Read Daniel 6:24-28. What testimony does the king give about God?

An important point of the narrative is the fact that Darius praises God and recognizes God’s sovereignty. This is a culmination, even a climax, of the praises or expressions of recognition offered to God in the previous chapters (Dan. 2:20-23; Dan. 3:28-29; Dan. 4:1-3, Dan. 4:34-37).

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Like Nebuchadnezzar, Darius responds to Daniel’s deliverance by praising God. But he does more, too: he reverses his previous decree and commands everyone to “fear before the God of Daniel” (Dan. 6:26).

Yes, Daniel is miraculously saved, his faithfulness rewarded, evil punished, and God’s honor and power vindicated. But what we see here is a mini-example of what will happen on a universal scale: God’s people delivered, evil punished, and the Lord vindicated before the cosmos.

Read Daniel 6:24. What might we find rather troublesome about this verse, and why?

There is, however, one disturbing problem, and that is the wives and the children who, as far as we know, are innocent, and yet who suffer the same fate as the guilty ones. How can we explain what seems to be a mishandling of justice?

First, we should note that the action is decided and implemented by the king according to Persian law, which includes the family in the punishment of the culprit. According to an ancient principle, the entire family bears responsibility for the offense of a family member. This doesn’t mean it’s right; it means only that this story fits with what we know about Persian law.

Second, we must note that the biblical narrative reports the event but does not endorse the action of the king. In fact, the Bible clearly forbids that children be put to death because of the sins of the parents (Deut. 24:16).

<–Wednesday Friday–>

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You can view an in-depth discussion of “From Lion’s Den to Angel’s Den” in the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris. Click on the image to view:

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You may download an MP4 video file, and audio file or a PDF lesson outline from the HopeSS site.

With thanks to Hope Channel – Television that will change your life.

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1. No fault in him. What twist of events has government officials wracking their brains to find fault with Daniel? How successful are they? And, by the way, who is Darius?
2. Jealous souls. Have you ever felt the sting of jealousy aimed at you? What was there about Daniel that aroused the sense of jealousy in the officers of the king’s court where Daniel was working? Wait a minute. If Daniel was careful in all that he did, why would any of his fellow workers be jealous of that? What did they want from Daniel? How did they propose to achieve their goal and get rid of Daniel? 
3. The plot against Daniel. How would a new law proposed to defer all petitions to the king for thirty days affect the standing of Darius before the people? What was the real purpose of this new law? How would the den of hungry lions contribute to the elimination of Daniel? What was there about this law that made it especially difficult even to imagine Daniel’s release from the execution?
4. Daniel’s prayer. Daniel’s habit was to pray three times every day standing and facing in the direction of the temple of God. Now he faces a dilemma. The decree forbids prayer or petition to any person except to the one chosen by the government as the king. But Daniel is not about to pay heavenly tribute to a human being. His prayer is one of loyalty and surrender to the God who is above all. His worship is of Divinity.
5. The lions’ den. Those with a burden to eliminate Daniel from the earth haven’t given up. The lions, the lions. We can depend on the lions, they must have said, to give Daniel the punishment he so richly deserves. We can’t allow insubordination like this. But at the site of execution, what do the royal onlookers see? Some might have snarled, “We promised to put them in the lion’s den. We did that. But their God rescued them.”

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Read Daniel 6:11-23. What does the king say to Daniel that reveals just how powerful a faithful witness Daniel is to God?

The conspirators soon spot Daniel praying — that is, doing exactly what the decree has forbidden. And as they bring the accusation before the king, they refer to Daniel in a demeaning way: “that Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah” (Dan. 6:13, NKJV). In their eyes, one of the chief officers of the empire, the king’s favorite, is no more than “a captive”.

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In addition, they pit Daniel against the king by saying that Daniel “does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed” (NKJV). Now the king realizes he has been entrapped by signing the decree. The text says that “he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him” (Dan. 6:14, NKJV). But there is nothing he can do to save the prophet from the prescribed punishment. The irrevocable law of the Medes and Persians must be applied to the letter. Thus the king, however reluctantly, issues the command to throw Daniel to the lions. But in doing so Darius expresses some glimmering hope, which sounds like a prayer: “Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you” (Dan. 6:16, NKJV).

The biblical text does not say what Daniel does among the lions, but one can assume he is praying. And God honors Daniel’s faith by sending His angel to protect him. In the morning, Daniel remains unharmed and ready to resume his activities in the government. Commenting on this episode, Ellen G. White says: “God did not prevent Daniel’s enemies from casting him into the lions’ den; He permitted evil angels and wicked men thus far to accomplish their purpose; but it was that He might make the deliverance of His servant more marked, and the defeat of the enemies of truth and righteousness more complete”. — Prophets and Kings, pages 543, 544.

<–Tuesday Thursday–>

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Key Thought: Daniel’s experience with persecution shows how God’s people will be treated at the end of time. God will ultimately vindicate His people.
February 15, 2020

1. Have a volunteer read Daniel 6:1-5.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. Why was Daniel placed first over the presidents and princes in Medio-Persia?
3. Personal Application: Have you ever had to deal with issues of jealousy in your life? How have you dealt with it? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states: “Most Christians are Christians of convenience. As long as they have time or inclination, they follow God and the Bible. But when it becomes unfavorable or inconvenient or costs something like too much time, money, or effort; they won’t give up their job, freedom, or lives for their faith.” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Daniel 6:6-9.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
2. What is the thinking and motive behind the decree?
3. Personal Application: What are some ways that people might want to be “like God” in their lives? What are some of the dangers of this self-importance? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “Where do we draw the line between loyalty to the state as the Bible tells us to do, and loyalty to God? Are they mutually obeyed in all cases? Are there differences and what would they be?” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read Daniel 6:10-23.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
2. Why doesn’t Daniel simply pray quietly without anyone seeing him?
3. Personal Application: Why must we be sure that when defying human law, we are truly doing God’s will? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your neighbors states, “I know some crazy people who claim to be doing God’s will by killing Jews, burning churches, cursing other faiths, and disrespecting and disobeying the laws of the land. How can we stand for our faith and not be classified with these crazy people?” How would you respond to your neighbor?

4. Have a volunteer read Daniel 6:24-28.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
2. How did Daniel’s faithfulness to God end up influencing not only the king but the whole country of Medio-Persia?
3. Personal Application: What may be two or three reasons for the accused and their wives and children to be thrown in the lion’s den? Is this really an act of social injustice? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).

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