triumph. Mark of the beast is like a sign of triumph to Satan.
“not be changed” – infallibility.
6:18 Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of music brought before him: and his sleep went from him.
Passed the night fasting…and his sleep went from him” – It tells you something about Daniel. It wasn’t just because Daniel was a great state man that Darius worried about Daniel. Even one great state man die, eventually other great state man comes in and takes the place. But Daniel was such a living witness to Darius in his life example of how he lived every day and how he carried out the duties of the kingdom, they became friends. Someone that he began to respect greatly and reverence in a sense that he had a great deal of honor for Daniel and he really felt terribly bad. Of course Daniel knew that this wasn’t Darius doing this thing.
God allowed them to throw Daniel into the lion’s den that God’s name will be glorified among them.
Why God allow faithful ones to go through trials? Why God allow them to go through difficulties?
First reason is to perfect the character, no question about it: gold tried in the fire. Second reason is that the world around us, although we may not think they are watching us, God has allowed this to happen that His name will be glorified among the heathen. Paul tells us that “I rejoice in
tribulation.” Our problem is we are too tunneled in the issue. All we can see is just right before us.
But we have to see the big picture why it’s happening: God wants to see you in His kingdom.
All these trial from Daniel 1, Daniel 3, Daniel 6, affected all the Hebrews in that kingdom. God has designed that if they could be faithful in this situation, they would always be faithful to Him and would follow Him out when He calls them out of the Babylon. But there were but few remnants came out of the Babylon: estimate 5,000 among the millions of Jews. Because during these trials, they were the only ones who stood faithful and true to God, and they were habitually learning to obey and listen to the voice of the Lord. Therefore, when God called them out, they went out.
6:19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.
King had some hope that Daniel would survive somehow
God delivers Daniel (20-24)
VERSE [20] And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? [21] Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. [22] My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me:
forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt. [23] Then was the king exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God. [24] And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.
6:20 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: [and] the king spake
and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?
“servant of the living God” – Daniel is called one. Same phrase used in Dan 3 when Nebuchadnezzar calls the 3 Hebrew boys out of the fiery furnace.
Acts 14:15 And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: He is the Creator
Living God is the Creator. So this people are having the sign of the Creator. This is also the same phraseology is used in Revelation 7:1-3. Again, connect Daniel and 144,000.
6:21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.
6:22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.
“God hath sent his angel” – I believe the same One who came down to deliver the three Hebrew boys, came down to deliver him again. Jesus is the Archangel.
Dan 3:28 Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him...
That teaches us about God that God is not going to let us go thorough the trials and temptations without Jesus going with us.
Friends, He is with us. I don’t care what the trials may be. I don’t care what the temptations may be. It’s true that sometimes we feel like Jesus would never know what we are going through. But don’t think that Jesus doesn’t know what it’s like to go through the temptations that you and I have gone through, because Jesus was one with us that He took part of our humanity; the fallen humanity.
Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities;
but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
In this story, teaching us that Jesus was tempted in all point as we are. How would He know the sufferings and afflictions of fallen humanity unless He was one with us to be afflicted with us? Sister White tells us that whenever the child of God suffers, Jesus suffers:
PK 545 Heaven is very near those who suffer for righteousness’ sake. Christ identifies His interests with the interests of His faithful people; He suffers in the person of His saints, and whoever touches His chosen ones touches Him. The power that is near to deliver from physical harm or distress is also near to save from the greater evil, making it possible for the servant of God to maintain his integrity under all circumstances, and to triumph through divine grace.
DA 528 To all who are reaching out to feel the guiding hand of God, the moment of greatest
discouragement is the time when divine help is nearest. They will look back with thankfulness upon the darkest part of their way. “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly,” 2 Peter 2:9. From every temptation and every trial He will bring them forth with firmer faith and a richer experience.
During the last days, God’s will also send angels to protect the righteous living, the 144,000 . Psa 91:10-11 [10]There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
[11] For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
Psalm 91 is a prophecy about the end of time. Talks about 7 last plagues.
Rev 14:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
“wrath of God” = 7 last plagues. During that time according to Rev 14:12, God’s people will show the faith of Jesus. In Bible, lions also represent the devil.
1 Pet 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Rev 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
Christ is also referred to as the lion of Judah.
“innocency” – One government is accusing Daniel. The other government is saying Daniel is innocent. God will prove and state His people to be innocent, justified by His righteousness. This is about religious liberty. Any time the law of God conflicts with laws of land, we are to obey law of God.
6:23 Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.
According to law, Daniel was cast into the den but it did not say that the lions should eat him. So they brought him up out of the den because he had served his punishment.
6:24 And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast [them] into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.
“Their children, and their wives” – God destroyed the Sodom and Gomorrah with everybody even the children. God has foreknowledge, and He knows that when these children grow up, it would be curse to others; He had to eliminate. The lions have already been prepared for the devil and his angels. However, the devil is trying to bring as many people with him as possible.
1 Thes 1:4-6 [4] Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. [5] For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. [6] And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:
Because Daniel survived the lion’s den, it gave the king freedom to now recompense to the men who had tricked him. Likewise, God will use the 144,000 to open the door for Him to bring judgment on Satan, his angels and the wicked.