"A Day in the Life of Daniel" Daniel 6
Daniel is a man in his 80’s - so we find that age is no barrier in serving Christ, nor is it a protection against the trials and temptations of life. Because Daniel had started young as a man of faith, he continued in faith when was old. Let’s spend a day in the life of Daniel. 1. The Dawn of Devotion (Dan. 6:10) 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. Daniel is :- (1) A Praying Man - 10 he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed
(2) A Praising Man - 6:10 and gave thanks before his God (3) A Persisting Man - 6:10 as he did aforetime. Ps. 55:17 - "Evening, and morning, and at noon will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice." Prayer was not an incidental thing in the life of Daniel - It was the most essential thing!
2. The Morning of Deception (Dan. 6:1-9) 5 Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God. A. The Elevation Of Daniel v. 1-3 - Imagine the entire Persian Empire divided into three provinces, and Daniel being given the oversight of one of these B. The Envy Toward Daniel v. 4-5 -there are times you do what is right, and it stirs up jealousy and envy in others; if they did it to Jesus, they will do it eventually toward you C. The Entrapment Against Daniel v. 6-9 7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. -this king, although one who respected Daniel, was so blinded by these men and his own pride that he didn’t consider the ramifications on those he truly cared for 1 Cor 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. Reasons for jealousy : His Race Daniel was a foreigner; His Religion he was a Jew; His Righteousness he was more righteous than they.
3. The Noon of Decision (Dan. 6:10-13) 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. The Time of DECISION had come! What would Daniel Do? Many people would have chosen to compromise their faith! Reasons: (a) Conformity Everybody else is doing it! (b) Consequence I don’t want to get into trouble! (c) Cowardice I might offend others! (d) Complacency Maybe I could just pray without anyone else knowing! Remember, Daniel did not view prayer as incidental - but as a divine imperative! Daniel chose rather to be eaten by lions than to miss one prayer meeting Daniel did as always - prayed, gave thanks, made supplications - Phil. 4:6-7 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Immediately his enemies "Accused Daniel before the throne" - What a picture of Satan!!! (Rev. 12:10) And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. 4. The Evening of Disappointment (Dan. 6:14-17) 16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee. 17 And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel. The king realized what a fool he had been, but even his power and wealth could not alter the law of the Medes and Persians. Daniel was cast into the lion’s den and a stone was placed at the entrance with the king’s seal upon it. Daniel, however, never wavered in faith. He knew that God did not want to save him FROM the lion’s den - God wanted to deliver him OUT OF IT!
5 The Night of Deliverance (Dan. 6:18-23) 20 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? What a CONTRAST between Darius in the palace and Daniel in the lion’s den Darius had no peace - Daniel slept peacefully - Acts 12:5-6 (Peter’s sleep in prison between two guards) Why was Daniel delivered???He believed God! (vs. 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.
6. The Morning of Destruction (Dan. 6:24-28) 24 And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den. Became A Morning of Declaration 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. Dan. 6:25-27 gives us a better understanding why God allowed Daniel to go through such a terrible ordeal - It brought glory to His name! Darius Became A Preaching Man - 6:26,27 He Preached About
(a) The Superiority of God - 6:26 “men tremble and fear”
(b) The Salvation of God - 6:26 “before the God of Daniel”
(c) The Self-existence of God - 6:26 “for He is the living God”
(d) The Steadfastness of God - 6:26 “and steadfast forever”
(e) The Supremacy of God - 6:26 and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.
(f) The Strength of God - 6:27 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.
(1)) The Salvation of His Power - 6:27 “He delivers and rescues”
(2)) The Signs of His Power - 6:27 “and He works signs and wonders”
(3)) The Scope of His Power - 6:27 “in heaven and in earth”
(4)) The Sufficiency of His Power - 6:27 “who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions”
