Bold faith in a hostile world: In and Out of the Lions' Den

It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps, to be throughout the whole kingdom; and over them three high officials, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss. Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. Then the high officials and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him. Then these men said, “We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.”  Then these high officials and satraps came by agreement to the king and said to him, “O King Darius, live forever! All the high officials of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an injunction, that whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be revoked.” Therefore King Darius signed the document and injunction.  When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and plea before his God. Then they came near and said before the king, concerning the injunction, “O king! Did you not sign an injunction, that anyone who makes petition to any god or man within thirty days except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The thing stands fast, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked.” Then they answered and said before the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or the injunction you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.”  Then the king, when he heard these words, was much distressed and set his mind to deliver Daniel. And he labored till the sun went down to rescue him. Then these men came by agreement to the king and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or ordinance that the king establishes can be changed.”  Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” And a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his Lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him.  Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions. As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” 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.” Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. And the king commanded, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and cast into the den of lions—they, their children, and their wives. And before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces.  Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: “Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end.  He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.”  So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian. - Daniel 6:1-28 ESV

Rev. Charles Han

Daniel is an old man. He has outlived two kings and their empires. Daniel is an example of model faithfulness to God. Most followers of God are found in both faithful and sinful situations. But Daniel is only portrayed in faithful obedience to God.

The Danger of the Lions' Den

Daniel was an exile in a foreign land. He was seeking the good of this land and people as God commanded:

But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.- Jeremiah 29:7 ESV

He was so skilled at his job that the king wished to make him the prime minister. The other officials were jealous and wished to bring him down. But Daniel had impeccable skills and integrity. So they conspired to entrap him based on his faith to the living God.

They have the king make an intractable decree that all prayers and petitions will go through king Darius. This makes the king the living mediator to all the gods and consolidates the king's power.

1. Living as engaged exiles entails being the very best servants we can be for our "Babylon."

How are you representing your work and your studies as a representative of God in these secular places? Are you striving to be the best student, employee, or boss? Are you lazy? Disengaged? Just looking for a paycheck?

2. Living as engaged exiles entrails being perpetually persecuted for our Christian faith.

As a competent servant of God, Daniel finds persecution. This is the expectation. Following God can put you into harm's way. For Daniel, this happens time and again. He is tormented for his faith in God. The world will reject us because we are not of it. Expect ridicule and rejection because that is how the world will react. The world is not our home.

Defying the Lions' Den

After this edict was made, Daniel continued in his usual way and prays. Knowing that this was illegal. But this isn't flaunting authority or pretentious prayer, it is just an eighty year old man going on his usual routine of meeting God three times a day.

1. It is daily faithfulness to God in the mundane moments that prepare us for bold acts of faith in the hardest moments.

It is the daily walk with God that matters. Where will praying three times a day get you in a month? Where will how you are living you now get you in a month?

2. Genuine faith unconditionally trusts and obeys in the face of the lions' den regardless of outcome

Faith will let God be god regardless of outcome. Even if suffering and hard times come, faith will still trust and hope in God.

Delivered from the Lions' Den

King Darius finds that Daniel has been entrapped by this edict. But this king cannot repeal his own edict, he must turn over Daniel to be thrown into the lions' den. This earthly king, who was supposed to be the living representative of the gods, could not save Daniel. The king could not save.

This points to another injustice, Christ on the cross. Daniel comes out unscathed from a sealed lion den. Like Jesus coming out of the sealed tomb. Jesus represents victory over sin. We are not supposed to be like Daniel, but rather to believe in Christ. Because we are not like Daniel, we are not brave, faithful, or have integrity. But Jesus is our victory.

Bold faith in a hostile world: "The writing on the wall"

King Belshazzar made a great feast for a thousand of his Lords and drank wine in front of the thousand.  Belshazzar, when he tasted the wine, commanded that the vessels of gold and of silver that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem be brought, that the king and his Lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them. Then they brought in the golden vessels that had been taken out of the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his Lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. They drank wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.  Immediately the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace, opposite the lampstand. And the king saw the hand as it wrote. Then the king’s color changed, and his thoughts alarmed him; his limbs gave way, and his knees knocked together. The king called loudly to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers. The king declared to the wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing, and shows me its interpretation, shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around his neck and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.” Then all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or make known to the king the interpretation. Then King Belshazzar was greatly alarmed, and his color changed, and his Lords were perplexed.  The queen, because of the words of the king and his Lords, came into the banqueting hall, and the queen declared, “O king, live forever! Let not your thoughts alarm you or your color change. There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods. In the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods were found in him, and King Nebuchadnezzar, your father—your father the king—made him chief of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and astrologers, because an excellent spirit, knowledge, and understanding to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve problems were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation.”  Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king answered and said to Daniel, “You are that Daniel, one of the exiles of Judah, whom the king my father brought from Judah. I have heard of you that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you. Now the wise men, the enchanters, have been brought in before me to read this writing and make known to me its interpretation, but they could not show the interpretation of the matter. But I have heard that you can give interpretations and solve problems. Now if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around your neck and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.”  Then Daniel answered and said before the king, “Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another. Nevertheless, I will read the writing to the king and make known to him the interpretation. O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father kingship and greatness and glory and majesty. And because of the greatness that he gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whom he would, he killed, and whom he would, he kept alive; whom he would, he raised up, and whom he would, he humbled. But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit was hardened so that he dealt proudly, he was brought down from his kingly throne, and his glory was taken from him. He was driven from among the children of mankind, and his mind was made like that of a beast, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. He was fed grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, until he knew that the Most High God rules the kingdom of mankind and sets over it whom he will. And you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this, but you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven. And the vessels of his house have been brought in before you, and you and your Lords, your wives, and your concubines have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know, but the God in whose hand is your breath, and whose are all your ways, you have not honored.  “Then from his presence the hand was sent, and this writing was inscribed. And this is the writing that was inscribed: Mene , Mene , Tekel , and Parsin . This is the interpretation of the matter: Mene , God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end; Tekel , you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting; Peres , your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”  Then Belshazzar gave the command, and Daniel was clothed with purple, a chain of gold was put around his neck, and a proclamation was made about him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.  That very night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was killed. And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.- Daniel 5:1-31 ESV

Rev. Dwight Yoo

Since the last passage, the last king has passed and there is a new king. Daniel is around eighty years old. There are new people, but the situation still looks the same.

So what is this about? It illuminates the Christian's main problem, forgetfulness. We don't live Monday through Saturday in light of the gospel.

The party

The king throws a crazy party. Thousands of thousands dining and drinking. The king brings out the vessels used in the house of God and drinks from these holy vessels. But not fifty miles away, the Babylonian army had been defeated. So why a party? These was an army running at the capital city unimpeded. But this was no ordinary city. It had walls a hundred feet tall and storehouses of food that would last twenty years. This party was trying to portray his confidence in the city defenses and show that his people did not need to be afraid.

King Belshazzar reflects the unbelieving worldview. Proud and dismissive of any need for God. They feel self-sufficient. They don't need saving. The greatest minds of Babylon could not interpret the writing on the wall. The wisdom of the world is insufficient.

The writing on the wall

The king was using the worship items of the living God to worship idols. Unbelievers turn from God who saves to look for meaning and salvation from created things. The king offers a great reward and Daniel declines/dismisses it. Why? Daniel knew that the king's reign and life was at an end. The king's life was measured and found wanting.

The real party

What does that mean to us? It tells us that at the final judgment, we to will be measured and found wanting and deserving to have the kingdom of God taken from us.

Jesus' first miracle was turning water to wine. Jesus is trying to tell us that the real party is with God. Daniel appears as the major party pooper in this passage. But really, he's trying to inform then that there was a greater party. The world's party will end in death, but God's party is greater... And will never end.

Bold faith in a hostile world: The humbled king

King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you! It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me.  How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion endures from generation to generation.  I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and prospering in my palace. I saw a dream that made me afraid. As I lay in bed the fancies and the visions of my head alarmed me. So I made a decree that all the wise men of Babylon should be brought before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream. Then the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers came in, and I told them the dream, but they could not make known to me its interpretation. At last Daniel came in before me—he who was named Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods—and I told him the dream, saying, “O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery is too difficult for you, tell me the visions of my dream that I saw and their interpretation. The visions of my head as I lay in bed were these: I saw, and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great. The tree grew and became strong, and its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth. Its leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, and the birds of the heavens lived in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it.  “I saw in the visions of my head as I lay in bed, and behold, a watcher, a holy one, came down from heaven. He proclaimed aloud and said thus: ‘Chop down the tree and lop off its branches, strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts flee from under it and the birds from its branches. But leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, amid the tender grass of the field. Let him be wet with the dew of heaven. Let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth. Let his mind be changed from a man’s, and let a beast’s mind be given to him; and let seven periods of time pass over him. The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men.’ This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. And you, O Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation, but you are able, for the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”  Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was dismayed for a while, and his thoughts alarmed him. The king answered and said, “Belteshazzar, let not the dream or the interpretation alarm you.” Belteshazzar answered and said, “My Lord, may the dream be for those who hate you and its interpretation for your enemies! The tree you saw, which grew and became strong, so that its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth, whose leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in which was food for all, under which beasts of the field found shade, and in whose branches the birds of the heavens lived— it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong. Your greatness has grown and reaches to heaven, and your dominion to the ends of the earth. And because the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field, and let him be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven periods of time pass over him,’ this is the interpretation, O king: It is a decree of the Most High, which has come upon my Lord the king, that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will. And as it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be confirmed for you from the time that you know that Heaven rules. Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity.”  All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, and the king answered and said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?” While the words were still in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.” Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles’ feathers, and his nails were like birds’ claws.  At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation;  all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?”  At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my Lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble. - Daniel 4:1-37 ESV

Rev. Dwight Yoo

The pervasiveness of our pride

Daniel interprets the dream and tells the king that God is in control. The kingdom comes from God. The king was a megalomaniac and God was going to humble him. As sinners, we all struggle with this. We are all desiring to be self-sufficient and independent of God. From Adam & Eve, down to now. We are concerned with our own glory and reputation. Pride is easy to see in others and so hard to detect in yourself.

Jonathan Edwards (on detecting pride)
- faultfinding
- harsh spirit
- putting on pretense

God humbles the proud

After the king speaks of his own glory, God humbles him. We have such a distorted view of ourselves. We have this illusion of such control. But we do not have control, God controls it all. All these things are given by the grace of God. Intelligence, parenting, education, career/job, wealth, power, etc. We did not choose to have them; They are God-given. Pride is the only sin that can keep one from the kingdom of God. Redemptive shame is when God knocks you off your pedestal to restore you.

God blesses the humble

After the king is humbled and realizes that God is in control, he is completely restored to his kingdom. Not only that, but God adds to the king's glory.

Those who are humbled, will be restored. But we may not receive more earthly glory, instead we receive the glory of God. An unsurpassable glory that comes from Christ. And not only that, but Jesus takes on our shame.

"True humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less." - C.S. Lewis

Bold faith in a hostile world: In the furnace

King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its breadth six cubits. He set it up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent to gather the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. Then the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. And they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. And the herald proclaimed aloud, “You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace.” Therefore, as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.  Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and maliciously accused the Jews. They declared to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever! You, O king, have made a decree, that every man who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image. And whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into a burning fiery furnace. There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, pay no attention to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”  Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. So they brought these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?”  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”  Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was usually heated. And he ordered some of the mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. Then these men were bound in their cloaks, their tunics, their hats, and their other garments, and they were thrown into the burning fiery furnace. Because the king’s order was urgent and the furnace overheated, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace.  Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.”  Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace; he declared, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire. And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men. The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them. Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God. Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way.” Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon. - Daniel 3:1-30 ESV

Rev. Dwight Yoo

The Jews were living in the midst if a culture that was hostile to their faith. We need wisdom to relate to the mainstream culture of this day and age. The book of Daniel contains wisdom on this topic.

Parallels between current times and their situation

Daniel had interpreted the king's dream earlier and these three men were promoted. The dream foretold of his kingdom, represented by a head of gold, to pass away. So king Nebuchadnezzar makes this idol of gold and commands everyone to bow down to this idol. Notice that they were not commanded to give up their gods.

We have redefined tolerance in this day and age. Holding belief as an absolute truth is now considered intolerance. Tolerance is defined as the acceptance of the existence of opposing views. But now, we have to accept the other perspective as truth to be seen as tolerant. To see other views as wrong is now seen as intolerant. Rejection of a viewpoint is now seen as rejection of a people group. We need to move toward those unlike us in lifestyles, beliefs, and/or perspectives.

Faithfulness of these men

To bow down to the idol was against the command of God. This is clear. Perhaps they were not even there for the ceremony. But they were outed by other jealous officials. They tell the king that they refuse to bow regardless of the cost. They have no doubt that God has the power to save. They say that they will follow through even if God decides not to save.

The encouragement to followers

God saves. How? The fire was not put out. They were thrown into the fire. There was another person on the fire. We can't be sure whether this was Jesus or an angel. But the end of it is this, God comes to us in there midst of the fire. Jesus took the cross for us. He saves us from the fires of hell.

He uses our suffering. We are not saved from the flames, but he uses this suffering for our good. And not only for our good, but also for the good of others and the kingdom.