GOD DEFENDS
Daniel 6
#5 of 5 – D. O. G. (DEPEND ON GOD) DAYS
Its that time of year again! It’s time for the “Men of Steel”, the Pittsburg Steelers to start playing football.
They are already playing the pre-season games, and on September 9th, they will begin their quest for another Super Bowl ring. What has been the secret to the Steelers success over the years? Since the 1970’s it has been their defense.
“The Steel Curtain was the nickname that was originally given to the front four of the famous defensive line of the American football team the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 1970s. These four players were #68 L.C. Greenwood, #75 Joe Greene, #63 Ernie Holmes, and #78 Dwight White. Over the years, the nickname evolved into a reference to the entire defensive squad. This defense was the backbone of the Steelers dynasty, which won 4 Super Bowls (IX, X, XIII, and XIV).
“In the 1976 season alone, the Steelers' defense was dominant, perhaps the best defense of all time. After the Steelers started 1-4 and lost their quarterback, Terry Bradshaw, the Steelers defense took over, holding their opponents to just two touchdowns over the next nine games, and shutting them out five times, including three consecutive. Eight of the Steelers starting eleven defensive players were selected for the Pro Bowl, and middle linebacker Jack Lambert was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steel_Curtain
I have great news for you! As Christians we have a better defense working for us than the defense of the Pittsburg Steelers.
Psalm 7:10 - My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.
Psalm 59:16 - But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.
Psalm 62:6 - He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.
Our theme over the last month has been “D.O.G. Days”.
D.O.G. stands for “Depend on God”. We have been looking at Bible Characters to show us reasons why God can and should be trusted. So far we have seen:
1. Moses – God Delivers
2. Joshua – God Drafts and Deploys
3. David – God Defeats
4. Elijah – God Demonstrates
We conclude our study this week by looking at an event in the life of Daniel the Prophet that shows that God Defends.
When we need protection, God gives it!
So who was Daniel?
Daniel was a young Jewish man or boy who lived at the time of the fall of Jerusalem. He was taken into captivity by the Babylonians, who under the King Nebuchadnezzar, were establishing a mighty empire.
Daniel 1:3-4 - And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes; [4] Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.
Daniel and others, were drafted into the service of the King. Nebuchadnezzar was taking the best young people and training them to be government employees.
Nebuchadnezzar’s plan was for these boys to be subdued into worshipping his gods and being loyal to the Babylonian empire.
However, Daniel and his three friends, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, remained faithful to God. They did not allow themselves to be brain washed into serving other Gods, and God blessed them and used them.
In Daniel 6 our friend Daniel is an old man, probably in his 80’s or 90’s. He had served under Nebuchadnezzar and other Babylonian kings. Babylon had been defeated and was then a Persian king, Darius, was in charge.
Daniel was about to be the victim of a plan by his enemies that was designed to have him killed. It is here that we learn that God defends his own!
There will be times when we as Christians will also face various forms of opposition simply because of our faith in Christ.
2 Timothy 3:12 - Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
God does not forsake us during times of opposition. He defends us. That doesn’t mean that we won’t suffer, but He will give us grace to face victoriously any opposition that comes our way.
John 16:33 - These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
As He did with Daniel, God defends his own today.
This morning, let’s observe some things from Daniel 6 about God’s defense.
GOD DEFENDS THE PURE
Vss. 1-2 – There was a new government because of the conquering done by the Persians. The new government needed executives. There were 120 princes responsible for various areas of the realm. Over these three princes were three presidents or commissioners. The head commissioner was Daniel.
The purpose of this government set up was to make sure that the king did not suffer loss. The king would get the taxes that were coming to him.
Vs. 3 – Of the 3 presidents, the best one of the lot was Daniel. Daniel had an excellent spirit. Daniel did his job better than anyone else!
Although Daniel was working for heathen people and a heathen king, he was still loyal to his God. Because he was loyal to his God, he did things correctly and with integrity!
Many of you work for people who are vile, corrupt, and lack integrity. You work for people who are not Christians.
We are also under a government that often acts anything like Christian.
We are to act like Daniel, who was pure in spite of the fact he worked for the heathen.
In fact, Daniel was so good that the King planned on making him prime minister, second in command!
Daniel was pure because Daniel was faithful. We are to follow his example.
2 Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
If you are a born again Christian God has changed your life. As a “new creation”, you are to live a life that is honoring to God.
1 Corinthians 4:2 - Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
Luke 16:10 - He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
We are to be faithful in all that we do, whether it be a little thing or a big thing. We will not be faithful in big things unless we are faithful in little things.
Vs. 4 – Daniel’s fellow officials were jealous. They didn’t like his leadership because of Daniel’s integrity. They started to look for ways they could “bring him down”. Today we would say that they started looking for “skeletons in his closet”. They were looking for some wrong doing, past or present that they could accuse him of.
They found nothing!
Vs. 5 – The enemies of Daniel came to a conclusion. They would find nothing to accuse Daniel unless it was concerning Daniel’s faith, “the law of his God.”
These men understood that if Daniel ever had to choose between being loyal to government and loyal to God, that Daniel would be loyal to God.
May this be true of us as well!
May we be so upright in our dealings with others, with our jobs, and yes with government that the only reason anyone can find legitimate fault with us is over our faith in Christ!
Matthew 22:37 - Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
GOD DEFENDS THE PURE
GOD DEFENDS AGAINST PLOTS
Daniel’s enemies devised a plot.
They realized that Darius liked Daniel.
Daniel’s faith had not stopped Daniel from being a loyal employee. Darius saw Daniel’s integrity and ability.
Darius would have to be tricked in order for them to eliminate Daniel. They formed a plot and then carried it out.
Vs. 7 – In those days the kings could take on claims of deity. So the enemies of Daniel appealed to the ego of the king. “Let it be, O king that nobody can pray to any other god but you for thirty days, and if anyone does pray to another God, let him be thrown into the lion’s den.”
Notice the lie here. They claimed that all the presidents and everyone else had agreed to this plan. Daniel hadn’t and he was the head president!
Vs. 8 – They pressed to king to sign this law and to sign it in a hurry! They were like the aggressive car salesmen who want you to sign up to buy a car before you think about it!
The “law of the Medes and Persians” was that once a king had signed a law it could not be reversed!
Vs. 9 - Without thinking and without consulting Daniel, Darius signed the law.
God’s enemies will plot against God’s people.
They will plot against you in order that they may discredit you or remove you from your position.
But God will defend you as He did Daniel.
GOD DEFENDS THE PURE
GOD DEFENDS AGAINST PLOTS
GOD DEFENDS AGAINST PRESSURE
Vs. 10 – When Daniel knew that the writing was signed,
Daniel was under great pressure.
He knew that if he continued to do what he had always done he was going to thrown into the lion’s den.
Daniel was probably tempted to compromise.
Daniel was probably tempted to give in under pressure and become a secret worshipper of God.
But Daniel realized that compromise in this case was not right. Daniel’s whole reputation was at stake.
He was under pressure to give in.
There will be times when you will be tempted to compromise your faith.
There will be times when you will be forced to chose between doing something to please a friend, a boss, a loved one, or pleasing God.
The pressure is often great to give into the wishes of our peers instead of following God.
God defended Daniel when he was under pressure.
As we’ll see in a minute, God gave him the strength to stand for what is right.
He will do the same for you.
God will defend us when we are under pressure.
John 16:33 - These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Peace during persecution is found in dependence upon the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the one who has overcome the world.
1 Corinthians 10:13 - There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
GOD DEFENDS THE PURE
GOD DEFENDS AGAINST PLOTS
GOD DEFENDS AGAINST PRESSURE
GOD DEFENDS THE PRAYERFUL
Vs. 10 – Daniel did not change a thing. Some of the windows of his house pointed towards Jerusalem. He was in the habit of praying three times a day towards Jerusalem.
He didn’t close his windows. He simply got on his knees, as he always did and prayed to God, pointing towards Jerusalem.
What do you do when you’re under pressure?
Daniel prayed as was his habit!
We Christians are to people of prayer no matter what the circumstances.
Prayer is to be our habit.
Psalm 55:16-17 - As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me. [17] Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
GOD DEFENDS - PAGE 9
1 Thessalonians 5:17 - Pray without ceasing.
Ephesians 6:18 - Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
1 Peter 4:7 - But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
When the pressure comes, God wants you to pray.
But there’s more here.
Look at the end of verse 10. DANIEL GAVE THANKS!
The pattern of our prayers is always to be with praise and thanksgiving.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 - Rejoice evermore. [17] Pray without ceasing. [18] In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
We can be thankful when we pray under pressure for the following reasons:
1. God answers prayer.
2. God is responsible to defend us as His children.
3. God has been so good to us in the past.
4. The worst thing that can happen is that we’ll die. That means an instant promotion to Heaven!
GOD DEFENDS THE PURE
GOD DEFENDS AGAINST PLOTS
GOD DEFENDS AGAINST PRESSURE
GOD DEFENDS THE PRAYERFUL
GOD DEFENDS AGAINST PERSECUTORS
Vs. 11 – It should be of no surprise that Daniel’s enemies were ready to pounce! They watched to see what Daniel would do.
Your enemies, or should I say, God’s enemies will do the same for you! They will be watching for you to do something that they can persecute you for! They are like their boss, the devil.
1 Peter 5:8 - Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Vss. 12-13 – They came to the king with their accusation.
Vss. 14-15 – The king was displeased with himself. He realized that he had been tricked! He did all that he could to release Daniel, but there was no solution.
My friend, persecutors can really give us a hard time over our faith in Christ. But remember this, God defends his own.
GOD DEFENDS AGAINST PERSECUTORS
GOD DEFENDS AGAINST PERIL
Vs. 16-17 – The King assured Daniel that Daniel’s God would take care of him as Daniel was cast into a den of hungry lions. The trouble is, the King didn’t really believe it.
Vs. 18 – The king had a miserable night. But, what about Daniel? We are told little. As we’ll see God sent an angel to protect him. That means Daniel was able to sleep peacefully, knowing that God was taking care of him. As someone has suggested, the lions may have even snuggled close to him to keep him warm.
Vss. 20-23 – Daniel was kept safe and his testimony was preserved.
Vs. 24 - Daniel’s persecutors were then cast into the same lions den. They were destroyed.
The conclusion of the story is found in Vss. 25-28.
A proclamation that was a tremendous testimony was made concerning Daniel’s God.
Daniel finished his days in peace and prosperity.
My friend, we will not always be delivered from suffering the pain or peril of a persecution. We are however assured of ultimate deliverance!
Psalm 23:4 - Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Psalm 23:6 - Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
GOD DEFENDS THE PURE
GOD DEFENDS AGAINST PLOTS
GOD DEFENDS AGAINST PRESSURE
GOD DEFENDS THE PRAYERFUL
GOD DEFENDS AGAINST PERSECUTORS
GOD DEFENDS AGAINST PERIL