Part 6: Faithfulness and Lion's Dens

DANIEL – PART 6

Daniel 6

1.  THE EVIL PLOT (Daniel 6:1-9)

“Then the other administrators and high officers began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling government affairs, but they couldn’t find anything to criticize or condemn. He was faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy. So they concluded, ‘Our only chance of finding grounds for accusing Daniel will be in connection with the rules of his religion.”

Daniel 6:4-5 (NLT)

“So the administrators and high officers went to the king and said, ‘Long live King Darius! We are all in agreement—we administrators, officials, high officers, advisers, and governors—that the king should make a law that will be strictly enforced. Give orders that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human—except to you, Your Majesty—will be thrown into the den of lions.’”

Daniel 6:6-7 (NLT)

2.   BREAKING THE RULES (Daniel 6:10-17)

“But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.  Then the officials went together to Daniel’s house and found him praying and asking for God’s help.”

Daniel 6:10-11 (NLT)

“Then they told the king, ‘That man Daniel, one of the captives from Judah, is ignoring you and your law. He still prays to his God three times a day. Hearing this, the king was deeply troubled, and he tried to think of a way to save Daniel. He spent the rest of the day looking for a way to get Daniel out of this predicament.”

Daniel 6:13-14 (NLT)

“So at last the king gave orders for Daniel to be arrested and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to him, ‘May your God, whom you serve so faithfully, rescue you.’”

Daniel 6:16 (NLT)

3.   FAITHFULNESS GETS REWARDED (Daniel 6:18-28)

“Very early the next morning, the king got up and hurried out to the lions’ den. When he got there, he called out in anguish, ‘Daniel, servant of the living God! Was your God, whom you serve so faithfully, able to rescue you from the lions?’”

Daniel 6:19-20 (NLT)

“Then Daniel said to the king, ‘O king, live forever! My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before Him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.”

Daniel 6:21-22 (ESV)

“I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, and He will endure forever. His kingdom will never be destroyed, and His rule will never end.”

Daniel 6:26 (NLT)

LESSONS FROM THE LION’S DEN

1.   Past faithfulness is preparation for future faithfulness.

“The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him...”

2 Chronicles 16:9a (NLT)

2.   Our greatest challenges to faithfulness may  be our possessions or positions. 

“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.”

Luke 16:10 (NLT)

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Use the YouVersion® Bible App to read or listen to Chapter 6 of Daniel this week.