GET INTO THE STUDY 10 minutes DISCUSS: Refer to the picture (PSG, p. 136) as you lead the group to respond to Question #1: What are some habits or routines you never change? GUIDE: Direct attention to The Bible Meets Life (PSG, p. 137). Acknowledge that habits can be good or bad, well-accepted or a bit quirky, such as those listed in the PSG. Note that Daniel had the habit of praying every day. It was a great habit, one each of us should aspire to, but Daniel s habit got him into trouble. SAY: In this final session in our study from the Book of Daniel, we focus on the need to act faithfully, even when others oppose us. GUIDE: Introduce The Point (PSG, p. 137): God is greater than those who oppose you. SESSION 12 ACT FAITHFULLY The Point God is greater than those who oppose you. The Bible Meets Life The world is not always content to leave Christians alone. If they can t persuade us to join them in what they re doing, they will try to keep us from practicing our faith. Why would this matter to the world? Our actions shine the light of Christ and expose their darkness. When Daniel faced a similar experience, he was not fazed. He continued to worship God and pray, even if it meant opposition and death. The Passage Daniel 6:6-10,13-16,19-22 The Setting The Babylonian empire exited with the conclusion of chapter 5 (session 11), replaced by the empire of the Medes and Persians in 539 B.C. An exact date for the events of Daniel 6 cannot be determined, but they probably took place within two to three years of the transition, at which time Daniel would have been beyond the age of 80. Government officials, jealous of Daniel, tricked Darius the Mede into decreeing a month-long moratorium on offering prayer to anyone other than him. Daniel would not comply. 140 Session 12
Daniel 6:6-10 6 So the administrators and satraps went together to the king and said to him, May King Darius live forever. 7 All the administrators of the kingdom, the prefects, satraps, advisers, and governors have agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an edict that for 30 days, anyone who petitions any god or man except you, the king, will be thrown into the lions den. 8 Therefore, Your Majesty, establish the edict and sign the document so that, as a law of the Medes and Persians, it is irrevocable and cannot be changed. 9 So King Darius signed the document. 10 When Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house. The windows in its upper room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before. KEY WORDS: Law of Medes and Persians (v. 8) A legal statute that was binding and could not be altered. Nothing should deter us from our faithful worship and walk with God. Following Belshazzar s death the Medo-Persian Empire conquered Babylonia, and Darius the Mede emerged as the new king of a huge empire (5:30-31). The exact identity of Darius has long been debated. Many evangelical scholars are agreed, however, that Darius the Mede and Cyrus the Persian are one and the same person; good evidence supports this. First, ancient rulers often carried dual titles. The leader of two territories could be expected to carry two designations. Since Cyrus father was a Persian and his mother was a Median, it was natural for Cyrus the Persian to be known also as Darius the Mede. Also, the statement in Daniel 6:28 about Daniel serving in the reigns of Darius and Cyrus hinges on STUDY THE BIBLE Daniel 6:6-10 15 minutes GUIDE: Before getting into the passage for this session, remind the group of what they have studied so far: Develop Conviction (The Point: Live your life with uncompromising conviction.) Pray Fervently (The Point: Our prayers connect us with God s plan.) Stand Courageously (The Point: Be ready and willing to stand for God.) Live Humbly (The Point: Pride leads to downfall, but God honors humility.) Confront Sin (The Point: Call sin what it is and point to what God says about it.) (ENHANCEMENT: Point to these titles on Pack Item 5: Game Changer. ) GUIDE: Before reading the focal passage, use The Setting (p. 140) to set the historical context. SUGGESTED USE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 22 141
THE POINT God is greater than those who oppose you. READ: Invite a volunteer to read Daniel 6:6-10. SUMMARIZE: Note that Daniel, now well into his 80s, had lived and worked in the Babylonian culture for most of his life. The jealousy of others worked to place Daniel s faith in direct opposition to the culture around him. DISCUSS: Question #2 (PSG, p. 139): When have you experienced tension between your faith and your culture? (Alternate: What are some parallels between Daniel s situation and our culture today?) an Aramaic conjunction. The conjunction and may also be understood in the since of even or that is. Consequently, the verse could read, so Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius, even (that is) the reign of Cyrus the Persian. To administrate the new empire, Darius appointed 120 satraps (6:1), or protectors of the kingdom. These satraps served in the higher levels of the Persian government. Three administrators (v. 2) served directly below Darius and above the satraps. Daniel was one of these administrators. Darius no doubt had recognized that Daniel, who had served Babylonian rulers so effectively, also could serve him effectively. Daniel soon proved that his abilities surpassed those of the other two administrators (v. 3). His administrative abilities, trustworthiness, and wisdom made the other administrators and satraps jealous. Realizing the king planned to appoint Daniel over all officials, the other two administrators gathered a group from among the satraps and began to seek some cause for removing Daniel (v. 4). The administrators and satraps realized Daniel s religion provided a way to destroy him (v. 5). They harbored no special hostility for his religion, but they realized Daniel s commitment to God could be used against him. Somehow they needed to force him to choose between obedience to the state and obedience to God. Daniel s accusers cared nothing for the kingdom s welfare or for religious truth. They desired only to destroy Daniel s career and enhance their positions. That Daniel s accusers focused on his religion speaks well of Daniel. If he had not openly practiced his faith, his enemies would never have seized on his faith as a way to destroy him. Daniel had always demonstrated commitment and obedience to God and would continue even in the face of death. Daniel s accusers knew his refusal to compromise his faith could provide the opportunity they sought. Verse 6. Those who conspired against Daniel went together to the king. As they entered, they gave the customary greeting of honor to the king, but the greeting conflicted with their devious plan. They honored the king with their mouths but planned to disrupt his government by removing his most trustworthy administrator. Verse 7. Those administrators and satraps involved in the conspiracy claimed to speak on behalf of all the kingdom s officials. Most of the officials would have been scattered across the empire in their places of responsibility. They likely 142 Session 12
did not know about the plot against Daniel, much less agree to it. The conspirators lied, hoping to strengthen their request. 1 The conspirators proposed a new law requiring all petitions to any god or man be directed through Darius. The law did not intend to make Darius a god, only to make him the sole intercessor between all the peoples and gods in his empire. For 30 days Darius would replace priests in their roles as intercessors. All prayers must be offered through Darius; the conspirators knew Daniel would never condone such a thing. Anyone who broke the law faced the horrible death of being thrown into the lions den. Den likely referred to the type of pit used for an underground cistern. Such a pit could function to hold water, prisoners (see Jer. 38:6), or wild animals. The pit might be either natural or dug out by hand with an opening at the top through which victims could be thrown. The Persians utilized a variety of horrifying and excruciating methods of execution. The thought of being devoured by hungry lions certainly would have been enough to discourage most people from disobeying the king. Verse 8. Daniel s accusers implored Darius to establish the edict and sign the document so that it could not be revoked. A law of the Medes and Persians, once signed by a Persian king, could not be revoked (see Esth. 8:8). Daniel s enemies knew Darius, who had great respect for Daniel, would never enact a law designed to destroy Daniel. They hoped to persuade Darius to enact the law before he knew the consequences for Daniel. They succeeded admirably. Verse 9. Not knowing the intent of the law, Darius signed the document. Darius may have understood the law as a test of loyalty to him or as a means of promoting unity in the empire. If all his subjects would recognize his sovereignty, the kingdom could thrive and flourish, and he would have no reason to fear a coup. Daniel s accusers probably encouraged Darius to interpret the law favorably. They focused on achieving their purpose rather than on helping the king. With the law enacted and irrevocable, Daniel soon would be dead. GUIDE: Use the Bible commentary 1 to help the group understand the edict proposed by the conspirators. Note Daniel s enemies counted on Daniel s faithfulness to his God to be his undoing. Daniel did not disappoint them. Call attention to verse 10. Emphasize that the culture around Daniel changed, but Daniel did not. DISCUSS: Question #3 (PSG, p. 140): How do you measure whether doing the right thing is worth the cost? TRANSITION: Nothing should deter us from being faithful to God, even when doing so results in opposition. Verse 10. Once Daniel heard about the law, he undoubtedly knew it specifically targeted him. Aware of the penalty for disobeying the law, Daniel chose to obey God instead. What do you do when you find yourself penalized because of your faith? How do you react when others maliciously defame your character? There is no hint of Daniel crying out about the injustice. There is no record of him complaining although he was the victim of an evil scheme. Daniel 143
THE POINT God is greater than those who oppose you. OPTION: Since Daniel s discipline of prayer was the focus of those who wanted to trap him, you may choose to spend some time examining Daniel s prayer practice. Note in the Bible commentary 2 several features of Daniel s prayer life. Stress the importance of an active prayer life when facing opposition to one s faith. responded to the false accusation and the threatening edict by going home to pray. Faith and prayer are inseparable attributes of a passionate devotion to God. Daniel made prayer a holy habit and the habit of prayer fortified his faith. 2 Several features of Daniel s prayer life stand out. First, his posture was one of surrender. He got down on his knees. We can pray in a variety of postures whether sitting, standing, kneeling, or lying down. Daniel preferred to kneel as an outward expression of his inward loyalty and submission to God. Second, he prayed toward Jerusalem. The practice of facing in the direction of Jerusalem for prayer underscored Solomon s petition during the dedication of the temple (1 Kings 8:35,38,44,48). The exiled Jews no longer had a temple. Their beloved city lay in ruins. Nevertheless, they could still remember God s instruction and engage in prayer. Third, Daniel prayed regularly three times a day. Most likely he prayed at morning, noon, and at evening. Daniel was disciplined in his prayer practice. Imagine the administrative details that consumed Daniel s time every day. Everything from reconstruction plans in Babylonia to supervisory instructions to the satraps clamored for a slice of his time. Yet three times a day Daniel stopped his earthly routine to commune with his Heavenly Father. He didn t allow temporal duties to take the place of eternal desires. Fourth, Daniel s prayer life was marked by gratitude. He gave thanks to his God just as he had done before. Daniel had learned to express gratitude to God in times of adversity as well as in seasons of tranquility. He had recently heard the worst possible news and he went to God in prayer just as he had done so many times before. Daniel 6:13-16 13 Then they replied to the king, Daniel, one of the Judean exiles, has ignored you, the king, and the edict you signed, for he prays three times a day. 14 As soon as the king heard this, he was very displeased; he set his mind on rescuing Daniel and made every effort until sundown to deliver him. 144 Session 12
15 Then these men went to the king and said to him, You as king know it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no edict or ordinance the king establishes can be changed. 16 So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions den. The king said to Daniel, May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you! Faithfulness to God often results in opposition. Daniel refused to deny God by privatizing his faith. He didn t run and hide. Whether Daniel knew his accusers were watching and listening to him is uncertain, but it didn t matter. The faith he held for God inwardly, he practiced openly. The accusers heard Daniel calling on God and then hurried away to inform the king about Daniel s violation. Faithfulness to God will resolve some difficulties but create other ones. Some of the most faithful Christ-followers in our world are also among the most abused and persecuted. Faith is never to be used like a magician who makes unpleasant things disappear. Faith faces the consequence of sinful opposition and embraces the reward of God s good pleasure. Daniel knew emphatically the consequences he was facing in a lions den, but he acted faithfully anyway. He knew his faith in God created a problem. We can only wonder if Daniel prayed to be delivered from the punishment or if he prayed to be sustained through it. Many believers who live in places hostile toward Christianity ask Americans to pray for them to endure persecution more so than for them to avoid persecution. They understand that authentic biblical faith will trust God s will even when God s ways are hard to grasp. They pray that God will enable them to obey Him, whatever trials they face. STUDY THE BIBLE Daniel 6:13-16 5 minutes SAY: Daniel was faithful to God, and his enemies were faithful to their conspiracy against Daniel. READ: Invite a volunteer to read verses 13-16. SUMMARIZE: Faith faces the consequence of sinful opposition and embraces the reward of God s good pleasure. Daniel knew emphatically the consequences he was facing in a lions den, but he acted faithfully anyway. He knew his faith in God created a problem. Verse 13. Daniel s opponents shrewdly approached the king with a question for which they already knew the answer (v. 12). They reminded Darius about his decree and the penalty for those who disregarded it. When Darius stated that his Medo-Persian law was irrevocable, they introduced Daniel as the violator. Notice the way they described Daniel and observe how they expressed Daniel s activity as an offense toward the king. Daniel was described as one of the Judean exiles. The same slur was used by Belshazzar to refer to Daniel. This may indicate that the accusers were a remnant of Babylonian officials who had long nursed a grudge against Daniel (5:13). He was a beacon of moral light in contrast to their darkness 145
THE POINT God is greater than those who oppose you. DISCUSS: Question #4 (PSG, p. 142): What are some consequences of being faithful to God in today s culture? (Alternate: What can we learn about persecution from this passage?) TRANSITION: Acknowledge that unwavering faith can lead to opposition, but God uses our faithfulness and integrity to point others to Himself. STUDY THE BIBLE Daniel 6:19-22 10 minutes GUIDE: Explain that even though Darius was not allowed to change the law that condemned Daniel, the king was actually pulling for Daniel. Note that verse 18 describes the king spending a fretful, sleepless night while Daniel was in the lion s den. When the morning came, he rushed to see what had happened to Daniel. 146 Session 12 and corruption. Furthermore, Daniel s opponents phrased his violation deliberately to arouse the king. They told the king, Daniel has ignored you and the edict you signed. Verse 14. Normally, if an emperor heard that a person had ignored him and his authority, the outrage would lead to a swift execution. Darius, however, immediately realized that he had been duped. He saw the trap for what it was: a malicious attempt to destroy Daniel. Consequently, he set his mind on rescuing Daniel. Darius s reaction spoke loudly about his character as well as Daniel s integrity. The king wanted to find a way around the legalism that bound him. Apparently, he knew Daniel to be a man of honor but he also knew that the law obligated him to fulfill his oath against Daniel. Verses 15-16. After exhausting all legal efforts to help Daniel, King Darius gave the order for Daniel to be thrown into the lion s den. As Daniel was led into the enclosure, Darius spoke sympathetically to him and exclaimed, May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you! Does it seem odd to you that a pagan emperor would utter a prayerful statement of hope? Daniel had probably testified to Darius about the mercy and majesty of the Most High God. Once Daniel was in the den with the hungry lions, a stone was placed over the entrance (v. 17). To ensure that no one tampered with the stone opening, the king and his officials made their personal marks by pressing their rings into the soft clay chains attached to the stone. Once the clay hardened the chains could not be removed without breaking the seals. If someone were to enter or exit the pit it would be evident by the broken seals. No one could legally undo this official act. The king himself became a prisoner of conscience. He went to his palace and spent the night fasting. No diversions were brought to him, and he could not sleep (v. 18). Daniel 6:19-22 19 At the first light of dawn the king got up and hurried to the lions den. 20 When he reached the den, he cried out in anguish to Daniel. Daniel, servant of the living God, the king said, has
your God whom you serve continually been able to rescue you from the lions? 21 Then Daniel spoke with the king: May the king live forever. 22 My God sent His angel and shut the lions mouths. They haven t hurt me, for I was found innocent before Him. Also, I have not committed a crime against you my king. God uses our faithfulness and integrity to point to Him. We have the advantage of knowing how the story ends. Daniel didn t know the ending as he approached the pit of lions. We often look at heroes of the faith without realizing that they didn t consider themselves heroes at the time. If an ancient Persian reporter had interviewed Daniel as he walked toward the lion s den and asked him if he felt like a champion of the faith he would have likely said, No. God uses ordinary believers like you and me to accomplish His purpose in ways we may not comprehend until He reveals it in heaven. Most of Daniel s years were spent in uneventful service. He faithfully served God and helped others. Do you suppose Daniel s heart raced and his breathing quickened as he saw the lions pacing the floor? Did he stay awake waiting for a lion to pounce or did he calmly trust God and wait for morning s light? These verses show that Daniel trusted God even in the worst of times. Verses 19-20. King Darius could hardly wait for the first light of dawn. The description of him hurrying to the lion s den is full of intensity. The king made haste because he hoped that there was a possibility Daniel survived. He cried out in anguish to Daniel, addressing him as servant of the living God. He asked, has your God whom you serve continually been able to rescue you from the lions? Darius didn t believe in the living God, but he believed that Daniel did. He longed to know if God had been able to rescue Daniel from the lions. Verses 21-22. Daniel s reply gave the king assurance as well as a testimony about the power of God. Daniel affirmed he was alive and still loyal to Darius. He spoke respectfully to the king ( May the king live forever ) and proclaimed his own innocence. Daniel declared God had sent His angel and shut the lions mouths. As God had sent an angel to protect Shadrach, READ: Invite a volunteer to read verses 19-22. GUIDE: Stress that Daniel did not know how his night with the lions would end. But, as with his three friends in the fiery furnace, Daniel trusted God no matter the outcome. Note in verses 21-22 Daniel s strong statement giving glory to God for saving him and vindicating him of any crime against Darius. DISCUSS: Question #5 (PSG, p. 144): How can our lives express confidence that God is greater than those who oppose us? (Alternate: What have you learned about impacting your world during these studies from the Book of Daniel?) SUMMARIZE: Not every follower of Jesus Christ has been rescued from their persecutors. But every martyr would surely affirm that God was present with them in the midst of their persecution. God may or may not rescue us. But death will never alter eternity for the believer. 147
THE POINT God is greater than those who oppose you. DO: Invite volunteers to share their responses to the activity, A Legacy of Faithfulness (PSG, p. 144). Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace (3:28), so He sent an angel to protect Daniel in the lions den. Daniel also told Darius why God had saved him. Daniel had committed no crime against God or against the king. God had found Daniel innocent and saved him from unjust punishment. Darius immediately had Daniel pulled from the den (v. 23). SHARING THE GOOD NEWS It is impossible to act faithfully toward God before we have first acted fact, the Persian Empire was the in faith to receive His Son largest empire the near east ever Jesus as Savior and Lord. Each week, make yourself available either before or after the session to speak privately with anyone in your group who wants to know more about becoming a Christian. See the article, Leading Someone to the Greatest Decision of All, on page 2 for guidance in leading a person to Christ. Remind group members that page 2 in the PSG offers guidance in how to become a Christian. Encourage believers to consider using this article as they have opportunities to lead others to Christ. ILLUSTRATOR PHOTO/G.B. HOWELL/MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS/BOSTON Limestone relief showing the head of a Persian guard; from the palace of Xerxes at Persepolis. The following excerpt is from The Medes and the Persians (Sum. 2014), which can be purchased at www.lifeway.com/biblicalillustrator. The empire Cyrus established was one of the most influential in the ancient Near East. At the height of its power, the Persian Empire went from India in the east to Macedonia in the west. In produced. The Persians were also able to incorporate some Ionian cities into their empire. Although the Persians had conquered them, the Medes continued to have a presence in the Persian empire. According to the biblical text, the noble women of the empire were called the noble women of Persia and Media and the leaders of the empire were called the officials of Persia and Media (Esth. 1:14,18; emphasis added). Previous articles, Who Was Darius the Mede? (Sum. 2006), and Babylonian and Persian Kings (Spr. 2004), relate to this session and can be purchased at www. lifeway.com/biblicalillustrator. Look for Bundles: Bible Studies for Life. Subscribe to Biblical Illustrator at www.lifeway.com/biblicalillustrator, or call 1-800-458-2772. 148 Session 12
LIVE IT OUT You are from God, little children, and you have conquered them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world (1 John 4:4). In today s culture, we often feel outnumbered. But Jesus is Lord. Consider which application God is leading you to complete this week. > > Identify your opposition. Make a list of three to five ways in which you feel opposition to your faith in Christ. These might be in relationships with others or in the culture in a more general way. Take some time to think about where you feel the pressure. Each day this week, pray with this list in mind. Ask God for strength to trust always that He is greater than any opposition you feel. > > Confront the opposition. Make the list noted above. Pray over the list daily this week. Move beyond just praying by identifying one item on your list that you feel led to confront. Ask God to guide you to do so in a loving and respectful way that honors Christ. > > Lead others to stand strong. Less mature Christians need to learn from longtime disciples that God can be trusted in all circumstances to provide His people with the strength they need to be faithful in the face of opposition. Consider meeting with your pastor or student minister to discuss how you and other seniors can help disciple others who need practice in standing strong when others oppose their faith. LIVE IT OUT 5 minutes DO: Emphasize The Point: God is greater than those who oppose you. GUIDE: Review Live It Out (PSG, p. 145; see text to the left). Invite group members to consider what God may be saying to them about acting faithfully in a culture that increasingly opposes Christ. Wrap It Up GUIDE: Acknowledge that older believers can remember a time when opposition to God s ways was more on the fringe of society hushed and in the shadows. Encourage your group to remain faithful in these difficult days, knowing that the love and grace they express in the midst of opposition will help draw others to Christ. PRAY: Father, strengthen your people to walk faithfully with Christ each day. Make us a light that will draw others to the hope found only in Jesus. Amen. 149