Book Of Daniel: Chapter 6

Book Of Daniel: When God Shuts The Mouths Of Lions

May 29th, 2022/Casey Middle School

Title: When God Shuts The Mouths Of Lions

Big Idea: Remain faithful to God and trust in His power to rescue you.

Pray:

Tension: The struggle of perseverance and finishing well

Background:

Daniel started and finished well. We know that Daniel had served under four kings and up to the third year of the reign of Cyrus the king. This would have put Daniel at around 100 years old when he saw the vision recorded in Daniel chapters 10-12. He started as a teenager serving in Babylon and remained faithful to the end of his life.

As we look at the many challenges Daniel faced throughout the course of his life we can see that he was given many opportunities to throw in the towel, walk away, surrender to culture, and bow down before the king’s decrees, but Daniel was marked by faith and faithfulness.

Around the time of the story we are going to be looking at today, Daniel was roughly 82 years old. He was known as a responsible leader, competent in interpreting mysteries and dreams, and courageous in delivering devastating news to kings knowing it could have caused him great harm, even death. But more notable was his relentless devotion to the one true God.

Darius the king made Daniel an administrator over the 120 regional officials. There were two other administrators, but Daniel distinguished himself above the others and the king was planning on making Daniel head over all the whole realm as prime minister. The other administrators and satraps kept trying to find something to charge Daniel with against the kingdom, but they could find no fault in him. He was trustworthy and had no corruption in him.

Anger is cruel, and wrath is like a flood, but jealousy is even more dangerous. - Proverbs 27:4 NLT

Jealousy was absolutely a part of why the other administrators were trying to discredit Daniel, but also the fact that they would not be able to cheat the king and profit from their corruption. There’s no doubt that greed played a part in the case against Daniel.

Main Points:

1. The Case Against Daniel (6:1-9)
   1. “Then the high officials and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him. 5 Then these men said, “We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.” - Daniel 6:4-5

   2. Unpack:

      1. Can you imagine living your life in such a way that there could be no credible case brought against you?

         1. Joke: A guy goes in for a job interview and sits down with the boss.
            The boss asks him, “What do you think is your worst quality?”
            The man says “I’m probably too honest.”
            The boss says, “That’s not a bad thing, I think being honest is a good quality.”
            The man replies, “I don’t care about what you think!”
         2. Obviously this is a joke, but the reality is that Daniels honesty, trustworthiness, and reputation were NOT going to align with the agenda of the corrupt officials and administrators.

         3. I can imagine them coming together and agreeing that this arrangement is just not going to work out. 2. The charge brought against Daniel was birthed out of greed and jealousy, corroborated in manipulation, presented as a lie, focused on idolatry and the pride of the king, and targeted towards one individual.

         4. Needless to say that the odds were stacking up against Daniel.

         5. Question: Have you ever had the thought in your career that maybe being the honest one wasn’t working out to your advantage?
         6. If I were to just fudge the numbers a little… If I were to take the supplement that gave me that little edge… If I were to trash talk other employees then maybe I’d get noticed…
         7. Application: When we focus on the prize or the desired outcome over our devotion to God then we’re already heading toward temporary satisfaction, not righteous devotion.
         8. Idols promise you everything, give you nothing, and asks you to sacrifice your children. - Andy Crouch 3. “Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.” - Psalms 37:7 NLT
            3. Quote: “Calling is not about being successful, it’s about being faithful.” - Rich Wilkerson Jr

      2. Unpack:

         1. I want to live my life in such a way that I will hear the Master say “well done my good and faithful servant.” You trusted me in the small things.
         2. Faithfulness is not about our ability to do all the right things. Faithfulness is recognizing that we cannot do anything apart from the presence and power of God.
         3. What I want us to see clearly this morning is less the faithfulness of Daniel, just like everyone else, Daniel was not perfect! But He faithfully served a FAITHFUL GOD!
         4. It was God that brought about the interpretations of the mysteries and dreams. It was God that had always rescued Him. It was God that gave Him the strength to persevere!
         5. The Consequence Of Devotion (6:10-17)
            1. When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. 11 Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and plea before his God.
            2. Unpack Text:
            3. Question: How many of you know that there will be consequences on this earth when you choose to be obedient to God’s calling on your life?

      3. In fact, I want to go on record to say that you will experience intense opposition and suffering as a result of saying “yes” to following Jesus.

      4. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. - 1 Peter 5:10
      5. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. - 2 Corinthians 4:17

      6. Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. - Colossians 1:24

         4. Quote: “A man who is intimate with God is not intimidated by man.” - Leonard Ravenhill

      7. He knew the consequences of his actions, he knew the document had been signed, yet it did not prevent him from praying and seeking the presence of God.

      8. Application: Today we don’t have to consider any decrees or laws as it relates to prayer, but we do have to consider what are the blockers to a persevering prayer life.

         1. Comfort
         2. Busyness
         3. Frustration
         4. Pride 3. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. - Ephesians 6:18 NLT 4. As a mentor of mine used to always say “We don’t talk prayer, we pray prayer” - Shodankeh Johnson 5. Prayer will break through a lot of things we see as challenges.
            5. Unpack:

      9. Prayer was not his emergency protocol, it was already a pattern of his life.

      10. “God wants to speak to us more than we want to hear from Him. But we have to get quiet.” - Dave Gibbons or Lisa Bevere
      11. Prayer Is Our Priority: Pinewood Value

      12. The Covering of God (6:18-23)

          1. Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions. 20 As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” 21 Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! 22 My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.” 23 Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
          2. Unpack:

      13. Knowing the heart of the Father and seeing His faithfulness over our lives is what gives us the strength to remain faithful and faith filled!

      14. Quote: Faithfulness is not our achievements, disciplines, or success, it’s in our offering.

      15. If God can shut the mouths of lions, then what in your life do you need to believe God for today?

          3. The covering

      16. When camping. When hiking.

      17. Extreme weather
      18. Covering protects you from elements and people that would otherwise come against you to harm you.

Closing:

We see Daniel stand at a crossroad many times in his life… and time and time again he chose…

Conviction over compromise

Courage over cowardice

Compassion over calloused

Character over corruption

Consistency over conflict

I don’t know what you are going through this morning, but I can tell you that God is with you. He will help you. Commit your life to persevere against any and all opposition and watch Him rescue you.

Verse

You are the source of the life

I can't be left behind

No one else will do

I will take hold of you

Chorus

I need You Jesus

To come to my rescue

Where else can I go

There's no other name by

Which I am saved

Capture me with grace

I will follow you

Bridge

This world has nothing for me

I will follow You

This world has nothing for me

I will follow You