3, KJV). The adjective “excellent’ is the same as “exceeding” (Dan 3:22, KJV). Daniel was preeminent, prominent, preferred and picked over others. He was extraordinary, exceptional and exemplary. None was as humble, hardworking and helpful as this high official practicing his higher calling in the highest risk job.
Second, according to the accusers, Daniel as a person was trustworthy or faithful (v 4, KJV). It similar to the Hebrew for “believe” - to be sure (1 Sam 2:35), steadfast (Ps 78:8) and stand fast (Ps 89:28). The root word is translated as verified (Gen 42:20), long continuance (Deut 28:59), like Mordecai in “bringing up” Esther (Est 2:7), assurance (Deut 28:66), established (1 Sam 3:20). Faithful is not measured by minutes or months, but moment by moment.
Lastly, Daniel was not corrupt nor negligent (v 4), or error and fault in KJV. Error is failing - a thing amiss, and fault is corruption. Failing is not doing wrong and fault is doing. The keyword in this section is the verb “find” (v 4 thrice, v 5 twice). Find is the disclosure, the discovery and the diagnosis of a covered or forgotten thing. There was no discrepancy, divergence or difference in Daniel’s public and private life, within or without, He was never discredited, disgraced or dishonored before. Daniel was loyal, legitimate and lawful. There was no scandal, shame or shock in his life; no skeleton, stench or slime whatsoever.
Fortitude Over Fear
10 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. 11 Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. 12 So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: "Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or man except to you, O king, would be thrown into the lions' den?" The king answered, "The decree stands — in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed." 13 Then they said to the king, "Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day." 14 When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him. 15 Then the men went as a group to the king and said to him, "Remember, O king, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed."
Verse 7 is lions (plural). The decree occurs seven times (vv 7, 8, 9, 12 twice, 13, 15), so I suspect it is not a law.
Verse 11 At no time did Daniel ask God for help. In Hebrew it is praying and “favoring” God, rather than praying and asking God for “help” (NIV). The root word for help is “favor” or grace. There is no preposition “for” or “from” in between favoring and God; it is directly favoring God. It is a choice, a commitment and a certainty. There was no need for consultation, contemplation or concession. Daniel was prepared, peaceful and purposeful.
The king’s “distressed” (v 14) is from the root word stink (Gen 34:30), abhorred (Ex 5:21), abomination (1 Sam 13:4), odious (1 Chron 19:6) and loathsome (Prov 13:5). The Hebrew version tells us it is for himself rather than others – KJV is “displeased with HIMSELF.” The only thing left for the king to do is feel sorry, scorn and shame for himself for such a dumb, disastrous and despicable move. The king did not check with anybody, call in experts or commission a study. He was to lose a top guy, a talented man and trusted adviser.
King Darius had little recourse because the administrators and satraps or presidents and princes (KJV) trapped him with an imperative “Remember” (v 15). The pressure, propaganda and politics even made the king helpless, horrified and heavy-hearted. According to Bible Knowledge Commentary, the satraps (v 7) were chief representatives of the king, the prefects were military commanders, the governors were civil administrators and the counsellors were advisers were counselors to those in governmental authority.
Forgiveness Over Frustrations
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, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel's situation might not be changed. 18 Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep. 19 At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions' den. 20 When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?" 21 Daniel answered, "O king, live forever! 22 My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king." 23 The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. 24 At the king's command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions' den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones. 25 Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations and men of every language throughout the land: "May you prosper greatly! 26 "I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. "For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. 27 He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the 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.
There were two small boys, John and Jim, who were friends. Jim had a dog.
One day they were taking the dog for a walk and Jim said proudly: "I've taught the dog to whistle."
John said, "What do you mean? He's not whistling".
"I know", said Jim, "But I said I'd taught him; I didn't say he'd learned".
Curiously, the king sent Daniel to his death with a jussive or third person imperative “Rescue” (v 16 May your God… rescue you). The king was a believer in the Gentile sense of the word. The verb “rescue/deliver” occurs five times in the chapter (vv 14, 16, 20, 27 twice), amazingly all spoken by the enigmatic, excitable and engrossed king:
“he was determined to RESCUE Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him” (v 14) “May your God, whom you serve continually, RESCUE you!" (v 16)
“has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?" (v 20) “He RESCUES and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has RESCUED Daniel from the power of the lions."
Daniel, on the other hand, testified a few things:
Blessing to the king - "O king, live forever!’ (v 21)
“My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions.” (v 22)
Blamelessness - “I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king." (v 22)
The word “innocent” (v 22) is also translated as clean (Job 15:14), cleansed (Ps 73:13) and pure (Mic 6:11). The word “wrong” (v 22) is a moral crime. “Innocent” is internal and “wrong” is external.
Verse 23 “trusted” is to be firm or faithful, to trust or believe, to be permanent or quiet; morally to be true or certain (Strong’s). To be unchanging, unwavering and unfaltering untiring, to be steadfast, staunch and sturdy, to be reliable, resolute and resilient.
After attacks and accusations on Daniel, he progressed more than regressed. Verse 28’s “prosper’ means he advanced and accomplished and through two long-serving kings, Darius and Cyrus. Cyrus reigned as king of Persia for around 30 years. (Nelson’s Bible Dictionary)
Conclusion: Are you grounded in God’s word, given to His word and governed by His word? Do you deny, disobey or distant Christ in persecution? We are more than conquerors through him who loved us because neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom 8:37-39)
