Daniel In The Lions Den…

God’s Protection

Daniel 6

Introduction

• This is one of the most well known of Bible stories• It is in the heart of children who

faithfully attend Bible class and worship

• We want to survey the chapter and draw some important lessons from the text

•I. Daniel’s position of authority –

vs. 1-3

6:1-3

• King Darius• 3 Presidents• 120 Princes• Daniel above others

•II. The work of envy and malice

– vs. 4-9

• The princes and other presidents sought to find something against Daniel• “He was faithful”• “The law of his God”

• The decree – for 30 days no one could present a petition to anyone save the king

•III. Daniel’s prayer and the charges that followed – vs. 10-15

Verse 10

• [10] Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

• They knew Daniel’s habit of prayer and worship – vs. 11-12

• Daniel accused• The king seeks to deliver Daniel

•IV. The king reluctantly

sentences Daniel – vs. 16-18

• “Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.” (v. 16)• The king passed the night in

fasting (v. 18)

•V. God delivers Daniel –

vs. 19-23

• The king got up early • He went to the lions den• “O Daniel, servant of the living

God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?” (v. 20)

6:22-23

• [22] My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.

• [23] Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God

•VI. The kings reaction to the deliverance of

Daniel – vs. 19-28

• The accusers killed

6:26-27

• [26] I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.

• [27] He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.

6:28

• [28] So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

•Lessons

1. There is no compromise when it comes to prayer

• 1 Th. 5:17• “Pray without ceasing”

2. The wicked always seek to catch the Christian in violation of something

• Ps. 37:32• “The wicked watcheth the

righteous, and seeketh to slay him.”

3. We should think before we speak or before we act

• Proverbs 16:20• “He that handleth a matter wisely

shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.”

4. We must trust in God even in desperate situations

• Ps. 91:2• “I will say of the LORD, He is my

refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.”

5. We need to take a serious look at the danger others are in

• Proverbs 24:17-18• “[17] Rejoice not when thine enemy

falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:[18] Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him”

6. There is no reason not to believe in God

• Rom. 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”

Conclusion

• Proverbs 3:5-6• “[5] Trust in the LORD with all thine

heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.[6] In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”