Daniel Walked with God in Testimony

Temple Baptist Church - 8-20-2023

Daniel 6:1-23

 

Introduction:

 

A.  Last week, we saw the personal testimonies of Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego as they would not bow to the “image” set up in the plain of Dura.  These men would not bend, bow, or burn! 

 

This took place in the beginning of the Babylonish Captivity under Nebuchadnezzar.

 

B.  Nebuchadnezzar turned to the God of Israel after the fiery furnace experience and there was peace in Babylon and a reprieve for the children of Israel because of the faithfulness of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

 

C.  When Nebuchadnezzar died, his son Belshazzar took the throne and because of his drunkenness and debauchery, God wrote on the plaster of the wall with His finger, “MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.”  (“MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.  (27)  TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.  (28)  PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.”)

 

D.  Daniel gave the interpretation and Belshazzar elevated him over all the kingdom of Babylon.  That night, the Persians destroyed Babylon under King Daris the Median.

 

E.  Darius restructured the kingdom of Babylon in verses 1-3 of chapter 6 and put Daniel over all 120 princes along with the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains.  (Verse 6)

 

F.  These rulers of the 120 provinces became jealous of Daniel as they were indigenous to Babylon and Daniel was supposedly a Hebrew slave.

 

G.  In verses 4-6, these rulers scrutinized Daniel as to find fault but could find none.  His life was an example of integrity and godliness.  My mind goes to Christ on earth.  “No fault at all.”  This does not mean that Daniel was a perfect man but, outwardly, they could find no occasion to fault Daniel through Law.

 

H.  The only avenue that they could find to fault Daniel was because of his walk with God in his prayer life.

 

J.  Verses 7-9.  These men went to Darius the Median and persuaded him to write a new law that would contradict the law of God and Darius fell for it because of pride.

 

K.  Verses 10-11.  They now watched Daniel continually and openly obey God’s law which broke Darius’ law.

1. Integrity is Rooted in your Private Life (vv. 1-3)

2. Integrity is Reflected in your Personal Life (vv. 4-5)

3. Integrity is reinforced in your Professional Life (vv. 4-10)

4. Integrity is revealed in your Public Life (vv. 11-28)

L.  Verses 12-15.  These wicked rulers “ratted” Daniel out and Darius was caught in their trap also as he would now have to honor a Law of the Medes and Persians which could not be altered.

 

M.  We all know the end of the story as God shut the lion’s mouths.  It was not because the lions were not hungry that Daniel survived.  It was because God honored the life of Daniel and shut their mouths.

 

N.  Darius they had these wicked rulers thrown in the lion’s den and the Lions, who Fasted when Daniel was cast into their den,  Feasted with these wicked leaders were cast into their den.

 

O.  Daniel continued to reign over the kingdom and prospered under King Darius and later under Cyrus the Persian.

 

Daniel reigned from the Beginning to the End of the Babylonish Captivity.

 

P.  I said all that to say this.  Our ungodly system of government now issues laws that are contrary to the laws of God found in the Bible.  We all know that this is a “set up” for the government and persecution of God’s people in the end-time.

 

Q.  Now for a short but close look at the attributes of Daniel that caused such laws to be made by wicked men.

 

R.  What made Daniel quietly stand out?

 

1.  Daniel was a Purposed Man.  Daniel 1:8  But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.  (As a young man, Daniel purposed in his heart that he would serve the Lord and not man.)

 

2.  Daniel was an Excellent Man.  Daniel 6:3  Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.  (Daniel had an Excellent Spirit.  (Verse 3)  “Excellent” is a superlative.  It means to excel above the mediocrity around.  Daniel chose to be different despite the peer pressure to do otherwise.  A sweet spirit.  Not easily provoked.)

 

3.  Daniel was a Godly Man.  Daniel 6:4-5  Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.  (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.  (Daniel’s enemies scrutinized his life and found no fault at all.  Sound familiar?)

 

4.  Daniel was a Praying Man.  Daniel 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, (Daniel regularly spent Time in Prayer.)

 

5.  Daniel was a Consistent Man.   Daniel 6:10-11  he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.  Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.  (Daniel was a man who feared God and not man.)

 

6.  Daniel was a Trusting Man.  Daniel 6:16  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.  (Daniel made no excuses nor changes.)

 

7.  Daniel was a Protected Man.  Daniel 6:22  My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.  (Daniel’s faith was not misplaced.)

 

8.  Daniel continued to be a Prosperous Man.  Daniel 6:28  So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.  (God allowed Daniel to continue in a place of prosperity and notoriety.)

 

Conclusion:  Like Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego, Daniel helped to establish the name of Jehovah God during captivity in Babylon.  God has chosen us for such a time as this!  The books of Daniel and Revelation go hand-in-hand as Daniel is prophetic of Revelation and Revelation is fulfillment of Daniel.  We live in the fulfillment of both books.