Weekly message: Daniel’s prosecution and God’s rescues Date: 9/17/2023
By Rev. Katherine
Liu Bruce
Christian Arts
Ministries: Biblical Precepts & Gospel music; Pastoral ministry &
Pastoral counseling.
Ø The plots against Daniel who are
these people? Why?
Daniel
interpreted an unusual script, helped king Belshazzar to understand.(Daniel
5:26-28) Belshazzar’s command, Daniel was clothed in purple, a gold chain was
placed around his neck, and he was proclaimed the third highest ruler in the
kingdom.(Daniel 5:29) Daniel was one of the exiles from Judah, who prayed three
times a day for God’s help.
King Darius had appointed 120
satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, with three administrators over them one
of whom was Daniel. (Daniel 6:1-2) Those 120 people set up a trap
intentionally, tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct
of government affairs, but they were unable to do so, they could find no
corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor
negligent. And they said, “We will never find any basis for charges against
this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God. (vv.4-5)
The administrators, prefects, satraps,
advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue and edict and
enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or man during the next thirty
(30) days, except to king, shall be thrown into the lions’ den.(Daniel 6:7). So they persuaded King Darius to put the
decree in writing “ that anyone who prays to any god or
man during the next thirty days, except to you, O King, shall be thrown into
the lions’ den” so that it cannot be altered in accordance with the laws
of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed. (vv.7-8)
After
the decree had been published, Daniel went home to his upstairs room where the
windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and
prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. (v.10) then these
men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. (v.11)
Ø The Prosecution of Daniel
They went to the king and spoke to him about
his royal decree, and said to the king, “ Daniel, who is one of the exiles from
Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the decree you put in writing.
He still prays three times a day.” When the king heard this, he was greatly
distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until
sundown to save him. (vv.13-14).
The
men pressed on king to fulfill the decree and law by said, “Remember, O king,
that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the
king issues can be changed.” (v.15)
So the king gave the
order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said
to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually rescue you!” (v.16) A
stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it
with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s
situation might not be changed. (v.17).
Ø God’s protection to Daniel
The king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep. At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. When he came near the den, he called to Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions? (vv.18-19)
Daniel answered,” O king, live forever! My God sent his angel
and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in His sight. Nor have I ever
done any wrong before you, O king.” (v.21-22). The king was overjoyed
and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den and when Daniel was lifted from
the den, no wound was found on him, because he had
trusted in his God. (v.23).
Ø The false accusers, alone with their
wives, children, were punished and thrown into the lions’ den, crushed all
their bones
At the king’s command,
the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the
lions’ den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the
floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones. (vv.24)
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Ø Daniel’s faith in his God, not only
saved his own life, but also impact king Darius and people, and nations to
respect, fear and reverence the God of Daniel.
Then King Darius wrote to all the people, nations, and men of every
language throughout the land: “For he is the living God and he endures forever; His kingdom
will not be destroyed, His dominion will never end. He rescues and he saves; he
performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued
Daniel from the power of the lions.” (vv.25-27). So Daniel prospered
during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian. (v.28).
Ø Implication/ Application
When we keep our faith and practice faithfulness in Christ Jesus to serve the Lord God, we may face the same kind of prosecution as Daniel’s scenario in chapter 6. The people who prosecute our faith, so often, they are those who conduct of government affairs, in Daniel’s case, they are the administrators, the satraps, advisers, governors, the princes, the counselors, the captains, the presidents or the commissioners of the kingdoms according to the translation of the King James Version, New American Standard, New International Version.
The enemy may try to set a trap to hurt us, but it is God’s divine power to save and rescue us. When God executes His judgment, Satan cannot touch His children who are blameless, righteous, upright hearts and fear God as Job and Daniel. Daniel’s faith in God, and his faithfulness, trustworthy, innocence, and had committed no crime, nor had done any hurt. (v.21). He faithfully prayed to God for help three times a day, God sent an angel to shut the lions’ mouths, and rescued Daniel.
Jesus said, “I am the Light of the world”. God is Light, darkness never overcomes the Light. Ultimately, those false accusers were punished by God, not only ruined their own life, but also resulted in harm to their wives and children, all of them were brought in and thrown down to the lions’ den, crushing all their bones.
My friends do not let your jealousy blind the eye of your heart, and don’t do any harm to others, nor set the plot against anyone, falsely accuse, and prosecute innocent Christians. Leave a room for God to judge. God prospered Daniel during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian, simply because Daniel was a faithful servant, and prayed regularly for God’s help three time a day. Faith in God can turn around the circumstance; faithfulness can save your life and your nations.
Bibliography,
Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986
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