Monday Night Bible Study - DANIEL CHAPTER 6 – OH, NO, NOT AGAIN – THIS TIME IN THE LION’S DEN!

[Chaplain Janet Marston-McGregor]

FOOD FOR THE SPIRIT

Monday Night Bible Study

Colorado State Veterans Home

Aurora, Colorado

June 28, 2010

by Chaplain Janet Marston

DANIEL CHAPTER 6 – OH, NO, NOT AGAIN – THIS TIME IN THE LION’S DEN!

Daniel was no stranger to having his faith tested. Over and over, despite how loyal, faithful and good Daniel was, his faith was tested to the extreme. Some people think that trouble only comes if you deserve it or do something bad. Well, I disagree with that notion. As children of God, we are all fighting against evil in many forms, and we are all going to have our faith tested. True, some people seem to have more trouble than others, but that doesn’t mean they are doing anything wrong. Bad things happen to all people, good or bad. We are in a world that has fallen and full of sin. We all shall be persecuted and we all shall be tested.

Daniel, once again, had his faith tested in Chapter 6. This time, it was through King Darius, the Mede. The Medes and Persians have taken over Babylon. King Darius was very fond of Daniel, and was going to make him the highest man in the kingdom, next to him of course. However, the King’s satraps and administrators were jealous of Daniel. They tried to find bad things against Daniel to bring before the King, but they could not. Daniel was a virtuous, loyal, and faithful servant of the True God, and everyone knew it. But, that didn’t stop those against Daniel from plotting against him. They knew how loyal Daniel was to his God and came up with a plan. They went to King Darius, praising him, and encouraged him to make a decree that anyone who prays to any god or man shall be thrown in the lion’s den. They knew this would get Daniel in trouble, because Daniel would not stop praying to his Lord.

King Darius made the decree in writing, which was absolute and could not be changed or taken back. When Daniel heard of this, he went home where his windows were opened toward Jerusalem and got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, three times per day, just as he had always done. Daniel’s enemies went as a group to his home, to catch him praying, then went to the King to spill the beans. They reminded King Darius of his decree which cannot be overturned, and the King had no choice but to honor it.

When Daniel was brought before King Darius, the King said, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!" Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den, and King Darius went back to his palace and could not sleep or eat, and did not want to be entertained. The next morning at daylight, the King went to the lion’s den and called out for Daniel. Daniel answered back, saying “O king, live forever! My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king.” There were no wounds found on Daniel at all. The King was very pleased that Daniel was still alive. He also took the men who falsely accused Daniel and threw them in the lion’s den, along with their wives and children. Then, King Darius made a decree that everyone must fear and give reverence to Daniel’s God. Daniel then became very prosperous in both King Darius the Mede’s reign and King Cyrus the Persian’s reign.

What can we learn from this? We can learn many things. First, like I mentioned in the first paragraph, we are all tested, no matter how “good” we are. The most important thing is that we stay strong in our faith, like Daniel. He never faltered in his love and devotion to God. Sometimes we want to give up, especially when it seems like we are being attacked over and over. But, we should never give up hope. There is always hope in our Lord, who is our strength and redeemer. We have to be prepared for whatever answer God gives to us, and we are to fear Him, honor Him, revere Him, and love Him with all of our hearts. Don’t turn away from God in times of trouble, turn to God – you will not be disappointed!

MY WONDERFUL LORD AND SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS, I GIVE YOU ALL THE PRAISE, HONOR AND GLORY FOREVER AND EVER – SAVE ME FROM MY SINS AND HELP ME STAY STRONG IN MY FAITH AND NEVER TURN AWAY FROM YOU. NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS IN MY LIFE TODAY, I WILL TRUST IN YOU ABOVE ALL THINGS. AMEN.

DANIEL 6:1-28

Daniel in the Den of Lions

(1) It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom,

(2) with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss.

(3) Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.

(4) At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent.

(5) Finally these men said, "We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God."

(6) So the administrators and the satraps went as a group to the king and said: "O King Darius, live forever!

(7) The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or man during the next thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into the lions' den.

(8) Now, O king, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed."

(9) So King Darius put the decree in writing.

(10) Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.

(11) Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help.

(12) So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: "Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or man except to you, O king, would be thrown into the lions' den?" The king answered, "The decree stands—in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed."

(13) Then they said to the king, "Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day."

(14) When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.

(15) Then the men went as a group to the king and said to him, "Remember, O king, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed."

(16) So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions' den. The king said to Daniel, "May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!"

(17) A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel's situation might not be changed.

(18) Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.

(19) At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions' den.

(20) When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?"

(21) Daniel answered, "O king, live forever!

(22) My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king."

(23) The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.

(24) At the king's command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions' den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.

(25) Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations and men of every language throughout the land: "May you prosper greatly!

(26) "I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.

"For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end.

(27) He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions."

(28) So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

Footnotes:

Daniel 6:28 Or Darius, that is, the reign of Cyrus