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In this great book of Daniel we’ve seen God deliver His people in Babylon one chapter after another – from the special diet that made Daniel and his friends healthy to the three youths walking in the fiery furnace with that fourth person, probably the preincarnate Christ, to last week, God enabling the elderly Daniel to boldly interpret the deadly handwriting on the wall for Belshazzar. Chapter six contains the story most children are aware of, or at least they used to be – Daniel and the lions’ den.
The Medo-Persians conquered Babylon in 539 BC and Cyrus has appointed sixty-two year-old Darius the Mede to rule over the area of Mesopotamia (see Daniel 5:31). Political corruption is nothing new and Darius will experience it first hand, as well as the 80-90 year-old Daniel. Daniel’s integrity in the midst of this murderous corruption gives us hope that by God’s grace we too can remain loyal and faithful to our Lord in the midst of an increasingly corrupt and godless culture.
We’re going to divide the chapter into two parts, the influence of godliness in Daniel 6:1-15, and next week, living with lions in Daniel 6:16-30. This morning we’ll look at the crazy circumstances of this story and then summarize the amazing character of this man who refused to compromise under a severe attack by his political enemies.
THE CIRCUMSTANCES – Daniel 6:1-15
#1 The Planned Promotion
Daniel 6:1-2, It seemed good to Darius to appoint 120 satraps over the kingdom, that they would be in charge of the whole kingdom, 2 and over them three commissioners (of whom Daniel was one), that these satraps might be accountable to them, and that the king might not suffer loss.
Notice verse 2, “the king might not suffer loss.” Right away you know there’s going to be trouble. Politics is a matter of managing the corruption of evil people. Darius knew there was plenty corruption within the political appointees, using official positions for their own pleasure, profit, and power. So he appoints these satraps or “kingdom protectors” and then commissioners or high officials over them to try to keep everyone honest, which has probably never happened in any political scenario in history. Even Jesus had His Judas. By the way, how many federal agencies do you think we have? The best guess is 440. What about federal employees? As of June 24, 2021, there are 2.1 million, not including the USPS.
Notice the word “accountable” in verse 2. If you watch any news feeds, you’ll hear that word over and over and over. There is so much corruption in the political swamp, no one trusts anyone and everyone wants to hold everybody else “accountable.” For example, who shot Ashli Babbit? We still don’t know!
Daniel 6:3, Then this Daniel began distinguishing himself among the commissioners and satraps because he possessed an extraordinary spirit, and the king planned to appoint him over the entire kingdom.
Darius is blessed with this one man, Daniel, well-known as one of the exiles from Jerusalem. When you’re in the political swamp, if you’re a man of integrity, you’ll be noticed. How we appreciate men and women of character unafraid to speak the truth in the political arena. While everyone else is lying and cheating and feathering his own nest, Daniel distinguished himself with an extraordinary spirit. God saw to it that Daniel continued in this high place of influence for the sake of the Jews in exile. Darius was so impressed with this godly Hebrew that he was planning to promote him to prime minister, above even the other two commissioners. That’s going to be a problem.
#2 A Conspiracy to Condemn
Daniel 6:4, Then the commissioners and satraps began trying to find a ground of accusation against Daniel in regard to government affairs; but they could find no ground of accusation or evidence of corruption, inasmuch as he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption was to be found in him.
Immediately jealousy and malice flooded the hearts of these wicked officials. They launched an investigation against Daniel to find some dirty politics, some corruption, some taking money illegally, lying under oath, anything to condemn him. Today it would have included wire-tapping, planting spies in strategic places, illegally reading emails, desperate to find some dirt on the man. You’ll remember our government spent two years and over 30 million dollars to try to find some kind of Russian collusion on our last president and came up empty.
Why did they hate Daniel so much? Because the king liked him, but also because his integrity, his faithfulness and loyalty to the king made them look bad. And Daniel would have no problem calling them to account for their own corruption. Just look at the results of the investigation: no ground of accusation, no evidence of corruption, faithful, no negligence, no corruption! Daniel was a Psalm 15:2 man: “He walks with integrity, and works righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart!” Though Daniel was a sinner, he serves as a wonderful picture of Christ who never sinned but His enemies constantly stalked him to find some dirt to pin on Him, also desperate to get rid of Him. Matthew 27:18 says Pilate knew the religious leaders delivered him up “out of envy.” In both cases the enemy was determined to have them murdered.
When God gives you a new heart to trust Christ and be saved, your life too should reflect this Daniel kind of extraordinary spirit. John MacArthur tells about Coach Cleveland Stroud, who coached Rockdale High in Georgia in the 80s. He coached the boys to a state championship in 1987. However, he later discovered that an ineligible student had played in a game leading to the big win. Coach Stroud, a man of integrity, knew there was only one thing to do. He reported the situation and Rockdale High was stripped of the title. He never questioned his decision to tell the truth. A newspaper article read: “That simple act of integrity swirled into a behemoth story that portrayed not only Stroud but also Rockdale County as a place of courage and righteousness amid a culture that promoted winning, no matter the cost.”
So these malicious political hacks kept poking to find a rotten place in Daniel’s character, but came up with zero. Nothing is more important than godly character, integrity. While we witness one spiritual leader after another falling into moral or financial misconduct, Daniel serves as a great model for every spiritual leader.
#3 The Deception to Destroy
Daniel 6:5-8, Then these men said, “We will not find any ground of accusation against this Daniel unless we find it against him with regard to the law of his God.”
They were very aware of Daniel’s strong faith in his God. He wasn’t a private believer. He wasn’t ashamed of his faith in his God. They came up with a devilish scheme: go after his religion. Don’t be surprised when our own country begins to go after Christians for their non-compliance with Federal laws. It’s no secret the federal government has Christian haters in it. “If we could just get rid of Christians, our progressive designs will make huge headway.”
6 Then these commissioners and satraps came by agreement to the king and spoke to him as follows: “King Darius, live forever! 7 “All the commissioners of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the high officials and the governors have consulted together that the king should establish a statute and enforce an injunction that anyone who makes a petition to any god or man besides you, O king, for thirty days, shall be cast into the lions’ den. 8 “Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document so that it may not be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be revoked.”
So they come up with this huge deception for the king. They all colluded, by agreement, and they came before the king. This whole effort smells of lies and hypocrisy and jealous scheming and you’d think Darius would have caught on, but they get him where most kings are vulnerable – his pride, his ego, his royal arrogance.
“We all agree.” Beware when you hear that. That was one huge lie. Where was Daniel? He didn’t agree, yet he was one of the top three! And they appeal to the king’s personal interest. “We’ve come up with a way to really unite your kingdom. It’s very simple and will bring you even more honor than you have! But we’ll need to attach a sufficient penalty to it so people don’t ignore it. Everyone must petition you, O king, for thirty days. Just thirty days. It’s brilliant. Oh, and if anyone doesn’t comply, they get the lions’ den. Your laws have to have teeth. So just sign here, O king. And don’t forget, when you sign this decree, it cannot be changed according to the law of the Medes and Persians.”
9 Therefore King Darius signed the document, that is, the injunction.
They caught him in his weak spot – his ego. Their scheme implied that he himself was either a god or a representative of a god. He signed it without thinking. Leon Wood, a former professional basketball player, notes: “Great harm can come from matters done in haste.” Ever make a decision too quickly and then regret it? This was one of the dumbest laws imaginable, but the king fell right into their trap. He should have known!
The term “dumbest laws” piqued my interest. I looked up some of the dumbest laws ever passed in America. In Alabama it’s illegal to wear a fake mustache that causes laughter in church. In Nebraska, if a child burps during church, his parents may be arrested. In Nevada it’s illegal to drive a camel on the highway. And in West Virginia, whistling under water is prohibited. So there have been other dumb laws in history. (https://freiwaldlaw.com/blog/50-dumbest-laws)
His haters wasted no time proclaiming the king’s decree. The sooner Daniel was out of the way, the sooner they could get back to running the kingdom to their own profit. Their jealousy was about to be satisfied as they all pondered the delightful scene of old Daniel becoming lions’ food.
#4 The Daily Devotion
Daniel 6:10, Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously.
Here is a great verse. You get the idea that this seasoned, godly Daniel took all this in calm stride. When he heard, he went. He didn’t go complain to the king. He knew the rules of Persian law. He also knew the state had no authority to dictate spiritual behavior. He knew, “We must obey God rather than man.”
But Daniel never paused. He kept doing what he’d been doing. He had a daily devotion routine, and nothing except death would stop him. He could have excused himself, or closed the windows, or prayed in his bed to maintain his influence in government and representing his people. But that would have betrayed God’s people and strengthened God’s enemies. So there he is, on his knees praying to God looking out his window toward Jerusalem as usual. He was aware that he was living in the days of the fulfillment of those 70 years Jeremiah prophesied. Daniel knew that his enemies were not free from God’s sovereign control. Daniel had seen God deliver His people before. Maybe He’ll somehow deliver Daniel.
Daniel 6:11, Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his God.
Here they come, sneaking around the corner down below the window, spying on Daniel, certain Daniel would continue doing what they’d seen him do every day before. What a testimony! They knew he’d be faithful. This is what he did, day in and day out. He had this wonderful daily discipline of taking that time to pray three specific times a day. What about you? Do you have a spiritual discipline of reading the word and praying? If they came to arrest everyone who spent some time in the Bible and prayer, would you be guilty?
#5 The Distress of Darius
Daniel 6:12-15, Then they approached and spoke before the king about the king’s injunction, “Did you not sign an injunction that any man who makes a petition to any god or man besides you, O king, for thirty days, is to be cast into the lions’ den?” The king replied, “The statement is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be revoked.” 13 Then they answered and spoke before the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the injunction which you signed, but keeps making his petition three times a day.” 14 Then, as soon as the king heard this statement, he was deeply distressed and set his mind on delivering Daniel; and even until sunset he kept exerting himself to rescue him. 15 Then these men came by agreement to the king and said to the king, “Recognize, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or statute which the king establishes may be changed.”
Here they come. They can’t wait to inform on the king. “Remember that law? It’s Daniel, that no-good rebel, one of those exiles from Judah.” They paint him as an evil doer. Evil politicians know how to use inflammatory words to destroy their enemies. In verse 14, this word came as a knife into Darius’ heart. “How foolish I was.” Deeply distressed means to have a bad smell, to stink, to act disgustingly. Poor Darius was planning on promoting Daniel to Prime Minister. Now he is torn up! He knows he’s been played by these swamp creatures. He should have consulted with Daniel before signing the decree.
Just like the Jewish leaders who brought Jesus to Pilate, accusing Him of sedition, they put Darius in an impossible situation. They are certain the lions will be fed tonight! But that’s for next week.
DANIEL’S CHARACTER
I want to finish this story by interviewing Daniel to see what we can learn. “Daniel, teach us how to honor Christ the way you honored your Lord in that crazy day.” Daniel has five character qualities to help us develop genuine godliness.
CONSISTENCY – “I determined to be the same person no matter where I was, at home, work, or worship.” There was no difference between his public and private life.
PRINCIPLE – “I made my decisions based on principle, or truth, not pragmatically, just going along to get along. The king always knew where I stood on issues.” He didn’t stick his finger up to see which way the wind was blowing.
OPPOSITION – “I knew I would have enemies. I determined not to take personal vengeance.” The world doesn’t understand true Christianity. They don’t know the love and grace of God. God has to open their eyes, their ears, to understand that Christ is worth living and even dying for. All who live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (2 Tim. 3:12).
OBEDIENCE – “I determined to be obedient to God, regardless of the consequences.” Genuine godliness is obedient even under pressure.
DISCIPLINE – “I developed the discipline of a daily time with God. This, indeed, is the very foundation of godly character.” If you’re too busy to spend time with your God every day, you’re too busy. Daniel was a daily believer. Daniel was a busy 80 or 90 year old official, but everyone knew when it was lunch time – there goes Daniel walking to his house where those windows were opened toward Jerusalem, to get on his knees, to pray to his God.
Are you a daily Christian? Clear your schedule and put this time first. Read the word and then some time in prayer. Charles Spurgeon wrote, “I must take care above all that I cultivate communion with Christ.” Do you know Christ personally?