DANIEL IN THE DEN OF LIONS – Daniel 6
There is a false idea that if you are saved and serve God that you will not have any problems or difficulties in life. You will have difficulties, but the God who saved you will go with you through them. This chapter is one of the most familiar of the stories in the book of Daniel. Most children have had this read to them. The government has changed in chapter five. The head of gold in now replaced with the chest and two arms of silver. This is the Mede and Persian Empire. This happened around 538 BC. Daniel is now between the age of 80 and 90. This is written during the seventieth year of Israel’s captivity. Seventy years earlier God had placed Daniel in a position to help the Jews return to Jerusalem. 1 John 2:17 says: “And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”
I. THE PREFERENCE OF DANIEL
A. The Administration of the Kingdom (1)
(It was no longer an autocrat or dictatorship but power was distributed. Organization is most people’s downfall.)
B. The Appointing of Daniel
1. The confidence shown toward Daniel
2. The character displayed by Daniel – real Christianity is practical
Daniel is now up in age. We have preached about the youth, now it is time to look at the senor citizens. William Gladstone was 83 when he was the prime minister of England. Michael Angelo was still painting a t age 90. John Wesley was preaching at the age of 88. Thomas Edison at 90 was still inventing. J.C. Penney was still engaged in his business at the age of 95. Evangelist Acker was still preaching at the age of 116.
C. The Accountability (2)
(Any time responsibility is given there must be some type of accountability.)
II. THE PERSECUTION OF DANIEL (5-17)
A. The Reason for the Persecution
1. His life condemned theirs (4) (No fault in him)
2. His life was committed to Jehovah God (5)
3. His life confronted the Kingdom of Satan (10-11)
B. The Restlessness of the Persecutors (5-15)
(Like the Jews after Jesus)
C. The Remorse Because of the Persecution (14-17)
1. The king’s attempt to deliver Daniel (Pilate) (14)
2. The king’s assurance he gave to Daniel (16)
III. THE PRESERVATON OF DANIEL
A. The Troubled King (18-20)
B. The Tranquil Daniel (21-23)
“By faith they stopped the mouth of lions” Heb. 11
“The angel of the Lord encamps about them that feat him, and delivers them.” Ps. 34:17
“Because he believed in his God”
C. The Tortured Accusers (24)
IV THE PROSPERITY OF DANIEL (25-28)
A. God Was Praised (26-27)
B. Daniel Was Promoted (28)
V. THE PICTURE OF JESUS
“We have a law, and by our law he ought to die” John 19:7
Pilate – “I find no fault in Him”
Killed and put in the tomb – third day rose again
Promoted from the grave to glory
