Daniel 6
A Lifetime of Faith
Open your Bible to…
2Cor. 5:7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.
Pray
Intro
√ A lifetime of faith
Chapter 6 is a bit different than the previous chapters in that there is not a huge gap of time between the end of chapter 5 and the beginning of chapter 6.
Probably no more than a week!
Remember that at the end of chapter 5 Belshazzar was killed
by the Medo-Persian army ending the
Vs. 1 of our text supports this view in that we find the new ruler, Darius…
…reorganizing the government of the kingdom.
Ex. New president, new cabinet
So, it is under this new ruler and new kingdom that Daniel faces another crisis of faith at the ripe age of 80!!!
We might wonder why poor old Daniel has to go through another trial at his advanced age!
Wasn’t the trial of being taken captive to
Wasn’t his faith proved genuine back in chapter 1 when he and his friends placed their lives on the line and refused to eat food that would defile them!
Yet, we find that God allows Daniel (pulled out of retirement!) to go through an even more dangerous trial than any he’d faced before!
Ap. Learning to walk by faith
Chapter 6 teaches us that the lesson of faith lasts a lifetime!
It’s not something that we learn as a young believer and then put behind us!
Rather, God uses the trials and tribulation throughout our life to both teach us new depths of faith…
…and to teach others who watch us endure the trials threaten our lives.
A faithful witness (vs. 1-3)
Dan. 6:1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom;
Dan. 6:2 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.
Dan. 6:3 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.
Dan. 6:4 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.
Dan. 6:5 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.”
√ A new king
Before we can look at the hero of our story we need to talk about this guy named Darius.
Bible critics are quick to point out that there is no historical evidence outside of the Bible that records the reign of a man named Darius.
However, in view of the fact that every other part of Daniel’s historical account is accurate the burden of proof falls upon those who challenge the historicity of chapter 6.
Simply put, there’s no reason to doubt his account.
So, who was Darius? There are a number of good historical candidates, but probably he was a man named Gubaru (the brother of Subaru!?).
He was the son of Ahasuerus (A.K.A. Artexeres ~ Daniel 9:1) who was appointed
co-regent by Cyrus and ruled from the capital city of
Additionally, Daniel may have used the name “Darius” because it is also used as a title, like “king”.
√ A faithful witness
In our opening text we find that Darius gets busy reorganizing the kingdom and that he appoints Daniel as to one of the highest offices in the kingdom!’
120 provinces each ruled by a Satrap who reported to a Governor.
Provinces divided into 3 regions each ruled by a Governor who reported to the Darius.
Additionally, because Daniel was such a gifted and faithful administrator Darius gave serious consideration to promoting him to an even higher position in which all the Satraps and Governors reported to him!
Note vs. 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.”
That is, Daniel was a faithful witness to God and a faithful servant to whatever king God placed on the throne of the Kingdom.
Daniel’s life reminds us that one of our greatest witnessing tools to the world is to be a faithful worker.
Ap. Faithful witness
Like Daniel we’re called to be a faithful worker to those who hire us…
…even if they’re not the best employer!
Paul writing to the Christians at Colossi said…
Col. 3:24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
Since it was the Lord’s will for slaves in the 1st Century to faithfully serve their masters as a witness for Christ…
…how much more should we make it our goal to be the best employee for our boss?
Christian’s should be the…
Most trusted
Most reliable
Hardest working
…employee on staff.
Why? Because you’re doing more than simply earning a paycheck…
…you’re demonstrating the reality of the Gospel in your life!
Your behavior at work will earn you an opportunity to share the Gospel with your boss.
Ex. Chinese Christians
Even when they are imprisoned will volunteer to do the jobs that no one else wants to do because they’ve discovered that the silent witness of their work will earn them the opportunity to share their faith.
So, we find that once more Daniel’s faithful witness earns him the respect and trust of another king.
Faithless foes (vs. 6-9)
Dan. 6:6 So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: “King Darius, live forever!
Dan. 6:7 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.
Dan. 6:8 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.”
Dan. 6:9 Therefore King Darius signed the written decree.
√ Faithless foes
Here we find that all of the other leaders, men without faith, driven by envy, resort to unrighteous means to gain what God purposed to give to Daniel.
Note their methods…
They form a conspiracy ~ vs. 7
They use flattery ~ vs. 7
They use trickery ~ vs. 8
…all with the purpose of promoting themselves at Daniel’s expense!
What does Daniel do? Skip ahead to vs. 10…
Dan. 6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was
signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open
toward
He doesn’t defend himself before the king, he doesn’t try to defend his reputation, or to expose the evil of these other men…
…instead he goes home and prays!
Specifically he gives thanks to the Lord!
Thanks! For what!?
We’re not told what he thanked God for, but the instruction for us is found in that rather than complain about his lot in life…
…he gives thanks to the Lord.
Daniel had come to understand that…
“That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, gives it to whomever He will, and sets over it the lowest of men.” ~ Dan. 4:17
In his life he’d seen evil men come and go before.
He understood that his life was not in the hands of this new king…
…rather, that his life was secure in the hand of the King of the Universe whom he faithfully served.
So, rather than fret and worry about some new law that was created and targeted him…
…he decided to go home and thank the Lord.
Why? Because he had confidence in God that He would work everything out for His glory and Daniel’s good.
Perhaps he’d read Proverbs 11:8 and was confident that God would turn this trial around onto the heads of those who hated him?
Prov. 11:8 The righteous is delivered from trouble, and it comes to the wicked instead.
Ap. Don’t panic!
When you’re confronted with a trial, and you will be, don’t panic!
Do what Daniel and all the saints through the ages have done…
…give thanks to the Lord!
Daniel’s example has been recorded for us so that we might know how to conduct ourselves in similar circumstance.
It’s not just a Sunday School flannel board story, it’s the record of what Daniel actually did when confronted with a serious trial!
Perhaps Paul was thinking of Daniel when he wrote to the Christians suffering trials in Thessalonica…
1Th. 5:16 Rejoice always,
1Th. 5:17 pray without ceasing,
1Th. 5:18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
So, don’t be moved or panicked by the unrighteous means employed by the enemy or his servants…
…remember that truth will prevail!
Ex. Attacks against Billy Graham
Though many people have sought to discredit Billy, or to cast suspicion on him, none of the accusations have ever stuck because like Daniel…
…he’s been faithful to God and they couldn’t find any real fault in him!
Another crisis of faith (vs. 10-17)
Dan. 6:10 Now when
Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room,
with his windows open toward
Dan. 6:11 Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.
√ Another crisis of faith
As we’ve already noted, as soon as Daniel heard that the decree was signed he went home and broke it!
Don’t you just love this old guy!
Check out the way in which he prayed…
Dan. 6:10 Now when
Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward
Note that Daniel doesn’t hide from his enemies! He goes home and…
Opens the windows!
Prays three times that day!
In full view and hearing of those who want to destroy him!
Why?
Because we’re told that it was his “custom since early days.”!
That is, Daniel purposed in his heart to continue serving God as he had always done regardless of what new laws had been enacted, or what new king sat on the throne!
He recognized his citizenship in the
That God’s laws supercede the laws of
So, we find that Daniel meets this new crisis of faith head on…
…purposing in his heart to honor God and His laws above the
laws of
√ Into the lions den
Dan. 6:12 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.”
Dan. 6:13 So they answered and said before the king, “That Daniel, who is one of the captives 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.”
Dan. 6:14 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.
Dan. 6:15 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.”
Dan. 6:16 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.”
Dan. 6:17 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.
The next thing we want to notice is that Darius is upset with himself because he allowed himself to be manipulated by this group of evil men.
He then sets about to find a way to free Daniel from the consequence of the dumb law that he has signed.
However, he is not a sovereign ruler like Nebuchadnezzar who was above the Law!
Rather, he was an appointed ruler so he is subject to the laws of the land.
At the end of the day he recognizes that his hands are tied so he commits Daniel to the Lord’s care.
“Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.” ~ vs. 16
Ap. How will you respond to the next crisis of faith?
As we’ve already noted we don’t graduate from the
So, how will you respond when the next crisis of faith comes into your life?
May I suggest that we follow Daniel’s example and continue to practice our faith as we always have…
…while giving thanks to the Lord!
If we’ll do that then we’ll find that we open the door for two distinct opportunities.
1) We’ll give God a platform to show His power and glory ~ remember Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego (chapter 3).
2) We’ll provide an example for others so that they’ll either
come to faith, or have their faith increased.
Ap. People are watching you
They want to know how Christians are going to react to the trials and tribulations of this life.
Ex. Pastor Steve’s
message from
He shared that during the recent war with Hezbollah that the Jewish people would stop him and ask why he seemed to be at peace during the crisis!
Saved by faith (vs. 18-23)
Dan. 6:18 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.
Dan. 6:19 Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions.
Dan. 6:20 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?”
Dan. 6:21 Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever!
Dan. 6:22 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.”
Dan. 6:23 Now 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.
√ Saved by faith
Wow! We’re told that Daniel is cast into the lions den, meanwhile Darius runs home to fast for Daniel’s safety!
Why? Because the king must have been convinced that God could do what he was powerless to do…
…rescue Daniel from the lions!
That brings up a couple of interesting questions…
Where did he get such faith?
Why did he esteem Daniel so highly?
We really don’t know other than his testimony in verses 24-27.
However, there are other examples of Gentile rulers who were knew that they were God’s weapons of judgment and were careful to protect God’s servants.
Ex. Jeremiah
Rescued from prison by the Babylonians because they knew
that God had spoken judgment against
So, it’s possible that God had revealed to Darius that he
was the chosen vessel to bring the
…but, that he was to protect Daniel who had been used by God
to pronounce God’s judgment upon
Or, it may have been that Daniel was so gifted as an administrator that Darius didn’t want to lose the one guy who helped him run the kingdom!
Regardless, the lesson we don’t want to miss from this section of scripture is by what means Daniel was delivered from the lions…
“So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God.” ~ vs. 23
Because he believed in his God! Daniel’s simple faith in God protected him from…
The king’s wrath when he requested a new diet ~ chap. 1
Nebuchadnezzar’s fury when he ordered all the wise men to be killed ~ chap. 2
The insanity of Belshazzar when he demanded that Daniel interpret his obituary ~ chap. 5
Now, from the mouths of hungry lions!
Daniel is an example to all of us of how we ought to live our lives for God….
…by simple faith, placing our trust in Him to do what even a king cannot do!
Ap. Keep growing your faith!
Every promise of God is obtained by faith! Every man and woman of God who ever did anything noteworthy in life did so by faith!
Faith is the “currency” of heaven.
By it we please God, move mountains, work wonders, heal the sick, and face death without fear!
While we all know that to be true and may actually have stepped out in faith during our lives…
…all too often I find that as people grow older and comfortable the tendency is to stop believing God and walking by faith!
May Daniel be a lesson to us that God wants to use us our entire life!
When we’re a kid!
When we’re old and gray!
Who knows what God might yet do with us if we’ll just believe Him and live by faith!
Ex. See you at the pole
Started by 10 teens
at a school in
The reward of faith (vs. 24-28)
Dan. 6:24 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.
Dan. 6:25 Then King Darius wrote: To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you.
Dan. 6:26 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.
Dan. 6:27 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.
Dan. 6:28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
√ The reward of faith
In this closing section we find that Daniel’s enemies are killed, Daniel prospers, and Darius the king sends out a new Gospel Tract!
All as a result of Daniel’s faith in God.
Reminds us that God rewards those who express faith in Him.
The writer of Hebrews tells us…
Heb. 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
God told Samuel…
“…those who honor Me, I will honor…” ~ I Sam. 2:30
The testimony of Daniel’s life is that God rewarded him for his lifetime of faithfulness.
Close
√ A lifetime of faith
Let’s follow Daniel’s example and purpose in our heart to live a life of faith…
…from the time our youth until He says we’re done.