Daniel in the Lion’s Den – Sermon on Daniel 6

1. Darius organization.

1) After Darius took over, he appointed 120 princes or governors over the kingdom.

2) Over these princes, there were three presidents.

3) Daniel was made the first president “because an excellent spirit was in him” (verse 3).

4) This gave Daniel extraordinary influence.

2. The Dissatisfaction of the Governors.

1) The princes didn’t like this arrangement.

2) We don’t have their motives in detail.

3) Nevertheless, they sought to remove Daniel.

4) So they were looking for a occasion against him, but they could not find one.

5) Daniel was an altogether honest guy.

3. The Governors’ invention.

1) The governors get together and they come up with a plan.

2) They will have the king pass a law that whoever petitions anyone, God or man for thirty days, except the king, shall be cast into the lion’s den.

3) The king, not knowing what they were up to, signs the law.

4) No doubt, his ego was pretty lifted up by this gesture of the governors as well.

4. Daniel’s prostration.

1) Daniel saw that the law had passed.

2) He went home and opened his windows.

3) He prayed to God as was his custom.

5. Some lessons.

1) Dealing wisely in our business affairs will bring us into positions of influence. Proverbs 22:29 “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.”

2) Daniel’s honesty and integrity kept him out of trouble. Proverbs 11:3 “The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.”

3) Listening to those who flatter our ego blinds us to their true purposes. Proverbs 26:28 “A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.”

4) Some things cannot be compromised; prayer is one of them.

a. Prayer is a command (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

b. However, God’s people desire to pray. Psalm 55:17 “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.”

1. The Plan Consummated.

1) They saw Daniel praying as was his custom.

2) They confirmed the law.

3) They reported this to the king.

2. Deliverance Sought

1) The king was displeased with himself.

2) The king sought to have Daniel delivered.

3) The law of the Medes and Persians, however, could not be reversed.

3. Daniel Condemned

1) Therefore we see Daniel in the lion’s den.

2) The king professed his confidence that God would deliver Daniel.

3) A stone was brought and sealed over the lion’s den with the king’s seal.

4. Some lessons.

1) The wicked are always seeking to catch the righteous in violation of something.

a. Psalm 37:32 “The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.”

b. Psalm 35:21 “Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.”

2) We should think a thing through before we act on it.

a. Proverbs 16:20 “He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.”

b. Proverbs 25:2 “It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.”

3) We must trust in God even in the most desperate of times.

a. Psalm 91:2 “I will say of Jehovah, He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in whom I trust.”

b. Proverbs 3:5-6

1. The king’s anticipation.

1) The king fasted all night.

2) He didn’t listen to any playing of music.

3) He didn’t sleep.

2. The king’s inspection.

1) When morning came, the king rushed to the lion’s den.

2) He cried out with a lamentable voice.

3) He asked if God had delivered Daniel from the lions.

3. The king’s alleviation.

1) Daniel called out, “O king, live forever.”

2) Daniel said that God had sent an angel and shut the mouths of the lions.

3) Daniel pronounces his innocence and tells the king that he has done nothing to hurt him.

4) The king commanded Daniel to be brought out of the lion’s den.

5) Daniel had not been hurt in any way.

4. Some lessons.

1) We need to take seriously the genuine peril of others.

a. It seems that society likes to laugh at the problems of others.

b. Proverbs 24:17-18 “Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.”

2) Fulfillment of hope brings great joy. Proverbs 13:23 “Hope deferred maketh the heart sick; But when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.”

1. The king’s anger.

1) Those who plotted against Daniel also made a mockery of the king.

2) He took them and cast them into the lion’s den with their families.

3) This demonstrated the king’s wrath against those who manipulated the system for their own purposes.

2. The king’s proclamation.

1) The king decreed that men tremble before Daniel’s God.

2) This is the living God.

3) This is the God whose kingdom shall never be destroyed.

4) This is the God who delivers and rescues.

5) This is the God who works signs and wonders.

3. Some lessons.

1) If we do evil, we should expect wrath from the government. Romans 13:3-4 ” For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.”

2) There is no reason not to believe in God. Romans 1:20 “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:”