Lion's Den
Exile • Sermon • Submitted
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Faith v Fear in today’s chaos. Give a mouse a cookie. Names of God? When we know the name of God we have a better understanding of the character of God. When we have a grip on the character of God we see how He aims Himself at His children. When we are aware of how He aims Himself at us, WE WALK IN FAITH!
1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps, to be throughout the whole kingdom;
2 and over them three high officials, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss.
3 Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.
4 Then the high officials and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him.
5 Then these men said, “We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.”
6 Then these high officials and satraps came by agreement to the king and said to him, “O King Darius, live forever!
7 All the high officials of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an injunction, that whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions.
8 Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be revoked.”
9 Therefore King Darius signed the document and injunction.
10 When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.
11 Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and plea before his God.
12 Then they came near and said before the king, concerning the injunction, “O king! Did you not sign an injunction, that anyone who makes petition to any god or man within thirty days except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The thing stands fast, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked.”
13 Then they answered and said before the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or the injunction you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.”
14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was much distressed and set his mind to deliver Daniel. And he labored till the sun went down to rescue him.
15 Then these men came by agreement to the king and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or ordinance that the king establishes can be changed.”
16 Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!”
17 And a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel.
18 Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him.
19 Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions.
20 As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?”
21 Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever!
22 My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.”
23 Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
24 And the king commanded, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and cast into the den of lions—they, their children, and their wives. And before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces.
25 Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: “Peace be multiplied to you.
26 I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end.
27 He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.”
28 So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
Darius and Cyrus - uncle and nephew, both reigned at the same time. Cyrus being Cyrus the Great was the actual king of the entirety of the kingdom, Darius put in a position of honor even if lesser authority as he was the elder/uncle.
New king, new kingdom. Cyrus would ultimately allow the jews return as the 70 years were up at the beginning of his reign.
Who rules the kingdom? IT MATTERS!
It mattered for all those living through the turmoil after Nebu until the Medes/Persians.
It mattered for Daniel. “The Most High God rules the kingdoms of mankind and sets over them whom He will.” Because this is true for us, we have the freedom to operate in the system where we are exiled.
King Jesus is faithful, man is fickle.
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
When we are like Jesus, we have consistency in our lives. Daniel went to his ‘prayer room’ just like always (as he had done previously).
When we take our eyes off Jesus, we act more like Darius. He allowed himself to think of himself as a god: “whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions”.
14 (for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God),
God is unaccepting of disloyalty. So much so He says His name is Jealous. He will not share His glory with anyone. But He will seek to be known by His creation!
God is merciful, man can only repent.
After the deception by the satraps, Darius realized his folly. He looked for ways to avoid putting Daniel in the lion’s den. But Daniel knew his life was not in Darius’ hands, it was in God’s hands.
What do we see Daniel do as an exile, now with a new king/kingdom? Serve. Operate within the system. Submit to the authority (he has confessed repeatedly) God placed over him. Remain faithful to his God. Live a testimony of faith. Have an impact on those around him.
Remember we are exiles living in a land not our home.
Like the Jews in the days of Jeremiah, Daniel, Amos and Hosea, we have been led to the time where repentance is the only solution. Political victory is not the solution. Military power is not the solution. A pantry full of non-perishables, ammunition and toilet paper is not the solution.
The solution puts us with bended knees, bowed heads and humbled hearts before our Creator and Lord. And if we are unwilling, God will. After all, His name is Jealous.
God is moving, we will praise Him!
The evidence is around us. I know its hard for some to see. The pressures of life are taking a toll. Just about everyone I talked to last week seemed to be on edge. Just a little bit snippy. Our world is frazzled and so is that last nerve we have! Our fuses are growing shorter when we need to be growing a fruit of the spirit called patience. With a side of self control!
bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.
Operation Not Forgotten - US Marshalls rescue 39 children in Georgia
God spared Daniel. Was it for Daniel’s sake? Was it for Darius’ sake, that He might witness God’s power? Was it because of Daniel’s faith? Was it for the glory of God? YES
Darius did praise Him. It goes without saying Daniel did as well. Will we? Will we find it in ourselves, even though we know there are difficult times in front of us, to praise Him? Will we, when the storms of life are sweeping over us, praise Him? And when those times have passed, will we remember to praise Him?
And I'll praise you in this storm
And I will lift my hands
That you are who you are
No matter where I am
And every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise you in this storm