Daniel’s Faith Subdued Lions and Revoked a King’s Decree

I Daniel’s World -- Babylon 540 to 535 BC

--- Daniel 1: 1-2 Babylonian empire conquered Judea & destroyed Jerusalem (604–586 BC).

--- Daniel 5: 30-31 Persian empire ruled Chaldea (Babylon).

--- Daniel 6: 1-3 Daniel was appointed as a president (governor) by King Darius.

--- Daniel 6: 4-9 Political jealously provoked a plot to destroy Daniel (John 3: 19-20).

--- Daniel 6: 10-18 Daniel was sentenced to die by an injection of lion fangs.

** Daniel’s righteousness, skill and dedication to King Darius caused wicked people to hate him.

II Daniel’s Religious Heritage – Old Testament Law of Moses

A. DID NOT HAVE NEW TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES !!!!

B. Exodus 24: 3-8 Israelites were bound by a covenant to obey Jehovah.

--- Deuteronomy 29: 10-13 God repeated his covenant as the Israelites entered Canaan.

--- Daniel 9: 9-11 Israelite captivity was due to their rebelling against God’s covenant.

C. Daniel 1: 8 & 15-16 Even as a youth, Daniel obeyed God’s standards of righteousness.

--- Daniel 2: 46-47 When tempted by pagan religious homage, Daniel glorified God.

--- Daniel 6: 10-11 Even when human laws prohibited worship, Daniel prayed to God.

--- Daniel 9: 23 Gabriel acknowledged Daniel as one greatly beloved by Jehovah.

** Israelite prosperity as a nation was destroyed because they rejected God’s covenant.

** Daniel prospered in captivity because he trusted that God’s covenant would preserve him.

III Why Did Daniel Willingly Rebel Against His King’s Edict?

A. Hebrews 11: 6 Without faith it is impossible to please God

--- Hebrews 11: 13 Patriarchs believed humans were foreigners in a temporary abode.

--- Hebrews 11: 27 Like Moses, Daniel endured affliction as if he saw the invisible God.

--- Hebrews 11: 10 As did Abraham, Daniel looked for an immortal city.

--- II Corinth. 4: 18 Visible things are temporary; eternal things are invisible.

--- II Corinth. 5: 7 We walk by faith not by sight.

** Daniel’s faith governed his decision to glorify God regardless of the physical consequences.

IV Evidence That Supported Daniel’s Faith

A. Daniel 6: 18-23 God loaned Daniel the miraculous power of an angel.

B. Evidence that strengthened Daniel’s faith.

--- God’s written word --- 2/3 of Old Testament was written

--- Daniel’s power to interpret dreams --- The fiery furnace incident

--- Hebrews 11: 2-32 --- Enoch compared to Daniel.

** Daniel’s faith was a product of evidence and hope which lead him to trust God’s covenant so intensely that he made a decision to change his respectful behavior toward Darius.

V Hebrews 12: 1 Daniel Is One Of Many Witnesses (Evidences) That God Provides Today

Romans 10: 17 Jehovah’s written words are our source of faith in his son Jesus Christ.

John 8: 31-32 Christ’s words make us his disciples and make us free from sin.