WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.919 My name is Matthew Capone, and I'm the pastor here at Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church, 00:00:03.919 --> 00:00:06.379 and it's my joy to bring God's Word to you today. 00:00:07.299 --> 00:00:10.140 A special welcome if you're new or visiting with us. 00:00:10.179 --> 00:00:14.040 We're glad that you're here, and we're glad that you're here not because we're trying to fill seats, 00:00:14.240 --> 00:00:17.559 but because we're following Jesus together as one community. 00:00:17.559 --> 00:00:21.480 And as we follow Jesus together, we become convinced that there's no one so good, 00:00:21.960 --> 00:00:25.199 they don't need God's grace, and no one so bad they can't have it. 00:00:25.219 --> 00:00:29.379 And that's why we come back week after week to hear what God has to say in His Word, 00:00:29.379 --> 00:00:32.479 because we believe that God has something to say to everyone. 00:00:33.299 --> 00:00:35.700 We're continuing our series in the book of Daniel, 00:00:35.920 --> 00:00:39.439 and you'll remember the book of Daniel tells the story of a man named Daniel 00:00:39.439 --> 00:00:42.519 who lived in the late 7th and 6th century B.C., 00:00:42.519 --> 00:00:46.460 and he was a faithful Israelite who was living in exile in Babylon. 00:00:46.879 --> 00:00:49.679 And we have two major things the book of Daniel teaches us. 00:00:49.739 --> 00:00:51.239 First, it's meant to encourage us. 00:00:51.679 --> 00:00:55.560 No matter how bad things get, God is still in control. 00:00:55.980 --> 00:00:58.719 He rules and He reigns over the nations. 00:00:59.380 --> 00:01:02.140 Not only does it encourage us, though it also instructs us. 00:01:02.219 --> 00:01:06.560 We're meant to learn from this book how we live faithful lives in a foreign land. 00:01:07.120 --> 00:01:09.719 And so we've been going back and forth between those two things, 00:01:09.840 --> 00:01:11.560 encouragement and instruction. 00:01:11.719 --> 00:01:15.219 Remember the last two weeks we've gone and looked at some minor themes in the book of Daniel. 00:01:15.299 --> 00:01:18.740 We looked at our lives as workers in the world, and we've looked at prayer. 00:01:18.900 --> 00:01:22.180 And now we're going to get back to the main point of chapter 6. 00:01:22.560 --> 00:01:24.760 So we've covered verses 1 through 10 together. 00:01:24.760 --> 00:01:28.140 This morning we're going to cover verses 11 through 38. 00:01:28.640 --> 00:01:30.700 And we're going to come back to a theme we've seen before, 00:01:30.880 --> 00:01:35.660 which is this challenge of the relationship with the Christian and the state and the government. 00:01:35.760 --> 00:01:38.060 We've seen before that the state wants to be God. 00:01:38.140 --> 00:01:39.300 It wants to function as God. 00:01:39.340 --> 00:01:41.000 It wants us to treat it as God. 00:01:41.100 --> 00:01:44.540 Here we're going to see what happens when the state doesn't command us to worship it, 00:01:45.020 --> 00:01:47.620 but forbids us to do our own worship. 00:01:48.540 --> 00:01:50.840 Before we've seen, remember in chapter 3, 00:01:50.840 --> 00:01:54.420 Nebuchadnezzar commanded that they worship the golden image. 00:01:55.100 --> 00:01:57.620 Here it's not so much that they have to worship a golden image, 00:01:57.659 --> 00:01:59.859 but that they stop praying to God. 00:01:59.920 --> 00:02:03.240 And so we have the common temptations that we come up against as Christians in the world 00:02:03.240 --> 00:02:04.680 when we have these conflicts. 00:02:05.439 --> 00:02:09.599 If we are told to we can't do something that God commands us to do, 00:02:09.659 --> 00:02:10.580 we're tempted to believe, right? 00:02:10.599 --> 00:02:16.120 Maybe we have everything to lose and nothing to gain by obeying God and defying the state. 00:02:16.780 --> 00:02:19.680 Maybe we believe that God's here in the church building with us, 00:02:19.740 --> 00:02:20.719 but he's not anywhere else. 00:02:20.719 --> 00:02:21.580 He's not powerful. 00:02:21.859 --> 00:02:22.680 I'm out in the world. 00:02:23.300 --> 00:02:27.659 And maybe we're simply tempted to give in to the world, the flesh, and the devil, 00:02:27.740 --> 00:02:29.620 the three temptations that Christians face. 00:02:30.259 --> 00:02:33.759 And so it's with that challenge we're going to turn now to Daniel chapter 6. 00:02:33.819 --> 00:02:35.560 Now I'm going to start reading at verse 11. 00:02:36.099 --> 00:02:39.659 However, I'm going to preach the whole chapter for us here 00:02:39.659 --> 00:02:41.719 because we're getting back to the main point of chapter 6. 00:02:41.800 --> 00:02:43.699 So I'm going to refer back to verses 1 through 10. 00:02:43.960 --> 00:02:46.579 So if you have your Bible with you or you have it on your phone, 00:02:46.620 --> 00:02:49.379 that would be helpful because you can see the entire chapter. 00:02:49.379 --> 00:02:51.120 And I'm going to do something I haven't done in a little bit, 00:02:51.199 --> 00:02:53.859 which is I'm going to give the kids another reading challenge. 00:02:54.199 --> 00:02:55.599 So I'm going to have you count words again. 00:02:56.359 --> 00:02:58.079 And our two words this morning are this. 00:02:58.120 --> 00:03:01.939 I want you to track the words law with me and the word injunction. 00:03:02.519 --> 00:03:04.579 So the word law, the word injunction, 00:03:04.960 --> 00:03:06.120 we're going to have a little bit of a challenge 00:03:06.120 --> 00:03:08.939 because we've already seen those words in verses 1 through 10. 00:03:08.939 --> 00:03:10.500 So you're not starting at zero. 00:03:11.620 --> 00:03:15.919 When it comes to the word law, we've already seen it twice in verses 1 through 10. 00:03:16.319 --> 00:03:20.300 When it comes to the word injunction, we've seen it three times in 1 through 10. 00:03:20.520 --> 00:03:22.379 So you're starting at two for law. 00:03:22.819 --> 00:03:25.159 You're starting at three for injunction. 00:03:25.740 --> 00:03:27.280 With that, we're going to turn to God's word. 00:03:27.360 --> 00:03:31.180 I invite you to turn with me in your worship guide or in your Bible or in your phone. 00:03:31.219 --> 00:03:34.280 No matter where you turn, remember that this is God's word. 00:03:34.360 --> 00:03:38.159 And God tells us that his word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. 00:03:38.159 --> 00:03:41.719 In other words, God has not left us to stumble alone in the dark, 00:03:41.879 --> 00:03:46.479 but instead he has given us his word that we would know the way to go. 00:03:46.840 --> 00:03:48.960 And so that's why we read now starting at verse 11. 00:03:49.919 --> 00:03:55.259 Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and plea before his God. 00:03:55.960 --> 00:03:59.639 Then they came near and said before the king concerning the injunction, 00:04:00.579 --> 00:04:03.000 O king, did you not sign an injunction 00:04:03.000 --> 00:04:07.300 that anyone who makes petition to any God or man within 30 days 00:04:07.300 --> 00:04:10.580 except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? 00:04:11.219 --> 00:04:12.560 The king answered and said, 00:04:13.020 --> 00:04:17.280 The thing stands fast according to the law of the Medes and Persians, 00:04:17.360 --> 00:04:18.460 which cannot be revoked. 00:04:19.020 --> 00:04:19.699 Verse 13. 00:04:20.460 --> 00:04:22.220 Then they answered and said before the king, 00:04:22.379 --> 00:04:24.580 Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, 00:04:24.960 --> 00:04:26.600 pays no attention to you, O king, 00:04:26.699 --> 00:04:28.780 or the injunction you have signed, 00:04:29.199 --> 00:04:31.620 but makes his petition three times a day. 00:04:32.620 --> 00:04:33.439 Verse 14. 00:04:33.439 --> 00:04:35.819 Then the king, when he heard these words, 00:04:35.879 --> 00:04:38.639 was much distressed and set his mind to deliver Daniel. 00:04:39.040 --> 00:04:41.680 And he labored till the sun went down to rescue him. 00:04:42.399 --> 00:04:45.379 Then these men came by agreement to the king and said to the king, 00:04:45.800 --> 00:04:49.579 Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians 00:04:49.579 --> 00:04:54.019 that no injunction or ordinance that the king establishes can be changed. 00:04:54.860 --> 00:04:55.600 Verse 16. 00:04:56.040 --> 00:04:59.639 Then the king commanded and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. 00:04:59.639 --> 00:05:01.579 The king declared to Daniel, 00:05:01.819 --> 00:05:05.159 May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you. 00:05:05.919 --> 00:05:08.339 And a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, 00:05:08.399 --> 00:05:11.979 and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lord's, 00:05:12.000 --> 00:05:14.099 that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. 00:05:14.819 --> 00:05:17.519 Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting. 00:05:18.300 --> 00:05:21.659 No diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him. 00:05:22.919 --> 00:05:23.620 Verse 19. 00:05:24.219 --> 00:05:25.439 Then at the break of day, 00:05:25.500 --> 00:05:28.300 the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions. 00:05:28.300 --> 00:05:31.020 As he came near to the den where Daniel was, 00:05:31.100 --> 00:05:32.840 he cried out in a tone of anguish. 00:05:33.620 --> 00:05:34.740 The king declared to Daniel, 00:05:34.960 --> 00:05:36.960 O Daniel, servant of the living God, 00:05:37.379 --> 00:05:39.740 has your God, whom you serve continually, 00:05:40.060 --> 00:05:42.020 been able to deliver you from the lions? 00:05:42.879 --> 00:05:44.319 Then Daniel said to the king, 00:05:44.480 --> 00:05:46.139 O king, live forever. 00:05:47.019 --> 00:05:49.680 My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths, 00:05:49.800 --> 00:05:50.980 and they have not harmed me, 00:05:51.259 --> 00:05:53.280 because I was found blameless before him. 00:05:54.040 --> 00:05:57.120 And also before you, O king, I have done no harm. 00:05:57.120 --> 00:05:59.840 Then the king was exceedingly glad 00:05:59.840 --> 00:06:02.300 and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. 00:06:02.899 --> 00:06:04.620 So Daniel was taken up out of the den, 00:06:04.680 --> 00:06:06.379 and no kind of harm was found on him, 00:06:06.519 --> 00:06:08.959 because he had trusted in his God. 00:06:09.800 --> 00:06:11.000 And the king commanded, 00:06:11.139 --> 00:06:13.780 and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel 00:06:13.780 --> 00:06:16.220 were brought and cast into the den of lions, 00:06:16.759 --> 00:06:18.699 they their children and their wives. 00:06:19.259 --> 00:06:21.540 And before they reached the bottom of the den, 00:06:21.540 --> 00:06:23.220 the lions overpowered them 00:06:23.220 --> 00:06:26.140 and broke all their bones in pieces. 00:06:27.500 --> 00:06:28.300 Verse 25. 00:06:29.180 --> 00:06:30.960 Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, 00:06:31.100 --> 00:06:33.480 nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth, 00:06:33.900 --> 00:06:35.320 Peace be multiplied to you. 00:06:35.780 --> 00:06:38.240 I make a decree that in all my royal dominion, 00:06:38.320 --> 00:06:41.400 people are to tremble in fear before the God of Daniel. 00:06:42.060 --> 00:06:44.900 For he is the living God, enduring forever. 00:06:45.500 --> 00:06:47.740 His kingdom shall never be destroyed, 00:06:47.740 --> 00:06:50.220 and his dominion shall be to the end. 00:06:50.720 --> 00:06:52.600 He delivers and rescues. 00:06:53.019 --> 00:06:56.660 He works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth. 00:06:57.139 --> 00:07:00.879 He who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions. 00:07:01.759 --> 00:07:04.660 So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius 00:07:04.660 --> 00:07:07.660 and the reign of Cyrus the Persian. 00:07:07.660 --> 00:07:10.120 I invite you to pray with me 00:07:10.120 --> 00:07:12.260 as we come to this portion of God's word. 00:07:13.500 --> 00:07:14.460 Our Father in heaven, 00:07:14.580 --> 00:07:16.560 we thank you and praise you again 00:07:16.560 --> 00:07:18.040 that you haven't left us alone 00:07:18.040 --> 00:07:19.180 and you do speak to us. 00:07:19.200 --> 00:07:21.920 And we ask that you would do that this morning 00:07:21.920 --> 00:07:25.420 by your word and the power of your Holy Spirit, 00:07:25.520 --> 00:07:27.240 that you would give us a measure of the spirit 00:07:27.240 --> 00:07:29.320 that we would be able to hear and believe 00:07:29.320 --> 00:07:31.580 and understand everything that you have written 00:07:31.580 --> 00:07:33.200 about yourself and your word. 00:07:33.379 --> 00:07:35.300 And we ask these things in Jesus' name. 00:07:35.800 --> 00:07:36.040 Amen. 00:07:36.040 --> 00:07:36.220 Amen. 00:07:37.660 --> 00:07:38.100 Amen. 00:07:38.760 --> 00:07:42.420 If you know anything about American history, 00:07:42.540 --> 00:07:45.220 you know that the Constitution is very important. 00:07:45.820 --> 00:07:47.300 And we value it a lot. 00:07:47.360 --> 00:07:48.500 And if you're familiar with the Constitution, 00:07:49.080 --> 00:07:52.200 you might know there's something in Article 6, Paragraph 2, 00:07:52.740 --> 00:07:54.080 called the Supremacy Clause. 00:07:55.060 --> 00:07:57.379 And the Supremacy Clause lays out for us 00:07:57.379 --> 00:07:59.460 that there are some laws that are more important 00:07:59.460 --> 00:08:00.080 than other laws. 00:08:00.160 --> 00:08:02.460 And specifically, it talks about the fact 00:08:02.460 --> 00:08:04.740 that the Constitution is higher 00:08:04.740 --> 00:08:06.760 and more authoritative than any state law. 00:08:06.759 --> 00:08:08.379 Of course, this is what happens, right? 00:08:08.439 --> 00:08:10.339 When cases go to our Supreme Court, 00:08:10.719 --> 00:08:12.680 people are saying, well, the state did this, 00:08:13.039 --> 00:08:14.759 but the Constitution forbids it. 00:08:14.899 --> 00:08:18.240 And so when there's a lineup, a matchup, 00:08:18.379 --> 00:08:20.500 between the Constitution and the state law, 00:08:21.180 --> 00:08:22.339 Constitution always wins. 00:08:22.699 --> 00:08:23.659 At least that's the hope. 00:08:24.459 --> 00:08:25.099 That's the idea. 00:08:25.180 --> 00:08:27.120 And of course, there's conflicts at times, right? 00:08:27.159 --> 00:08:29.319 There's times where federal laws and state laws conflict. 00:08:29.319 --> 00:08:32.419 So, for example, here in Colorado, we have one of those. 00:08:32.960 --> 00:08:34.679 Marijuana is legal in the state of Colorado, 00:08:34.679 --> 00:08:37.159 but it's illegal according to federal law. 00:08:37.779 --> 00:08:39.279 And so it creates some complications, right? 00:08:39.360 --> 00:08:40.620 Technically, it's still illegal 00:08:40.620 --> 00:08:42.059 because we're under the Constitution. 00:08:42.580 --> 00:08:43.720 That's a whole other discussion. 00:08:44.559 --> 00:08:45.399 The point is this. 00:08:45.960 --> 00:08:48.019 There are contests right between laws. 00:08:48.220 --> 00:08:49.399 There's a Supremacy Clause, 00:08:49.519 --> 00:08:51.220 which means that some laws are greater than others. 00:08:51.620 --> 00:08:52.799 Constitution versus state. 00:08:53.139 --> 00:08:54.679 Constitution always wins. 00:08:55.200 --> 00:08:57.139 We see the same thing here 00:08:57.139 --> 00:08:58.799 going on in Daniel chapter six. 00:08:58.919 --> 00:09:02.639 We might say that there is a divine supremacy clause. 00:09:03.100 --> 00:09:07.779 In other words, God's laws always trump man's laws. 00:09:08.500 --> 00:09:10.100 And that's been set up for us 00:09:10.100 --> 00:09:11.620 with what we read in previous weeks. 00:09:11.679 --> 00:09:13.980 I'm gonna jump back with us to verse five. 00:09:14.399 --> 00:09:16.460 Remember when these men who are jealous of Daniel 00:09:16.460 --> 00:09:17.980 hatch this plot to get him. 00:09:18.379 --> 00:09:19.639 In verse five, they say this. 00:09:19.720 --> 00:09:22.919 We shall not find any ground for complaint against Daniel 00:09:22.919 --> 00:09:25.120 unless we find it in connection 00:09:25.120 --> 00:09:27.580 with the law of his God. 00:09:27.659 --> 00:09:28.740 By the way, there in verse five, 00:09:28.799 --> 00:09:31.659 that's our first instance of the word law. 00:09:31.919 --> 00:09:33.080 And this is the same concept 00:09:33.080 --> 00:09:34.600 we've talked about earlier in Daniel. 00:09:34.679 --> 00:09:36.779 Remember, I've told you about Acts chapter five, 00:09:37.159 --> 00:09:39.159 verse 29, where the apostles say, 00:09:39.580 --> 00:09:42.440 we must obey God rather than men. 00:09:43.340 --> 00:09:44.899 And so that gets us to our test. 00:09:46.580 --> 00:09:49.060 Injunction appears in this chapter how many times? 00:09:49.059 --> 00:09:53.099 It's seven. 00:09:54.299 --> 00:09:56.599 Okay, so there's four times in what we read today, 00:09:56.679 --> 00:09:58.259 seven times throughout the whole chapter. 00:09:58.759 --> 00:10:00.759 Law, I told you it appeared two times 00:10:00.759 --> 00:10:01.719 in verses one through 10. 00:10:01.919 --> 00:10:03.419 We saw it another two times. 00:10:03.500 --> 00:10:05.839 So we have seven injunction for law. 00:10:06.279 --> 00:10:07.519 The point is this. 00:10:08.199 --> 00:10:11.039 This chapter is setting up for us the question, 00:10:11.239 --> 00:10:13.019 whose law wins? 00:10:13.899 --> 00:10:16.279 Verse five, we see law for the first time. 00:10:16.279 --> 00:10:17.779 It's the law of his God. 00:10:18.159 --> 00:10:19.819 And then over and over and over, 00:10:19.919 --> 00:10:23.339 we hear about the laws and the injunctions of Darius. 00:10:24.459 --> 00:10:25.379 Whose law wins? 00:10:25.459 --> 00:10:26.639 Or we could put it another way. 00:10:26.799 --> 00:10:30.879 What do we do when God's laws and man's laws conflict? 00:10:32.259 --> 00:10:35.579 And that's what we're gonna see here in Daniel chapter six. 00:10:35.639 --> 00:10:37.139 And so we're gonna look at simply at two things. 00:10:37.220 --> 00:10:38.799 First of all, Daniel's obedience. 00:10:39.740 --> 00:10:41.839 And second, God's faithfulness. 00:10:42.519 --> 00:10:44.179 We're gonna look at Daniel's obedience 00:10:44.179 --> 00:10:46.259 and God's faithfulness. 00:10:46.739 --> 00:10:48.759 First, Daniel's obedience I mentioned already. 00:10:49.239 --> 00:10:51.879 Verse five, these men who want to catch Daniel, 00:10:51.939 --> 00:10:54.339 remember they're jealous of him because he's so successful. 00:10:54.659 --> 00:10:57.159 They know there's one way they can trap him 00:10:57.159 --> 00:10:58.439 and that's with the law of his God. 00:10:58.479 --> 00:11:00.679 And that tells us something already. 00:11:01.339 --> 00:11:03.799 Daniel is so known for his fate 00:11:03.799 --> 00:11:05.579 that it's obvious to these men 00:11:05.579 --> 00:11:07.839 that this is going to be an easy way to get him. 00:11:07.959 --> 00:11:10.419 There's no doubt in their mind as far as we can tell 00:11:10.419 --> 00:11:12.219 that this is going to be a successful plan. 00:11:12.220 --> 00:11:14.000 And even more than that, 00:11:14.060 --> 00:11:16.420 not only do they know this is the way they can get Daniel 00:11:16.420 --> 00:11:18.820 because he has this reputation for loving God 00:11:18.820 --> 00:11:19.740 and obeying his law, 00:11:19.940 --> 00:11:22.580 they know it's only going to take 30 days. 00:11:23.519 --> 00:11:26.720 Even 30 days is enough to force Daniel to break. 00:11:26.820 --> 00:11:28.480 That's what we see in verses six through nine. 00:11:29.060 --> 00:11:31.879 And then after this whole trap is set, 00:11:32.240 --> 00:11:34.120 everything they believe is confirmed, right? 00:11:34.160 --> 00:11:35.240 Because verse 10, 00:11:35.660 --> 00:11:37.840 Daniel hears about this new law being passed. 00:11:38.180 --> 00:11:39.980 He just continues what he's done before. 00:11:39.980 --> 00:11:41.720 Verse 10, it says, 00:11:41.860 --> 00:11:44.420 he did as he has done previously. 00:11:44.620 --> 00:11:45.920 Daniel just continues his practice. 00:11:46.399 --> 00:11:47.860 He prays three times a day. 00:11:47.899 --> 00:11:49.019 As we looked at last week, 00:11:49.340 --> 00:11:51.019 he keeps praying three times a day. 00:11:51.279 --> 00:11:52.680 Now, last week we talked about the fact 00:11:52.680 --> 00:11:53.759 that this was the practice 00:11:53.759 --> 00:11:56.139 that enabled Daniel to stand strong. 00:11:56.460 --> 00:11:57.720 He'd been praying for years. 00:11:57.800 --> 00:11:59.200 It had become a part of who he was. 00:11:59.259 --> 00:11:59.779 And this week, 00:12:00.080 --> 00:12:01.220 we'll emphasize a different part of it. 00:12:01.360 --> 00:12:02.600 He just continues it, right? 00:12:03.259 --> 00:12:05.000 It's not just that he's practiced it in the past, 00:12:05.019 --> 00:12:06.720 but he continues it in the present. 00:12:06.720 --> 00:12:09.720 And we've talked before about the variety of things 00:12:09.720 --> 00:12:12.000 that Daniel uses in response to government threats. 00:12:12.060 --> 00:12:12.720 He has a repertoire. 00:12:13.420 --> 00:12:15.160 So we saw in chapter one, for example, 00:12:15.300 --> 00:12:16.379 Daniel negotiates. 00:12:17.040 --> 00:12:18.360 He does a backroom deal 00:12:18.360 --> 00:12:20.820 so that he doesn't have to eat the king's food. 00:12:21.279 --> 00:12:23.300 Here, Daniel has a slightly different strategy. 00:12:23.379 --> 00:12:24.779 He doesn't strike a backroom deal. 00:12:25.180 --> 00:12:26.600 He just remains consistent. 00:12:27.519 --> 00:12:28.940 And there's something amazing about this. 00:12:29.080 --> 00:12:31.399 Daniel, he doesn't start doing more 00:12:31.399 --> 00:12:32.360 than he'd done before. 00:12:32.639 --> 00:12:34.920 He doesn't start doing less than he'd done before. 00:12:34.919 --> 00:12:38.639 In some ways, Daniel just continues completely unfazed. 00:12:38.740 --> 00:12:41.439 He doesn't increase or decrease his practice. 00:12:41.579 --> 00:12:42.979 He doesn't change his location. 00:12:43.620 --> 00:12:45.419 Daniel doesn't hide on the one hand. 00:12:46.059 --> 00:12:47.079 He also doesn't go out 00:12:47.079 --> 00:12:48.959 and have a public protest on the other hand. 00:12:49.240 --> 00:12:52.360 We don't find Daniel making a huge show, 00:12:52.439 --> 00:12:54.000 you know, out in the center of Babylon, 00:12:54.259 --> 00:12:56.719 praying so he can make sure everyone can see him. 00:12:57.199 --> 00:12:58.539 And on the other hand, he doesn't hide. 00:12:58.659 --> 00:13:00.179 Daniel just keeps doing what he's doing. 00:13:00.699 --> 00:13:03.240 And there's a lesson for us here as well 00:13:03.240 --> 00:13:04.840 as we think about what it looks like 00:13:04.840 --> 00:13:07.399 to live faithful lives in a foreign land. 00:13:08.320 --> 00:13:09.539 Daniel doesn't back down. 00:13:10.440 --> 00:13:13.279 He also doesn't go out of his way to be obnoxious. 00:13:14.000 --> 00:13:15.299 And I've talked about this before. 00:13:15.419 --> 00:13:17.620 There's a certain strain of American Christianity 00:13:17.620 --> 00:13:18.580 that will teach you 00:13:18.580 --> 00:13:21.220 that when there's something you don't like in the world, 00:13:21.340 --> 00:13:23.159 it's important for you to be as obnoxious 00:13:23.159 --> 00:13:24.139 as possible about it. 00:13:24.600 --> 00:13:26.480 It's important for you to go and protest 00:13:26.480 --> 00:13:29.620 and make sure everyone sees how angry you are. 00:13:30.740 --> 00:13:31.919 And yet Daniel models for us 00:13:31.919 --> 00:13:33.059 something here incredibly different. 00:13:33.179 --> 00:13:35.079 He just keeps doing what he's always done. 00:13:36.439 --> 00:13:38.139 And so again, there's a consistency. 00:13:38.319 --> 00:13:39.039 He's consistent. 00:13:39.279 --> 00:13:40.199 He's reliable. 00:13:40.360 --> 00:13:41.379 He has a reputation. 00:13:41.579 --> 00:13:43.879 These men know they can trap him in this way. 00:13:45.039 --> 00:13:46.759 And Daniel's not obnoxious. 00:13:48.299 --> 00:13:48.559 Okay? 00:13:49.459 --> 00:13:50.199 He's bold. 00:13:50.319 --> 00:13:50.919 He's firm. 00:13:51.059 --> 00:13:51.639 He's clear. 00:13:52.199 --> 00:13:54.759 And so that's part of what we see in verse 11. 00:13:54.879 --> 00:13:56.599 Both of those things are at work. 00:13:56.740 --> 00:13:58.559 These men come to trap him. 00:13:58.879 --> 00:13:59.759 And what do they have to do? 00:13:59.759 --> 00:14:02.120 On the one hand, they have to come and find him. 00:14:02.379 --> 00:14:02.500 Right? 00:14:02.899 --> 00:14:04.200 Daniel's not being obnoxious. 00:14:04.539 --> 00:14:07.779 On the other hand, they know that they can find him. 00:14:08.220 --> 00:14:10.639 Daniel's consistent, reliable, faithful. 00:14:11.419 --> 00:14:14.340 There's a sense in which Daniel's sort of separated 00:14:14.340 --> 00:14:16.019 from everything that's going on around him. 00:14:16.299 --> 00:14:18.139 He just ignores it and keeps going. 00:14:18.139 --> 00:14:22.840 And so that's exactly, of course, what these men tell the king. 00:14:22.960 --> 00:14:23.059 Right? 00:14:23.120 --> 00:14:23.740 Verse 13. 00:14:24.699 --> 00:14:28.799 One of the exiles from Judah, Daniel, pays no attention to you, O king, 00:14:29.019 --> 00:14:31.000 or the injunction you have signed. 00:14:32.120 --> 00:14:34.139 Daniel knows which law matters. 00:14:35.120 --> 00:14:36.840 Daniel knows who's in charge. 00:14:37.580 --> 00:14:38.659 Daniel has a perspective. 00:14:38.819 --> 00:14:38.919 Right? 00:14:38.980 --> 00:14:40.720 He knows who the great king is. 00:14:40.939 --> 00:14:43.299 He knows what the great kingdom is. 00:14:43.299 --> 00:14:47.159 And then finally, to drive this home, we see a word repeated in both verse 16 00:14:47.159 --> 00:14:50.199 and verse 20 that describes Daniel and his practice. 00:14:50.399 --> 00:14:53.240 Daniel does these things continually. 00:14:53.879 --> 00:14:54.579 Verse 16. 00:14:55.259 --> 00:14:56.879 And when Darius speaks to Daniel, he says, 00:14:57.019 --> 00:15:00.579 May your God, whom you serve, continually deliver you. 00:15:01.319 --> 00:15:02.159 Verse 20. 00:15:03.759 --> 00:15:04.839 The king again says, 00:15:04.839 --> 00:15:06.579 O Daniel, servant of the living God, 00:15:06.659 --> 00:15:12.120 has your God, whom you serve, continually been able to deliver you from the lions? 00:15:13.120 --> 00:15:15.060 So that's the lesson we have from Daniel here. 00:15:15.240 --> 00:15:17.080 When we have this conflict of laws, 00:15:17.799 --> 00:15:20.940 when the state forbids us from doing what God commands, 00:15:21.440 --> 00:15:23.080 we want to be Daniel-like people. 00:15:23.179 --> 00:15:26.600 We want to continue doing what we did before continually. 00:15:28.399 --> 00:15:31.519 If you know anything about military cemeteries, 00:15:31.519 --> 00:15:34.899 you know that perhaps the most well-known of all of them 00:15:34.899 --> 00:15:37.500 is Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. 00:15:38.139 --> 00:15:39.779 And it's known, of course, for being prestigious. 00:15:39.779 --> 00:15:43.799 It's also known because it's the place where there's the tomb of the unknown soldier. 00:15:44.199 --> 00:15:48.279 And the tomb of the unknown soldier is there for soldiers who have died in combat 00:15:48.279 --> 00:15:50.000 whose bodies have not been identified. 00:15:50.799 --> 00:15:53.000 And there's actually some soldiers like that who are buried there. 00:15:53.600 --> 00:15:57.559 What's even more famous about this monument is the guards who guard it. 00:15:58.839 --> 00:16:01.519 And they're called sentinels. 00:16:01.959 --> 00:16:04.079 They're from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment. 00:16:04.080 --> 00:16:09.780 And they have to go through this incredibly rigorous, demanding, highly selective process. 00:16:09.980 --> 00:16:13.860 Almost no one becomes a sentinel of the tomb of the unknown soldier. 00:16:14.820 --> 00:16:19.639 Because once they do, they have to do it continually. 00:16:20.100 --> 00:16:21.060 And this is what it looks like. 00:16:21.160 --> 00:16:24.500 No matter what happens, the tomb is always guarded. 00:16:25.500 --> 00:16:26.360 Is it snowing? 00:16:26.360 --> 00:16:26.419 No. 00:16:27.220 --> 00:16:29.720 The sentinels are marching around the tomb, guarding it. 00:16:30.519 --> 00:16:31.960 Is there a hurricane? 00:16:32.860 --> 00:16:35.600 The sentinels are marching around the tomb, guarding it. 00:16:35.940 --> 00:16:38.200 Is it 105 degrees outside? 00:16:38.820 --> 00:16:41.899 The sentinels are marching around the tomb, guarding it. 00:16:41.980 --> 00:16:44.840 There is nothing that pulls them off course. 00:16:44.860 --> 00:16:46.399 Because they have something more important, right? 00:16:46.500 --> 00:16:47.840 They have a higher task. 00:16:47.980 --> 00:16:49.620 None of those other things phase them. 00:16:49.680 --> 00:16:51.779 They don't ramp up when there's something bad. 00:16:51.820 --> 00:16:52.600 They don't ramp down. 00:16:52.600 --> 00:16:54.779 They continue their task. 00:16:56.300 --> 00:16:58.899 And so the point for us, brothers and sisters, is this. 00:16:58.980 --> 00:17:01.920 We want to be verse 20, verse 16 kind of people. 00:17:02.040 --> 00:17:04.620 People who serve our God continually. 00:17:04.620 --> 00:17:08.380 No matter what happens, everything else is a distraction. 00:17:10.140 --> 00:17:10.940 The state, right? 00:17:11.000 --> 00:17:13.059 This passage, by the way, it's about forbidden worship. 00:17:13.500 --> 00:17:14.620 They're told they can't pray. 00:17:14.860 --> 00:17:15.660 They need to pray. 00:17:15.980 --> 00:17:19.460 Now, this is going to be something that's experienced much more by our brothers and sisters 00:17:19.460 --> 00:17:22.579 around the world than it is for us here in the United States. 00:17:22.599 --> 00:17:25.480 And also, there are ways that we can relate to it, right? 00:17:25.939 --> 00:17:31.179 If the government comes and tells us that preaching the gospel is a form of hate speech, 00:17:31.240 --> 00:17:31.939 what are we going to do? 00:17:33.119 --> 00:17:36.399 We're going to continue serving our God continually. 00:17:37.359 --> 00:17:42.659 We're going to keep preaching the gospel the same way we did before. 00:17:43.759 --> 00:17:49.779 If the state comes and tells us we cannot speak out against sexual anarchy that's all around us, 00:17:49.819 --> 00:17:50.419 what are we going to do? 00:17:50.420 --> 00:17:54.140 We are going to serve our God continually. 00:17:54.660 --> 00:18:00.600 We are going to keep preaching and teaching God's beautiful design for our bodies and our sexuality. 00:18:01.300 --> 00:18:03.440 We're not going to be obnoxious about it. 00:18:03.980 --> 00:18:05.460 We're not going to do it less or more. 00:18:05.519 --> 00:18:06.500 We're just going to continue. 00:18:06.600 --> 00:18:07.380 We're going to be faithful. 00:18:07.900 --> 00:18:12.039 We are going to speak clearly about what God tells us in his word. 00:18:12.039 --> 00:18:18.339 No matter what happens, we have a higher loyalty. 00:18:19.940 --> 00:18:21.279 Is the church targeted? 00:18:21.440 --> 00:18:22.899 By the way, I've talked about this before. 00:18:23.279 --> 00:18:25.619 I don't think this happened for us in El Paso County. 00:18:25.899 --> 00:18:29.279 It probably did happen in other parts of the U.S. last year. 00:18:29.279 --> 00:18:43.700 If we're going to serve our God continually, we as the church, no matter what's happening around us, 00:18:43.700 --> 00:18:47.559 like sentinels around the tomb, we keep doing our thing. 00:18:47.559 --> 00:18:51.480 We keep obeying God. 00:18:51.579 --> 00:18:56.480 Now, if this sounds like a culture warrior, it is not one of my goals in life to be a culture warrior. 00:18:57.399 --> 00:19:00.460 However, that is kind of what's going on in this passage, right? 00:19:00.559 --> 00:19:04.899 Verse 5, they decide to target Daniel specifically because of his faith. 00:19:04.900 --> 00:19:09.040 So Daniel doesn't invite this, right, but it comes to him. 00:19:09.860 --> 00:19:12.060 And so there's a winsomeness here, right? 00:19:12.180 --> 00:19:14.360 Daniel, as I've said before, doesn't go out of his way to be a jerk. 00:19:15.060 --> 00:19:22.120 There's also a firmness, a steadfastness, because Daniel and we belong to a different kingdom. 00:19:23.600 --> 00:19:26.320 That's what we've been looking at over and over again, right? 00:19:26.460 --> 00:19:28.380 God rules and reigns over the nations. 00:19:29.040 --> 00:19:32.600 He's the one who's actually in control and in charge. 00:19:32.599 --> 00:19:35.359 So we've looked at Daniel's obedience. 00:19:35.639 --> 00:19:39.919 Daniel trusts, right, that the divine supremacy clause is going to win. 00:19:39.980 --> 00:19:43.000 He trusts that God is going to protect him. 00:19:43.980 --> 00:19:47.939 And of course, Daniel is not disappointed, which brings us not just Daniel's obedience, 00:19:47.939 --> 00:19:50.219 but also God's faithfulness. 00:19:50.980 --> 00:19:53.599 We see God's faithfulness at the very beginning of this chapter. 00:19:53.719 --> 00:19:57.279 We were reminded in verse 3 that Daniel had an excellent spirit in him. 00:19:57.359 --> 00:20:01.699 That's what we talked about two weeks ago, the fact that Daniel was this excellent faithful worker. 00:20:01.700 --> 00:20:04.940 And we know from earlier parts of Daniel this was the spirit of God in him. 00:20:05.259 --> 00:20:07.660 So God's already at work in the beginning of this chapter, 00:20:07.799 --> 00:20:11.299 empowering and enabling Daniel to be excellent in his work. 00:20:11.840 --> 00:20:16.759 But we see God's faithfulness as well in an unexpected way here. 00:20:16.799 --> 00:20:18.220 We actually see it by contrast. 00:20:18.740 --> 00:20:20.240 Not just in Daniel. 00:20:20.400 --> 00:20:24.460 We actually see it in the fact that Darius is a nervous wreck. 00:20:24.460 --> 00:20:27.360 So you may have picked up on this. 00:20:28.759 --> 00:20:32.220 Darius is an emotional basket case here. 00:20:32.319 --> 00:20:33.019 Verse 14, 00:20:33.799 --> 00:20:37.799 The king, when he heard these words, was much distressed and set his mind to deliver Daniel. 00:20:38.140 --> 00:20:40.420 And he labored till the sun went down to rescue him. 00:20:40.480 --> 00:20:41.980 So Darius finds out what's going to happen. 00:20:42.120 --> 00:20:43.279 He's distressed. 00:20:43.519 --> 00:20:45.299 He's running around trying to fix the problem. 00:20:46.220 --> 00:20:48.319 And there's an irony here that we're going to see, right? 00:20:48.400 --> 00:20:50.200 Here's the man who's supposed to be powerful. 00:20:50.200 --> 00:20:52.819 And everyone's supposed to pray to him, right? 00:20:54.480 --> 00:20:57.580 And he's the one who's anxious and out of control. 00:20:57.720 --> 00:21:00.519 That continues not just in verse 14, but in verse 15. 00:21:01.680 --> 00:21:03.180 His men come to him and remind him, 00:21:03.240 --> 00:21:04.400 Hey, we see you running around. 00:21:05.240 --> 00:21:07.000 We know you're trying to get Daniel out. 00:21:07.100 --> 00:21:07.539 Guess what? 00:21:07.900 --> 00:21:08.600 You can't. 00:21:09.140 --> 00:21:10.440 You already bound yourself. 00:21:11.100 --> 00:21:14.299 And then the consequences for him come true in verse 16. 00:21:14.299 --> 00:21:20.639 We see that this powerful king, excuse me, verse 18. 00:21:21.379 --> 00:21:23.639 The king went to his palace and spent the night fasting. 00:21:23.859 --> 00:21:27.980 No diversions were brought to him and sleep fled from him. 00:21:30.480 --> 00:21:35.159 This man, who's the most powerful human in this situation, can't sleep. 00:21:36.200 --> 00:21:39.639 Now, we're not told what Daniel is doing that night, but we can imagine. 00:21:39.640 --> 00:21:44.740 This powerful man who has given this punishment, who's asked people to, 00:21:44.860 --> 00:21:49.080 commanded people to pray only to him, is in a palace unable to sleep. 00:21:49.300 --> 00:21:52.600 Daniel, on the other hand, who belongs to God, who has trusted in him 00:21:52.600 --> 00:21:58.420 and has confidence in his faithfulness, is most likely getting a great night's sleep in the lion's den. 00:21:59.020 --> 00:22:00.020 Now, we're not told. 00:22:00.120 --> 00:22:01.860 I think that's, in fact, part of the point here, 00:22:02.140 --> 00:22:04.520 is there's no even mention of what's going on with Daniel, 00:22:04.560 --> 00:22:07.500 but we can imagine maybe he's snuggling up with a lion for a pillow. 00:22:07.500 --> 00:22:11.579 And so, brothers and sisters, the point is this. 00:22:11.720 --> 00:22:16.799 It is better to be in a lion's den and belong to God 00:22:16.799 --> 00:22:20.220 than to be in a palace far away from him. 00:22:21.380 --> 00:22:25.000 It is better to be in a lion's den and belong to God 00:22:25.000 --> 00:22:27.599 than be in a palace far away from him. 00:22:27.740 --> 00:22:28.900 Daniel knows this. 00:22:29.019 --> 00:22:32.640 This is why he's able to be faithful and obedient. 00:22:32.640 --> 00:22:37.700 Darius does not know God in that way. 00:22:38.600 --> 00:22:42.040 And so that's why, despite his power and his wealth and his comfort, 00:22:42.560 --> 00:22:44.240 he cannot sleep. 00:22:45.840 --> 00:22:48.700 Despite all odds and against all appearances, 00:22:49.020 --> 00:22:52.540 God's servants are the ones who are safe. 00:22:54.120 --> 00:22:56.880 Despite all odds and against all appearances, 00:22:57.120 --> 00:23:00.420 God's servants are the ones who are actually safe. 00:23:00.420 --> 00:23:03.820 And we see the climax of this chapter. 00:23:03.960 --> 00:23:05.380 The king, of course, can't sleep. 00:23:06.080 --> 00:23:08.860 Verse 19, as soon as the sun's up, he's up. 00:23:09.420 --> 00:23:10.980 He goes in haste to the den of lions. 00:23:11.700 --> 00:23:14.519 Verse 20, he has this question, by the way, 00:23:14.759 --> 00:23:16.860 we, many of us are familiar with this story, 00:23:16.900 --> 00:23:18.800 but if you imagine you're reading it for the first time, 00:23:19.200 --> 00:23:20.840 we don't know what's going on with Daniel. 00:23:20.980 --> 00:23:23.220 Part of the reason we're not told about his lion pillow 00:23:23.220 --> 00:23:25.320 is because we're meant to have this tension. 00:23:25.420 --> 00:23:26.700 We're not sure what's happening with him, right? 00:23:27.340 --> 00:23:29.220 So verse 20, he asks this question, 00:23:29.220 --> 00:23:31.000 has your God, whom you serve continually, 00:23:31.000 --> 00:23:34.079 been able to deliver you from the lions? 00:23:34.140 --> 00:23:36.079 And we see the resolution here, verse 22. 00:23:36.259 --> 00:23:39.180 My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths, 00:23:39.559 --> 00:23:40.900 and they have not harmed me, 00:23:41.240 --> 00:23:44.079 because I was found blameless before him. 00:23:44.640 --> 00:23:47.920 And also before you, O king, I have done no harm. 00:23:48.920 --> 00:23:50.059 And so God's faithfulness, 00:23:50.140 --> 00:23:52.799 we see it not just in the fact that Darius is the one, 00:23:53.319 --> 00:23:55.779 ironically, comically, who's anxious. 00:23:55.779 --> 00:23:58.119 We also see it in God's clear deliverance. 00:23:58.200 --> 00:24:00.059 He sends an angel to Daniel, 00:24:00.579 --> 00:24:02.339 and he finds Daniel blameless. 00:24:02.559 --> 00:24:04.839 In other words, Daniel is saying this, 00:24:06.200 --> 00:24:07.660 there are two laws, 00:24:08.000 --> 00:24:10.160 and there's one great judge. 00:24:11.319 --> 00:24:13.899 That great judge has heard this case, 00:24:14.160 --> 00:24:17.399 and he has found me blameless. 00:24:18.619 --> 00:24:19.779 You might think about it this way. 00:24:19.859 --> 00:24:21.819 The Supreme Court finally weighed in, 00:24:21.879 --> 00:24:22.619 and guess who won? 00:24:22.619 --> 00:24:24.859 Daniel won. 00:24:26.259 --> 00:24:28.539 The lesser court, the state, lost. 00:24:29.259 --> 00:24:31.019 The real law wins. 00:24:31.639 --> 00:24:33.119 The true judge weighs in. 00:24:34.139 --> 00:24:35.519 The real law wins, 00:24:35.539 --> 00:24:37.759 because the true judge weighs in. 00:24:37.819 --> 00:24:40.459 And we see that Darius recognizes this, 00:24:40.539 --> 00:24:41.359 verse 27. 00:24:41.939 --> 00:24:43.259 He delivers and rescues. 00:24:43.379 --> 00:24:46.139 He works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth. 00:24:46.539 --> 00:24:49.719 He who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions. 00:24:49.720 --> 00:24:53.220 And there's a sense in which Darius also, 00:24:53.360 --> 00:24:54.000 verse 26, 00:24:54.120 --> 00:24:55.500 recognizes God's power, 00:24:55.960 --> 00:24:57.680 as these pagan kings have over and over 00:24:57.680 --> 00:24:58.519 in the book of Daniel. 00:24:59.120 --> 00:25:00.079 He's the living God, 00:25:00.180 --> 00:25:00.839 enduring forever. 00:25:01.420 --> 00:25:03.059 His kingdom shall never be destroyed, 00:25:03.160 --> 00:25:05.960 and his dominion shall be to the end. 00:25:07.400 --> 00:25:08.819 And so the point here is simple, 00:25:08.860 --> 00:25:10.900 and it's the point that we have in verse 23. 00:25:11.519 --> 00:25:13.960 God delivers those who trust in him. 00:25:13.960 --> 00:25:19.039 God delivers those who trust in him. 00:25:21.360 --> 00:25:24.900 We see that literally at the very end of verse 23. 00:25:25.480 --> 00:25:26.960 No kind of harm was found on him, 00:25:27.079 --> 00:25:30.000 because he had trusted in his God. 00:25:30.740 --> 00:25:31.740 Brothers and sisters, 00:25:31.740 --> 00:25:33.579 we are able to stand firm, 00:25:33.660 --> 00:25:35.980 because we know, like Daniel, 00:25:36.180 --> 00:25:37.380 who is really in charge. 00:25:37.380 --> 00:25:42.420 We are able to follow and serve God continually, 00:25:42.420 --> 00:25:45.220 because we know who the true king is, 00:25:45.320 --> 00:25:49.160 and we know what the great kingdom is as well. 00:25:50.200 --> 00:25:50.920 And so we, 00:25:51.660 --> 00:25:53.100 not just being faithful like Daniel, 00:25:53.180 --> 00:25:54.620 but we remember and we believe, 00:25:54.760 --> 00:25:55.900 who is really in charge, 00:25:56.340 --> 00:25:57.420 who actually has the power. 00:25:58.500 --> 00:26:00.340 We remember who's really in charge, 00:26:00.700 --> 00:26:02.680 and we know who actually has the power. 00:26:02.780 --> 00:26:03.840 Remember I've mentioned before, 00:26:03.839 --> 00:26:06.500 the summary that Daniel provides us of his book. 00:26:06.980 --> 00:26:08.519 Daniel chapter 11, verse 32. 00:26:08.639 --> 00:26:10.339 The people who know their God 00:26:10.339 --> 00:26:12.659 shall stand firm and take action. 00:26:13.720 --> 00:26:14.759 And that's what we see here. 00:26:14.919 --> 00:26:16.459 Daniel knows his God, 00:26:16.819 --> 00:26:17.779 he stands firm, 00:26:17.959 --> 00:26:18.939 and he takes action. 00:26:19.039 --> 00:26:20.959 The same we want to be true of us. 00:26:21.099 --> 00:26:23.559 We want to know our God as well, 00:26:23.639 --> 00:26:26.179 so that we can stand firm and take action. 00:26:27.539 --> 00:26:29.419 Daniel is not just obedient, 00:26:29.639 --> 00:26:31.399 but God is faithful. 00:26:31.519 --> 00:26:31.859 And remember, 00:26:32.000 --> 00:26:33.659 part of the reason Daniel's able to remember 00:26:33.660 --> 00:26:34.580 this to stay focused. 00:26:34.680 --> 00:26:35.160 We talked about it last week. 00:26:35.500 --> 00:26:36.080 Verse 10, 00:26:36.519 --> 00:26:38.140 he sets his eyes towards Jerusalem. 00:26:39.440 --> 00:26:42.240 He sets his eyes towards the city of God, 00:26:42.700 --> 00:26:46.460 the place where God's king truly dwells. 00:26:49.460 --> 00:26:52.279 Now I alluded to this earlier in our worship service, 00:26:52.279 --> 00:26:54.180 and we saw it a little bit in our Hebrews passage, 00:26:54.180 --> 00:26:55.279 and it's kind of a question 00:26:55.279 --> 00:26:58.320 that's been in the background for all of Daniel, 00:26:58.380 --> 00:26:58.800 and it's this, 00:26:59.140 --> 00:27:00.620 what if God doesn't deliver? 00:27:00.619 --> 00:27:01.119 Yes, 00:27:01.119 --> 00:27:05.779 God delivered Daniel out of the lion's den here. 00:27:06.579 --> 00:27:06.979 Yes, 00:27:07.299 --> 00:27:08.179 Daniel chapter three, 00:27:08.599 --> 00:27:08.959 Shadrach, 00:27:09.039 --> 00:27:09.319 Meshach, 00:27:09.379 --> 00:27:11.179 and Abednego were delivered from the fire. 00:27:12.119 --> 00:27:13.619 But what if they weren't? 00:27:15.799 --> 00:27:17.479 What if we are like Daniel, 00:27:17.599 --> 00:27:18.239 we're obedient, 00:27:18.779 --> 00:27:21.759 and we don't see God's faithfulness in this way, 00:27:21.799 --> 00:27:22.679 we just lose? 00:27:23.519 --> 00:27:23.719 Right? 00:27:23.759 --> 00:27:25.239 What if Daniel had been eaten by the lions? 00:27:26.220 --> 00:27:26.480 Well, 00:27:26.519 --> 00:27:28.200 the Bible's not unaware of this, 00:27:28.279 --> 00:27:28.440 right? 00:27:28.480 --> 00:27:30.880 We read this passage from Hebrews this morning. 00:27:30.980 --> 00:27:32.000 David read it for us, 00:27:32.140 --> 00:27:34.500 and it references both realities. 00:27:34.660 --> 00:27:37.240 It references us being delivered right now, 00:27:37.359 --> 00:27:40.059 and it references us being delivered in the future. 00:27:40.140 --> 00:27:40.400 In fact, 00:27:40.440 --> 00:27:41.980 it alludes directly to Daniel. 00:27:41.980 --> 00:27:44.160 If you go back on page four of your worship guide, 00:27:44.700 --> 00:27:45.940 the end of verse 33, 00:27:45.940 --> 00:27:48.579 it talks about those who stopped the mouths of lions. 00:27:49.380 --> 00:27:52.420 So it recognizes there are people like Daniel whom God delivers. 00:27:52.420 --> 00:27:58.980 It also recognizes there are people who don't experience that level of victory here and now. 00:27:59.039 --> 00:28:00.279 We saw it in verse 35. 00:28:00.960 --> 00:28:01.880 Some were tortured, 00:28:02.039 --> 00:28:03.460 refusing to accept release, 00:28:03.840 --> 00:28:07.759 so that they might rise again to a better life. 00:28:09.060 --> 00:28:10.100 In other words, 00:28:10.160 --> 00:28:15.120 there are places like Daniel where we see glimpses and samples of what is to come. 00:28:15.720 --> 00:28:18.759 We don't always experience that in the here and now, 00:28:18.759 --> 00:28:22.259 but we look forward to it knowing we will have it one day. 00:28:22.420 --> 00:28:24.640 So Hebrews is incredibly realistic for us, 00:28:25.000 --> 00:28:25.240 right? 00:28:25.779 --> 00:28:27.539 God delivers in part now. 00:28:27.700 --> 00:28:30.819 He delivers fully and finally in the future. 00:28:31.680 --> 00:28:32.740 And so what we have here, 00:28:32.799 --> 00:28:33.660 some people have pointed out, 00:28:33.720 --> 00:28:34.700 is a picture, 00:28:35.119 --> 00:28:37.960 a foreshadowing of what the end of the world will look like. 00:28:38.920 --> 00:28:40.759 Daniel delivered from judgment, 00:28:41.059 --> 00:28:41.259 right? 00:28:41.759 --> 00:28:43.379 Daniel stops the mouths of the lions. 00:28:43.380 --> 00:28:46.220 His accusers given over to judgment. 00:28:46.680 --> 00:28:49.540 The lions devour them before they can reach the bottom of the den. 00:28:50.980 --> 00:28:54.780 And so while we don't see always that kind of deliverance here and now, 00:28:54.880 --> 00:29:00.640 we have a picture in Daniel of what God's deliverance looks like fully and finally. 00:29:01.280 --> 00:29:06.120 We know that one day he will come and bring his kingdom in full. 00:29:06.500 --> 00:29:08.080 This first 26 kingdom, 00:29:08.200 --> 00:29:09.740 the kingdom that shall never be destroyed, 00:29:09.960 --> 00:29:12.240 and this dominion that shall be to the end. 00:29:12.240 --> 00:29:15.140 And so no matter what happens now, 00:29:15.400 --> 00:29:17.180 we continue like Daniel, 00:29:17.319 --> 00:29:18.720 obedient and faithful. 00:29:18.940 --> 00:29:21.640 We continue to serve God continually. 00:29:23.099 --> 00:29:25.680 And we trust God's deliverance, 00:29:25.900 --> 00:29:27.920 even as we only see it in part. 00:29:27.980 --> 00:29:30.220 And we trust it first and foremost, 00:29:30.220 --> 00:29:33.299 because we have seen God's greatest deliverance already. 00:29:33.680 --> 00:29:36.740 We know about the deliverance that God has brought about 00:29:36.740 --> 00:29:38.500 because of our Savior, 00:29:38.680 --> 00:29:39.259 Jesus Christ, 00:29:39.339 --> 00:29:42.019 whom he sent to live as a man on this earth, 00:29:42.019 --> 00:29:44.019 to live the perfect life we should have lived, 00:29:44.240 --> 00:29:46.799 and to die the death that we should have died. 00:29:47.019 --> 00:29:49.279 He took our sins on his behalf, 00:29:49.400 --> 00:29:50.639 and in doing that, 00:29:50.720 --> 00:29:52.660 he delivered us from death. 00:29:52.920 --> 00:29:53.740 In other words, 00:29:53.900 --> 00:29:56.519 Jesus went to his own type of den. 00:29:56.680 --> 00:29:57.920 He was not delivered 00:29:57.920 --> 00:30:00.279 so that we could be. 00:30:00.279 --> 00:30:02.879 Daniel did not face death. 00:30:02.879 --> 00:30:04.220 Jesus did. 00:30:05.599 --> 00:30:09.720 And so we know of God's great deliverance in the past. 00:30:09.839 --> 00:30:12.059 We can have total and complete confidence 00:30:12.059 --> 00:30:13.819 in his deliverance now 00:30:13.819 --> 00:30:16.119 and in his deliverance in the future. 00:30:16.379 --> 00:30:18.279 We know what is coming, 00:30:18.440 --> 00:30:19.539 and we trust it 00:30:19.539 --> 00:30:22.000 because of what God has already done. 00:30:22.000 --> 00:30:25.619 And that trust and confidence 00:30:25.619 --> 00:30:29.279 is only for those who have faith in Jesus Christ. 00:30:30.019 --> 00:30:31.759 And so Daniel models for us 00:30:31.759 --> 00:30:33.539 what it looks like to trust God. 00:30:33.980 --> 00:30:35.900 Those accusing him show us what happens 00:30:35.900 --> 00:30:37.359 to those who do not trust God. 00:30:37.480 --> 00:30:39.319 And that brings us back to the question 00:30:39.319 --> 00:30:40.920 that we've seen over and over, 00:30:41.000 --> 00:30:41.579 which is this, 00:30:41.839 --> 00:30:43.640 if God rules and reigns over the nations, 00:30:43.640 --> 00:30:45.519 if he is coming to bring his kingdom 00:30:45.519 --> 00:30:47.099 that has no end, 00:30:47.099 --> 00:30:49.519 which kingdom do you belong to? 00:30:50.859 --> 00:30:53.639 Do you belong to the kingdom that Daniel is in, 00:30:53.679 --> 00:30:55.819 the kingdom of faith in Jesus Christ, 00:30:55.980 --> 00:30:58.619 or do you belong to the kingdom of this world? 00:30:59.299 --> 00:31:00.879 If you are like Daniel, 00:31:01.159 --> 00:31:03.459 you will be delivered from the pit. 00:31:04.519 --> 00:31:05.759 If you are not, 00:31:06.079 --> 00:31:06.980 you will be devoured. 00:31:08.219 --> 00:31:12.019 There is a picture here of God's final judgment. 00:31:13.379 --> 00:31:14.959 And so if you are not like Daniel, 00:31:15.039 --> 00:31:16.859 if you're not a verse 23 kind of person, 00:31:16.859 --> 00:31:19.099 a person who had trusted in his God, 00:31:19.179 --> 00:31:20.539 remember, as I've mentioned before, 00:31:20.639 --> 00:31:22.859 the time to repent is now. 00:31:23.000 --> 00:31:24.899 No one knows the day or the hour 00:31:24.899 --> 00:31:27.279 when they will leave this earth and face our Lord. 00:31:27.619 --> 00:31:31.779 And so we must embrace faith and repentance in Jesus Christ, 00:31:31.859 --> 00:31:35.199 knowing that he's the only one who can cover our sins. 00:31:35.359 --> 00:31:37.659 He is the one who represents us before God 00:31:37.659 --> 00:31:40.000 because we know that outside of him, 00:31:40.139 --> 00:31:42.179 we do deserve to be eaten up. 00:31:42.180 --> 00:31:47.320 It is Daniel's trust in God's power 00:31:47.320 --> 00:31:51.080 and ultimately God's power that delivers him. 00:31:51.079 --> 00:31:58.419 We've talked about the deliverance and the judgment 00:31:58.419 --> 00:32:00.539 that we see in the future. 00:32:00.639 --> 00:32:02.679 We've seen Jesus in the past. 00:32:03.799 --> 00:32:07.439 We've talked about the fact that Jesus also was put in a pit 00:32:07.439 --> 00:32:10.379 and he, unlike us, faced death. 00:32:11.439 --> 00:32:15.039 We're also given a picture of the great reversal 00:32:15.039 --> 00:32:16.659 that's going to happen at the end of the world. 00:32:16.660 --> 00:32:19.640 In the end of the book of Revelation in chapter 20, 00:32:19.840 --> 00:32:21.720 we're told about another pit 00:32:21.720 --> 00:32:24.200 and another person who's thrown into it. 00:32:24.320 --> 00:32:26.580 Verses 2 and 3, we're told about a dragon 00:32:26.580 --> 00:32:30.220 who represents Satan that is thrown into a pit 00:32:30.220 --> 00:32:32.140 so that it no longer has power. 00:32:33.660 --> 00:32:36.660 In other words, the nations of this world 00:32:36.660 --> 00:32:39.800 will throw God's people into a pit for a time. 00:32:40.720 --> 00:32:44.560 One day, God will throw Satan himself into a pit. 00:32:44.559 --> 00:32:49.480 There will be a great and full and final resolution. 00:32:49.659 --> 00:32:52.220 And there's a sense in which Satan is already in that pit. 00:32:52.519 --> 00:32:55.099 He's already restrained in this world, right? 00:32:55.940 --> 00:32:58.799 The gospel now goes forward out to all the nations. 00:33:00.419 --> 00:33:02.319 And so that's our hope and our confidence. 00:33:02.399 --> 00:33:04.879 As we look to be obedient people like Daniel's obedient, 00:33:05.339 --> 00:33:07.019 and we look to God's faithfulness 00:33:07.019 --> 00:33:09.899 as Daniel looked to God's faithfulness. 00:33:09.900 --> 00:33:14.259 I mentioned a couple weeks ago 00:33:14.259 --> 00:33:16.700 the movie Ford versus Ferrari. 00:33:17.100 --> 00:33:19.500 And if you're familiar with racing fast cars 00:33:19.500 --> 00:33:20.480 and driving at high speeds, 00:33:20.540 --> 00:33:22.200 I hope most of you are not that familiar with that. 00:33:23.140 --> 00:33:25.620 But if you are, you know there's certain strategies 00:33:25.620 --> 00:33:27.160 that you have if you're going to be successful. 00:33:27.420 --> 00:33:30.500 If you're driving a car at 100 or 200 miles per hour, 00:33:30.840 --> 00:33:32.040 where are your eyes going to be? 00:33:34.200 --> 00:33:36.960 Hopefully your eyes are in the distance, right? 00:33:36.960 --> 00:33:38.360 They're not in the foreground. 00:33:39.340 --> 00:33:42.059 You want your eyes to be as far ahead as possible 00:33:42.059 --> 00:33:43.600 because wherever you're looking, 00:33:44.100 --> 00:33:47.819 you are going to be there before too long. 00:33:48.920 --> 00:33:52.279 Brothers and sisters, as we live life in this world, 00:33:52.680 --> 00:33:54.640 facing the challenges of governments 00:33:54.640 --> 00:33:56.680 and authorities and dominions, 00:33:56.920 --> 00:34:00.920 we keep our eyes in the distance, not the foreground. 00:34:01.700 --> 00:34:06.039 Because we know we're going to be there before too long. 00:34:07.000 --> 00:34:11.199 We keep our eyes focused on Christ and his kingdom, 00:34:11.519 --> 00:34:14.559 making decisions now that end us there, 00:34:14.639 --> 00:34:17.639 not distracted by what's going on to the left and the right, 00:34:17.880 --> 00:34:19.779 not distracted by what's in the foreground, 00:34:19.779 --> 00:34:23.219 but keeping ourselves centered and dialed in 00:34:23.219 --> 00:34:25.679 on the future that God has for us 00:34:25.679 --> 00:34:30.139 because we know before too long we will be there. 00:34:31.259 --> 00:34:33.219 And so we remember the words of our Lord 00:34:33.219 --> 00:34:34.480 in Matthew chapter 16, 00:34:34.599 --> 00:34:37.259 for whoever would save his life will lose it, 00:34:37.599 --> 00:34:40.980 but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 00:34:41.739 --> 00:34:44.539 We look at our destination and we stay the course 00:34:44.539 --> 00:34:47.239 because we know that our God is faithful 00:34:47.239 --> 00:34:48.859 and he will deliver us. 00:34:49.359 --> 00:34:53.579 And so we want verse 23 to be true of us. 00:34:54.359 --> 00:34:56.399 No kind of harm was found on him 00:34:56.399 --> 00:34:59.059 because he had trusted in his God. 00:34:59.059 --> 00:35:00.519 Let's pray. 00:35:02.239 --> 00:35:03.259 Our Father in heaven, 00:35:03.360 --> 00:35:05.320 we thank you again for your word 00:35:05.320 --> 00:35:07.460 and we ask that you would use this story, 00:35:08.059 --> 00:35:10.619 the story that is true and reliable 00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:12.860 to strengthen our faith and our resolve, 00:35:13.119 --> 00:35:14.559 that we would know our God, 00:35:14.619 --> 00:35:15.420 we would know you, 00:35:15.880 --> 00:35:18.559 and so we would be able to stand firm and take action. 00:35:18.900 --> 00:35:21.360 We ask these things in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. 00:35:21.759 --> 00:35:21.980 Amen. 00:35:22.019 --> 00:35:22.159 Amen. 00:35:22.159 --> 00:35:25.960 I invite you to stand for our closing hymn. 00:35:25.960 --> 00:35:26.299 Amen.