Daniel chapter six is probably one of the best-known chapters in all of Gods word. What child doesn’t know about Daniel in the lion’s den. As children we would sing – “Daniel was a man of prayer daily he prayed three times”
I believe there are two themes in this wonderful chapter. Satan’s Devices and the Saviours Deliverance.
Let’s notice firstly – The Introduction. V 1-3
Daniel 6:1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;
We can see from verse one the wonderful fulfilment of prophecy. According to Daniel chapter 2 v 39 after Babylon another kingdom would arise inferior to the kingdom of Nebuchadnezzar.
The very fact that he required 120 princes to help him govern would show the weakness of his kingdom compared with the autocratic rule of Nebuchadnezzar.
We can depend on Gods word as in the past the prophecies had a literal fulfilment then we can expect a literal fulfilment of all the unfulfilled prophecies. Jesus Christ will come again. Are you ready?
As well as the 120 princes we find in verse two that there was three presidents of whom Daniel was the first . Daniel was the first minister of Babylon
Daniel 6:2 And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.
King Darius was watching his back “and the king should have no damage” – government officials where worth watching even in Babylon!
Daniel 6:3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.
Daniel is proof that you don’t have to be crooked or corrupt to be successful. This Godly man received promotion.
The Introduction- lets notice secondly The Investigation.
Daniel 6:4 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.
These colleagues of Daniel envied this Godly man. Success comes with its own problems. Perhaps as a Christian you are wondering why has that promotion not come your way? Why does the ladder of success seem to be so slow for you?
Success brings its own problems. This man Daniel could handle the problems perhaps the lord feels you are not just ready yet.
They looked into his public life – the kingdom – they looked into his private life – neither was there any error found in him.
How many of our politicians could stand the test? How many Christians would pass this scrutiny and maintain their testimony
Why did these men want to get rid of Daniel?
Satan had surely influenced them. Many of his favourite weapons are used. Envy, jealousy and discontentment
I wonder is there a saint of God tonight and you have felt envy in your heart lately? Oh remember this is of the devil.
Proverbs 14:30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.
Proverbs 27:4 Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?
Is there a discontented Christian?
Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
The Introduction – The Investigation- the Intention
These men where determined to destroy Daniel,. In order to ruin Daniel they decide to shift the goalposts.
Daniel 6:5 Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.
They would have to attack Daniel’s devotion to God. Daniel was known as a man of God. They decide to speak to king Darius.
Daniel 6:6 Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever.
We will discover some more of Satan’s favourite weapons. Notice the devil never has much bother getting his people together. Would to God we, as God’s people would have this same unity how God would bless us.
Daniel 6:7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.
Let’s see Satan’s weapon no. one – lies. All the presidents were not in on this scam. Daniel was excluded ofcourse.
You are never more like the devil than when you tell a lie.
John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
We see another of Satan’s devices – flattery. They where making Darius out to be a god.
Flattery is like perfume nice to smell but don’t swallow it.
Flattery is the art of telling a person what he thinks of himself.
Dishonesty, flattery and then pride set in. Darius would take the bait.
They must have had all the paperwork at hand. Darius was face with a hasty decision. Christian don’t make hasty decisions take time to pray and seek the Lord’s advice. Have you a major decision to make? Have you earnestly got down before the lord? Do so now.
Daniel 6:8 Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
This was irrevocable. Would Darius sign?
How sad recently to see in England two people who just met getting married. Major decisions should not be taken lightly.
If only Prime minister Blair would really think before introducing laws contrary to God’s word.
Daniel 6:9 Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.
Satan has surely been very active here in this chapter. Envy, jealousy, discontentment ,lies flattery,pride ,hasty decision we could add bigotry hatred and even backbiting.
The birds will peck the ripest fruit and satan will try and attack those who are living godly lives
2 Cor. 2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
Don’t be ignorant get informed .
The Introduction – The Investigation- the Intention
The Intercession
THEY COULDN’T FIND DIRT ON DANIEL SO THEY WORKED ON THE WEAKNESS OF THE KING .
What would Daniel do?
Daniel 6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
Daniel could have said well I will pray in secret no one will know.
He could have done without prayer for a month is it really a big deal?
Daniel wouldn’t consider an easy way out. God would come first.
What a man of prayer Daniel was.
He had a place – in his house where he prayed
He prayed expecting answers – “towards Jerusalem” – [2 chron 6 v 36 – 39] we could say he was praying with the prospect of an answer .
James 1:6-7
But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. [7] For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
Place – prospect – posture.
“He kneeled upon his knees”- humility and submission.
Priority – for Daniel prayer wasn’t incidental it was essential
Three times a day – Daniel really did business with the Lord.
Place – prospect- posture- priority – and he really prayed
Daniel 6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
Daniel wasn’t playing at prayer.
And we could say he had a pattern
As he did aforetime –
Daniel just didn’t pray in a crisis he prayed in the calm.
If we would pray in the calm we would perhaps avoid more crisis.
What a man of prayer Daniel was.
How many of God’s people could go for a month without prayer?
Daniel would go to the lion’s den first.
I am sure you are busy – but I would think that Daniel was as busy as any of us. He still found time to pray.
Perhaps this little poem sums up your prayer life.
I knelt to pray but not for long – I had too much to do.
Must hurry of and get to work for bills would soon be due.
And so I said a hurried prayer jumped up from of my knees
My Christian duties now where done my soul could be at ease.
Daniel 6:11 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.
When would we be found praying?
Daniel was known as a man of prayer what a testimony to bear.
We have looked at The Introduction – The Investigation- the Intention
The Intercession –
Let’s see the indictment.
Daniel 6:12
Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king's decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, 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 altereth not.
The king would have no problem so far
Daniel 6:13 Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.
CAN YOU SENSE EVEN THE VERY RESENTMENT THEY HAVE FOR DANIEL – “THAT DANIEL”
The king would now realise he had been fooled.
Oh if he only had taken more time.
Daniel 6:14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.
If God has a den planned for us the very king of the land could do nothing about it .
We have looked at The Introduction – The Investigation- the Intention
The Intercession –THE Indictment.
Lets see next The Intervention
Daniel 6:15 Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.
As if the king needed a reminder
Daniel 6:16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.
Perhaps we could translate “he will deliver thee” as he must deliver thee – in other words Daniel HE is your only hope.
Sometimes the Lord will take us to the extreme that others will know that the hand of the Lord is upon us perhaps you find yourself in a mess and you cannot get out of it. Perhaps the Lord hasn’t even started yet.
Again there would be no doubt that this is the work of God– look at verse 17
Daniel 6:17 And a stone was brought and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.
Only the lord can help Daniel .
The king is in a bad state.
Daniel 6:18 Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.
I wonder how Daniel felt in the den of lions. Daniel probably had a good nights sleep. It is better to be saved and in the den than unsaved in the palace. It’s great to be saved.
The king arrives early in the morning
Daniel 6:19-20 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. [20] And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?
I wonder did the king expect an answer?
Daniel 6:21-22 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. [22] My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt
God shut the lions mouths so they could not harm him.
How frustrating to see a large meal and be unable to eat it. Get Daniel out or the lions will die of hunger.
The king was pleased at God’s intervention
Daniel 6:23 Then was the king exceeding 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 manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.
What brought Daniel through?
V23 – he believed in his God
Hebrews 11:33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
A LIVING FAITH IN A LIVING GOD WILL GIVE COURAGE AND STRENTH FOR EVERY EMERGENCY.
MY TIMES ARE IN THY HANDS – MY GOD I WISH THEM THERE
MY LIFE MY FRIENDS MY SOUL I LEAVE ENTIRELY TO THY CARE
What intervention – God stepped in and delivered Godly Daniel.
Don’t give up – look up
Daniel 6:24 And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.
The sins of these men affected even their wives and children. Sin is serious.
We have looked at The Introduction – The Investigation- the Intention
The Intercession –THE Indictment. The Intervention
Finally The Inspiration
Daniel 6:25-28 Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. [26] I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end. [27] He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions
DANIEL’S GOD RECIEVED ALL THE GLORY
A GOD WHO DESERVES REVERANCE -, that in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel:
A GOD WHO IS REAL - for he is the living God, and steadfast for ever,
A GOD WHO REIGNS and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.
COMPROMISERS CONVINCE NO ONE – PRAISE GOD FOR DANIEL’S STAND. WHAT AN INSPIRATION TO US ALL.
DANIEL AGAIN IS PROOF THAT TO PROSPER – YOU DON’T HAVE TO TAKE SHORTCUTS
. [28] So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
To try and stop the early christians preaching and witnessing they had to be threatened
Acts 4:18 And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
To try and stop Daniel praying they had to threaten him with the Den of lions
Today we would need to be threatened to get us started
