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DANIEL IN THE LION’S DEN

DANIEL 6: 1-28
Who Is Daniel? He is a man …

1. With healthy lifestyle (Daniel 1)


2. With extremely intelligent mind (Daniel 1)
3. Who doesn’t rely on self (Daniel 2)
4. Who knows how to be grateful (Daniel 2:19-
23)
5. Who did not do anything wrong or dishonest
(Daniel 6:4,5) 2

6. Who obey his king and GOD


7. … of prayer (Daniel 6:11)
When the Medes and the
Persians conquered the 3

Babylonian Empire, they


extended their dominion
over almost all the Old
Testament World.
Darius, king of this vast
domain, had chosen
over a hundred princes
4
to help him govern the
people. King Darius had
a high regard for the
intelligence of other
men.
And Daniel, because of
his great wisdom, was a
favourite of the king.
5
Daniel was given the
place of authority over
all the other princes.
Only the king could tell
Daniel what to do.
Because of Daniel’s
position with the
kingdom, the other
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princes resented him.
Jealously made them
bitter and they plotted
to get rid of Daniel.
7

If Daniel were out of the


way, one of them would
be put in his place.
So the princes started to spy on Daniel. They
watched every move that Daniel made. They
were hoping their leader would do something
wrong so they could run and tell the king.

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But Daniel was a good
man. Day after day
Daniel lived as the Lord 9

would have him live, and


the princes were greatly
disappointed to find
nothing wrong with
Daniel’s conduct.
Spying on Daniel was
proving to be a waste of
time. To rob this man of
his position and
authority, the princes
knew they must think of
a plan…

10
… a plan that would trick 11
Daniel into disobeying
the king! And it wasn’t
long before the evil men
came up with a devious
idea.
12
The princes gathered
together outside the
palace and asked for
permission to appear
before the king.
The king was surprised
when he heard the
request. Such a thing
13
was not at all common,
as the rulers of the
provinces were called
together only by a royal
decree.
Still, the king was
curious. What was it the
princes wanted? It must 14

be very important,
thought the king,
otherwise the princes
would never dare to ask
for such a thing.
So the king gave them
permission to come 15

before him, and the one


who had been chosen to
speak for the group
stepped forward with
the usual greeting.
‘King Darius, live
forever,’ he said, and
then he went on to tell
the king that all the 16

princes of the kingdom


were anxious that a new
law be made as a
special honour to their
beloved ruler.
No one throughout the entire
kingdom was to ask anyone –17
God or man – for anything for
30 days, unless it asked of the
king. And if anyone broke the
law, that person would be
thrown in the den of lions.
King Darius was
flattered by such a
request. It didn’t even
18
occur to the king that
Daniel might have been
left out of the planning,
so he signed their
decree and made it law.
19
When Daniel heard
about the law, he knew
in his heart that this was
a trap that had been set
for him.
Daniel knew the next
time he got on his knees
before his open window
20 to ask God for divine
guidance and continued
blessing, the men who
had plotted this thing
would report him to the
king.
Daniel could have closed
his window and prayed
to God in secret. But 21
Daniel knew that to do
such a thing would be
cowardly. He also knew
that regardless of
anything, God’s will in
his life must be done.
22

So Daniel continued to
pray before his open
window just as he had
done before.
And this was the
moment the princes
were waiting for. Daniel
was breaking the law!
According to the signed
decree, Daniel would be
thrown to the lions!

23
When the princes went
to the king and
demanded that Daniel
be thrown to the lions,
King Darius realised the 24

cruel purpose of their


law. This was no law to
honour the king. It was
an evil plot to get rid of
Daniel.
King Darius was very
fond of Daniel. He
considered Daniel a
25
trustworthy friend and
he greatly relied on the
judgment of this wise
man. But the king was
trapped.
According to the law,
Daniel must die. 26
King Darius spent the
day searching through
the laws, hoping to find
a way he could save his 27

friend, but the law was


clear. Once the king had
signed the law, not even
the king himself could
undo what he had done.
With the setting of the
sun, the king was forced 28

to command that Daniel


be seized and taken to
the place where the
lions were kept.
The animals were crazy
with hunger and
29

whatever was thrown to


them was instantly torn
to pieces.
The king told Daniel how
sorry he was – how he’d
been trapped into doing
30
this thing, and how,
according to the law of
the Medes and the
Persians, not even the
king could revoke a
royal decree.
31

And then, Daniel was


thrown to the lions…
32

… and a great stone was


brought and placed over
the hole…
33

… and the seal of the


king was placed on the
covering so that no one
would dare to remove it.
Ancient kings collected lions like some folk collect
baseball cards. Darius thought- I am the king of the world,
I should master the king of the beasts! I might as well
master everything. So a lot of kings in olden times had a
dungeon or den where they could go and watch the lions
and feed them with people or their enemies. So, Darius
had a dungeon.

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The dungeon was a square or rectangular type pit in the
ground, lined with rocks. These lions were in there. A
wall of masonry divided the area in half. The keeper
could open the gate in that wall from up above and throw
food in the other half. 35
36

whereupon the keeper closed the gate, and lowered


himself into the pit on the empty side and do his cleaning
and then get out and be safe. That's the type of den that
they had.
37
The king returned to the
palace with a very heavy
heart.
All night long the king
thought about Daniel
and wondered if he
would ever again hear
the voice of his friend.
Daniel must have known
38 about the law, and yet

Daniel continued to
pray. Was it possible
that God would save
Daniel from the lions?
When the 39
rays of the
morning sun told King
Darius that his night of
despair was over, the
king hurriedly dressed
himself…
40
… and he ran to the
place where the lions
were kept and ordered
the stone be taken
away.
41 The stone was removed
and the king cried out,
‘Daniel, servant of the
living God, is your God
able to deliver you from
the lions?’
42
And the King Darius
listened, hoping to hear
the voice of his friend.
‘O king, live forever,‘
came the reply.
‘My God has sent His
angel, and has shut the
lions’ mouths. They have
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not hurt me. God found


me innocent before Him
and also before you, O
king.’
44

The king was happy to


hear the voice of Daniel
and he commanded that
his friend be taken out
of the lions’ den at once.
Then the king made a
further command that
the wicked princes – the
45

men who had plotted


against Daniel – be
thrown to the lions in
Daniel’s place.
And then the king signed
another law. This law 46

said that all men were to


tremble and fear God.
The God of Daniel was
the living God, and lives
forever.
‘God’s kingdom will not
be destroyed or end. He
rescues and He saves.
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He performs signs and
wonders in the heavens
and on the earth. He has
rescued Daniel from the
power of the lions.’
(Daniel 6:26-27).
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1. GOD’S PEOPLE MUST BE A LIVING WITNESS

"So the king gave the


order, and they brought
Daniel and threw
(lowered) him into the
lion's den. The king 49
said to Daniel, 'May
your God whom you
serve continually,
rescue you'".
1. GOD’S PEOPLE MUST BE A LIVING WITNESS
Darius gave Daniel a
complement here. He
said, "May your God
whom you serve
CONTINUALLY..." Isn't that
a great compliment?
Wouldn't you like to have
that said about you? “Mr.
Simalango serves God 50

continually, Mr. Siahaan


serves GOD continually!"
What a compliment! What
a testimony that he paid
to Daniel!
1. GOD’S PEOPLE MUST BE A LIVING WITNESS
Keep in mind that if we
continually serve God like
Daniel did, that God will
continually serve us. He
does, anyway.

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1. GOD’S PEOPLE MUST BE A LIVING WITNESS
"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. Then the king
returned to his palace and 52

spent the night without


eating and without any
entertainment being
brought in to him. And he
could not sleep."
2. TROUBLE IS NOT A TROUBLE FOR GOD’S PEOPLE

This pit could be secured by


covering the hole with a
large stone or grate so that
the lions were sealed in.
Daniel was sealed, sealed in
with carnivorous animals.
Imagine being 85 years old
and just as it starts to get
dark you are taken off to a
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lion's den.
2. TROUBLE IS NOT A TROUBLE FOR GOD’S PEOPLE

You can hear them roaring. They're


54 dragging you, forcing
you, taking you to this den of lions, you know what's going to
happen. Here it is, getting dark. Just imagine being there.
These 500 pound lions, hungry lions, and Daniel is going to be
down there with them. It just makes you shudder to think
about it.
2. TROUBLE IS NOT A TROUBLE FOR GOD’S PEOPLE

Old folks don't


stand the cold very
well, or the damp.
That's what
dungeons are
famous for. It is
hard enough to
sleep with someone
who SNORES, just 55
imagine trying it
with several who
ROAR! That's what
Daniel had to
contend with.
3. GOD NEVER LEAVES HIS PEOPLE

God was with His There was light


servant! And you streaming up out
can depend on God. from the grates a
God sent His angel. cracks like a
An angel of light powerful search
came from heaven light into the skies.
into that den. This God was down
dazzling angel 56 there with His
lighted up that evil servant and God
darkness. It was will be with you in
bright down in that your trials and
den. deepest troubles.
3. GOD NEVER LEAVES HIS PEOPLE
Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego had been tested
in early youth, but Daniel's
supreme test was in his old
frail years. His three
friends endured the fire
for only a few moments.
Daniel's endured the lion's
den on and on all during
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the long hours of a dark
cold night, alone. Daniel's
three friends had each
other. And who did Daniel
have? So this was a severe
test.
3. GOD NEVER LEAVES HIS PEOPLE

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4. GOD’S PEOPLE NEVER GRUMBLING

"At the first light of dawn the


king got up and hurried to the
lions' den." He didn't even wait
until the sun came up. He didn't
sleep all night anyway, so when it
began to get just a little bit light,
he rushed down to the lions' den.
He rushed over to the grate that
provided fresh air for those big 59
animals in the den. Red eyed,
tired, anxious Darius yelled out:
"Daniel, has your God been able
to rescue you???"
4. GOD’S PEOPLE NEVER GRUMBLING
There was probably a
moment of silence while the
king anxiously waited for a
response. Finally Daniel said:
(verse 21)-- "O king live
forever!"

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4. GOD’S PEOPLE NEVER GRUMBLING
Verse 22. Daniel explains it:-- "My God sent his angel
and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt
me because I was innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever
done any wrong before you, O king!"

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5. OUR GOD IS A SAVING GOD
Verse 23-- "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!" No
band-aids were needed. Why?
Because Daniel trusted in HIS
God. His God... That's personal, 62
isn't it? He didn't trust in just
some god out there: he trusted in
HIS God. The king was overjoyed.
Daniel's God is a saving God. Dear
Friend, trust in God.
5. OUR GOD IS A SAVING GOD
If God can save Daniel from lions,
• He can save you from sin.
• He can save you from alcohol.
• He can save you from foul language.
• God can save you from a bad temper.
• He can save you from tobacco.
• He can save you from whatever it is.

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5. OUR GOD IS A SAVING GOD
James 4:7
 Resist the devil and
he will flee from
you.
Bahasa Batak:
 Antong, oloi hamu
ma Debata; alo
hamu ma sibolis i,
dung i maporus ma 64

ibana sian hamu.


6. HAVE FAITH IN GOD

Hebrews 11:33 says–


"Who through faith conquered 65
kingdoms....who shut the
mouths of lions..." You know,
there is a lot of power in faith. "
It was Faith that stopped the
mouths of lions.
6. HAVE FAITH IN GOD

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6. HAVE FAITH IN GOD

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6. HAVE FAITH IN GOD

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6. HAVE FAITH IN GOD

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7. GOD’S PEOPLE NEVER SEEKS REVENGE
Daniel had faith, and just like
Jesus, Daniel was innocent.
Innocent, kind-hearted Daniel
just stood there before the
King smiling and happy. Daniel
did not even ask for revenge
to get even with his enemies.
He left that with God. He
didn't seek revenge. And 70

neither will Christians.


7. GOD’S PEOPLE NEVER SEEKS REVENGE
Daniel had faith, and just like Jesus, Daniel was innocent.
Innocent, kind-hearted Daniel just stood there before the King
smiling and happy. Daniel did not even ask for revenge to get
even with his enemies. He left that with God. He didn't seek
revenge. And neither will Christians.

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8. GOD’S PEOPLE ALWAYS BE A WINNER
 God did not deliver Abel from Cain.
 God did not deliver John the Baptist.
 God did not deliver Stephen.
 God did not even deliver Jesus Himself.

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But they were all winners.


8. GOD’S PEOPLE ALWAYS BE A WINNER
They were all victorious. - may suffer and die,
Those Christians who place - they may go bankrupt
God first and honor Him above - or suffer divorce,
all other things:

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But they are the winners, if God is their God. You


win if the God of the Universe is your God.
8. GOD’S PEOPLE ALWAYS BE A WINNER
Several years ago during
the trouble between
the Turks and the
Armenians, some
Turkish ruffians
demanded of some
Americans their life
because they were
Christians and would 74

not go back on their


belief in Jesus Christ.
They were brutally
murdered.
8. GOD’S PEOPLE ALWAYS BE A WINNER
Finally all the men and
women were killed. Then
the evil men came to the
little girl of the Americans.
They asked: "Will you give
up Jesus or shall we throw
you in to the hungry dogs?"
The little girl said. "I love
Jesus." Ruthlessly her 75

tormentors threw the child


into a pen of hungry savage
wild dogs and shut the
door and left her there.
8. GOD’S PEOPLE ALWAYS BE A WINNER
The next morning
they returned but
they couldn't
believe their eyes.
At one end of the
pen the little girl
was on her knees
praying to Jesus. In
front of her was a 76

large, savage brute


standing guard over
the little girl.
8. GOD’S PEOPLE ALWAYS BE A WINNER
When one of the other
starving dogs came too
near the big dog snarled
and kept all those other
dogs away that would
molest that girl. Those
rough men cried out,
"There is a God!! God
himself must be in 77

there. And that God is


the God of this little
girl" (In Step with Jesus,
page 230).
8. GOD’S PEOPLE ALWAYS BE A WINNER

Daniel 6:28 "So Daniel prospered during the reign of Cyrus the
Persian". Old 85 year Daniel passed the ultimate test and this
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senior statesman basked in God's rich blessings through all the
days of his life. We do not know how old Daniel was when his
last days came, but I am sure he never forgot that night with
the Lions. The score that night was the LIONS- Zero. The
ANGELS- One! True prosperity comes when we totally surrender
all to God's will.
8. GOD’S PEOPLE ALWAYS BE A WINNER

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