Daniel 6:1-28
Introduction: We are continuing our series in Daniel to learn from his example of exile in Babylon and how it can serve as a model for us today. After King Nebuchadnezzar conquered and ransacked Jerusalem, Daniel was taken away from his home and brought into a strange land. The Bible, in fact, teaches that every person is an exile – when Adam and Eve chose independence from God, humanity was exiled from Eden, away from the presence of God and life as he created it to be. The Bible also teaches that to be a Christian is to be an exile; to be a citizen of the kingdom of Jesus means that we are never fully home in any earthly kingdom, nation or place. The story of the Lions’ Den raises and answers 3 questions about life in exile to guide us in remaining faithful to God - no matter what - and helping us to remember that God will be faithful to us, even in most challenging and terrifying of circumstances.
1. What’s the Real Threat?
That’s easy – the hungry, ferocious creature with huge, sharp teeth and claws! But notice how the story doesn’t emphasize any particular fear of the lions on the part of Daniel? On the other hand, King Darius – the one who made (or ultimately agreed to) the decree – is a mess. He spent the night fasting, unable to sleep, while Daniel is calm and composed throughout. This sounds incredible, but Daniel was able to identify the real threat – and once he dealt with this, he was able to handle the lesser (though very real!) threat of the lions’ den.
The real threat was not about losing his life in the lion’s den; it was that he might lose his trust in God because of the lion’s den. Here at 80+ years old, Daniel was faced again with what the Bible presents as the greatest threat to a human being: to trust anything other than God with our lives, security and destiny. That is the greatest danger and threat; the bible tells us all sin stems from unbelief, not trusting God to be who He is and do what he said he will do.
Throughout his life in exile, Daniel faced this threat: do I trust and obey God when it is safe and comfortable and makes sense to me? OR do I trust and obey God - period, no matter what? This question is of central importance at all times but especially important in seasons of exile. When we face challenges, disruption and trials, can we identify the real threat?
2. How Should We Respond?
Daniel saw the real threat. So what was his response? v10 says he did “just as he had done before”. Daniel acted like nothing changed! When a new ruler, a new kingdom, a new threat and vicious attack were directed at him, Daniel went to his house to pray, with windows open to Jerusalem, down on his knees, praying and giving thanks to God – as he always had.
The story is very careful to make sure we know that Daniel didn’t pray because of the decree that would put his very life in danger. He prayed because that is what he always did. Prayer was what trained him to see the real threats to his faith and how to handle them – calmly.
Thus, this is not a case for SOS/emergency prayer (although God certainly hears those too!) but rather a case for regular, habitual, everyday prayer as the most powerful response to threats we know and threats that we don’t know about yet. What does a rhythm of prayer like this accomplish?
·It puts us back in our place – a seemingly small detail is that Daniel got down on his knees; but as CS Lewis wrote, the body ought to pray as the soul. Another commentator said: “[Kneeling] reminds you of your true position. It’s as if you say, ‘I am a servant. He is the King. I do not live in a democracy but under a monarchy… I am always a beggar at the throne of grace, and though it a throne of grace, I never forget it is a throne’”. Remember that Daniel was already a very powerful man in the Persian government, but he knew his place before the Almighty God.
It puts everything else back into place – literally the entire government has lined up against Daniel – and his response is to pray. Which is proven more powerful in the end? An important learning from this is that prayer is political. The very act of true prayer is politically subversive because by kneeling before God as King you are saying NOTHING has more authority/power than God and his law. And yet, which side was doing more good to their country and its people?Let this be a reminder that our goal is not to defeat an opponent or win a culture war, but rather – by our lives, words and actions – to follow and bear witness to our true King and his kingdom.
3. What Result Can We Expect?
So when we respond to threats by trusting in God, what result can we expect? The story of the Lions’ Den tells us: God will overrule all threats and evil intentions to rescue all who trust in Him. But this does NOT mean:
If we are faithful, trust and obey Him, God won’t allow us to face the lions’ den
If we are faithful, trust and obey Him, God won’t let us go into the lions’ den
If we are faithful, trust and obey Him, God must deliver us from the lion’s den
In Daniel’s case, God’s rescue comes in and through the lions’ den – Daniel had to enter, and God brought him out and accomplished his will through this trial. God promises us that he will stand with us and never desert us. He will overrule even death itself for the one who trusts in Him. Don’t be afraid of the lion’s mouth. The worst that can happen is that we would be safely brought into his heavenly kingdom. (see 2 Tim. 4:16-18).
The person who believes this will be bold and calm, no matter how serious the threat may seem. In order to have this kind of bold, calm trust – we have to see that Daniel points us to an even greater Daniel who faced an even greater threat. Like Daniel, Jesus was innocent of any and all charges yet framed by the jealous leaders of his day, arrested while on his knees in prayer, pronounced guilty even though innocent, put in a tomb cut out of rock and sealed away. But unlike Daniel, who escaped unscathed, Jesus was whipped, beaten, nailed to a cross, suffered and died. When the stone was rolled over his tomb, He was dead. But on the first light of the 3rd day – he rose in an even greater triumph and vindication than Daniel.
If Jesus is alive, then for the one who trusts Him and boldly obeys him, death is not to be feared. If Jesus is alive and risen, you are loved by the sovereign king of the universe, and nothing is more powerful than this sovereign God who loves you; even death is not the end. This means no matter what threat we are facing – you can trust in Jesus. He promises to overrule all threats and evil against us and work it for our ultimate good.
REFLECT OR DISCUSS
What about the message is most relevant to you today? What questions did it raise?
What do you see as the greatest threat in your life right now? Why? How might this story help you reframe this threat in light of the greater threat to trust something other than God for your rescue, security and destiny? What are you tempted to trust in other than God to deal with this threat?
What is your reaction to Daniel’s response to the threat he faced – to continue his practice of everyday regular kneeling prayer? How would this help him face the terrifying threat of death in a lions den? How might this practice help you face your threats?
What is your current practice of prayer? How can you take steps toward a more regular rhythm of prayer? How can other people help make this happen?
Read Psalm 22 and look for the references to the lion’s mouth. This Psalm was the Psalm in Jesus’ heart and on his lips as he was dying. What difference does it make when we believe Jesus went into the greater Lion’s mouth of the cross for us? What difference does it make as we face threats to know he was victorious over death and is alive? \
Below are the two results we can expect from the person who trusts in Jesus no matter what threat they are facing. Which do you most need right now?
Uncompromising boldness: If Jesus gave it all for me, I can be bold and risk it all for Him. When I do, he will be with me. Like Daniel in the den, I will never be alone.
Unflinching calm: Since Jesus is alive, I don’t need to rely on human wisdom, power and strength. Nothing is stronger than the power of quiet faithfulness to God. As Daniel faced the lions calmly on his knees, I can calmly trust God no matter what.