Daniel 6: Obey the King Who Lives Forever (SMWS)
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Notes
Transcript
Introduction: Relationship between Isaiah 46 and Daniel 6.
Background Review: As I was reflecting on this week’s passage, it dawned on me just how practical this passage is. What we have before us is an example of faithfulness to the Lord in the workplace. In addition to this, we’re also confronted by workplace hostility. This hostility took the form of religious persecution but was motivated by something else: jealousy. In other words, I have been astounded at just how applicable the present passage is to our day and age as we all face temptations to jealousy and must remain faithful to the Lord in the workplace and beyond. The question then becomes, how can we be this faithful? It’s because of Who God is: He’s the King Who Lives Forever. Therefore, I want for us to consider today: Obey the King Who Lives Forever.
Transition: I want for us to do something a little different today in our approach to the passage. First, we’re going to read together all 28 verses for the full context of the passage. Then, I want to continue by giving you some context as to what prompted me to share this theme choice with you today. As I read, try to listen very closely for repeated phrases throughout this passage.
Let’s consider the importance of the phrase that combines ‘king’ and ‘live forever’ (Daniel 6:6, 21).
The phrase is employed also in Daniel 2:4; 3:9; 5:10 for a total of 5 times.
In Daniel, it’s employed as part of a standard greeting to a king.
Twice towards Nebuchadnezzar.
Once towards Belshazzar.
Twice towards Darius.
Let’s take a moment to consider the identity of Darius.
Daniel 5:31 refers to him as of Median descent and that he was 62 years old.
This event is relatively well-preserved in the annals of history as having occurred in October of 539 BC.
The taking of Babylon was acknowledged as being rather peaceful for the people of Babylon are said to have welcomed the Medo-Persian army.
This date and Darius’ age accord rather well with the Roman Historian Cicero’s accounting the life of the Medo-Persian ruler, Cyrus.
Cicero acknowledged that Cyrus continued to reign 9 years following the defeat of Babylon.
Moreover, Cyrus apparently died at the age of 70
Thus, from a date perspective, there’s continuity between Darius and Cyrus.
The question then arises as to how we can account for the translation of Daniel 6:28 that implies the two may have been individuals.
The phrase translated as ‘and in the reign of Cyrus’ could alternatively be translated as ‘that is in the reign of Cyrus’.
In other words, the original language has enough flexibility in the translation that it could be more of a clarifying statement instead.
In this circumstance, then, Darius could serve as a title.
Darius could be derived from the Persian word ‘dara’ meaning royal.
Thus, Darius could mean ‘royal one’.
In summary, I believe that Darius could be a title meaning ‘royal one’ and is a reference to Cyrus, the first ruler of the combined Medo-Persian empire.
In a single passage, it is employed the most in Daniel 6.
Daniel will use it later in response to the king that the Lord has delivered him (v. 21).
The conspiring Administrators and Satraps employ it to manipulate Darius into establishing an exclusive, religious ordinance (vv. 6-9).
Let’s take a moment to consider this administration of Commissioners and Satraps that Darius setup.
I was unable to find any suggestion as to the reason behind the numbers specified in this passage for 3 Commissioners over 120 satraps.
However, such numbers were not uncommon.
Additionally, a satrap would oversee a smaller division of the empire and so would function almost like a governor in terms of modern equivalency.
Next, let’s consider what it was that they requested the king to make an ordinance about.
What does the context of 6:3-4 imply is the reason behind the suggested ordinance outlined in vv. 6-8?
Jealousy
How then does the suggested ordinance help the king administrate the kingdom (v. 2)?
It doesn’t.
This suggestion is purely out of the self-interest of these conspiring officials and, hence, selfish.
In a sense, the king’s desire to avoid waste through appointing these other government leaders in addition to Daniel has somewhat backfired.
Can you believe this?
These individuals were so jealous that they were willing to destroy the life of another individual.
Thus, we see how a feeling of jealousy can ultimately be destructive.
Let us take warning and, instead, celebrate how the Lord is working in someone else’s life and repent when we begin to feel jealousy creeping into our lives.
According to 6:7, how accurately are they representing themselves to the king about their agreement on this ordinance for exclusive religious activity through the king?
They’re not being truthful because Daniel was likely excluded from these discussion since their goal was to remove Daniel from the picture!
In fact, the phrase ‘by agreement’ is similar to a phrase that’s used in Psalms 1 and 2 that implies a conspiracy against the Lord’s kingdom.
In other words, the selfishness of these individuals is not only a conspiracy against Daniel but, also, against Darius himself.
This is none other than an attempt to undermine Darius’ newly established governmental acquisition of Babylon and his entire administration.
Transition: With all this discussion of human kingdoms, Darius’ kingdom is not the only one in view. In fact …
There’s another King referenced in Daniel 6.
According to Darius’ decree in vv. 25-27, he recognizes the kingdom of the Lord.
Notice how Darius describes the Lord and His kingdom.
He is living and enduring forever.
His kingdom will never be destroyed.
Permanent dominion or rule.
He delivers and rescues - Daniel’s circumstance is a case in point.
He performs evident signs and wonders.
What we find in Daniel, and ch. 6 specifically, is a stark contrast between the Lord and Darius.
The description of the Lord as the ‘living God’ Who ‘endures forever’ employs similar terminology to the greeting towards kings in Daniel, ‘live forever’.
Darius is a king who, although given the standard greeting wishing that his kingdom would prosper and he’d have a long life, acknowledges that the Lord is the One Who Lives Forever.
In other words, kings and other human leaders come and go.
However, the Lord has outlasted and will continue to outlast them all!
Darius, who recently conquered Babylon, acknowledges the permanence of the Lord’s kingdom over all others.
This is relevant in light of the recent demise of the Babylonian empire.
It’s further relevant given that the Medo-Persian empire no longer exists.
Thus, the Lord’s kingdom has not only outlasted prior human empires but will continue in perpetuity.
Darius acknowledged the Lord’s power to deliver as demonstrated through Daniel.
This is important for Darius could neither deliver through cunning legal scholarship nor otherwise (vv. 14-15).
At the end of the day, literally, Darius’ authority was no match for the legal system in place - he was powerless against his own law!
Additionally, the best that Darius can offer Daniel as Daniel was lowered into the lions’ den was a statement of hope that God would deliver Daniel, for Darius had failed.
Something that I find absolutely fascinating is how ancient rulers employed wild beasts.
They would capture them and hunt them.
This was in part for sport.
However, it was also to demonstrate their own power.
These animals were known for their ferocity.
The logic goes that, if a king could hunt and overcome the most ferocious of beasts, then the king himself must have been greatly fearsome.
Kings during this time would also carve images of themselves killing ferocious beasts on the seals they would employ, like what Darius would have used to close up Daniel in the lions’ den.
However, we don’t see Darius taming these lions but at the mercy of his own law.
On the flip side, what we do see is the Lord’s complete control over these beasts (vv. 22, 24).
The reference to ‘My God sent His Angel’ (v.22) presents an interesting item.
A similar phrase is employed in 3:28 with Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah in the fiery furnace.
Therein, Nebuchadnezzar exclaims that God sent His angel to protect the three.
Interestingly, this is after Nebuchadnezzar refers to seeing 4 individuals in the fiery furnace (3:25).
It’s largely held that this individual identified in Daniel 3:25 is Jesus Himself before He came to the earth as a man.
Thus, it’s possible that this was Jesus with Daniel in the lions’ den all night.
This is particularly fascinating in light of the references that equate Jesus with being a shepherd (John 10:11).
Shepherds were known to protect their sheep from lions (cf. David, 1 Samuel 17:34-35).
At the least, we see the power of God on display to protect the one trusting Him in a state of peace (Daniel 6:22).
On the other hand, the Lord’s control of these creatures is also evident in light of the utter destruction that befell Daniel’s conspirators when they were cast into the lions’ den (v. 24).
The scale of the punishment seems harsh.
However, such a scale of punishment during this period was meant to send a message to all others who might attempt such.
Their treatment emphasized the significance of their act - they had not only betrayed Daniel but also the king in manipulating the king against one of his commissioners.
Destroying the families also meant eliminating potential threats of revenge.
This act would have communicated to others how seriously Darius takes betrayal and warn others against doing the same.
The eventual demise of those that had conspired against Daniel and the king also demonstrated Daniel’s innocence in their immediate destruction.
Darius also referenced God as the One Who performs signs and wonders.
In other words, the Lord has worked in ways that are evident for all to see.
Daniel’s clearly miraculous deliverance through the den of lions, predators known for their attack, would certainly qualify.
Let’s summarize what we have learned so far.
Empires come and go, as evidenced through Babylon’s fall to the Medo-Persian empire and the latter’s relegation to the history books.
The Lord’s kingdom has outlasted them all.
Therefore, He is the King Who Lives Forever.
Transition: If He is the King Who lives forever, how should we respond to Him? Let’s consider next that we must …
Obey the King Who Lives Forever Over Human Authority (Daniel 6:1-28)
Prepare yourself to obey the King Who lives forever by being faithful (Daniel 6:1-15).
Being faithful is a lifestyle that evidences itself in everyday life (vv. 2-3).
The idea behind the term translated ‘distinguishing’ gives us the impression of something that Daniel was doing day in and day out - it was his habit of life, daily.
The phrase ‘extraordinary spirit’ suggests continuity between Daniel’s prior service in a Babylonian administration and the present one.
The phrase is not only used here but also in 5:12.
In that context, it’s employed to draw attention to Daniel’s prior service under Nebuchadnezzar that makes him highly sought after to interpret the ‘writing on the wall’ in Belshazzar’s court.
In other words, Daniel’s faithfulness was recognized across administrations of authority from Nebuchadnezzar’s, Belshazzar’s and now Darius’.
Being faithful is something that you must rely on the Lord to accomplish.
Notice the list of characteristics that are ascribed to Daniel.
The list begins with ‘faithful’.
Since the list begins with this term, it’s possible that the remainder of the other characteristics are the consequence of being ‘faithful’.
In a positive sense, we could say that Daniel was diligent as opposed to negligent, giving attention to the details of his responsibilities.
The idea of corruption here is the sense of dishonesty or, positively speaking, Daniel sought to speak what was true and accurate.
The root term is translated elsewhere in Daniel as either ‘trusthworthy’ (2:45) or ‘trusted’ (6:23).
It’s actually the term from which we derive the phrase ‘Amen’.
In the other contexts, each is somehow tied to the Lord specifically.
Concerning Daniel 2:45, Nebuchadnezzar’s dream came from the Lord and so did the interpretation delivered through Daniel, hence it was reliable and accurate, or ‘trustworthy’.
The final context is associated with Daniel’s trust in the Lord that was associated with Daniel’s deliverance.
Thus, given the overt association with the Lord in the other passages, it’s possible to attribute Daniel’s faithfulness or trustworthiness here to the Lord.
That is, being trustworthy is an attribute of the Lord.
Therefore, only the Lord could produce this in the life of Daniel and, by extension, our lives as well.
Thus, we need to seek the Lord to enable us to be trustworthy.
Prepare yourself to obey the King Who lives forever Regardless of the Consequences (Daniel 6:10-11).
What’s fascinating is that Daniel intentionally went and prayed following the signed document!
Think about what this communicates about his confidence in the Lord.
There’s seemingly no indication of self-doubt about what Daniel should do.
In other words, Daniel has cultivated such a confidence in the Lord that the choice to obey the Lord over human authority in spite of the consequences is the obviously right choice.
Friends, this sort of confidence can not only come from the Lord but can only be cultivated through His Word to discerningly apply it to the circumstances of life.
Notice also, what does Daniel emphasize in his prayers?
Thanksgiving.
Thus, even in the face of a difficult circumstance where his life is on the line for obeying the Lord, he prioritizes thanking the Lord!
Conclusion: The challenge with this passage is that there’s certainly so much more that could be said. However, regardless of the fact that Daniel was delivered through the lions’ den, we see from him such cultivated confidence in the Lord that he is willing to obey the Lord over human authority and in the face of huge consequences. Yet, Daniel’s example demonstrates for us just how important it is to be faithful in obeying the Lord. A faithfulness that we must rely on the Lord to cultivate in us as we seek Him in His word in the power of His Spirit.