Daniel 6 verses 1 through 10. Here, for this is the word of the Lord. 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 not suffer 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 in injunction." When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had his windows and 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. Thanks be to God for his holy word. As a congregation, Grace Presbyterian, we're now going through the book of Daniel. So this will be kind of a preview for some of you with some spoilers since we're not quite at chapter six yet. We just started. But I thought this would be the perfect occasion to consider Daniel's story because it is much like our story. Now it is not a one-to-one comparison, but understanding the hardships that Daniel went through and the fact that he remained faithful and grateful ought to be revealing and convicting. It ought to shed light on our own souls, which should ultimately lead us to the cross. So just for a bit of a background, it is about 522 BC, Judah was conquered and the people of God were exiled in Babylon. Then Babylon was conquered by the Medo-Persians, and chapter six covers the reign of King Darius the Mede. Now, the reason why Israel was exiled in Babylon was because of their own sin. In many ways, Israel as a nation, including Judah, resembled Adam, as he was cast out of Eden after he sinned against God. Two of the many takeaways that we get from the Old Testament, as we read it, is one, God is faithful to his people, and two, Israel, as a nation, failed. Israel failed. But this sets the scene for the coming Messiah who will be victorious. There are many important figures throughout the Old Testament who point to the person and work of the Messiah, and today we will discuss one of them, who goes by the name of Daniel, or Belteshazzar. Now Daniel has been used by many as a sort of example of civil disobedience. or someone who is out to make a statement. Dare to be a Daniel is the common refrain used to encourage Christians to mobilize and to become more active in their life spheres. But I believe that is to miss the point entirely. Although Daniel and his friends, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah refused to eat the king's food in chapter one, let us not misinterpret that as a rebellious stand against Babylon. In fact, they would be assimilated into Babylonian life and culture to a certain extent. They were educated in Babylonian literature and they were accustomed to the culture. They were all given Babylonian names. They would all eventually rise to positions of power in Babylon without making Babylon Jewish. Daniel would be given the position of second to the king and he would serve the successive kings there faithfully for over 70 years of his life up until his death. So when Daniel refused to eat the king's food and drink the king's wine, it was kind of a head scratch. Out of all the things they were told to do by the enemy, they refused this one possibly insignificant or inconsequential order to eat the food and drink the wine. And they didn't refuse because it wasn't kosher. They didn't refuse because it was against God's law. They didn't refuse because the food was sacrificed to pagan idols. In fact, later on, in Daniel 10, verse 3, there is evidence that Daniel would eventually eat the food and drink the wine of Babylon, or better, Persia. It was only a temporary refusal to demonstrate a significant point. See, when we boiled down Daniel as just an example for Christians to follow in society, we missed the point that every time that Daniel drew the line in the sand, it was to demonstrate God's power through Daniel. Every occasion of Daniel's witness was a miracle. They weren't supposed to survive just eating vegetables and drinking water. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were not supposed to survive in the fiery furnace. Later on in Daniel chapter 6, Daniel wasn't supposed to survive the lion's den. He should have been devoured. And we know that Daniel was given the gift by God of interpreting visions, which would put him in the perfect place to proclaim God's word to both King Nebuchadnezzar and to his son, Belshazzar. So just like every other book in the Bible, God is the main character who worked through his servants, Daniel and his three friends. Notice out of the many years Daniel served the kings in Babylon, we only have a handful of occasions where Daniel was used of God as a witness to these pagan rulers. The rest of the time, It is assumed that he served Babylon's kings faithfully. As we come to chapter six now, we recognize the fact that just in the first three verses, Daniel didn't withdraw from Babylonian society. Again, he moved up in the ranks of pagan society. He continued to serve the empire faithfully, even after Darius replaced Belshazzar. It seems like Darius was a good politician. Darius wanted to keep some of the same people who were in Belshazzar's cabinet. which is why we find Daniel as the third of the three rulers in the kingdom. We see this back in chapter five, verse 29, where Belshazzar put him in that place. And he ruled over 120 satraps. These were provincial or regional governors. These three rulers were trusted men who were put in charge over 120 governors, in order to make sure that everything was running smoothly and that there was no corruption going on. They were to make sure that these governors weren't stealing from the king or they weren't involved in any underhanded ways like bribery or extortion. So Daniel's character and witness is recognized by the king. He became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps because an excellent spirit was in him. So notice how important it is for God's people to live with genuine Christian character, even among unbelievers. This doesn't necessarily mean that because of this you will definitely rise to prominence or that you'll convert everyone around you or that you'll deeply transform the society. No, that's not the point. The point is to bring glory and honor to God's name and silence his enemies. Now, listen to Peter, who said this, be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, you wonder which emperor he's speaking about, he's speaking about Emperor Nero, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil, and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the emperor. Again, that's Nero he is speaking of. the persecutor of Christians. But then Peter continues. He says this, servants be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing. When mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly, which means you may not always silence foolish people, but instead suffer persecution. If only Daniel knew what was in store for him. It would reflect what Peter told Christians to do here and what we are to expect. Daniel's righteous character was recognized by the king to the point that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. He was going to make him second place. He was to become number two under the king, but it doesn't come without a cause. Because although the king recognized Daniel's character and Daniel was rising in status, this doesn't mean that evil and corruption was completely abolished around him. For us, this chapter is an example of what Paul said. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. And lo and behold, There is a mutiny in our hands. The high officials and satraps, the governors, were out to get Daniel. They looked for whatever fault they could find, but they couldn't find any. When it came to character and Daniel's service to the common good, they couldn't find any ground for complaint. He wasn't treasonous. He was loyal to the kingdom. And let me remind you again, he was loyal to the Babylonian kingdom under Medo-Persian rule. And since they couldn't find any fault in Daniel in regard to his service of the kingdom, they sought to create a fault, so to speak. And it was in connection with the law of his God. They couldn't find fault in his public service because his good works was a shining light to everyone, even to pagans. The pagans couldn't deny it. So they went after his private life, his private religious life. They went after his prayer closet and his devotion to God. So we can conclude that at this point, his public service to the king was not contradicting the law of God. So what they had to do was make the law that governs Medo-Persian Babylon contradict the law of God, and then they'll have their, aha, gotcha moment. And that's what they did. The high officials and satraps conspired together and came before the king to propose that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an injunction that whoever makes petition to any god or man for 30 days, except to the king, shall be cast into a den of lions." Now, this was to kind of puff up the king's ego. It was to flatter the king. It was to make the king feel good about his leadership. And it was a way to get Daniel out of the way, so that these so-called leaders could have their own way with their kingdom. And so the king signed the document, so that it cannot be changed according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be revoked. So basically what these corrupted leaders had done was set up a temporary law that would be in place long enough to catch Daniel in the act, which would then lead to a monkey trial and then the execution of Daniel. Daniel was an innocent man, yet he would be made to look as if he was guilty. and which would lead to his supposed execution in the lion's den. Now, who does this remind you of? Jesus asked the religious leaders of his day, which one of you convicts me of sin? Many throughout the Gospels bore witness to Jesus' innocence from Judas when he felt guilty about betraying innocent blood, to Pilate, who asked the crowds when they were yelling, crucify him, crucify him, what evil has he done? To the thief on the cross who said, this man has done nothing wrong. Jesus, the most innocent man to ever live, knew what it meant to have people out to get him and falsely accuse him. But what did Jesus do in response? Peter tells us of his response in 1 Peter 2, verse 23. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return. When he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. So now, put yourself in Daniel's shoes. He and other Israelites from Judah were taken from their homeland after they were conquered. They were brought to a foreign land to serve pagan kings. Every time it seemed like they were making progress, they were shot down by one opposition or another. And here, one of his greatest battles will be fought as there are people within his own ranks out to get him. Now, we know that we go through various trials in our own personal lives, with our health, with our relationships, with our family, with our friends, with our own sin, which means we have an enemy within and we have enemies without in high and low places, seeking to malign, maybe misrepresent and slander our faith. Some would wish to make laws to abolish our religious devotion. We have witnessed this in many communist countries around the world. Or we have other instances where one religion is imposed on everyone, where there is no religious freedom, the way we enjoy here. And what is to be our response to the madness of the world? Well, take for instance what Daniel did when he learned of the document that was signed by the king. That no one is to make any petition to any God for 30 days. What did Daniel do? Well, he went to his house and made petitions to God. It says, he went to his house where he had his windows and his upper chamber open to Jerusalem, because that is where the temple was. That's where it resided. That's where the Shekinah glory of God was. And so, he has windows 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. Now, notice a few things here. This wasn't an act of outright rebellion. He just did what he had always done. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed as he had done previously. So this wasn't just in reaction to the new law that was made. He was doing what he always did. He got down on his knees, and prayed and gave thanks. See, as Christians, we tend to be very reactionary. Our unfortunate disposition is to pray when things are bad and give thanks when things are good. But notice what it says here. It says that Daniel prayed, of course. He most likely lamented the fact that he was about to get executed for his devotion to God. We know there's nothing wrong with that. We read throughout the Psalms that David lamented and mourned throughout his walk in this world. We even read of imprecatory prayers where he would call for judgment on his enemies, which for us would be calling on God's kingdom to come and to be consummated. But here it says that Daniel prayed and gave thanks before his God as he had done previously. See, there will be times when we will cry out to God for help because we are suffering in this world. Christ cried out to his Father on the cross, my God, my God, why have you forsaken me? But there is never an occasion where we should not give thanks, every occasion. is a cause to give thanks, even in the most dire circumstances. Paul says that God is for us, so who can be against us? Remember, Jesus knew the feeling of the world closing in on Him and that everyone around Him will either fail Him or be out to get Him. Jesus knew what exactly Daniel was feeling when he was praying. Remember, the Garden of Gethsemane, Yet Jesus gave thanks. He gave thanks to his father for giving all things to him, all the while knowing that Judas would betray him, that Peter would deny him, that his disciples would run away when he was taken by the high priest's troops, that the religious leaders would set up this corrupt, false trial to falsely accuse him and put him to death. All the while, he knew that the crowds who once followed him with zeal would soon cry out, crucify him, crucify him. And so they did crucify him. And he died the death that we deserve. He died for our thanklessness. Yet he knew that one day he would rise from the dead and sit at his father's side in glory. So he entrusted himself to his father. Much like Daniel, even in the face of calamity and death, could you say that this describes your mindset when facing trouble? That no matter what happens, God deserves the thanks I know I have failed at this point. I believe we have all failed at some point. Our natural reaction is to grumble or to panic, whether it has to do with personal issues or societal issues. The caricature of the Christian in society is to panic, and sometimes we live up to the stereotype when things aren't going our way, or the way we thought it would. We tend to think if we only put into practice biblical principles, prayer, and living according to His law, that life will just fit together so neatly. But it was not so for our Lord, nor for Daniel, nor for Paul. What did Paul say from prison when he was being persecuted? He said this, rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Now this is not at all to say that our problems are not real problems and that we don't feel them or that we should just get over it, stop mourning over life's tough situations. What it is about is about entrusting all of our cares to God. who has all things under his control and who has also promised to deliver us. Amen.