Slides for this study

We are now in a different kingdom. Daniel chapter 6 follows on from Daniel chapter 5. Babylon was conquered by the Medo-Persians. And it was the Persians that actually came to conquer Babylon. Cyrus was the king who was leading the Persian army and they would be the ones that would march under the canal after redirecting the water.

It’s interesting to note that Cyrus actually is a type of Christ.

Cyrus	Christ
Isaiah 45:1 – Anointed one means Messiah	John 1:41 – Jesus is the anointed one, the Messiah
Isaiah 46:11 – Cyrus comes from a far country	Luke 19:12 – Christ comes from a far country
Isaiah 41:2, 28 – Cyrus came from the east (king)	Matthew 24:27; Revelation 16:12 – Christ comes from the east (king)
Isaiah 44:28 – Cyrus is  the shepherd	John 10:11 – Jesus is the good shepherd
Isaiah 41:2 – Cyrus is known as the righteous	1 John 2:1 – Jesus is righteous
Isaiah 45:13 – Cyrus is to let the people of God go free	Luke 4:18 – Jesus is to set us free from bondage

So the fall of Babylon and the coming in of a new power really represents the end of the world and the second coming of Christ.

• So we can really see how all these lesson that we are learning from these stories are important for the time that we live in today as well.

Daniel, amazingly, survives the siege. Was it his age? Maybe it was the fame of how he managed Babylon and his high reputation. However, regardless of how it would be seen from the world, it was God that would preserve his life. His work was not yet finished.

Daniel 6:1-2
1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom; 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.

There were 120 satraps (princes). And over them there were 3 governors (presidents). Daniel was one of the three. Meaning, he was one of the top officials in this new kingdom of Medo-Persia, of whom he was a captive.

Some translations say he was first of the three presidents. Not just one of the three, but the first.

Daniel 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.

However, Daniel stood above the other two governors because it was recognized that there was an excellent spirit in him.

• His character stood out so much that the king was thinking of making him the head over the whole realm – to be the prime minister.
• You can imagine the jealousy coming in from the other 2 presidents.
• So what do they do?

Daniel 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.

The other governors and satraps tried to find fault with Daniel concerning the kingdom.

• Meaning, they were trying to find fault in his work as a governor. Maybe he didn’t keep the books properly, or he was stealing money, or he was just a bad and unjust person.
• But we are told that there was no error of fault found in him.

What a powerful testimony.

• You know, as friends, we tend to overlook the faults of our friends. We will do our best to give a good recommendation, or say something good.
• But this testimony was from the enemies of Daniel.
• They could not find any fault with him.
• Daniel is symbolic of the saints that would live in the last days.
• Revelation 14:5
  And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.
• The 144,000 are found faultless as well.

Daniel 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.”

Because they could not find any fault against Daniel concerning the kingdom, they now seek to find fault against him concerning the law of his God.

• Notice this:
  • Satraps and governors – political people.
  • Seeking to find fault against the law of Daniel’s God –
• We see political and religious coming together again.
• So what can we expect in this chapter? Persecution!
• Of course we already know this. This is the most famous story of Daniel in the lion’s den.

They probably knew that Daniel was faithful to God, and that’s why they would seek occasion against his God.

Daniel 6:6-9
6 So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: “King Darius, live forever! 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. 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.” 9 Therefore King Darius signed the written decree.

So they come to petition the king.

• They want him to make a firm decree.
• And what does that mean?
• The outstanding characteristic of the Mede’s and the Persians were about their laws.
• This is what we call infallible laws.
• It is a law that cannot be altered. Not even the king himself could change it after it was put into effect.

Babylon was known for its idolatry as seen in Daniel 2 and Daniel 3.

Medo-Persia is known for its laws that cannot be changed.

When King Darius signed the decree, then they knew that they had Daniel trapped because they knew that he would follow the law of his God.

• Can the same be said of us today? Do people know of us that no matter the circumstance, that we will follow the Lord?

Daniel 6:10
Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.

Is it a sin if we close our windows to pray?

Is it a sin if we don’t kneel to pray?

Is it a sin if we don’t pray three times a day?

Why then did Daniel do all of this?

• How come he didn’t just hide in his closet and pray since he knew that this law was made directly against him and people were watching him?
• Why did he have to face Jerusalem?

The key is – as was his custom since early days.

• It was his habit. It was his custom.
• Daniel was fixed in his commitment to God.
• His spiritual commitment was never altered.
• He was steadfast in his devotion to God.

Daniel refused to even give an appearance that he was going to disobey the law of God.

• He did not even change his life but continued as he did habitually. He didn’t do it arrogantly. This is just who he was.
• He lived for God in times of peace and prosperity the same as in times of trouble and adversity – he was the same.

Daniel 6:11
Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.

Who were these men?

• All the political leaders of the realm.
• When the decree was passed, they went straight to Daniel’s place to go and spy on him to see what he would do.
• And sure enough, they found him praying and breaking the law of the Mede’s and Persian’s.

Daniel 6:12-13
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.” 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.”

These men coming before the king and remind him of the law of the Mede’s and Persians – it cannot be altered. The law is infallible and cannot be changed!

• And then they launch into the accusation against Daniel.
• Notice that they try to make it look personal – he does not show due regard for you.

Daniel 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.

The king was not upset at Daniel.

• He was upset at himself because he knew that he had been deceived by the governors that were under him because of their jealousy against Daniel. They had used the law against him – the king.
• So he tried to deliver Daniel, tried to find a loophole in the law.
• But he couldn’t.
• It was obvious to the king that Daniel had an excellent spirit. That he was trustworthy. That he was a major asset to the kingdom.

Daniel 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.”

The governors come again to remind the king that the law cannot be changed.

• The king is forced to abide by his law and has to throw Daniel to the den of lions.

Daniel 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.”

Somehow, king Darius knew about Daniel’s God. We’re not sure how, but the faith of Daniel certainly shone through his life.

• The king has full confidence that Daniel will be delivered.

Daniel 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.

Why does the king seal the den?

• To make sure that the way in and out cannot be tampered with and that Daniel cannot be taken out earlier, or even someone come in to help him.

Daniel 6:18-19
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. 19 Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions.

Isn’t this amazing?

• The king cannot sleep. He is fasting and most likely praying for Daniel.

And as soon as he is able, he runs out to the den of lions.

Daniel 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?”

Notice what the king calls Daniel.

• Servant of the living God.
• Who is called servants of the living God in the Bible?
• Revelation 7:1-3
  1 After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree. 2 Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, 3 saying, “Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.”
• The seal of God is called the seal of the living God.
• Who are these people?
• Revelation 7:4
  And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed:
• Daniel represents the 144,000.

As Daniel, and even his three friends, go through must trouble and trials, we can see how God protects them.

• Their lives are even in danger, threatened with fire and lions.
• Yet they are firm and steadfast.
• They are willing to die rather than compromise and be unfaithful to God.
• This is the sort of faith that we need today.
• This is the faith of the 144,000.
• Revelation 14:12
  Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
• Revelation 14:5
  And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.

Daniel 6:21-22
21 Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! 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.”

Daniel vindicates himself.

• He didn’t say it before going in, but only after coming out.

But notice what Daniel says:

• God sent His angel to protect him because he was found innocent before Him, before God.
• There is protection that God gives to each of us everyday as we travel on the road, as we walk around. God is the One that keeps our hearts beating – every single one of us. Whether we acknowledge Him as our God or not, He makes the sun to shine on us and makes the run to fall as well.
• However, we are given an insight here. That there is a certain level of miraculous protection and blessing that is afforded only to those that are faithful to God.
• If Daniel had been found unfaithful, living in sin, God would not have protected him in the den of lions. He would have been destroyed instantly.

So we saw back in Daniel 3, it was just Daniel’s 3 friends. We don’t know where Daniel was.

• But now we see that what his 3 friends went through, Daniel would also go through as well.
• He was tested just as much as the others.

Daniel 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.

Just as the three Hebrew boys were not affected by the fire in the last bit, so was Daniel perfectly preserved in the lion’s den.

Daniel 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.

This shows that those lions that were in the den were not tame lions.

• As soon as Daniel was taken out from the den, the restraining influence from the angel was also removed.
• So much so that all the bones were broken of those that were thrown in after.

Notice that the whole family was thrown in the den. It wasn’t just the governors who had plotted it.

• This shows the importance of leadership in the home and how the decision of the father had an overarching influence on the whole family.
• As heads of the home, we need to be so careful of the decisions that we even make in our own professional lives. They have a quiet influence over the whole family.

Daniel 6:25-28
25 Then King Darius wrote: To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you. 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. 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. 28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

“To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth”

• As a result of what Daniel went through, the whole world knows about the God of Daniel.
• This is just like what happened to Daniel’s 3 friends in Daniel 3. Because of the persecution that they went through, all the world would know about the true God.
• Because of Daniel being thrown into the lion’s den, the whole world would also come to know about the true God!
• More is preached through our lives rather than simply standing before a crowd and preaching a sermon from a pulpit.
• But it’s not just simply how we live if our lives.
• How do we react when trouble and persecution and trials come upon us?
  • Do we react negatively?
  • Do we become unfaithful to God?
  • Do we get angry at others and try to exact vengeance, to revenge?
  • This is when our true characters are revealed.
• It’s easy to be nice to others when they are nice to us.
  • People aren’t surprised when we speak nicely to them when they first spoke nicely to us.
  • They are more surprised when we are still kind to them even though they have been rude to us.
• It’s easy to be faithful to God when we are being tested on our faithfulness.
• True faith shines out when things come in that go directly against our beliefs.
• That is the sort of faith that we need today.

At the back of the booklet you will find 2 short studies on 2 topics:

1. Faith – because the saints need the faith of Jesus at the end of time.
2. Prayer – because we are illustrated today in this lesson the importance of praying.
   1. We saw it back in Daniel 2 – when Daniel prayed with his three friends.
   2. And we see it here again.
   3. And it won’t be the last time that we see Daniel praying.

These are very 2 things that are so important to us today just as it was to Daniel and his 3 friends. We need more faith and more prayer today more than anything else.