Among the Lions Daniel 6:1-28

This sermon was written by my pastor, and was helpful to me, maybe it would help you too. I hope he won’t mind that I won’t identify him, lest it brings him trouble considering some of the hateful comments I’ve received on a few articles and I wouldn’t want him to bear the brunt of that.

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Among the Lions Daniel 6.1-28

Intro

This is the great Sunday School story about faithful Daniel who is rescued by his God. But there is a bit more to the story than that and much that is relevant to us in troubled times. We may be troubled by the fears of “What if...?” but Daniel lived through a lot of “This is it!”. He can help us.

Chapter 6 brings us to the end of the first part of Daniel. This first part could be called the Daring Deeds of Daniel (and his friends). After a period of indoctrination, which they resist, we have stories of the interpretation of two dreams and the divine graffiti, and a story of persecution. Chapter 6 brings us to another story of opposition.

Although these six chapters are about what happened to Daniel and his friends, it may be better to think of the stories as the Divine Deeds of God and his Servants.

Context

Let us stand back first and see where this story fits in the bigger picture.

Four young Hebrew captives are serving the Kings of two of the greatest empires that anyone has seen. And they are also serving the King of Kings. They are in exposed positions of responsibility and power.

Are they traitors - working for the enemy? We will see in chapter 9 that Daniel has read the letter from Jeremiah (Jer 29) that he sent to the exiles in Babylon. Part of that letter said:

This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” Jer 29.4-7.

I take it that that is what they are doing. They are, like us, first of all servants of the King of Kings. And they are not just surviving but demonstrating a different life - in fact the better life.

These four Hebrew captives are also part of a nation that is being punished and exiled by God because of rebellion and idolatry - which is continuing even during the exile (see Ezekiel’s prophecy). They are living at one of the lowest points in their history, serving their captors among rebellious Hebrews and false prophets.

God is rejecting and judging his people for a time but also promising to restore and renew the covenant. God is using, and ruling over hostile powers and kings for his own purposes. His people are battered from a long time of oppression - Assyria, Babylon, now Persia (although there is some relief from them) and as we will see they have Greece and Rome ahead of them.

Great empires are seeking power over larger and larger populations. Great Kings are seeking power and glory. In the middle of all this is Daniel. He only heard of the fall of Jerusalem but he saw the fall of Babylon.

This story begins under new management of the former Kingdom of Babylon. Now it is under the rule of the Medes and Persians. Darius sets up a new structure in his empire and soon jealousy and power struggles emerge.

We will follow the four players in the story.

The Players

Daniel

Daniel is not the main actor in this drama. He only says one thing. The action happens around Daniel.

In an astonishing portrayal, Daniel is loved by the King (see below). He is a standout public servant. He has an “excellent spirit” (ESV) in him, or “exceptional qualities” (NIV) v3. Others before have testified that the spirit of the gods is in him (5.14). We understand that God has given him all these gifts (1.17). He has integrity, is not corrupt or negligent and fulfils all the KPIs (v4). He is faithful (v22; Heb 11). A man of God.

He is a man of prayer and doesn’t stop just to avoid the plot of his opponents (v10). We are told when he prays he gives thanks and prays for help towards Jerusalem - which is what Solomon, at the dedication of the Temple, said should be done when anyone was in trouble (1 Kings 8.44). And Daniel is in trouble - facing a terrible death. (Our story-telling may have domesticated the lions). Although the Temple has been destroyed by this time, God is still listening to Daniel - and to us. In fact we have unlimited access to the Most Holy Place at all times (Heb 10.19ff).

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

Did Daniel pray like this? Do you go there often? Or better: is that where you live?

Daniel is also old. The narrator says he trusted in God (v23). Was he tired? Tempted to give in because he had had enough of troubles? Or more resilient because he had had a long life of knowing God, and that he could be trusted. Keep on trusting God you old people.

Daniel points us forward to another from the royal house of Judah. There are a few things in this story that turn our minds to Jesus. One is the vain attempt by the opponents to find grounds for charges against him (v4; Matt 26.59)). Another is his escape unharmed from a death-like experience in the lions’ den. Daniel’s rescue is not typical of what happens to God’s servants. But it is a type of another who was falsely accused, had a real death experience, the stone of whose grave was sealed to no effect, and who was rescued from death by the glory of his Father.

A God like that can still be called on, as Jesus also did. (Heb 5.7)

During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.

In this story Daniel only says one thing:

Daniel answered, “May the 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, Your Majesty.” v21

A simple testimony to what God did.

The Swarm

The administrators and satraps are jealous. Nothing new here. Power plays, territorial jealousies, ambition and pride can explain this behaviour. Some think there was an anti-Jewish element to it but the text doesn’t take us in that direction. Daniel’s religion is just seen as the means to trap him. Many of us know how this works.

The NIV says they went as a group to the King. ESV say “came by agreement” (v6,11,15). The word has the idea of thronging together. One commentator says they swarmed. They keep coming and going. Some see this as a kind of satire and mockery of the empire. It is a negative picture. They set out to trap Daniel. And even though Daniel knows it is trap he is not diverted or stopped.

But the King is tricked by them. Flattered by a fawning group of sycophants, his ego massaged so that he makes a foolish decree. And they press their advantage to have Daniel thrown into the lions’ den.

No good comes of it- and no good comes to them. Rather judgement. The righteous God is still in charge. And the King wakes up. “Do not fear what they fear”, said Isaiah.

The King

Darius has an astonishing relationship with Daniel. He favours him (v3), he is greatly distressed when he realises he has endangered Daniel’s life (v14), and tries unsuccessfully to rescue him. Amazingly the King puts his hope in God.

“May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!” v16

What has brought this about? Surely the grace of God and the Spirit of God in Daniel. Something about Daniel’s faith has got into the King. Maybe it will bear fruit?

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?” v20 And in the aftermath (v25-27) gives a testimony like Nebuchadnezzars (4.34-37). Which leads us to the main player in this drama: God

God

God rescued Daniel when the King of the Medes and Persians couldn’t. He sent his angel (v22). Very simple.

But there is more going on here. Daniel has trusted his God, just as the three friends did in chapter 3. The relationship between Daniel and the King is astonishing. But Daniel has a relationship with the living God. Or better: God has a relationship with Daniel. Perhaps this is what has drawn Darius to Daniel. Never underestimate the wonder and power of a life where God’s Spirit dwells.

Queen Elizabeth did not have to engage in the hand to hand fighting of Prime Ministers who have to negotiate foreign powers and economic crises, but she did something else. She drew people to herself because of the Spirit that was in her. “God save our gracious Queen” we sang. She was an example of a person in whom the grace of God was evident because the Spirit of God was in her, because she trusted in Jesus.

God has been in Daniel’s life from the beginning. So the trap of the opponents is against not just Daniel but Daniel’s God. As with the crucifixion of Jesus, it seemed as though they had succeeded - but God is still God. A truth that Darius admits to in his letter to his empire.

This brings us to the big story of Daniel 1-6.

The Big Story

In the midst of great powers (Assyria, Babylon, Persia) asserting their might, taking captives, destroying nations and cities and temples, putting to death and raising others to eminent places; God was at work carrying out his purposes. The book of Daniel is clear about this:

1.1: Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, ...

1.17: To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.

2.20-23: “Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his.
He changes times and seasons;
he deposes kings and raises up others.

He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to the discerning.
He reveals deep and hidden things;
he knows what lies in darkness,
and light dwells with him.
I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors:

You have given me wisdom and power,
you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king. ”

This could be the theme statement of Daniel.
But the Kings also tell us about this even if they don’t fully understand what they are saying:

2.47: The king said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery. ”

3.28-29: Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.”

4.2-3: It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.
How great are his signs,
how mighty his wonders!

His kingdom is an eternal kingdom;
his dominion endures from generation to generation.

4.34-37: At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever.
His dominion is an eternal dominion;

his kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the peoples of the earth
are regarded as nothing.
He does as he pleases

with the powers of heaven
and the peoples of the earth.
No one can hold back his hand
or say to him: “What have you done?”
At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

6.26-27: Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language in all the earth:
“May you prosper greatly!
“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.
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.”

Here is the big story of Daniel 1-6. He is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end.

The words from the interpretation of the first dream point us forward to the next half of Daniel where it will be Daniel who will have the dreams and God will reveal to him what is ahead. But the big idea is this:

2.44: “In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever.

What they didn’t know, but Daniel was foretelling, was the arrival of the Lord Jesus Christ who would have all authority and power, who would rule the nations, and who is now the Lord and ruler over all for the church (Eph 1.22).

So?

No matter what the power or who the King*, no matter how difficult life is, no matter how malicious the opponents, God is still the living God who endures forever and whose rule never ends.

From around 721BC first the Assyrians took the northern kingdom captive, later the Babylonians took captives from the south from about 605-587, and although Cyrus let the southerners return, the aftermath of Alexander’s empire meant that two rival powers plagued Judah for a couple of centuries until the Romans took over.

We may feel we are in a difficult place, with wars and rumours of wars, economic stress, floods, fires, famines, corruption; ongoing tensions and troubles in church institutions.

Some are afraid, anxious, even paranoid. Some are drawn in to imagining dystopian futures. Some are afraid of the pressure to conform to the new culture. Many are afraid of death itself.

Perhaps we can take a lesson from Daniel who just said, “God sent his angel.” And Peter to whom God sent an angel, and who told the Sanhedrin, “We must obey God rather than human beings” (Acts 5.29) - and get back to doing what we were told to do - to make disciples.

From Elizabeth II who trusted in Jesus Christ her Lord. And Daniel who prayed, like Peter and John (Acts 4.23ff).

Or from Darius who composed a great song of praise (v26,27) because Darius knew that Daniel was not merely rescued, but that his way was better.

These stories are not survival stories. They are demonstrations of the power and majesty of the living God among the power of the nations.

For the past 70 years among the crises, wars, corruption, and varying quality of world leaders, a gentle light has shone pointing to the living God whose dominion never ends, who rescues and saves.

Darius’ song points us in a good direction. In the face of threats and opposition, persecution, hostility, and rising fear and anxiety, sing to God about how great he is. Here is one among many:

“Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty.
Just and true are your ways,
King of the nations.

Who will not fear you, Lord,
and bring glory to your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
and worship before you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed.” Rev 15.3

Who is ruling in your world?

By After Briton Rivière - Manchester City Art Gallery [sic!], Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=50214