Facing the Lion’s Den
The Sovereignty of God | A Study Through the Book of Daniel • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 2 viewsKings come and go. The enemy never stops coming for you. Though you may face the Lion’s Den, through prayer, God can close those lion’s mouths.
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction
As we face our very own Lion’s Den, let us look toward the God of Creation in faithful prayer knowing God is sovereign and providential. Let us know that God sees our battle. Let us know that God has warned us that trials, tribulations, and persecution will come. In the end, let us remain faithful with a heart that ceases not to cry out to the One who can and does change it all.
Background Passage: Daniel 6
Focus Passage: Daniel 6 :10, 16-28
Opening Passage: Daniel 6:1-5
It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps over the kingdom, to be in charge of the whole kingdom, and over them, three commissioners (of whom Daniel was one), so that these satraps would be accountable to them, and that the king would not suffer loss. Then this Daniel began distinguishing himself among the commissioners and satraps because he possessed an extraordinary spirit, and the king intended to appoint him over the entire kingdom. Then the commissioners and satraps began trying to find a ground of accusation against Daniel regarding government affairs; but they could find no ground of accusation or evidence of corruption, because he was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was to be found in him. Then these men said, “We will not find any ground of accusation against this Daniel unless we find it against him regarding the law of his God.”
Outline
As we look over this opening text of Daniel 6, it is easy to see what’s going on. Daniel, nearly eighty-six years old, has been faithful to serve God. He’s kept his commitment made years prior in his youth.
But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s choice food or with the wine which he drank; so he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself.
What a testimony, to be faithful to God from your youth to your grave. As I heard once while attending a funeral, that dates on one’s tomb does not make the difference. The difference is made in the dash in between. Daniel made a difference for the kingdom of God. This difference was made through his faithful commitment to the Lord. As he was faithful to God, God was faithful to him. As we read, Then this Daniel began distinguishing himself among the commissioners and satraps because he possessed an extraordinary spirit, and the king intended to appoint him over the entire kingdom (v.3).
Because of Daniel’s faithfulness to God, he was faithful to the king he served. He was not serving out of personal pride and ambition (vv. 1-2). He was serving out of spiritual integrity.
Then the commissioners and satraps began trying to find a ground of accusation against Daniel regarding government affairs; but they could find no ground of accusation or evidence of corruption, because he was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was to be found in him.
As we will find, although Daniel was of utmost integrity and spiritual vigor, he was not without vulnerability to the attacks of the enemy. Just as Jesus, we can all be tempted. Just as Jesus, he would not falter under temptations, but that did not mean that he was not vulnerable. His faith was his vulnerability.
Then these men said, “We will not find any ground of accusation against this Daniel unless we find it against him regarding the law of his God.”
Being as they were, perverse politicians, they used Daniel’s integrity and faithfulness to His God against Him. They plot and plan to turn the king against his most trusted adviser. Through deception and manipulation they get Darius to sign an edict that could not be broken according to the Laws of the Medes and Persians (v. 8), that for thirty days no one can pray to anyone outside of the king. With his pride and ego flattered (v. 7) and through the lies and manipulation of the traitors signs the edict.
All the commissioners of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors, have consulted together that the king should establish a statute and enforce an injunction that anyone who offers a prayer to any god or person besides you, O king, for thirty days, shall be thrown into the lions’ den. Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document so that it will not be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be revoked.”
What was Daniel to do? Would he be faithful to the king’s command or the Law of the King of kings?
Daniel Remained Faithful (v. 10)
Now when Daniel learned that the document was signed, he entered his house (and in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and offering praise before his God, just as he had been doing previously.
Daniel knew that His God’s law supersedes man’s law
Daniel continued to be faithful to His God despite the pressures of man
Daniel remained faithful to pray to his God
Daniel was faithful to pray openly to his God - ‘…and in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem…’
Daniel was faithful to pray humbly before his God - ‘…on his knees…’
Daniel was faithful to pray repeatedly to his God - ‘…three times a day praying…’
Daniel was faithful to pray with praise from the heart toward his God - ‘…offering praise before his God…’
Daniel was faithful to pray for deliverance knowing his God could, and if He wanted to, would
Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel offering a prayer and imploring favor before his God.
This response of not only having faith that God can, but trusting God even through the “No,” is a repeat from years earlier as the three friends of Daniel faced a similar trial.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego replied to the king, “Nebuchadnezzar, we are not in need of an answer to give you concerning this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will rescue us from your hand, O king.
May we be challenged to have the same faith.
As C. Neil Strait states, “Prayer lifts the heart above the battles of life and gives it a glimpse of God’s resources which spell victory and hope” (HNTC, Daniel). Or in the words of John Bunyan, “In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart” (HNTC, Daniel).
As Daniel moved forward in faithfulness, the trap of the enemy of played out and the assault against God’s people broadly, and Daniel in particular was in play.
They found his weakness, his faith in God. Daniel was a man of integrity and could not be charged with anything outside of being faithful to his God, the God of Creation. The perverse politicians tried to make it feel like it was a racial thing or a political thing.
Then they responded and spoke before the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the injunction which you signed, but keeps offering his prayer three times a day.”
However, it was more than that, it was a spiritual thing. The enemy is against God and His people. It has been this way from the beginning. It will not change until the enemy faces his final judgment at the hands of the same God he has reviled against since the beginning of time.
While the king, broken in anguish, faced his very own law and the works of his hands over what had happened to Daniel,
Then, as soon as the king heard this statement, he was deeply distressed, and set his mind on rescuing Daniel; and until sunset he kept exerting himself to save him.
Daniel, in faithful prayer knew God had this. He knew God was going to fight this battle.
Daniel Faced the Lion’s Den (vv. 16-24)
As we face the lion’s den in life, let us have a hope that is beyond hope (v. 16)
Then the king gave orders, and Daniel was brought in and thrown into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “Your God whom you continually serve will Himself rescue you.”
As Darius is shackled by the law he created, he finds himself in great distress not knowing the outcome and broken because he’s helpless to do anything.
Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting, and no entertainment was brought before him; and his sleep fled from him.
In the midst of this stress, this anguish, this believing all is over for Daniel, Darius finds one source of hope, the God of Daniel. He doesn’t know Daniel’s God, he doesn’t worship Daniel’s God, and he doesn’t know a God that could possibly save Daniel, but if Daniel’s God is who Daniel says he is, then possibly he could save him in the end. We find that Darius, in an act of desperation and hoping beyond hope, that this is true, states…
Then the king gave orders, and Daniel was brought in and thrown into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “Your God whom you continually serve will Himself rescue you.”
As we face the lion’s den in life, let us speak in expectation
Then the king got up at dawn, at the break of day, and went in a hurry to the lions’ den. And when he had come near the den to Daniel, he cried out with a troubled voice. The king began speaking and said to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you continually serve, been able to rescue you from the lions?”
As we face the lion’s den in life, let us give testimony to the faithfulness of God and His deliverance
My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, since I was found innocent before Him; and also toward you, O king, I have committed no crime.” Then the king was very glad and gave orders for Daniel to be lifted up out of the den. So Daniel was lifted up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
Understand God fights our battles. God will defeat the enemy for us. All too often we feel that we have to get revenge. We have to get payback. Let us not forget that it is God who repays the evil of others. It is God who gives retribution. It is God is the judge, jury, and executioner. It was not different in the days of Daniel as it is now.
The king then gave orders, and they brought those men who had maliciously accused Daniel, and they threw them, their children, and their wives into the lions’ den; and they had not reached the bottom of the den before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.
God Received Glory (vv. 25-28)
Then Darius the king wrote to all the peoples, nations, and populations of all languages who were living in all the land: “May your peace be great! I issue a decree that in all the realm of my kingdom people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel; For He is the living God and enduring forever, And His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed, And His dominion will be forever. “He rescues, saves, and performs signs and miracles In heaven and on earth, He who has also rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.” So this Daniel enjoyed success in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
Darius called for all to hold the God of Daniel in reverence (v. 26)
Darius acknowledged God’s sovereignty (v. 26)
Darius acknowledged God’s providence and majesty (v. 27)
Conclusion
Hundreds of thousands of Christians die daily for the cause of Christ. As briefly stated in the HNTC on Daniel…
Daniel I. Introduction: The Bear and the Dragon
In our comfortable homes with all the amenities of prosperity surrounding us, we find it difficult to grasp that hundreds of thousands of Christians are persecuted daily in today’s world. In some countries Christian children are regularly kidnapped and sold as slaves, Christian women raped, the homes and lands of Christians stolen, and their owners thrown in prison.
The growing church in China thrives in spite of the best efforts of that repressive regime to throttle any open proclamation of the gospel. Some Chinese pastors have been arrested repeatedly, and others have spent most of their adult lives in prison. In North Africa entire countries still enforce laws against the practice of Christianity; any known adherents of that faith face constant harassment and even death.
This chapter has been about persecution, prayer, and God’s faithfulness. In the end, Daniel’s testimony of faith is noted within the Hall of Fame of Faith given in Hebrews 11.
And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.
As once again quoted in the HNTC, Daniel…
Daniel II. Commentary: The Lion’s Den
When the crises of life threaten us, and our very fives are at stake, calm and quiet dependence upon God is our only recourse.