Faith during a Crisis

Daniel 6

Ppprobing Ppppoints• The Privilege of promotion comes from productive

people • A planning plot producing persecution • Persistent praying of a privileged pilgrim • Pandering persecution leads to pernicious

prosecution • Pricy penalty of a pickled potentate • Powerful preservation of a praying prophet • Painful payout of pretentious patriots • Perfect proclamation from a pardoned Potentate • Premium prize for perfect probity

The Privilege of promotion comes from productive people.  V. 1-3

• Robert G. Lee - “When there are so many unsaved people around, when there are sorrowing hearts to be comforted, when so many young people are throwing away their life in folly’s court and carnal pleasure’s mart; when there are so many evils against which protest must be made; when so many old people are lonely on the sunset trail; when in 1910, at my ordination, I was married to preaching until death do us part; why should I not in the 85th year of my life keep on preaching?”

 

• “Newman Darlan, a scholar of accepted standing, made an analysis of the lives and achievements of 400 foremost characters of history.  The analysis showed that nearly 80% of the world’s greatest figures closed active lives between 58 and 80. 

• 25% continued beyond 70, 22 ½% beyond 80, and 6% beyond 90.  Consider what has been done by men beyond 80:

• When 83, Gladstone became Prime Minister of Great Britain, for the fourth time. 

• Michelangelo, at 89, executed his Last Judgment  • John Wesley preached with almost undiminished

eloquence at 88.• Edison was inventing at 90.  • Wright, at 90, was considered a creative architect.  • Shaw was writing plays at 90.  • Grandma Moses was painting at 80. • J.C. Penny, was working strenuously at his desk

at 95.”

Productive people

• Daniel should serve as a beacon to elders of the church and Darius a light to our youthful generation.

• It is by reason of age one may establish an excellent spirit; righteous business dealings and the principle of being faithful to those over him (Dan 6:3, 4).

• But much more than that he can be observed that he is one committed to prayer from youth onward and a wiliness to obey God rather than man (Dan 6:10).

• Thus when Paul appealed to the youthful preacher, Timothy, he commanded that he appoint the elderly and respect them as fathers (1 Tim. 3:1-8; 5:1).

The Privilege of promotion comes from productive people.  V. 1-3

a planning plot producing persecution V. 4-9

• As they begin to plot they found no fault, shechath, which means “to corrupt.”  They found no error, shalu, which means “to neglect.” 

• In other words, the corruption is the sin of commission, and the error is the sin of omission. 

• Envy can exist in the best ordered community. In Philippians 1, Paul was a prisoner for preaching Christ, and some were adding affliction to his bonds by saying evil things about his ministry. 

• Envy is excited by the sight of superior goodness in others. The warmer the sun shines and the softer the rain falls on our gardens, the faster the weeds grow yet the sun nor rain is to be blamed for weeds. The peerless purity of Jesus Christ exasperated men to commit the foulest offence that our earth has ever witnessed.

• Envy is so despicable because it compels one to search after sins in others. Instead of "preferring one another" (Phil. 2) envy debases one another.

• Envy seeks to gain its end by the most discreditable methods "We shall find no occasion of blame against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the Law of his God."

• Therefore, envy is nothing better than incipient murder (1 Jn. 3:15).• The New Testament confirms this lesson from Daniel. (2 Timothy 3:10-13).

Facts about Envy

a planning plot producing persecution V. 4-9

To achieve their purpose of doing away To achieve their purpose of doing away with Daniel, they must achieve three with Daniel, they must achieve three

goals:goals:• (1) They must discredit Daniel in relationship

to his religion by which he lived.• (2) They must discredit Daniel by passing a

new law, designed to lead to Daniel’s death.• (3) They must do away with Daniel against

the king’s will.

the persistent praying of a privileged pilgrim.

What options did Daniel have?What options did Daniel have? • (1) Obey the new law, making his petitions to (1) Obey the new law, making his petitions to

the king.the king.• (2) Appeal to the king to change or repeal the (2) Appeal to the king to change or repeal the

law.law.• (3) Cease praying altogether, making no (3) Cease praying altogether, making no

petitions for 30 days.petitions for 30 days.• (4) Limit his prayers to thanksgiving and praise, (4) Limit his prayers to thanksgiving and praise,

simply setting aside his petitions for 30 days.simply setting aside his petitions for 30 days.• (5) Simply continue to pray, privately.(5) Simply continue to pray, privately.

• Daniel chose none of these options. Lions win Lions win when Christians stop praying.when Christians stop praying.

Pandering persecution leads to pernicious prosecution

• “That foreigner.”  “That prisoner.”  “That captive.”  “He’s not like us.”

• It was the king’s ego that entrapped him. • Daniel never takes up his own cause,

never defends himself; like Christ, he is dumb before his shearers and opens not his mouth. 

Pricy penalty of a pickled potentate

• He agreed to it and he had to execute it.

• Thy God whom thou Thy God whom thou servest continually, He will servest continually, He will deliver thee.”deliver thee.”  

• Some heroes of the faith were delivered from death, (Hebrews 11:32-34). Others, however, were delivered through death (Hebrews 11:35-40).

Powerful preservation Powerful preservation of a praying prophetof a praying prophet

Powerful preservation of a Powerful preservation of a praying prophetpraying prophet

Angel Ministration - Hebrews 1:14THEIR EXISTENCETHEIR EXISTENCE

• From the withholding of Abraham’s knife to the heavenly vision of the Revelator angels are known to exist.

THEIR NATURETHEIR NATURE• They are spiritual. "Are they not all spirits ( πνευματα)?"

• But may be clothed upon with human form (Gen. 18; Heb. 13:2) • Are created beings capable of moral decisions who like us are

made with eternity in mind (Matt. 25:41). THEIR PURPOSEFUL LIFETHEIR PURPOSEFUL LIFE

• "Are they not all liturgic (λειτουργικα)?" THEIR APOSTOLIC CHARACTERTHEIR APOSTOLIC CHARACTER • "Are they not all … sent forth?"

THEIR MINISTRATIONTHEIR MINISTRATION • They are "sent forth" to bring us help, to aid the otherwise

helpless.

Painful payout of pretentious patriots

Don’t get God riledDon’t get God riled

The perfect proclamation from a pardoned potentate

• “He delivereth - ” • “ - and rescueth, • and He worketh signs and wonders in

heaven and in earth,...”• Who gets the glory in the chapter?  

premium prize for perfect probity

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