Dan5

1. What sort of man is Daniel seen to be?

2. What was it that motivated the other leaders to plot against

Daniel?

3. What sort of man is the king shown to be?

C. Comment :

First of all we note that there is now a different king ruling since the events of the last chapter. Darius is the third king that Daniel has seen since he has been in the court in Babylon.

Second, we see the king ordering his kingdom and again Daniel rises to the top by his qualities of sheer goodness in all that he is and does. What an example for US to follow!

Third we see the reaction of the other leaders who see Daniel's success: they are jealous, and so start plotting to find some way to pull him down, but to no avail. They look to see if there is some weak point in what Daniel does, but he was "neither corrupt nor negligent", and as such stood out from all the others around him. May we have that same sort of testimony in our work.

The only thing they can think of that might trap Daniel, is to set up laws contrary to the Law of God that Daniel will refuse to follow as a God-fearing Jew, which would then bring him into conflict with the king. It is then that we see the foolishness of this king who signs the edict without any thought of its consequences. Trouble is on the way, for Daniel and for this silly king!

D. Application :

1. As Christians we must seek to be an example but we must also

expect opposition when we are successful.

2. Do we stand out in our work as those who are neither dishonest

nor careless? Think about it

Chapter: Daniel 6

Passage: Daniel 6:10-14

A. Find Out:

1. Where did Daniel go when he heard the decree? v.10a

2. What did he do there? v.10b

3. What two things did he pray? v.10c & 11

4. Who told the king? v.11, 12

5. How did the king feel when he was told? v.14a

6. What did he determine to do? v.14b

B. Think :

1. What do you think Daniel knew when he went home to pray?

2. What does the fact that he carried on praising God tell us

about him?

3. What does the king's attitude tell us about Daniel

C. Comment :

First of all we see Daniel's response when he hears about the decree: he goes straight to the place where he daily meets with his Lord and starts praying. Royal decree or not, he is going to put the Lord first. Daniel realises that this is his life-line and he is not going to have that severed.

There we see that first of all he praises God. It is good to be able to praise the Lord for it reminds us that He is still the great Almighty and Sovereign God of Creation. Look up 1 Thessalonians 5:18 You can only do this if you know that HE is Lord, and that He is in sovereign control and will guard you.

Next we are told that Daniel went on to ask God for help. He was very mindful of his situation and knew it was a case of his God versus these unrighteous men and that his own life was at stake. He is also quite aware of the consequences of his action.

Finally we see the other leaders telling on Daniel and the king's distress as he realises what his foolishness has done. His concern for Daniel says how highly he regards him, but he has to live with the consequences of his rash actions.

D. Application :

1. Do we realise that godly lives incur persecution from the

ungodly world? 2 Timothy 3:12

2. Ask the Lord for grace and boldness to cope with opposition

that comes.

Chapter: Daniel 6

Passage: Daniel 6:15-23

A. Find Out:

1. How did the men force the king to act? v.15

2. What did the king hope as Daniel was put into the lions' den? v.16

3. How did the king spend the night? v.18

4. When did he return to the lions' den? v.19

5. How did he call out to Daniel? v.20

6. How did the king feel when he heard Daniel? v.23

B. Think :

1. How would you summarise all that the king has been feeling?

2. How was Daniel saved?

3. Why was he saved?

C. Comment :

The actions of the king are almost more amazing than the actual miracle of God saving Daniel from the lions. This foolish king clearly regrets ever having been duped into signing the silly edict, and every step of the way through this story he is seen to be in anguish on Daniel's behalf. This speaks volumes about Daniel's life and the high esteem in which the king holds him. This man of God has risked his life and reputation many times and God has honoured him for it.

We should note that the king doesn't pray. He hasn't got any faith but he hopes sincerely that Daniel's faith is well founded. What a tragic picture this is, of people who have no faith. Very often people of no faith are willing to trust in your faith. How strange!

How this is contrasted with that of Daniel who appears calm and serene in the situation. He simply trusts in God as ever before and his faith is vindicated as the Lord protects and keeps him. How tremendous! Daniel is vindicated once more and God is glorified again. The problem with faith is that the great testimonies always involve putting your life on the line, and that is neither easy nor comfortable.

D. Application :

1. In the crisis will we be a Darius or a Daniel? In panic or in

peace?

2. Ask the Lord to so establish your faith NOW that it can stand

in a crisis.

Chapter: Daniel 6

Passage: Daniel 6:24-28

A. Find Out:

1. What happened to Daniel's accusers? v.24

2. Who did the king write to? v.25

3. What did he issue? v.26

4. How does he describe who God is? v.26b

5. What does he say God does? v.27

6. So what happened to Daniel? v.28

B. Think :

1. How does the king try to make amends?

2. What has he learnt about God?

3. How would his decree help Daniel and the other Jews?

C. Comment :

First in this passage, we are shown that any ideas we may have had about sleepy lions were not warranted. The lions immediately destroy Daniel's accusers who are thrown into their den. The protection provided for Daniel is not there for them!

As we come to the end of the historical section of the book of Daniel we see yet a third king having dealings with God. The extent of his faith is not clear or certain. As the king extols God he realises something of God's greatness, that He goes on for ever, that His kingdom is everlasting. Somewhere in all that has happened, this revelation of God has come to him.

The final picture we have of Daniel is him prospering through this king's reign and in the next king's reign as well. Cyrus will be the king who will release the Jews to return from exile back to Jerusalem. Daniel's presence and testimony there in this pagan court, in the reigns of these previous three kings probably prepared the way for Cyrus to hear from God and release God's people. How wonderful that God's grace enabled His man to stand and be seen throughout the exile, right in the midst of the ungodly subjugating kingdom.

D. Application :

1. Praise and worship the Lord who kept Daniel through the reign

of four kings in ungodly Babylon.

2. Thank Him that His rule will never come to an end and that

He will rule throughout your life.

RECAP - "Daniel & the Lions" - Daniel 6

SUMMARY :

In these 4 studies we have seen:

- A new king and Daniel's success

- Opposition to Daniel

- The king making a law requiring him to be worshipped

- Daniel refusing to worship him

- The Lord saving Daniel from a lions' den

- Daniel prospering through this reign & the next

COMMENT :

A further test comes Daniel's way but, still trusting in the Lord in old age, he carries on praying to the Lord, and when he is cast into a Lions' den, he calmly relaxes in God's protection while the king worries the night through. At the end of the historical section of the book, Daniel is seen as still standing strong for the Lord and the Lord blessing him for it. God has had His man in the Babylonian court throughout the exile.

LESSONS :

1. We are to be examples, and as that we may thus receive opposition

2. In our work we are to be known as those who are neither dishonest nor

careless

3. We need God's grace when the opposition comes

4. In a crisis God wants us to learn to have His peace and not to panic

5. The Lord will protect us and will bless us as we seek to honour Him.

PRAY :

1. Ask the Lord to help us become people who do not worry about status or

position, or what others think about us, only what He thinks about us.

2. Ask the Lord to strengthen your faith to enable you to stand, whatever

the circumstances.

PART 6 : "Daniel's Spiritual Life"

In this last Part we see something of Daniel's prayer life and the visions he received from God. Let something of the awe of it touch you.