Daniel 6 - Life in the Lion's Den

Daniel 6

God delivers Daniel, who paid the price for persisting in prayer

“Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he 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.” Daniel 6:10

OUTLINE OF THE CHAPTER

1. The Plot Against the Prayerful: Daniel is Set Up by His Colleagues (v. 1-9)
2. Daniel’s Defiant Devotion: Persisting in Private Prayer (v. 10)
3. Conspirators Convince a Distressed Darius to Damn Daniel (v. 11-15)
4. Daniel is Thrown into the Lion’s Den with a Blessing (v. 16-18)
5. An Anxious Darius Finds that God was Faithful: Daniel Survives at Night with the Lions (v. 19-23)
6. Darius Publicly Praises the God of Daniel (v. 24-28)

CHARACTER UPDATE…

Darius the Mede, Yet Another King (likely not Darius the Great of Persia, cf. Ezra/Nehemiah)

• Friendly to Daniel throughout the story
• Planned to appoint Daniel over the whole kingdom
• Tricked by conspirators (Daniel’s jealous colleagues) into passing a law that Daniel would break
• Gives the sentence grudgingly, hopes that Daniel’s God will deliver
• Follows up to see if Daniel’s God delivered him from the lions
• Proclaims to everyone that they should worship Daniel’s God, the living God.

Daniel – Many years have passed as he continued in service through the reigns of different rulers.  He is now much older than he was at the beginning when he was at the outset in Daniel 1.  Picture him here as the aged and seasoned advisor, full of wisdom. 

• He is a man of integrity “no negligence or corruption” (v. 4).
• He is serving with excellence in his daily secular job.
• He faces this major test when he’s older: there is never a time in life when our faithfulness is beyond testing. 

THE MESSAGE:

Keep praying to the living God no matter what;

Your faithfulness will be met by God’s

READING WITH CHRISTIANS AROUND THE WORLD – Christopher J.H. Wright

“Daniel 6 has a very sharp relevance to all Christians who are put under pressure by authorities, especially in those parts of the world where to stand up for the living God can be a matter of life and death.” – C.J.H. Wright, Hearing the Message of Daniel, 125

1. Unintentional Outlaws: When quiet Christian actions are against the law

Choosing between a law of God and a law of the state

Stand up for constitutional rights – they matter for believers

• First Amendment to the Constitution (USA): “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
• Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance."

Restrictive “freedom of religion” – you can follow, but can’t convert or evangelize

2. Innocent Victims: Facing undeserved threats

Den of lions = punishment of persecuted believers

Den of lions = people we work with who want to tear us apart and devour us

• Jealous of success
• Disdain of religious identity

Question 1: Have you experienced mistreatment from others in the secular world because of your Christian faith or lifestyle?  Do you know anyone - either personally or through testimony – who has?

3. Powerfully Provided-for…by Prayer

God’s faithfulness on display in Daniel’s deliverance

Justice prevails – Conspirators “hoist on their own petard” (Shakespeare, Hamlet)

Prayer as a Powerful Practice

• Protection from threats
• Opening a window to shine God’s light in the darkness

Question 2: What story do you have about God delivering you or protecting you from something threatening?  What stories like this have you heard?

Question 3: How does your life of prayer relate to the everyday world of secular life and work?  Is it more about relief from surrounding pressures or drawing God’s presence into the problem?

Daniel 5 - The Writing's on the Wall

Daniel 5

God cuts down a king who didn’t humble himself before God

“But you, Belshazzar,… have not humbled yourself…. Instead, you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven…You did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways.”  Daniel 5:22-23

OUTLINE OF THE CHAPTER

1. A New King Parties On, Without Respect for the Most High God (v. 1-4)
2. A Frightening Scene: A Hand Appears and Writes on the Wall (v. 5-9)
3. Daniel is Called in to Interpret by the Queen’s Recommendation (v. 10-16)
4. Daniel’s Presentation of the Case & Verdict against King Belshazzar (v. 17-23)
5. Daniel’s Interpretation, Followed by the Delivery of Punishment (v. 24-30)

Literary Considerations

Genre: Horror?  An "Edgar Allen Poe" Bible story

Idioms: From this biblical story come the roots of two famous literary sayings

• “The writing’s on the wall” – a portent (warning) of doom or misfortune.  Relevant to relationships: Many pop songs have this title, From country (George Jones) to rock (George Harrison) to R&B (Destiny’s Child/Beyonce)
• “Your days are numbered” – death is imminent, approaching

THE MESSAGE: Honor God through worshipful humility; Avoid pridefully going against the Lord

Consider another famous idiom: “What’s past is prologue” – Shakespeare, The Tempest (1610)...and this related quote: "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it" – Philosopher George Santayana (1863-1952)

Pride Goes Before a Fall, part 2 (see Daniel 4 for part 1)

Belshazzar’s failure:

• Had every chance to praise the God of Israel, but insulted Him by using His holy goblets to “toast” idols.
• Did not learn the lesson of his predecessor Nebuchadnezzar (through his fall from pride “he learned that the Most High God has sovereignty” 5:21, see ch 4)
• Another chance for all to learn the lesson of humbling oneself before the Most High God

“But you, Belshazzar,… have not humbled yourself…. Instead, you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven…You did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways.”  Daniel 5:22-23

The Interpretation of the Writing on the Wall

Mene, tekel, parsin

Currency - units of monetary weight in Aramaic: mina, shekel (tekel), half-mina (parsin)

Allegorical, with puns based on the sound of the words

Mene

Sounds like the verb “to number”

Message: “God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end”

Meaning: Your reign is over

Tekel

Sounds like the verb “to weigh”

Message: “You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting”

Meaning: You have been judged guilty:

Parsin (plural) / Peres (singular)

Sounds like the verb “to divide”; a second pun is on the word “Persians”

Message: It is divided and given to the Medes and Persians (the next major world power)

Meaning: Your kingdom is lost

Belshazzar doesn’t survive the punishment; he is killed that night.  [Notice that the punishment doesn’t specifically mention his death, nor does the text mention that God killed Belshazzar]

READING WITH CHRISTIANS AROUND THE WORLD – suggestions from Christopher J.H. Wright

Blasphemy & Believers

Blasphemy involves the use of sacred symbols – including language – without respect to the holy reality behind them.  Belshazzar blasphemed by using holy vessels from the temple in Jerusalem for a profane purpose without respect to the God of Jerusalem, even in service to other gods.  In our contemporary world, we can’t avoid dealing with blasphemy.  First, we must remain faithful to God even when we see God blasphemed by people in casual conversation and over the media.  Second, we must avoid blaspheming language and behavior ourselves – unlike many secular folks, we KNOW the holiness of God…and therefore have no excuse.

Interesting take: In addition to mentioning religious images misused by news & entertainment media and consumer sales, Wright mentions as an example of blaspheming the way various nations used Christian language and symbols to support war efforts in WWII, highlighting the book by Philip Jenkins, The Great & Holy War: How World War I Became a Religious Crusade.

Discussion/Reflection:

1. What types of blasphemy have you witnessed?
2. How can faithful Christians stand firm in their faith when their God is being publicly degraded by others?

Daniel 4 - Learning the Lesson...the Hard Way

Daniel 4

God helps a pagan king to see the light…by cutting him down a notch

“Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.”  Daniel 4:37

OUTLINE OF THE CHAPTER

1. Introduction: King Nebuchadnezzar’s Testimony (v. 1-3)
2. The King’s Dream (v. 4-18)
3. Daniel’s Fearful Interpretation (v. 19-27)
4. The Nightmare Becomes Real (v. 28-34a)
5. God’s Goal is Accomplished in the King’s Restoration (v. 34b-37)

THE MESSAGE – Reinforced by Repetition (beginning, end, and three times in between!)

The Most High God is sovereign over the kingdoms of the earth;

All are called to acknowledge this and humble themselves before Him.

As in chapter 3, the message for God’s people is repeated throughout the narrative.  This time, however, the message is not only for God’s people, but also for the people of the world, especially the powerful and prideful (such as political/military leaders like Nebuchadnezzar).  In fact, this episode extends the prophetic judgment experienced by Israelite kings to a pagan/gentile/secular king.  All kings are under the Most High God’s authority, period.

King Neb’s Testimony

2 It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me. 3 How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders!  His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation to generation.

King Neb’s Dream

17 “‘The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of people.’

Daniel’s Interpretation

25 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.

King Neb’s Real-life Nightmare

30 he said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?”  31 Even as the words were on his lips, a voice came from heaven, “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you…Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.”

King Neb’s Conclusion

34 At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever.  His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation…37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

LEARNING THE LESSON THE HARD WAY

1. God’s goal: that we acknowledge His sovereignty
2. The obstacle: The persistent pride of the powerful
3. The intervention: God cares enough to cut us down
4. The result: A hard-won testimony of praise

Question: Have you ever found yourself in this cycle?  Have you seen someone else experience it?  Share.

READING WITH CHRISTIANS AROUND THE WORLD – suggestions gathered from Christopher J.H. Wright

Builders Beware!

Builders are tempted by pride, taking credit for what is produced.  And the truth is that we’re all building something: career, project, business, ministry, etc.  King Neb. said “I have built by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty” (4:29-30).  He built an empire, a culture, one of the world’s all-time great cities – Babylon.  He turned the gift of God to his own glory. 

WHAT TO DO?  Develop the “habit of the upward look,” offering flattery and credit up to God.  “At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High…” (Daniel 4:34). 

QUESTIONS: 

• Might there be something of a Nebuchadnezzar in us?   
• Do you think there’s a universal tendency to take credit for the good, but blame others for bad?  
•  When might be a good time for you to exercise the habit of the upward look?

Confronting Power with Pastoral Concern and Prophetic Courage

Daniel responded to King Nebuchadnezzar with

• Pastoral concern: loving his enemy, Daniel was grieved by the prediction of Nebuchadnezzar’s suffering.  The instinct for revenge is strong, but Daniel didn’t go there.
• Prophetic courage: Daniel gives uninvited advice to a powerful person, calling a political leader to change: turn from sin, do what is right, be kind to the oppressed (and wherever there is prideful power, there are those oppressed by it).  “…Be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed…” (Daniel 4:27)

QUESTION: When have you or your church spoken to the powerful about the oppressed?