The Christ Church Wednesday Bible Study Group is studying the book of Daniel. This session we review the famous lion's den story. Daniel refuses to stop praying to, and worshiping, God Almighty for 30 days and worship the Persian King Darius instead. His refusal results in his being thrown in the lion's den much to the delight of his enemies, only to emerge unscathed. His deliverance caused King Darius to acknowledge Daniel's God and execute those who wanted to get ride of Daniel. Study along with us by reading these notes.
We ended last week’s study with the Babolonian Empire coming to a crashing end with the Medes and Persions overthrowing the city and killing the king Belshazzar just as Daniel foretold when he read and interpreted the writing that Belshazzar had seen in his drunken state using the utensils used in the worship of God at the Temple, his grandfather, Nebudchazzar and brought back to Babalyn after sicking Jerusalem and destroyng the Temple
Daniel 5:25-28 NLT “This is the message that was written: Mene, Mene, Tekel , and Parsin . This is what these words mean: Mene means ‘numbered’—God has numbered the days of your reign and has brought it to an end. Tekel means ‘weighed’—you have been weighed on the balances and have not measured up. Parsin means ‘divided’—your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”
And then;
Daniel 5:30-31 GNT That same night Belshazzar, the king of Babylonia, was killed; and Darius the Mede, who was then sixty-two years old, seized the royal power.
It looks as if Darius takes Daniel out of retirement. We don’t know how but Darius apparently heard about Daniel and his skill as an adviser, and counselor, because after seizing power and making some changes in government he appointed Daniel as an administrator of one of the new provinces he established. He did so well in that job that he was going to get a huge promotion. He was going to be put over the entire empire. Sort of like the Chief of Staff to the king. Everything and everyone had to come through Daniel.
Daniel 6:1-3 NLT Darius the Mede decided to divide the kingdom into 120 provinces, and he appointed a high officer to rule over each province. The king also chose Daniel and two others as administrators to supervise the high officers and protect the king’s interests. Daniel soon proved himself more capable than all the other administrators and high officers. Because of Daniel’s great ability, the king made plans to place him over the entire empire.
Well that didn't sit well with the other administrators so they started looking for some chinks in Daniel’s armor. Was he skimming off the top? Was he using his position for personal gain? Was he sending business or favors to his buddies. The looked for anything to discredit him but they couldn’t find anything in either his work or personal life to discredit him.
Daniel 6:4 NLT Then the other administrators and high officers began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling government affairs, but they couldn’t find anything to criticize or condemn. He was faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy.
So they concluded that the only way they were going to get him was to do it in connection with his worship of God.
Daniel 6:5 NLT So they concluded, “Our only chance of finding grounds for accusing Daniel will be in connection with the rules of his religion.”
Maybe they were aware of his refusal to eat from the king’s table when he was being trained to serve the king.
Daniel 1:8 NLT But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods.
Or the fact that he gave the glory and credit to God for his ability to interpret dreams and other things;
Daniel 2:26-28 NLT The king said to Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar), “Is this true? Can you tell me what my dream was and what it means?” Daniel replied, “There are no wise men, enchanters, magicians, or fortune-tellers who can reveal the king’s secret. But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and he has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the future. Now I will tell you your dream and the visions you saw as you lay on your bed.
Daniel 4:18 NLT “‘Belteshazzar, that was the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now tell me what it means, for none of the wise men of my kingdom can do so. But you can tell me because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.’
And when he read and interpreted the writing on the wall he said;
Daniel 5:18, 23-24 NLT Your Majesty, the Most High God gave sovereignty, majesty, glory, and honor to your predecessor, Nebuchadnezzar. For you have proudly defied the Lord of heaven and have had these cups from his Temple brought before you. You and your nobles and your wives and concubines have been drinking wine from them while praising gods of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone—gods that neither see nor hear nor know anything at all. But you have not honored the God who gives you the breath of life and controls your destiny! So God has sent this hand to write this message.
They know that Daniel was a Hebrew and they may have heard the story of the three Hebrews who refused to bow down to a statue of Nebchadnezzer because it would have been an affront to God and a violation of the law not to worship any other God.
Daniel 3:16-18 NLT Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”
Daniel 5:25-28 NLT “This is the message that was written: Mene, Mene, Tekel , and Parsin . This is what these words mean: Mene means ‘numbered’—God has numbered the days of your reign and has brought it to an end. Tekel means ‘weighed’—you have been weighed on the balances and have not measured up. Parsin means ‘divided’—your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”
And then;
Daniel 5:30-31 GNT That same night Belshazzar, the king of Babylonia, was killed; and Darius the Mede, who was then sixty-two years old, seized the royal power.
It looks as if Darius takes Daniel out of retirement. We don’t know how but Darius apparently heard about Daniel and his skill as an adviser, and counselor, because after seizing power and making some changes in government he appointed Daniel as an administrator of one of the new provinces he established. He did so well in that job that he was going to get a huge promotion. He was going to be put over the entire empire. Sort of like the Chief of Staff to the king. Everything and everyone had to come through Daniel.
Daniel 6:1-3 NLT Darius the Mede decided to divide the kingdom into 120 provinces, and he appointed a high officer to rule over each province. The king also chose Daniel and two others as administrators to supervise the high officers and protect the king’s interests. Daniel soon proved himself more capable than all the other administrators and high officers. Because of Daniel’s great ability, the king made plans to place him over the entire empire.
Well that didn't sit well with the other administrators so they started looking for some chinks in Daniel’s armor. Was he skimming off the top? Was he using his position for personal gain? Was he sending business or favors to his buddies. The looked for anything to discredit him but they couldn’t find anything in either his work or personal life to discredit him.
Daniel 6:4 NLT Then the other administrators and high officers began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling government affairs, but they couldn’t find anything to criticize or condemn. He was faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy.
So they concluded that the only way they were going to get him was to do it in connection with his worship of God.
Daniel 6:5 NLT So they concluded, “Our only chance of finding grounds for accusing Daniel will be in connection with the rules of his religion.”
Maybe they were aware of his refusal to eat from the king’s table when he was being trained to serve the king.
Daniel 1:8 NLT But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods.
Or the fact that he gave the glory and credit to God for his ability to interpret dreams and other things;
Daniel 2:26-28 NLT The king said to Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar), “Is this true? Can you tell me what my dream was and what it means?” Daniel replied, “There are no wise men, enchanters, magicians, or fortune-tellers who can reveal the king’s secret. But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and he has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the future. Now I will tell you your dream and the visions you saw as you lay on your bed.
Daniel 4:18 NLT “‘Belteshazzar, that was the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now tell me what it means, for none of the wise men of my kingdom can do so. But you can tell me because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.’
And when he read and interpreted the writing on the wall he said;
Daniel 5:18, 23-24 NLT Your Majesty, the Most High God gave sovereignty, majesty, glory, and honor to your predecessor, Nebuchadnezzar. For you have proudly defied the Lord of heaven and have had these cups from his Temple brought before you. You and your nobles and your wives and concubines have been drinking wine from them while praising gods of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone—gods that neither see nor hear nor know anything at all. But you have not honored the God who gives you the breath of life and controls your destiny! So God has sent this hand to write this message.
They know that Daniel was a Hebrew and they may have heard the story of the three Hebrews who refused to bow down to a statue of Nebchadnezzer because it would have been an affront to God and a violation of the law not to worship any other God.
Daniel 3:16-18 NLT Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”
In any event these guys made up a bogus law that if anyone prayed to a god other than the king over the next thirty days, they’d be thrown into a den of lions, and convinced the king to sign it.
Daniel 6:6-9 NLT So the administrators and high officers went to the king and said, “Long live King Darius! We are all in agreement—we administrators, officials, high officers, advisers, and governors—that the king should make a law that will be strictly enforced. Give orders that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human—except to you, Your Majesty—will be thrown into the den of lions. And now, Your Majesty, issue and sign this law so it cannot be changed, an official law of the Medes and Persians that cannot be revoked.” So King Darius signed the law.
Just as with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, Daniel made the decision not to lose his integrity by obeying a law that was in direct conflict with the Mosaic law to worship only God only.
Daniel 6:10 NLT But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.
And just like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, although he made the right decision, as we will learn later, just like them he was put in a very stressful and anxiety filled situation.
Daniel 6:11-13 NLT Then the officials went together to Daniel’s house and found him praying and asking for God’s help. So they went straight to the king and reminded him about his law. “Did you not sign a law that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human—except to you, Your Majesty—will be thrown into the den of lions?” “Yes,” the king replied, “that decision stands; it is an official law of the Medes and Persians that cannot be revoked.” Then they told the king, “That man Daniel, one of the captives from Judah, is ignoring you and your law. He still prays to his God three times a day.”
Well the king had no choice but to have Daniel thrown into the lions den although he tried to figure out a way to save Daniel. Remember Daniel was a very valuable person in the empire and it would have been a great loss and blow to Darius and his government. But there was no way around it. He had been duped by other officials into doing something that they knew would result in them getting rid of Daniel. But there was nothing he could do.
Daniel 6:15-18 NLTIn the evening the men went together to the king and said, “Your Majesty, you know that according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, no law that the king signs can be changed.” So at last the king gave orders for Daniel to be arrested and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to him, “May your God, whom you serve so faithfully, rescue you.” A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den. The king sealed the stone with his own royal seal and the seals of his nobles, so that no one could rescue Daniel. Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night fasting. He refused his usual entertainment and couldn’t sleep at all that night.
Daniel didn’t doubt God’s love, even in the most difficult of times. And the Lord s
aw him through his seeming crisis of spending an entire night with a group of hungry lions.
Daniel 6:19-22 NLT Very early the next morning, the king got up and hurried out to the lions’ den. When he got there, he called out in anguish, “Daniel, servant of the living God! Was your God, whom you serve so faithfully, able to rescue you from the lions?” Daniel answered, “Long live the king! My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty.”
When we face our own lions, we can know that God’s love for us is greater than whatever we're going through. And as we walk through the tough times, our view of Him will increase and our faith in Him will grow stronger.
God has never brought anyone to a situation that was greater than His love for them. Not anyone in the Bible. Not you—whatever situation you’re facing right now.
Then look at the witness that came from Daniel losing his integrity and trusting in God. Just as with the three in the furnace Daniel was delivered not before his ordeal but during it, and as a result Darius as did Nebchadzzer Darius praises Daniel’s God and we know that Daniel’s God is God Almighty the God we serve and whose Son died for us.
Daniel 6:23-27 NLT The king was overjoyed and ordered that Daniel be lifted from the den. Not a scratch was found on him, for he had trusted in his God. Then the king gave orders to arrest the men who had maliciously accused Daniel. He had them thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. The lions leaped on them and tore them apart before they even hit the floor of the den. Then King Darius sent this message to the people of every race and nation and language throughout the world: “Peace and prosperity to you! “I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel. For he is the living God, and he will endure forever. His kingdom will never be destroyed, and his rule will never end. He rescues and saves his people; he performs miraculous signs and wonders in the heavens and on earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.”
Just in case you forgot what Nebchaduzzer said when the three Hebrews came out of the furnace.
Daniel 3:28-29 NLT Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel to rescue his servants who trusted in him. They defied the king’s command and were willing to die rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. Therefore, I make this decree: If any people, whatever their race or nation or language, speak a word against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, they will be torn limb from limb, and their houses will be turned into heaps of rubble. There is no other god who can rescue like this!”
And in both cases after coming through these stress and anxiety filled situations there is promotion.
Daniel 3:30 NLT Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to even higher positions in the province of Babylon.
Daniel 6:28 NLT So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
Daniel 6:6-9 NLT So the administrators and high officers went to the king and said, “Long live King Darius! We are all in agreement—we administrators, officials, high officers, advisers, and governors—that the king should make a law that will be strictly enforced. Give orders that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human—except to you, Your Majesty—will be thrown into the den of lions. And now, Your Majesty, issue and sign this law so it cannot be changed, an official law of the Medes and Persians that cannot be revoked.” So King Darius signed the law.
Just as with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, Daniel made the decision not to lose his integrity by obeying a law that was in direct conflict with the Mosaic law to worship only God only.
Daniel 6:10 NLT But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.
And just like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, although he made the right decision, as we will learn later, just like them he was put in a very stressful and anxiety filled situation.
Daniel 6:11-13 NLT Then the officials went together to Daniel’s house and found him praying and asking for God’s help. So they went straight to the king and reminded him about his law. “Did you not sign a law that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human—except to you, Your Majesty—will be thrown into the den of lions?” “Yes,” the king replied, “that decision stands; it is an official law of the Medes and Persians that cannot be revoked.” Then they told the king, “That man Daniel, one of the captives from Judah, is ignoring you and your law. He still prays to his God three times a day.”
Well the king had no choice but to have Daniel thrown into the lions den although he tried to figure out a way to save Daniel. Remember Daniel was a very valuable person in the empire and it would have been a great loss and blow to Darius and his government. But there was no way around it. He had been duped by other officials into doing something that they knew would result in them getting rid of Daniel. But there was nothing he could do.
Daniel 6:15-18 NLTIn the evening the men went together to the king and said, “Your Majesty, you know that according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, no law that the king signs can be changed.” So at last the king gave orders for Daniel to be arrested and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to him, “May your God, whom you serve so faithfully, rescue you.” A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den. The king sealed the stone with his own royal seal and the seals of his nobles, so that no one could rescue Daniel. Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night fasting. He refused his usual entertainment and couldn’t sleep at all that night.
Daniel didn’t doubt God’s love, even in the most difficult of times. And the Lord s
aw him through his seeming crisis of spending an entire night with a group of hungry lions.
Daniel 6:19-22 NLT Very early the next morning, the king got up and hurried out to the lions’ den. When he got there, he called out in anguish, “Daniel, servant of the living God! Was your God, whom you serve so faithfully, able to rescue you from the lions?” Daniel answered, “Long live the king! My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty.”
When we face our own lions, we can know that God’s love for us is greater than whatever we're going through. And as we walk through the tough times, our view of Him will increase and our faith in Him will grow stronger.
God has never brought anyone to a situation that was greater than His love for them. Not anyone in the Bible. Not you—whatever situation you’re facing right now.
Then look at the witness that came from Daniel losing his integrity and trusting in God. Just as with the three in the furnace Daniel was delivered not before his ordeal but during it, and as a result Darius as did Nebchadzzer Darius praises Daniel’s God and we know that Daniel’s God is God Almighty the God we serve and whose Son died for us.
Daniel 6:23-27 NLT The king was overjoyed and ordered that Daniel be lifted from the den. Not a scratch was found on him, for he had trusted in his God. Then the king gave orders to arrest the men who had maliciously accused Daniel. He had them thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. The lions leaped on them and tore them apart before they even hit the floor of the den. Then King Darius sent this message to the people of every race and nation and language throughout the world: “Peace and prosperity to you! “I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel. For he is the living God, and he will endure forever. His kingdom will never be destroyed, and his rule will never end. He rescues and saves his people; he performs miraculous signs and wonders in the heavens and on earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.”
Just in case you forgot what Nebchaduzzer said when the three Hebrews came out of the furnace.
Daniel 3:28-29 NLT Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel to rescue his servants who trusted in him. They defied the king’s command and were willing to die rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. Therefore, I make this decree: If any people, whatever their race or nation or language, speak a word against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, they will be torn limb from limb, and their houses will be turned into heaps of rubble. There is no other god who can rescue like this!”
And in both cases after coming through these stress and anxiety filled situations there is promotion.
Daniel 3:30 NLT Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to even higher positions in the province of Babylon.
Daniel 6:28 NLT So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
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