WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.879 Good morning, church. 00:00:05.960 --> 00:00:10.120 We are looking at Daniel chapter 6 this morning. 00:00:13.359 --> 00:00:14.859 Go ahead and turn there with me. 00:00:14.919 --> 00:00:17.760 That's page 743 in the Pew Bible. 00:00:19.940 --> 00:00:22.800 Daniel chapter 6, we're going to look at this whole chapter this morning. 00:00:26.719 --> 00:00:28.199 Page 743. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:38.120 If you're new to the Bible, the big numbers are the chapters and the small numbers are the verses. 00:00:39.539 --> 00:00:40.840 Daniel chapter 6. 00:00:42.539 --> 00:00:44.939 Let me read this text for us. 00:00:49.560 --> 00:00:55.159 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps to be throughout the whole kingdom. 00:00:55.159 --> 00:01:05.340 And over them, three high officials of whom Daniel was one, to whom these satraps should give an account so that the king might suffer no loss. 00:01:05.340 --> 00:01:12.780 Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps because an excellent spirit was in him. 00:01:14.100 --> 00:01:17.260 And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. 00:01:17.260 --> 00:01:24.080 Then the high officials and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom. 00:01:24.300 --> 00:01:28.020 But they could find no ground for complaint or any fault because he was faithful. 00:01:28.520 --> 00:01:30.700 And no error or fault was found in him. 00:01:31.939 --> 00:01:33.100 Then these men said, 00:01:33.099 --> 00:01:45.039 Then these high officials and satraps came by agreement to the king and said to him, 00:01:45.040 --> 00:01:46.500 O king Darius, live forever. 00:01:47.120 --> 00:02:00.540 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 30 days except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. 00:02:01.439 --> 00:02:08.920 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. 00:02:10.100 --> 00:02:13.080 Therefore, King Darius signed the document and injunction. 00:02:13.080 --> 00:02:22.240 When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. 00:02:23.080 --> 00:02:29.980 He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God as he had done previously. 00:02:31.480 --> 00:02:35.520 Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and plea before his God. 00:02:36.200 --> 00:02:38.700 Then they came near and said before the king concerning the injunction, 00:02:38.699 --> 00:02:46.579 O king, did you not sign an injunction that anyone who makes petition to any god or man within 30 days except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? 00:02:47.399 --> 00:02:48.459 The king answered and said, 00:02:48.699 --> 00:02:52.379 The thing stands fast according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked. 00:02:53.139 --> 00:02:54.639 Then they answered and said before the king, 00:02:54.719 --> 00:03:00.479 O Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, 00:03:01.199 --> 00:03:02.599 or the injunction you have signed, 00:03:02.939 --> 00:03:04.839 but makes his petition three times a day. 00:03:04.840 --> 00:03:11.840 Then the king, when he heard these words, was much distressed and set his mind to deliver Daniel. 00:03:12.740 --> 00:03:15.500 And he labored till the sun went down to rescue him. 00:03:16.240 --> 00:03:19.140 Then these men came by agreement to the king and said to the king, 00:03:19.340 --> 00:03:25.980 Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or ordinance that the king establishes can be changed. 00:03:27.759 --> 00:03:31.620 Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. 00:03:31.620 --> 00:03:35.599 The king declared to Daniel, May your God, whom you serve, continually deliver you. 00:03:36.020 --> 00:03:38.039 And a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, 00:03:38.099 --> 00:03:41.259 and the king sealed it with his own signet and with a signet of his lord's, 00:03:41.259 --> 00:03:43.300 that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. 00:03:43.860 --> 00:03:47.120 Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting. 00:03:47.920 --> 00:03:51.400 No diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him. 00:03:53.439 --> 00:03:56.980 Then at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions. 00:03:56.979 --> 00:04:01.659 As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. 00:04:01.780 --> 00:04:04.479 The king declared to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, 00:04:04.859 --> 00:04:08.259 has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions? 00:04:09.699 --> 00:04:13.280 Then Daniel said to the king, O king, live forever. 00:04:14.439 --> 00:04:18.039 My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not harmed me, 00:04:18.459 --> 00:04:20.300 because I was found blameless before him. 00:04:20.920 --> 00:04:23.599 And also before you, O king, I have done no harm. 00:04:23.600 --> 00:04:28.840 Then the king was exceedingly glad and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. 00:04:29.540 --> 00:04:32.580 So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, 00:04:32.620 --> 00:04:34.240 because he had trusted in his God. 00:04:35.500 --> 00:04:38.379 And the king commanded, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel 00:04:38.379 --> 00:04:41.700 were brought and cast into the den of lions, they, their children, and their wives. 00:04:42.260 --> 00:04:45.200 And before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them 00:04:45.200 --> 00:04:47.220 and broke all their bones in pieces. 00:04:48.360 --> 00:04:52.000 Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages 00:04:52.000 --> 00:04:55.980 that dwell in all the earth, peace be multiplied to you. 00:04:56.779 --> 00:04:59.959 I make a decree that in all my royal dominion, 00:05:00.019 --> 00:05:02.620 people are to tremble in fear before the God of Daniel, 00:05:03.279 --> 00:05:06.360 for he is the living God, enduring forever. 00:05:07.319 --> 00:05:11.439 His kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end. 00:05:12.199 --> 00:05:13.579 He delivers and rescues. 00:05:14.120 --> 00:05:16.480 He works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth. 00:05:16.480 --> 00:05:20.920 He who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions. 00:05:22.600 --> 00:05:27.439 So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian. 00:05:28.200 --> 00:05:29.200 Let's pray together. 00:05:29.199 --> 00:05:39.479 Lord, we ask that you would grant us in these few moments as we've come before you, 00:05:40.099 --> 00:05:42.259 and as we are now attending to your word. 00:05:43.039 --> 00:05:48.159 God, we ask that by your Holy Spirit, you would allow our hearts to be open 00:05:48.159 --> 00:05:51.120 to what this text has to say to us. 00:05:52.639 --> 00:05:56.659 Lord, you tell us that your word is living and active and sharp like a sword, 00:05:56.660 --> 00:06:00.680 that it burrows down into the deep recesses of our souls, 00:06:00.920 --> 00:06:03.320 and Lord, shows us what lies there. 00:06:04.400 --> 00:06:06.880 So God, we pray that that would be the case this morning, 00:06:07.680 --> 00:06:10.660 that you would uncover our hearts before you, 00:06:11.720 --> 00:06:15.240 help us to see you, Lord Jesus, in your glory and in your grace, 00:06:16.580 --> 00:06:20.580 and in worshiping you, Lord, may we be changed more and more into your image. 00:06:22.020 --> 00:06:23.580 We ask this in Christ's name. 00:06:23.780 --> 00:06:24.000 Amen. 00:06:26.660 --> 00:06:34.180 Well, friends, I wonder if you've ever been in the place where you've had to stand alone. 00:06:36.520 --> 00:06:40.660 In the fourth century, the church leader Athanasius was in a place a bit like that. 00:06:42.420 --> 00:06:47.720 In his day, something called Arianism, a teaching that Jesus wasn't fully God, 00:06:48.080 --> 00:06:51.320 that is of one substance with the Father, but a lesser created being. 00:06:51.319 --> 00:06:56.959 This false teaching in Athanasius' day seemed to have swallowed up the entire church. 00:06:58.399 --> 00:07:05.399 The emperor, the leading bishops of the day, the whole world, it seemed, was on the side of Arius. 00:07:07.259 --> 00:07:14.319 And so Athanasius, standing up for biblical faith, seemed at times to be standing alone. 00:07:14.319 --> 00:07:25.300 Five times he was exiled from his home city and his church where he was a bishop for holding fast to the truth of the full Godhead of Jesus. 00:07:26.579 --> 00:07:28.519 A saying was even coined, 00:07:29.139 --> 00:07:31.300 Athanasius contramundum, 00:07:32.199 --> 00:07:33.920 Athanasius against the world. 00:07:33.920 --> 00:07:40.180 Now there were others holding fast to orthodox biblical faith in Jesus. 00:07:40.319 --> 00:07:44.819 Of course, Athanasius wasn't the only Christian literally standing up, 00:07:45.720 --> 00:07:48.819 but at times it must have felt like he was standing alone. 00:07:51.060 --> 00:07:56.100 In our passage this morning, this famous passage of Daniel and the lion's den, 00:07:56.100 --> 00:08:00.879 we see Daniel doing just that, courageously standing alone. 00:08:02.060 --> 00:08:07.140 Remaining faithful even when it seems like his whole world has turned against him. 00:08:10.680 --> 00:08:16.140 You know, many of us in our workplace or at school or even among our own families, 00:08:16.480 --> 00:08:23.640 we're in a setting where many or most of our coworkers or friends or family members don't share our faith in Christ. 00:08:23.639 --> 00:08:27.579 What does it look like to be faithful there? 00:08:28.939 --> 00:08:30.860 Especially when it feels like we're standing alone. 00:08:33.699 --> 00:08:36.840 Well, let's consider three points that we see here in Daniel chapter 6. 00:08:38.159 --> 00:08:39.439 The first point is this. 00:08:40.059 --> 00:08:47.120 I think we see quite clearly here that this text is teaching us that God's people will often face unjust opposition. 00:08:48.519 --> 00:08:51.439 You see this in verses 1 through 9 as the plot begins to unfold. 00:08:51.440 --> 00:08:55.000 Now, it's good to keep in mind that at this point in the story of Daniel, 00:08:55.120 --> 00:08:59.500 remember that the Persian Empire has just taken over Babylon. 00:09:00.100 --> 00:09:05.600 So this is an entirely new regime, a new kingdom, and they're setting up a new administration. 00:09:06.940 --> 00:09:11.640 And notice that Daniel is given a position of great responsibility and authority in the new government. 00:09:12.480 --> 00:09:18.260 He's one of three high officials who oversee the 120 regional officials, the satraps. 00:09:18.259 --> 00:09:22.700 And Darius is even intending to put Daniel at the head of those three. 00:09:22.799 --> 00:09:26.179 In other words, Daniel is slated to become the sole prime minister. 00:09:29.819 --> 00:09:32.919 So notice then how Daniel is approaching his life in exile here. 00:09:32.919 --> 00:09:41.759 In this very secular pagan city, in this very, in some ways, hostile environment to biblical faith under a pagan regime, 00:09:41.919 --> 00:09:49.959 Daniel is doing what God, through the prophet Jeremiah, in Jeremiah 29, told his people to do. 00:09:49.960 --> 00:09:56.259 Seek the welfare of the city to which I have sent you into exile, God said. 00:09:57.180 --> 00:10:02.060 And pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare, you will find your welfare. 00:10:02.460 --> 00:10:03.960 That's Jeremiah 29, 7. 00:10:05.820 --> 00:10:14.519 Daniel's using the gifts and talents God has given him to seek the welfare, the peace, the shalom of the city. 00:10:14.519 --> 00:10:19.639 And this is in many ways the call upon God's people wherever we are. 00:10:20.659 --> 00:10:23.419 To seek the good, the flourishing of those around us. 00:10:23.740 --> 00:10:29.240 To have a posture toward our city, toward our schools, toward our families that seeks their good. 00:10:29.279 --> 00:10:34.319 Even when many elements in those places are adverse to faith in God. 00:10:34.320 --> 00:10:41.900 And for Daniel, at first, this faithful service of his results in what? 00:10:42.700 --> 00:10:45.400 In the favor of Darius the king. 00:10:46.700 --> 00:10:50.420 We see in the rest of the chapter, too, how highly Darius regards Daniel. 00:10:51.700 --> 00:10:58.420 But then, just as Daniel is about to get his promotion, his co-workers begin to plot against him. 00:11:00.460 --> 00:11:03.860 Jealous that Daniel is being given such a high-ranking position. 00:11:04.320 --> 00:11:07.420 They devise a plot to bring him down. 00:11:10.620 --> 00:11:12.820 But they find that it's not so easy to do that at first. 00:11:14.260 --> 00:11:16.660 So they crack into the files on his hard drive. 00:11:17.240 --> 00:11:18.820 And they tap his phones. 00:11:18.960 --> 00:11:21.640 And they corner his old interns and assistants. 00:11:22.300 --> 00:11:26.620 But they can't seem to find any dirt on this Daniel. 00:11:28.960 --> 00:11:32.800 Imagine, here is a man, probably about 70 years old at this point. 00:11:32.799 --> 00:11:36.439 He's been in civil service and politics for nearly his entire life. 00:11:36.899 --> 00:11:38.620 And he has a clean record. 00:11:44.519 --> 00:11:48.439 But there's one area where they know they can trap him. 00:11:49.620 --> 00:11:51.679 In his relationship with his God. 00:11:51.679 --> 00:11:56.519 So they trick Darius into signing this law. 00:11:57.259 --> 00:12:01.759 For 30 days, no one can pray to anyone but you, Darius. 00:12:02.559 --> 00:12:07.659 And, oh, by the way, make it binding according to the law of the Medes and Persians that cannot be revoked. 00:12:08.639 --> 00:12:11.159 And notice how they come with flattery in these verses. 00:12:11.899 --> 00:12:12.879 Oh, king, live forever. 00:12:12.979 --> 00:12:15.500 We should just be praying to you for about a month, right? 00:12:15.579 --> 00:12:17.379 Wouldn't that be a great way to start off your kingdom? 00:12:18.299 --> 00:12:19.939 Notice how they come with much deception. 00:12:20.100 --> 00:12:21.259 We're all agreed. 00:12:23.179 --> 00:12:25.679 Of course, I'm pretty sure Daniel wasn't all agreed. 00:12:29.080 --> 00:12:30.980 And so the trap is set. 00:12:34.179 --> 00:12:37.340 Now, I should mention here, kind of as a sidebar in passing, 00:12:37.340 --> 00:12:41.160 that this chapter presents some interesting historical questions. 00:12:42.660 --> 00:12:45.340 The first, as we sort of get into the weeds here, 00:12:45.899 --> 00:12:49.560 is the identity of this man named Darius. 00:12:52.040 --> 00:12:53.980 You know, outside the book of Daniel, 00:12:54.080 --> 00:12:56.399 we don't have any other historical records yet 00:12:56.399 --> 00:12:58.940 that speak of a ruler named Darius 00:12:58.940 --> 00:13:02.600 who lived before or during the reign of Cyrus the Persian. 00:13:02.600 --> 00:13:06.759 There was a king named Darius a couple of generations after Cyrus, 00:13:06.960 --> 00:13:09.759 but none that we know of before or during Cyrus' reign. 00:13:09.820 --> 00:13:13.100 And this has led some scholars to view the book of Daniel as untrustworthy 00:13:13.100 --> 00:13:15.940 when it comes to getting its history straight. 00:13:18.600 --> 00:13:21.600 But, you know, I think it's worth remembering what we saw last week in chapter 5. 00:13:22.500 --> 00:13:25.279 For many years, scholars thought that Belshazzar didn't exist either 00:13:25.279 --> 00:13:28.420 and made some fairly confident pronouncements to that regard. 00:13:28.419 --> 00:13:32.579 But then in the 19th century, archaeologists discovered a number of cuneiform tablets 00:13:32.579 --> 00:13:34.879 that give just undeniable and ample evidence 00:13:34.879 --> 00:13:38.199 that Belshazzar was indeed a real person in the Babylonian dynasty, 00:13:38.459 --> 00:13:39.659 just as Daniel describes. 00:13:42.279 --> 00:13:45.899 So I think we should be cautious to pronounce on these things too quickly 00:13:45.899 --> 00:13:47.539 with respect to Darius. 00:13:48.439 --> 00:13:49.899 In fact, just a week or so ago, 00:13:49.979 --> 00:13:51.779 I was over at the Babylonian collection 00:13:51.779 --> 00:13:54.000 at Sterling Memorial Library at Yale, 00:13:54.139 --> 00:13:56.319 and the very gracious host there was telling us 00:13:56.320 --> 00:14:00.080 how they just keep unearthing these cuneiform tablets from the Middle East, 00:14:00.140 --> 00:14:02.680 and there's just stacks and stacks of them to be read and interpreted. 00:14:02.780 --> 00:14:04.420 So who knows what we're going to turn up? 00:14:05.660 --> 00:14:09.060 Interestingly, it seems like the Bible's always confirmed by these discoveries. 00:14:11.920 --> 00:14:15.100 So I think we should be a little humble as we come to the text. 00:14:16.080 --> 00:14:17.620 But with the evidence available to us, 00:14:17.640 --> 00:14:20.360 it seems that there are two reasonable options for understanding who Darius is. 00:14:20.400 --> 00:14:22.180 On the one hand, he could be a general 00:14:22.179 --> 00:14:24.739 who served as sort of a sub-king under Cyrus, 00:14:24.839 --> 00:14:25.579 along with him, 00:14:25.899 --> 00:14:28.559 over this particular province of Babylon. 00:14:28.819 --> 00:14:30.299 Some scholars have proposed that. 00:14:31.079 --> 00:14:31.719 On the other hand, 00:14:31.799 --> 00:14:33.039 some think that the name Darius 00:14:33.039 --> 00:14:34.919 might have actually been a throne name, 00:14:35.000 --> 00:14:36.879 another name for Cyrus himself. 00:14:38.179 --> 00:14:38.979 In that case, 00:14:39.039 --> 00:14:40.819 the last verse of our chapter here 00:14:40.819 --> 00:14:42.139 should be translated this way. 00:14:42.279 --> 00:14:43.399 So this Daniel, 00:14:43.919 --> 00:14:45.539 prospered during the reign of Darius, 00:14:45.859 --> 00:14:46.740 that is 00:14:46.740 --> 00:14:49.099 the reign of Cyrus, 00:14:49.240 --> 00:14:49.659 the Persian. 00:14:49.659 --> 00:14:50.879 In other words, 00:14:50.980 --> 00:14:52.539 clarifying who this Darius is. 00:14:53.059 --> 00:14:53.379 Darius, 00:14:53.539 --> 00:14:53.939 that is 00:14:53.939 --> 00:14:54.959 Cyrus, 00:14:55.059 --> 00:14:55.480 the Persian, 00:14:55.600 --> 00:14:57.759 which is a totally legitimate translation. 00:14:57.980 --> 00:14:59.079 The Hebrew word for and 00:14:59.079 --> 00:15:00.600 can often function like that. 00:15:02.600 --> 00:15:03.980 So either are reasonable options, 00:15:04.100 --> 00:15:04.740 but, you know, 00:15:04.779 --> 00:15:05.860 whereas the identity of Darius 00:15:05.860 --> 00:15:07.679 might not be completely clear to us, 00:15:07.699 --> 00:15:10.199 it's much too hasty to say that he never existed 00:15:10.199 --> 00:15:11.219 or that the book of Daniel 00:15:11.219 --> 00:15:12.699 simply gets its history all wrong. 00:15:13.299 --> 00:15:14.639 The second interesting question 00:15:14.639 --> 00:15:16.159 is this issue of the law 00:15:16.159 --> 00:15:17.480 of the Medes and Persians 00:15:17.480 --> 00:15:18.860 that cannot be revoked. 00:15:19.659 --> 00:15:21.319 A number of times 00:15:21.319 --> 00:15:22.439 it comes up in this chapter. 00:15:22.579 --> 00:15:24.019 It's a key part of the plot. 00:15:25.519 --> 00:15:27.759 Was there ever really such a thing? 00:15:29.059 --> 00:15:30.240 It sounds a bit odd 00:15:30.240 --> 00:15:31.679 that a king couldn't revoke 00:15:31.679 --> 00:15:33.379 a law that he had made. 00:15:35.879 --> 00:15:37.240 But if you think about it, 00:15:37.600 --> 00:15:39.179 such a custom 00:15:39.179 --> 00:15:40.539 ensured 00:15:40.539 --> 00:15:43.219 that everyone was treated equally 00:15:43.219 --> 00:15:43.959 under the law. 00:15:46.100 --> 00:15:47.259 It made it so that the king 00:15:47.259 --> 00:15:48.179 couldn't willy-nilly 00:15:48.179 --> 00:15:49.259 just revoke laws 00:15:49.259 --> 00:15:50.120 or bypass them 00:15:50.120 --> 00:15:51.200 depending on whether he liked 00:15:51.200 --> 00:15:51.939 the person or not 00:15:51.939 --> 00:15:52.740 or whether it was convenient 00:15:52.740 --> 00:15:53.679 for his situation. 00:15:55.360 --> 00:15:57.240 It was a way to ensure justice, actually. 00:16:00.419 --> 00:16:00.939 And again, 00:16:01.000 --> 00:16:02.179 there are historical precedents 00:16:02.179 --> 00:16:02.840 in the ancient Near East 00:16:02.840 --> 00:16:03.539 for this sort of thing, 00:16:03.639 --> 00:16:04.819 so there are good reasons 00:16:04.819 --> 00:16:06.100 to think that Daniel's giving us 00:16:06.100 --> 00:16:07.960 good historical information here. 00:16:09.799 --> 00:16:10.720 Which then leads us back 00:16:10.720 --> 00:16:11.460 to our main point. 00:16:11.460 --> 00:16:12.460 The reality is 00:16:12.460 --> 00:16:13.680 that what we find 00:16:13.680 --> 00:16:15.180 happened to Daniel 00:16:15.180 --> 00:16:17.519 can often happen to us. 00:16:19.400 --> 00:16:20.700 There can be envy 00:16:20.700 --> 00:16:22.300 and malice 00:16:22.300 --> 00:16:23.420 and hatred 00:16:23.420 --> 00:16:25.420 aimed against us. 00:16:27.860 --> 00:16:29.620 Not that we go seeking it. 00:16:30.759 --> 00:16:32.560 Not that we go looking for it. 00:16:33.600 --> 00:16:34.700 But it comes. 00:16:36.500 --> 00:16:37.320 And perhaps no one 00:16:37.320 --> 00:16:38.639 will plot to have you murdered 00:16:38.639 --> 00:16:39.379 because you're about 00:16:39.379 --> 00:16:40.400 to be made prime minister. 00:16:40.400 --> 00:16:41.000 I get that. 00:16:42.280 --> 00:16:42.660 But you know, 00:16:42.700 --> 00:16:43.379 there are plenty of Christians 00:16:43.379 --> 00:16:44.360 worldwide who suffer 00:16:44.360 --> 00:16:45.900 under unjust laws 00:16:45.900 --> 00:16:48.220 and discriminatory policies 00:16:48.220 --> 00:16:50.400 just because they are Christians. 00:16:54.120 --> 00:16:55.800 For most of its history, 00:16:55.920 --> 00:16:57.240 the church has been 00:16:57.240 --> 00:16:58.180 a suffering church. 00:17:02.440 --> 00:17:03.960 And I think the initial lesson 00:17:03.960 --> 00:17:04.759 to learn here 00:17:04.759 --> 00:17:06.039 in Daniel chapter 6 00:17:06.039 --> 00:17:07.860 is a lesson of the heart. 00:17:07.859 --> 00:17:10.819 It's a warning 00:17:10.819 --> 00:17:13.259 against putting our trust 00:17:13.259 --> 00:17:14.959 in human approval 00:17:14.959 --> 00:17:17.199 or in human institutions. 00:17:19.139 --> 00:17:19.740 You see, 00:17:19.799 --> 00:17:20.679 Daniel started out 00:17:20.679 --> 00:17:21.219 under the new 00:17:21.219 --> 00:17:22.479 Persian administration 00:17:22.479 --> 00:17:23.559 gaining lots of favor, 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:24.779 lots of approval, 00:17:25.219 --> 00:17:26.339 being handed a position 00:17:26.339 --> 00:17:27.619 of immense influence. 00:17:27.779 --> 00:17:28.719 Things were going great. 00:17:31.099 --> 00:17:32.939 But then things turned on a dime. 00:17:32.940 --> 00:17:35.680 And not even Darius 00:17:35.680 --> 00:17:36.660 was able to help him. 00:17:38.100 --> 00:17:38.840 He was tricked 00:17:38.840 --> 00:17:40.259 into signing a bad law 00:17:40.259 --> 00:17:41.940 and was powerless. 00:17:45.140 --> 00:17:45.700 And you know, 00:17:45.720 --> 00:17:46.279 as we go about 00:17:46.279 --> 00:17:47.080 seeking the good 00:17:47.080 --> 00:17:48.440 of our city, 00:17:48.600 --> 00:17:49.340 of our neighborhoods, 00:17:50.500 --> 00:17:51.700 it's not a bad thing 00:17:51.700 --> 00:17:53.320 to be appreciated, 00:17:53.480 --> 00:17:54.100 to be acknowledged, 00:17:54.420 --> 00:17:55.240 to be recognized, 00:17:55.340 --> 00:17:56.160 to find favor. 00:17:56.860 --> 00:17:57.840 It's not a bad thing 00:17:57.840 --> 00:17:59.040 to work through 00:17:59.040 --> 00:18:00.180 good institutions. 00:18:03.180 --> 00:18:04.140 But realize 00:18:04.140 --> 00:18:05.160 that such approval 00:18:05.160 --> 00:18:06.460 is a terrible place 00:18:06.460 --> 00:18:07.420 to put your hope. 00:18:09.060 --> 00:18:10.640 It's a shaky foundation 00:18:10.640 --> 00:18:11.400 to build upon. 00:18:12.820 --> 00:18:13.840 It's one that will be 00:18:13.840 --> 00:18:14.360 washed away 00:18:14.360 --> 00:18:15.120 sooner or later. 00:18:16.980 --> 00:18:18.360 But not your trust 00:18:18.360 --> 00:18:19.060 in princes, 00:18:19.600 --> 00:18:20.279 the psalmists 00:18:20.279 --> 00:18:21.060 often say. 00:18:21.059 --> 00:18:26.159 But if the first thing 00:18:26.159 --> 00:18:26.619 we see here 00:18:26.619 --> 00:18:27.679 in Daniel chapter 6 00:18:27.679 --> 00:18:28.319 is that we can 00:18:28.319 --> 00:18:29.539 often expect 00:18:29.539 --> 00:18:30.759 unjust opposition, 00:18:30.879 --> 00:18:31.480 the next point 00:18:31.480 --> 00:18:32.700 shows us how to respond 00:18:32.700 --> 00:18:33.379 to it. 00:18:34.940 --> 00:18:36.200 So here's point number two. 00:18:36.559 --> 00:18:37.200 The right way 00:18:37.200 --> 00:18:37.960 to respond 00:18:37.960 --> 00:18:39.259 is often 00:18:39.259 --> 00:18:40.599 quiet 00:18:40.599 --> 00:18:41.960 faithfulness. 00:18:43.220 --> 00:18:43.899 We see this 00:18:43.899 --> 00:18:44.740 in verse 10. 00:18:45.759 --> 00:18:46.919 The law has been signed. 00:18:47.379 --> 00:18:48.099 If anyone prays 00:18:48.099 --> 00:18:48.460 to anyone 00:18:48.460 --> 00:18:49.379 other than Darius, 00:18:49.480 --> 00:18:50.240 they'll be thrown 00:18:50.240 --> 00:18:51.200 to the lions 00:18:51.200 --> 00:18:52.359 and Daniel 00:18:52.359 --> 00:18:53.559 knowing that 00:18:53.559 --> 00:18:54.160 the document 00:18:54.160 --> 00:18:54.980 had been signed. 00:18:55.039 --> 00:18:56.120 Isn't that a great line? 00:18:57.380 --> 00:18:58.519 In full knowledge, 00:18:59.880 --> 00:19:00.700 he goes home, 00:19:01.839 --> 00:19:02.759 he goes upstairs 00:19:02.759 --> 00:19:05.059 and same as always, 00:19:05.980 --> 00:19:06.720 he prays. 00:19:09.640 --> 00:19:10.500 On the one hand, 00:19:10.539 --> 00:19:11.500 he doesn't make a scene. 00:19:12.740 --> 00:19:13.299 He doesn't 00:19:13.299 --> 00:19:15.880 march to the king's throne room 00:19:15.880 --> 00:19:17.160 and put up a protest. 00:19:19.160 --> 00:19:20.160 But on the other hand, 00:19:20.160 --> 00:19:20.820 he doesn't hide. 00:19:21.820 --> 00:19:23.060 He doesn't cower in fear. 00:19:24.860 --> 00:19:25.980 He just does 00:19:25.980 --> 00:19:27.740 what he always does. 00:19:31.440 --> 00:19:31.860 Now, 00:19:31.920 --> 00:19:33.220 we've seen various responses 00:19:33.220 --> 00:19:34.360 in the book of Daniel 00:19:34.360 --> 00:19:35.320 to navigating 00:19:35.320 --> 00:19:36.880 life in exile, 00:19:37.120 --> 00:19:38.700 life in a pluralistic world, 00:19:38.759 --> 00:19:39.160 haven't we? 00:19:40.200 --> 00:19:40.620 Remember, 00:19:40.720 --> 00:19:41.320 in chapter 1, 00:19:41.420 --> 00:19:42.440 Daniel and his friends 00:19:42.440 --> 00:19:43.259 try to find 00:19:43.259 --> 00:19:44.360 a creative third way. 00:19:44.840 --> 00:19:45.840 They respectfully 00:19:45.840 --> 00:19:47.040 negotiate an agreement 00:19:47.040 --> 00:19:47.800 about what foods 00:19:47.800 --> 00:19:48.540 they will and will 00:19:48.539 --> 00:19:49.399 not eat from 00:19:49.399 --> 00:19:50.079 the king's table. 00:19:52.079 --> 00:19:53.240 In chapter 3, 00:19:53.359 --> 00:19:53.700 however, 00:19:54.099 --> 00:19:54.420 remember, 00:19:54.539 --> 00:19:55.500 Daniel's three friends 00:19:55.500 --> 00:19:56.299 are forced to make 00:19:56.299 --> 00:19:57.339 a bold confession, 00:19:57.460 --> 00:19:59.859 a public demonstration 00:19:59.859 --> 00:20:01.099 to resist the king 00:20:01.099 --> 00:20:02.539 right to his face. 00:20:02.539 --> 00:20:06.659 But here in chapter 6, 00:20:06.740 --> 00:20:08.000 Daniel isn't negotiating 00:20:08.000 --> 00:20:08.659 a third way 00:20:08.659 --> 00:20:10.119 and he isn't 00:20:10.119 --> 00:20:10.720 sort of doing 00:20:10.720 --> 00:20:11.299 bold, 00:20:11.879 --> 00:20:13.399 public defiance. 00:20:14.639 --> 00:20:15.059 No, 00:20:15.119 --> 00:20:15.639 he's choosing 00:20:15.639 --> 00:20:16.700 the path of quiet, 00:20:16.980 --> 00:20:18.619 deliberate faithfulness. 00:20:20.859 --> 00:20:21.180 Friends, 00:20:21.220 --> 00:20:21.819 it's helpful to see 00:20:21.819 --> 00:20:23.500 those various paths, 00:20:23.579 --> 00:20:23.899 isn't it? 00:20:24.639 --> 00:20:25.440 It's helpful to see 00:20:25.440 --> 00:20:26.099 that there isn't always 00:20:26.099 --> 00:20:27.539 a one-size-fits-all response. 00:20:29.200 --> 00:20:30.279 And part of our community life 00:20:30.279 --> 00:20:31.420 together is prayerfully 00:20:31.420 --> 00:20:32.259 discerning 00:20:32.259 --> 00:20:34.119 how we should respond. 00:20:38.019 --> 00:20:39.059 Sometimes the right path 00:20:39.059 --> 00:20:40.039 is the path of quiet, 00:20:40.579 --> 00:20:41.899 deliberate faithfulness, 00:20:41.940 --> 00:20:42.480 which sometimes 00:20:42.480 --> 00:20:43.399 is the most courageous 00:20:43.399 --> 00:20:44.180 path of all. 00:20:47.500 --> 00:20:47.859 Now, 00:20:47.899 --> 00:20:48.379 if you think about it, 00:20:48.399 --> 00:20:49.180 there are lots of responses 00:20:49.180 --> 00:20:50.339 Daniel might have taken here. 00:20:51.200 --> 00:20:51.399 I mean, 00:20:51.440 --> 00:20:52.420 put yourself in his shoes. 00:20:52.480 --> 00:20:53.399 How might you have responded? 00:20:55.119 --> 00:20:55.920 On the one hand, 00:20:55.980 --> 00:20:56.440 just think, 00:20:56.500 --> 00:20:56.639 you know, 00:20:56.680 --> 00:20:57.119 it struck me 00:20:57.119 --> 00:20:57.720 as I was thinking 00:20:57.720 --> 00:20:58.559 about this chapter 00:20:58.559 --> 00:20:59.740 compared to chapter 3, 00:20:59.740 --> 00:21:00.940 a few weeks ago, 00:21:01.000 --> 00:21:01.980 I preached on 00:21:01.980 --> 00:21:03.299 Shadrach, 00:21:03.420 --> 00:21:03.740 Meshach, 00:21:03.799 --> 00:21:04.180 and Abednego 00:21:04.180 --> 00:21:05.079 in the fiery furnace, 00:21:05.200 --> 00:21:05.759 and here I am 00:21:05.759 --> 00:21:06.299 three weeks later 00:21:06.299 --> 00:21:07.079 preaching on Daniel 00:21:07.079 --> 00:21:07.779 in the lion's den, 00:21:07.819 --> 00:21:08.539 and as I was scratching 00:21:08.539 --> 00:21:09.120 my head this week 00:21:09.120 --> 00:21:09.380 thinking, 00:21:09.500 --> 00:21:10.079 what am I going to say 00:21:10.079 --> 00:21:10.700 that's different 00:21:10.700 --> 00:21:11.359 from what I said 00:21:11.359 --> 00:21:12.019 three weeks ago? 00:21:12.039 --> 00:21:12.660 These are kind of 00:21:12.660 --> 00:21:13.339 the same story, 00:21:13.359 --> 00:21:13.740 aren't they? 00:21:14.740 --> 00:21:15.559 Both guys get in trouble 00:21:15.559 --> 00:21:16.019 with the law, 00:21:16.120 --> 00:21:16.819 they both get thrown 00:21:16.819 --> 00:21:17.299 into things 00:21:17.299 --> 00:21:18.019 that try to kill them, 00:21:18.039 --> 00:21:18.799 and they both come out. 00:21:19.519 --> 00:21:20.000 All right. 00:21:22.880 --> 00:21:23.279 But you know, 00:21:23.299 --> 00:21:23.720 it struck me 00:21:23.720 --> 00:21:24.519 that one of the differences 00:21:24.519 --> 00:21:25.900 between that story 00:21:25.900 --> 00:21:27.079 and this story 00:21:27.079 --> 00:21:29.899 is that for Shadrach, 00:21:29.960 --> 00:21:30.220 Meshach, 00:21:30.259 --> 00:21:30.539 and Abednego 00:21:30.539 --> 00:21:31.279 in chapter 3, 00:21:31.720 --> 00:21:32.619 they were young men. 00:21:34.519 --> 00:21:36.460 They were just sort of 00:21:36.460 --> 00:21:37.480 breaking their way 00:21:37.480 --> 00:21:38.460 into the public sphere, 00:21:38.559 --> 00:21:39.319 coming into their own. 00:21:41.799 --> 00:21:42.879 And yet Daniel here 00:21:42.879 --> 00:21:44.599 is an old man. 00:21:46.259 --> 00:21:47.779 He's in his 70s probably 00:21:47.779 --> 00:21:48.720 at this point in his life. 00:21:49.579 --> 00:21:50.679 He's run his race 00:21:50.679 --> 00:21:51.659 for many years. 00:21:51.660 --> 00:21:55.500 He's been faithfully 00:21:55.500 --> 00:21:56.980 following God in exile 00:21:56.980 --> 00:21:59.620 for nearly his whole life. 00:22:00.420 --> 00:22:01.100 And now, 00:22:02.019 --> 00:22:02.920 as he's reaching 00:22:02.920 --> 00:22:04.200 his final years, 00:22:05.480 --> 00:22:07.800 God puts him 00:22:07.800 --> 00:22:08.300 in a position 00:22:08.300 --> 00:22:09.140 where he has to make 00:22:09.140 --> 00:22:09.920 a choice between 00:22:09.920 --> 00:22:11.180 having his quiet time 00:22:11.180 --> 00:22:12.340 or getting thrown 00:22:12.340 --> 00:22:12.960 to the lions. 00:22:16.759 --> 00:22:17.759 He has to endure 00:22:17.759 --> 00:22:19.040 his entire department 00:22:19.040 --> 00:22:19.759 at work. 00:22:19.759 --> 00:22:21.640 the most powerful 00:22:21.640 --> 00:22:22.480 men in the empire 00:22:22.480 --> 00:22:23.440 turning against him 00:22:23.440 --> 00:22:24.019 and literally 00:22:24.019 --> 00:22:25.500 plotting his death. 00:22:28.220 --> 00:22:28.480 You know, 00:22:28.500 --> 00:22:29.059 just think of how 00:22:29.059 --> 00:22:29.640 Daniel could have 00:22:29.640 --> 00:22:31.000 responded to that. 00:22:32.379 --> 00:22:33.299 Really, God? 00:22:34.900 --> 00:22:36.240 After all these years 00:22:36.240 --> 00:22:36.980 of faithfulness, 00:22:37.000 --> 00:22:37.940 you're going to throw me 00:22:37.940 --> 00:22:39.019 into a lion's den? 00:22:40.059 --> 00:22:41.000 That's my reward 00:22:41.000 --> 00:22:42.660 for 50 years of service? 00:22:43.140 --> 00:22:43.359 You know, 00:22:43.400 --> 00:22:43.819 some people get 00:22:43.819 --> 00:22:44.619 a gold watch. 00:22:45.740 --> 00:22:46.900 I get to be lunch 00:22:46.900 --> 00:22:47.480 for a beast 00:22:47.480 --> 00:22:48.400 at the bottom of a pit. 00:22:49.759 --> 00:22:54.740 Friend, let me ask you, 00:22:55.059 --> 00:22:57.140 what do you think 00:22:57.140 --> 00:22:57.839 you deserve 00:22:57.839 --> 00:22:59.460 for following God? 00:23:02.720 --> 00:23:03.940 A comfortable ride 00:23:03.940 --> 00:23:04.599 through life? 00:23:05.879 --> 00:23:06.339 Health? 00:23:07.059 --> 00:23:07.460 Comfort? 00:23:08.420 --> 00:23:08.839 Ease? 00:23:11.839 --> 00:23:12.539 Deep down, 00:23:12.619 --> 00:23:13.379 don't we all feel 00:23:13.379 --> 00:23:14.779 like God owes us 00:23:14.779 --> 00:23:15.519 something? 00:23:20.579 --> 00:23:21.180 Well, friend, 00:23:21.220 --> 00:23:21.960 he doesn't owe you. 00:23:24.899 --> 00:23:25.759 That is the truth 00:23:25.759 --> 00:23:26.200 of the matter. 00:23:27.019 --> 00:23:28.000 God owes us 00:23:28.000 --> 00:23:28.700 nothing. 00:23:31.759 --> 00:23:32.779 And Daniel realized 00:23:32.779 --> 00:23:33.079 that. 00:23:35.079 --> 00:23:36.660 His years of faithfulness 00:23:36.660 --> 00:23:37.819 didn't make him proud 00:23:37.819 --> 00:23:39.799 or make him think 00:23:39.799 --> 00:23:40.519 that he deserved 00:23:40.519 --> 00:23:41.439 anything 00:23:41.439 --> 00:23:43.879 from the holy 00:23:43.879 --> 00:23:44.740 creator God 00:23:44.740 --> 00:23:45.460 of the universe. 00:23:49.939 --> 00:23:50.960 But those years 00:23:50.960 --> 00:23:51.839 of faithfulness, 00:23:52.740 --> 00:23:53.379 those years 00:23:53.379 --> 00:23:53.819 of praying 00:23:53.819 --> 00:23:55.220 three times a day, 00:23:56.079 --> 00:23:56.700 those years 00:23:56.700 --> 00:23:57.679 of having his character 00:23:57.679 --> 00:23:58.319 shaped 00:23:58.319 --> 00:23:59.439 through decision 00:23:59.439 --> 00:24:00.439 after decision 00:24:00.439 --> 00:24:01.439 after decision 00:24:01.439 --> 00:24:03.139 in the hard work 00:24:03.139 --> 00:24:04.039 of the mission 00:24:04.039 --> 00:24:04.439 that God 00:24:04.439 --> 00:24:05.139 had given him. 00:24:05.140 --> 00:24:08.720 His years 00:24:08.720 --> 00:24:09.420 of faithfulness 00:24:09.420 --> 00:24:09.759 made him 00:24:09.759 --> 00:24:10.360 all the more 00:24:10.360 --> 00:24:10.980 trusting 00:24:10.980 --> 00:24:12.800 in God. 00:24:15.300 --> 00:24:16.040 Not thinking 00:24:16.040 --> 00:24:16.380 that God 00:24:16.380 --> 00:24:17.120 owed him anything, 00:24:17.240 --> 00:24:17.860 but trusting 00:24:17.860 --> 00:24:18.340 and knowing 00:24:18.340 --> 00:24:18.780 that God 00:24:18.780 --> 00:24:19.460 was good. 00:24:21.860 --> 00:24:22.720 And it made him 00:24:22.720 --> 00:24:23.340 more trusting 00:24:23.340 --> 00:24:23.980 in God's 00:24:23.980 --> 00:24:25.180 sovereign ability 00:24:25.180 --> 00:24:26.440 to save. 00:24:28.080 --> 00:24:29.259 Daniel had seen 00:24:29.259 --> 00:24:30.259 empires 00:24:30.259 --> 00:24:31.700 come and go, 00:24:32.340 --> 00:24:33.640 enemies rise 00:24:33.640 --> 00:24:34.740 and fall, 00:24:35.140 --> 00:24:36.460 and here he was 00:24:36.460 --> 00:24:38.320 watching 00:24:38.320 --> 00:24:39.480 God's kingdom 00:24:39.480 --> 00:24:40.500 continue 00:24:40.500 --> 00:24:41.900 to endure. 00:24:49.280 --> 00:24:49.840 Well, 00:24:49.880 --> 00:24:50.280 even if we 00:24:50.280 --> 00:24:50.820 wouldn't have been 00:24:50.820 --> 00:24:51.920 shaking our fist 00:24:51.920 --> 00:24:52.540 at God, 00:24:53.420 --> 00:24:55.240 I think it might 00:24:55.240 --> 00:24:55.900 have been tempting 00:24:55.900 --> 00:24:56.500 to sort of 00:24:56.500 --> 00:24:57.780 change things up 00:24:57.780 --> 00:24:58.060 a bit 00:24:58.060 --> 00:24:58.800 for my normal 00:24:58.800 --> 00:24:59.500 prayer routine. 00:24:59.980 --> 00:25:00.440 Wouldn't you? 00:25:01.740 --> 00:25:02.380 I mean, 00:25:02.400 --> 00:25:03.380 it's only 30 days, 00:25:03.460 --> 00:25:03.720 right? 00:25:03.720 --> 00:25:06.680 Maybe I'll just 00:25:06.680 --> 00:25:07.380 pray somewhere 00:25:07.380 --> 00:25:07.960 where no one 00:25:07.960 --> 00:25:08.420 notices. 00:25:09.680 --> 00:25:10.279 Maybe I'll just 00:25:10.279 --> 00:25:10.960 sit quietly 00:25:10.960 --> 00:25:11.779 on my couch, 00:25:13.039 --> 00:25:13.700 pretend like I'm 00:25:13.700 --> 00:25:14.140 reading this 00:25:14.140 --> 00:25:14.819 Pottery Barn 00:25:14.819 --> 00:25:15.720 catalog that I 00:25:15.720 --> 00:25:16.360 got in the mail, 00:25:16.779 --> 00:25:18.319 and just sort of 00:25:18.319 --> 00:25:18.980 pray quietly 00:25:18.980 --> 00:25:19.839 in my mind. 00:25:20.940 --> 00:25:21.400 And whoever 00:25:21.400 --> 00:25:22.200 ends up peeking 00:25:22.200 --> 00:25:23.180 through the window 00:25:23.180 --> 00:25:24.519 will just see me 00:25:24.519 --> 00:25:25.360 shopping for a new 00:25:25.360 --> 00:25:26.240 table or something. 00:25:27.940 --> 00:25:28.839 No need to get 00:25:28.839 --> 00:25:29.680 unnecessarily in 00:25:29.680 --> 00:25:30.220 trouble, right? 00:25:30.220 --> 00:25:31.360 I mean, 00:25:31.420 --> 00:25:31.799 let's just let 00:25:31.799 --> 00:25:32.240 this whole thing 00:25:32.240 --> 00:25:32.759 blow over. 00:25:32.839 --> 00:25:33.259 No need to be 00:25:33.259 --> 00:25:34.019 legalistic about 00:25:34.019 --> 00:25:34.860 prayer times and 00:25:34.860 --> 00:25:35.860 places and postures, 00:25:36.200 --> 00:25:36.700 wouldn't you say? 00:25:37.539 --> 00:25:38.039 After all, 00:25:38.079 --> 00:25:38.519 doesn't God know 00:25:38.519 --> 00:25:39.160 what we need even 00:25:39.160 --> 00:25:40.039 before we ask? 00:25:42.279 --> 00:25:43.100 And so on. 00:25:46.799 --> 00:25:47.319 But you know, 00:25:47.360 --> 00:25:47.920 here's the problem 00:25:47.920 --> 00:25:48.860 with that strategy. 00:25:50.519 --> 00:25:51.299 If Daniel had 00:25:51.299 --> 00:25:51.980 happened to fly 00:25:51.980 --> 00:25:52.539 under the radar 00:25:52.539 --> 00:25:53.759 for those 30 days, 00:25:55.059 --> 00:25:56.539 the following month, 00:25:57.440 --> 00:25:58.120 his enemies would 00:25:58.120 --> 00:25:58.759 have just devised 00:25:58.759 --> 00:25:59.619 some other strategy 00:25:59.619 --> 00:26:00.319 to get rid of him. 00:26:03.720 --> 00:26:05.019 The word came 00:26:05.019 --> 00:26:06.099 by agreement 00:26:06.099 --> 00:26:07.799 in verses 6 00:26:07.799 --> 00:26:09.019 and 11 and 15, 00:26:09.119 --> 00:26:09.879 it's the same word 00:26:09.879 --> 00:26:10.799 that we find 00:26:10.799 --> 00:26:11.640 in Psalm 2 00:26:11.640 --> 00:26:13.119 that means 00:26:13.119 --> 00:26:14.879 noisily assembled 00:26:14.879 --> 00:26:16.220 or even raged. 00:26:17.099 --> 00:26:17.940 Why do the nations 00:26:17.940 --> 00:26:18.740 rage, 00:26:19.000 --> 00:26:19.819 the psalmist says, 00:26:19.960 --> 00:26:20.720 and the people's 00:26:20.720 --> 00:26:21.680 plot in vain 00:26:21.680 --> 00:26:23.119 against the Lord 00:26:23.119 --> 00:26:23.539 and against 00:26:23.539 --> 00:26:24.319 his anointed one? 00:26:25.799 --> 00:26:26.779 Daniel knew 00:26:26.779 --> 00:26:27.980 that they had it 00:26:27.980 --> 00:26:28.599 in for him. 00:26:29.759 --> 00:26:30.440 And it wasn't 00:26:30.440 --> 00:26:31.119 going to stop. 00:26:33.539 --> 00:26:34.299 So he wasn't 00:26:34.299 --> 00:26:34.759 going to play 00:26:34.759 --> 00:26:35.240 their game. 00:26:36.000 --> 00:26:36.700 He wasn't going 00:26:36.700 --> 00:26:37.519 to keep ducking 00:26:37.519 --> 00:26:38.220 and dodging. 00:26:38.859 --> 00:26:39.960 For his entire 00:26:39.960 --> 00:26:41.299 life in exile, 00:26:41.460 --> 00:26:41.779 it seems, 00:26:41.920 --> 00:26:42.900 Daniel had prayed 00:26:42.900 --> 00:26:44.339 facing Jerusalem. 00:26:44.859 --> 00:26:45.960 Just as Solomon 00:26:45.960 --> 00:26:47.220 in 1 Kings chapter 8 00:26:47.220 --> 00:26:47.700 had said 00:26:47.700 --> 00:26:48.539 the people would. 00:26:49.839 --> 00:26:50.599 Daniel, you see, 00:26:50.660 --> 00:26:52.240 knows where he's at 00:26:52.240 --> 00:26:53.220 in God's 00:26:53.220 --> 00:26:54.059 redemptive history. 00:26:54.400 --> 00:26:55.319 And he knows 00:26:55.319 --> 00:26:56.460 how to act in line 00:26:56.460 --> 00:26:58.019 with the word of God. 00:26:58.759 --> 00:27:01.759 And this threat 00:27:01.759 --> 00:27:02.859 isn't going to stop him. 00:27:04.720 --> 00:27:05.920 We must obey God 00:27:05.920 --> 00:27:06.700 rather than men, 00:27:06.759 --> 00:27:07.599 the apostle said 00:27:07.599 --> 00:27:09.039 in Acts chapter 5. 00:27:10.700 --> 00:27:11.559 And for Daniel, 00:27:11.660 --> 00:27:12.400 he's ready to face 00:27:12.400 --> 00:27:12.920 the opposition 00:27:12.920 --> 00:27:13.720 when it comes. 00:27:13.720 --> 00:27:20.019 And that brings us 00:27:20.019 --> 00:27:20.720 to our third point, 00:27:20.759 --> 00:27:21.059 isn't it? 00:27:22.279 --> 00:27:23.360 Where do we get the courage 00:27:23.360 --> 00:27:24.299 to stand like this? 00:27:25.440 --> 00:27:26.640 It's great to talk about 00:27:26.640 --> 00:27:27.880 daring to be a Daniel, 00:27:27.880 --> 00:27:32.600 that how many of us 00:27:32.600 --> 00:27:33.060 cower? 00:27:34.200 --> 00:27:34.440 You know, 00:27:34.480 --> 00:27:35.280 the contrast between 00:27:35.280 --> 00:27:36.380 Daniel and Darius 00:27:36.380 --> 00:27:37.280 is striking in verses 00:27:37.280 --> 00:27:38.020 16 through 18, 00:27:38.080 --> 00:27:38.360 isn't it? 00:27:39.400 --> 00:27:40.340 I think there's something 00:27:40.340 --> 00:27:41.140 of our hearts there. 00:27:41.280 --> 00:27:42.780 Daniel is confident 00:27:42.780 --> 00:27:43.420 and courageous, 00:27:43.560 --> 00:27:44.260 and there is Darius, 00:27:44.440 --> 00:27:44.880 anxious, 00:27:45.420 --> 00:27:45.800 fearful, 00:27:46.360 --> 00:27:46.900 sleepless. 00:27:47.920 --> 00:27:48.620 Two men, 00:27:49.220 --> 00:27:50.100 both old, 00:27:50.520 --> 00:27:51.300 both at the top 00:27:51.300 --> 00:27:52.040 of their professions, 00:27:52.040 --> 00:27:53.400 and yet one is weak 00:27:53.400 --> 00:27:54.640 while the other is strong. 00:27:54.640 --> 00:27:57.580 There's that thick irony here, 00:27:57.640 --> 00:27:58.100 is there not? 00:27:59.259 --> 00:28:00.300 Darius was happy 00:28:00.300 --> 00:28:01.280 to receive prayer 00:28:01.280 --> 00:28:02.280 as if he were a god 00:28:02.280 --> 00:28:02.720 in the opening 00:28:02.720 --> 00:28:03.280 of the chapter, 00:28:03.600 --> 00:28:05.120 and now he sits powerless 00:28:05.120 --> 00:28:06.220 before his own law. 00:28:07.980 --> 00:28:09.080 Darius sits in the middle 00:28:09.080 --> 00:28:10.240 of his royal palace 00:28:10.240 --> 00:28:12.780 and has no peace. 00:28:15.200 --> 00:28:16.060 And yet Daniel, 00:28:16.860 --> 00:28:17.800 stripped of his office, 00:28:18.880 --> 00:28:19.900 thrown into the pit, 00:28:20.759 --> 00:28:21.800 a stone rolled 00:28:21.800 --> 00:28:23.060 over the mouth of the den 00:28:23.060 --> 00:28:23.680 and sealed 00:28:23.680 --> 00:28:24.940 with the king's own seal 00:28:24.940 --> 00:28:26.120 so no one can tamper 00:28:26.120 --> 00:28:26.480 with it, 00:28:26.600 --> 00:28:27.560 and no one can come 00:28:27.560 --> 00:28:28.560 secretly in the night 00:28:28.560 --> 00:28:29.360 and rescue him. 00:28:30.820 --> 00:28:31.980 Daniel descends 00:28:31.980 --> 00:28:33.240 into death, 00:28:34.519 --> 00:28:36.100 and he does so 00:28:36.100 --> 00:28:36.920 with confidence. 00:28:40.220 --> 00:28:41.000 How do we get 00:28:41.000 --> 00:28:42.640 such confidence? 00:28:45.000 --> 00:28:45.759 This brings us 00:28:45.759 --> 00:28:46.580 to our third point. 00:28:48.380 --> 00:28:49.779 The courage to stand alone 00:28:49.779 --> 00:28:50.759 ultimately comes 00:28:50.759 --> 00:28:52.500 from seeing what God 00:28:52.500 --> 00:28:52.940 has done, 00:28:53.339 --> 00:28:54.799 not just through Daniel, 00:28:55.839 --> 00:28:57.519 but through the true 00:28:57.519 --> 00:28:58.500 and better Daniel, 00:28:58.960 --> 00:29:00.140 the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:29:02.880 --> 00:29:03.740 So we know how 00:29:03.740 --> 00:29:04.660 this story ends, right? 00:29:04.759 --> 00:29:06.359 God rescues Daniel 00:29:06.359 --> 00:29:07.259 from the lion's den. 00:29:07.660 --> 00:29:08.539 An angel comes 00:29:08.539 --> 00:29:10.039 and shuts the lion's mouths, 00:29:10.180 --> 00:29:11.200 and Daniel emerges 00:29:11.200 --> 00:29:12.160 from the pit 00:29:12.160 --> 00:29:13.660 without any kind of harm, 00:29:13.720 --> 00:29:15.220 without a single scratch. 00:29:15.440 --> 00:29:16.039 And that's meant 00:29:16.039 --> 00:29:17.259 to encourage us 00:29:17.259 --> 00:29:18.059 as if to say, 00:29:18.059 --> 00:29:19.240 God promises 00:29:19.240 --> 00:29:20.319 to preserve 00:29:20.319 --> 00:29:21.599 and vindicate 00:29:21.599 --> 00:29:22.460 those who cling 00:29:22.460 --> 00:29:23.379 to him in trust. 00:29:26.139 --> 00:29:27.279 Daniel clinged 00:29:27.279 --> 00:29:27.759 to God 00:29:27.759 --> 00:29:28.740 as he went down, 00:29:29.319 --> 00:29:31.139 and God rescued him. 00:29:35.079 --> 00:29:35.700 And indeed, 00:29:35.779 --> 00:29:36.159 as the history 00:29:36.159 --> 00:29:37.019 of Israel rolls on, 00:29:37.079 --> 00:29:37.779 we see that this is 00:29:37.779 --> 00:29:38.559 what God will do 00:29:38.559 --> 00:29:39.399 for the people of Israel 00:29:39.399 --> 00:29:40.079 as a whole 00:29:40.079 --> 00:29:41.779 in Daniel's own day. 00:29:43.779 --> 00:29:44.179 Cyrus, 00:29:44.319 --> 00:29:45.440 the Persian king, 00:29:45.440 --> 00:29:46.460 will issue a decree 00:29:46.460 --> 00:29:47.559 in 538, 00:29:47.700 --> 00:29:48.559 probably about a year 00:29:48.559 --> 00:29:49.660 after the events 00:29:49.660 --> 00:29:50.279 of this chapter, 00:29:50.480 --> 00:29:51.480 and he will send 00:29:51.480 --> 00:29:52.779 the Jews back to Judea 00:29:52.779 --> 00:29:54.580 to rebuild Jerusalem 00:29:54.580 --> 00:29:56.340 and to build the temple. 00:29:57.380 --> 00:29:58.940 The whole people of God 00:29:58.940 --> 00:29:59.940 will emerge 00:29:59.940 --> 00:30:01.259 from the lion's den 00:30:01.259 --> 00:30:01.880 of exile, 00:30:02.100 --> 00:30:03.100 and they will be brought 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:04.059 up from the pit, 00:30:04.220 --> 00:30:06.420 and they will be 00:30:06.420 --> 00:30:08.559 miraculously brought home. 00:30:13.259 --> 00:30:13.880 But you know, 00:30:13.940 --> 00:30:14.620 as the book of Daniel 00:30:14.619 --> 00:30:15.599 unfolds, 00:30:16.419 --> 00:30:17.479 we realize that 00:30:17.479 --> 00:30:18.259 this promise 00:30:18.259 --> 00:30:19.419 of God's protection 00:30:19.419 --> 00:30:20.979 and vindication 00:30:20.979 --> 00:30:23.959 isn't necessarily 00:30:23.959 --> 00:30:24.599 a guarantee 00:30:24.599 --> 00:30:25.659 of physical safety 00:30:25.659 --> 00:30:26.359 in this life. 00:30:29.199 --> 00:30:30.199 Starting next week, 00:30:30.259 --> 00:30:30.739 we embark 00:30:30.739 --> 00:30:32.159 on the second half 00:30:32.159 --> 00:30:32.799 of this book. 00:30:34.339 --> 00:30:35.459 And chapter 7 00:30:35.459 --> 00:30:36.899 opens with a vision 00:30:36.899 --> 00:30:38.659 of four horrifying 00:30:38.659 --> 00:30:39.599 beasts, 00:30:39.599 --> 00:30:42.619 a lion's den 00:30:42.619 --> 00:30:44.000 of nightmarish 00:30:44.000 --> 00:30:44.859 proportions. 00:30:48.699 --> 00:30:49.439 And Daniel 00:30:49.439 --> 00:30:50.000 is told that 00:30:50.000 --> 00:30:50.639 after the return 00:30:50.639 --> 00:30:51.240 from exile, 00:30:51.399 --> 00:30:52.419 persecution will come, 00:30:53.279 --> 00:30:53.939 and suffering, 00:30:54.459 --> 00:30:56.059 and even death 00:30:56.059 --> 00:30:57.719 for many of God's people. 00:30:57.720 --> 00:30:57.779 people. 00:31:01.120 --> 00:31:02.339 But the hope 00:31:02.339 --> 00:31:03.559 of emerging 00:31:03.559 --> 00:31:04.660 from the lion's den 00:31:04.660 --> 00:31:05.620 in chapter 6 00:31:05.620 --> 00:31:09.220 becomes an even 00:31:09.220 --> 00:31:09.980 greater hope 00:31:09.980 --> 00:31:11.400 in the face 00:31:11.400 --> 00:31:12.500 of all these things 00:31:12.500 --> 00:31:13.420 in chapter 12. 00:31:14.180 --> 00:31:15.160 As the persecution 00:31:15.160 --> 00:31:16.740 fires intensify 00:31:16.740 --> 00:31:17.620 for God's people, 00:31:17.700 --> 00:31:18.740 as Daniel sees it 00:31:18.740 --> 00:31:19.440 coming, 00:31:19.779 --> 00:31:20.400 the hope 00:31:20.400 --> 00:31:21.380 becomes even greater. 00:31:22.440 --> 00:31:23.319 And as this book 00:31:23.319 --> 00:31:23.940 comes to an end, 00:31:23.980 --> 00:31:25.120 it's not just hope 00:31:25.119 --> 00:31:26.399 of rescue from death, 00:31:27.000 --> 00:31:29.899 but rescue through 00:31:29.899 --> 00:31:31.079 and after death. 00:31:33.159 --> 00:31:34.259 God shows Daniel 00:31:34.259 --> 00:31:34.679 the hope 00:31:34.679 --> 00:31:35.359 of the resurrection, 00:31:36.639 --> 00:31:39.059 that God will undo 00:31:39.059 --> 00:31:40.179 death and evil, 00:31:41.359 --> 00:31:43.039 that he will defang 00:31:43.039 --> 00:31:44.259 the greatest of lions, 00:31:45.159 --> 00:31:47.019 that he will release 00:31:47.019 --> 00:31:47.539 his people 00:31:47.539 --> 00:31:48.879 from the greatest exile, 00:31:49.879 --> 00:31:51.559 the exile of their sin. 00:31:55.119 --> 00:31:56.939 But how will God 00:31:56.939 --> 00:31:57.979 accomplish such a thing? 00:32:00.279 --> 00:32:01.539 Think again of Darius 00:32:01.539 --> 00:32:02.259 in our chapter. 00:32:03.739 --> 00:32:04.539 He's caught 00:32:04.539 --> 00:32:05.259 in quite a dilemma, 00:32:05.899 --> 00:32:06.339 isn't he? 00:32:08.099 --> 00:32:09.479 How will he, 00:32:09.959 --> 00:32:10.439 Darius, 00:32:10.799 --> 00:32:11.379 the king, 00:32:12.339 --> 00:32:14.019 save his subject Daniel, 00:32:14.139 --> 00:32:15.000 whom he loves, 00:32:15.779 --> 00:32:16.359 and yet who has 00:32:16.359 --> 00:32:17.419 broken his law? 00:32:20.359 --> 00:32:21.679 How will he save 00:32:21.679 --> 00:32:22.539 the one who has 00:32:22.539 --> 00:32:23.959 broken his law? 00:32:25.119 --> 00:32:28.159 The story of the Bible 00:32:28.159 --> 00:32:28.899 tells us 00:32:28.899 --> 00:32:32.299 that God also 00:32:32.299 --> 00:32:34.479 faces such a task. 00:32:36.539 --> 00:32:37.759 How will God 00:32:37.759 --> 00:32:39.500 save the people 00:32:39.500 --> 00:32:40.919 who have broken 00:32:40.919 --> 00:32:41.500 his law? 00:32:44.259 --> 00:32:45.199 Wasn't that the whole 00:32:45.199 --> 00:32:46.419 question of exile? 00:32:47.719 --> 00:32:49.000 The people had rebelled 00:32:49.000 --> 00:32:51.439 and God sent them away. 00:32:51.440 --> 00:32:55.600 But of course, 00:32:55.680 --> 00:32:57.200 Darius was a weak king 00:32:57.200 --> 00:32:58.279 who signed 00:32:58.279 --> 00:32:59.779 a stupid law. 00:33:01.960 --> 00:33:02.820 God, however, 00:33:02.900 --> 00:33:04.200 is the perfect king. 00:33:05.480 --> 00:33:06.299 Utterly good 00:33:06.299 --> 00:33:07.860 in every way. 00:33:10.220 --> 00:33:11.259 And his laws 00:33:11.259 --> 00:33:12.100 are pure 00:33:12.100 --> 00:33:13.740 and perfectly just. 00:33:15.120 --> 00:33:15.720 God's laws 00:33:15.720 --> 00:33:16.900 are so just 00:33:16.900 --> 00:33:18.180 and so right 00:33:18.180 --> 00:33:19.600 that if you 00:33:19.600 --> 00:33:20.420 and I were to live 00:33:20.420 --> 00:33:21.539 our whole lives 00:33:21.539 --> 00:33:22.140 by them, 00:33:23.519 --> 00:33:23.820 you know, 00:33:23.900 --> 00:33:24.720 it wouldn't feel 00:33:24.720 --> 00:33:25.299 like obedience. 00:33:26.460 --> 00:33:27.200 It would feel 00:33:27.200 --> 00:33:27.720 like freedom. 00:33:29.840 --> 00:33:30.860 Like the joy 00:33:30.860 --> 00:33:31.940 of riding a bike 00:33:31.940 --> 00:33:32.440 downhill, 00:33:33.660 --> 00:33:34.340 lifting your feet 00:33:34.340 --> 00:33:35.000 from the pedals, 00:33:35.640 --> 00:33:36.400 feeling the wind 00:33:36.400 --> 00:33:37.460 rush in your face. 00:33:37.460 --> 00:33:40.019 that's what it would 00:33:40.019 --> 00:33:40.519 have been like 00:33:40.519 --> 00:33:41.299 for us creatures 00:33:41.299 --> 00:33:43.160 to live by our 00:33:43.160 --> 00:33:44.440 creator's perfect law. 00:33:45.400 --> 00:33:46.740 The law of liberty 00:33:46.740 --> 00:33:48.620 as the New Testament 00:33:48.620 --> 00:33:49.759 often describes it. 00:33:53.220 --> 00:33:54.680 But instead of loving God 00:33:54.680 --> 00:33:55.880 and living in the rightness 00:33:55.880 --> 00:33:56.640 and the freedom 00:33:56.640 --> 00:33:58.160 of his good laws, 00:33:59.039 --> 00:34:00.860 have we not broken them 00:34:00.860 --> 00:34:02.480 again and again? 00:34:04.700 --> 00:34:05.759 Have we not chosen 00:34:05.759 --> 00:34:06.620 our own laws 00:34:06.619 --> 00:34:07.859 and our own ways 00:34:07.859 --> 00:34:09.259 and our own paths? 00:34:12.639 --> 00:34:13.559 And now instead 00:34:13.559 --> 00:34:14.480 of enjoying freedom 00:34:14.480 --> 00:34:15.339 and life, 00:34:15.980 --> 00:34:16.839 we stand under 00:34:16.839 --> 00:34:18.359 the just sentence 00:34:18.359 --> 00:34:19.019 of death. 00:34:23.000 --> 00:34:24.400 And so how will God 00:34:24.400 --> 00:34:25.339 save the people 00:34:25.339 --> 00:34:26.940 who have broken 00:34:26.940 --> 00:34:27.500 his law? 00:34:29.839 --> 00:34:31.039 How will he remain 00:34:31.039 --> 00:34:32.420 true to his holiness 00:34:32.420 --> 00:34:33.920 and justice 00:34:33.920 --> 00:34:36.559 and utter goodness? 00:34:36.619 --> 00:34:39.559 a goodness 00:34:39.559 --> 00:34:40.639 that can't 00:34:40.639 --> 00:34:41.980 countenance evil 00:34:41.980 --> 00:34:45.920 and still extend 00:34:45.920 --> 00:34:46.679 his mercy 00:34:46.679 --> 00:34:48.000 and his grace? 00:34:52.639 --> 00:34:53.339 You know, 00:34:53.359 --> 00:34:54.059 Darius was caught 00:34:54.059 --> 00:34:54.599 off guard 00:34:54.599 --> 00:34:55.599 by his dilemma, 00:34:55.719 --> 00:34:56.199 wasn't he? 00:34:58.299 --> 00:34:58.859 Surprised, 00:34:59.440 --> 00:35:00.559 the conspirators say. 00:35:01.480 --> 00:35:02.519 We caught Daniel 00:35:02.519 --> 00:35:02.960 praying, 00:35:03.639 --> 00:35:04.699 time for the lion's den. 00:35:04.699 --> 00:35:07.539 And how does Darius 00:35:07.539 --> 00:35:08.059 respond? 00:35:08.159 --> 00:35:08.819 He's panicked. 00:35:09.719 --> 00:35:10.939 He labors all day. 00:35:11.719 --> 00:35:13.179 He fasts all night. 00:35:13.379 --> 00:35:14.399 And still, 00:35:14.500 --> 00:35:15.980 he can't find a solution. 00:35:16.859 --> 00:35:18.739 He has no plan. 00:35:22.739 --> 00:35:23.579 But friends, 00:35:23.699 --> 00:35:24.879 God was not surprised 00:35:24.879 --> 00:35:26.559 in any way. 00:35:26.559 --> 00:35:29.460 from all eternity, 00:35:29.679 --> 00:35:31.599 God had a perfect plan. 00:35:33.519 --> 00:35:34.519 And when the fullness 00:35:34.519 --> 00:35:35.579 of time had come, 00:35:36.679 --> 00:35:37.860 God sent his son, 00:35:38.440 --> 00:35:39.279 born of woman, 00:35:40.279 --> 00:35:41.400 born under the law, 00:35:42.279 --> 00:35:43.320 to redeem those 00:35:43.320 --> 00:35:44.400 who were under the law 00:35:44.400 --> 00:35:46.500 so that we might receive 00:35:46.500 --> 00:35:46.559 adoption 00:35:47.119 --> 00:35:48.699 as sons 00:35:48.699 --> 00:35:49.719 and daughters. 00:35:49.719 --> 00:35:52.699 Jesus Christ 00:35:52.699 --> 00:35:53.919 united himself 00:35:53.919 --> 00:35:55.039 to our humanity 00:35:55.039 --> 00:35:55.779 in the incarnation. 00:35:57.139 --> 00:35:58.779 God took on flesh 00:35:58.779 --> 00:35:59.719 and he lived 00:35:59.719 --> 00:36:01.799 a totally blameless life 00:36:01.799 --> 00:36:02.919 as our representative, 00:36:04.439 --> 00:36:05.759 fulfilling God's law 00:36:05.759 --> 00:36:06.399 for us 00:36:06.399 --> 00:36:07.739 to give us 00:36:07.739 --> 00:36:09.339 a perfect record 00:36:09.339 --> 00:36:10.039 with the Father. 00:36:12.719 --> 00:36:13.879 But then one night 00:36:13.879 --> 00:36:14.419 while Jesus 00:36:14.419 --> 00:36:15.980 was praying, 00:36:17.099 --> 00:36:18.139 much like Daniel, 00:36:18.139 --> 00:36:20.799 an envious mob 00:36:20.799 --> 00:36:21.699 arrested him 00:36:21.699 --> 00:36:24.900 and came before him 00:36:24.900 --> 00:36:26.460 with malicious accusations. 00:36:27.539 --> 00:36:28.879 And they dragged him 00:36:28.879 --> 00:36:29.779 before a weak 00:36:29.779 --> 00:36:30.900 political ruler 00:36:30.900 --> 00:36:33.599 who cowered in fear. 00:36:36.420 --> 00:36:38.000 And Jesus was crucified, 00:36:39.400 --> 00:36:40.500 thrown to the lions. 00:36:42.460 --> 00:36:43.839 But unlike Daniel, 00:36:44.000 --> 00:36:45.779 Jesus didn't come out unscathed. 00:36:48.139 --> 00:36:48.940 The claws 00:36:48.940 --> 00:36:49.759 and the fangs 00:36:49.759 --> 00:36:51.379 of sin and death 00:36:51.379 --> 00:36:53.359 ripped down 00:36:53.359 --> 00:36:54.980 and he died. 00:36:56.500 --> 00:36:57.339 And his body 00:36:57.339 --> 00:36:57.879 was buried 00:36:57.879 --> 00:36:58.460 in a tomb. 00:36:59.659 --> 00:37:00.579 And that tomb, 00:37:00.719 --> 00:37:00.799 too, 00:37:00.859 --> 00:37:01.379 was sealed 00:37:01.379 --> 00:37:03.000 with a stone. 00:37:06.679 --> 00:37:07.940 But that wasn't the end. 00:37:08.779 --> 00:37:09.900 On the third day, 00:37:10.440 --> 00:37:11.960 Christ rose from the dead 00:37:11.960 --> 00:37:13.359 to prove 00:37:13.359 --> 00:37:14.480 that his death 00:37:14.480 --> 00:37:15.859 was the perfect sacrifice 00:37:15.859 --> 00:37:16.699 to pay for our sins. 00:37:16.699 --> 00:37:16.980 You see, 00:37:17.179 --> 00:37:18.259 when Daniel came up 00:37:18.259 --> 00:37:19.159 out of the lion's den, 00:37:19.659 --> 00:37:20.819 everyone standing around 00:37:20.819 --> 00:37:21.359 got to see 00:37:21.359 --> 00:37:22.219 that this man 00:37:22.219 --> 00:37:23.199 was innocent. 00:37:23.579 --> 00:37:24.919 How else would he come out? 00:37:26.859 --> 00:37:27.239 But friends, 00:37:27.279 --> 00:37:28.219 when Christ emerged 00:37:28.219 --> 00:37:28.879 from the tomb, 00:37:29.219 --> 00:37:30.099 it was a demonstration 00:37:30.099 --> 00:37:31.159 not just 00:37:31.159 --> 00:37:32.399 of his innocence, 00:37:32.779 --> 00:37:33.599 but of the fact 00:37:33.599 --> 00:37:34.480 that he now 00:37:34.480 --> 00:37:35.419 had paid for the sins 00:37:35.419 --> 00:37:36.339 of all 00:37:36.339 --> 00:37:37.739 who would repent 00:37:37.739 --> 00:37:38.319 and believe. 00:37:39.000 --> 00:37:40.039 That his righteousness 00:37:40.039 --> 00:37:40.839 could now be given 00:37:40.839 --> 00:37:41.639 as a gift 00:37:41.639 --> 00:37:42.799 to those 00:37:42.799 --> 00:37:43.759 who would come 00:37:43.759 --> 00:37:44.159 to him. 00:37:44.159 --> 00:37:46.500 How does God 00:37:46.500 --> 00:37:47.159 save those 00:37:47.159 --> 00:37:47.759 who have broken 00:37:47.759 --> 00:37:48.460 his law? 00:37:50.219 --> 00:37:51.519 Through Jesus Christ, 00:37:52.139 --> 00:37:53.519 who went down 00:37:53.519 --> 00:37:54.379 into the lion's den 00:37:54.379 --> 00:37:55.099 in our place 00:37:55.099 --> 00:37:56.319 and emerged 00:37:56.319 --> 00:37:57.000 victorious 00:37:57.000 --> 00:37:57.960 in the resurrection 00:37:57.960 --> 00:37:59.379 to reconcile 00:37:59.379 --> 00:38:00.239 us to God. 00:38:02.579 --> 00:38:03.059 Friends, 00:38:03.119 --> 00:38:04.079 that's our confidence. 00:38:06.199 --> 00:38:07.039 That this God 00:38:07.039 --> 00:38:08.039 has rescued us. 00:38:08.039 --> 00:38:11.139 this is the message 00:38:11.139 --> 00:38:11.719 that Daniel 00:38:11.719 --> 00:38:12.380 wants ringing 00:38:12.380 --> 00:38:13.159 in our ears 00:38:13.159 --> 00:38:13.920 in this carefully 00:38:13.920 --> 00:38:14.880 constructed book 00:38:14.880 --> 00:38:16.320 before we launch 00:38:16.320 --> 00:38:17.259 out into chapters 00:38:17.259 --> 00:38:18.599 that might scare us. 00:38:19.440 --> 00:38:20.039 He wants us 00:38:20.039 --> 00:38:20.279 to know 00:38:20.279 --> 00:38:20.860 that God 00:38:20.860 --> 00:38:22.099 rescues. 00:38:26.940 --> 00:38:28.000 And that gives us 00:38:28.000 --> 00:38:28.699 great courage 00:38:28.699 --> 00:38:29.300 to stand. 00:38:31.900 --> 00:38:32.639 This chapter 00:38:32.639 --> 00:38:33.279 begins and ends 00:38:33.279 --> 00:38:34.719 with a royal decree, 00:38:34.840 --> 00:38:35.239 does it not? 00:38:35.239 --> 00:38:37.239 Darius begins 00:38:37.239 --> 00:38:38.199 by demanding 00:38:38.199 --> 00:38:38.819 prayer 00:38:38.819 --> 00:38:39.639 to himself 00:38:39.639 --> 00:38:40.239 alone 00:38:40.239 --> 00:38:41.039 as God. 00:38:41.639 --> 00:38:42.759 What a foolish thing. 00:38:45.599 --> 00:38:46.199 And yet Darius 00:38:46.199 --> 00:38:46.719 ends 00:38:46.719 --> 00:38:47.719 by commending 00:38:47.719 --> 00:38:48.539 praise 00:38:48.539 --> 00:38:49.759 to God 00:38:49.759 --> 00:38:50.199 alone 00:38:50.199 --> 00:38:51.219 as God. 00:38:53.299 --> 00:38:54.139 And this is 00:38:54.139 --> 00:38:54.899 the reason why. 00:38:56.439 --> 00:38:56.919 For he is 00:38:56.919 --> 00:38:57.699 the living God 00:38:57.699 --> 00:38:59.639 enduring forever. 00:39:00.859 --> 00:39:01.439 His kingdom 00:39:01.439 --> 00:39:02.000 shall never 00:39:02.000 --> 00:39:02.679 be destroyed 00:39:02.679 --> 00:39:04.279 and his dominion 00:39:04.279 --> 00:39:05.219 shall be to the end. 00:39:05.879 --> 00:39:06.879 He delivers 00:39:06.879 --> 00:39:08.119 and rescues. 00:39:08.819 --> 00:39:09.819 He works signs 00:39:09.819 --> 00:39:10.439 and wonders 00:39:10.439 --> 00:39:10.879 in heaven 00:39:10.879 --> 00:39:11.459 and on earth. 00:39:11.979 --> 00:39:12.979 He who saved 00:39:12.979 --> 00:39:13.319 Daniel 00:39:13.319 --> 00:39:14.000 from the power 00:39:14.000 --> 00:39:14.739 of the lions 00:39:14.739 --> 00:39:16.879 and who through 00:39:16.879 --> 00:39:17.299 Christ 00:39:17.299 --> 00:39:18.079 will rescue us 00:39:18.079 --> 00:39:18.459 as well. 00:39:19.839 --> 00:39:20.379 Friends, 00:39:20.439 --> 00:39:20.799 let's pray. 00:39:20.800 --> 00:39:33.160 our Lord, 00:39:33.220 --> 00:39:33.800 we confess 00:39:33.800 --> 00:39:34.320 that often 00:39:34.320 --> 00:39:34.940 we are 00:39:34.940 --> 00:39:36.640 so afraid. 00:39:38.519 --> 00:39:39.039 Lord, 00:39:39.080 --> 00:39:39.380 we ask 00:39:39.380 --> 00:39:39.740 that you would 00:39:39.740 --> 00:39:40.220 meet us 00:39:40.220 --> 00:39:40.680 this morning 00:39:40.680 --> 00:39:41.440 in our fears 00:39:41.440 --> 00:39:42.580 and in our doubts 00:39:42.580 --> 00:39:44.280 with the great 00:39:44.280 --> 00:39:44.840 confidence 00:39:44.840 --> 00:39:45.700 that comes 00:39:45.700 --> 00:39:46.800 from knowing 00:39:46.800 --> 00:39:47.280 Christ 00:39:47.280 --> 00:39:47.920 our Savior. 00:39:47.920 --> 00:39:48.019 Savior. 00:39:49.559 --> 00:39:50.159 And Lord, 00:39:50.220 --> 00:39:50.860 would you grant 00:39:50.860 --> 00:39:51.400 us 00:39:51.400 --> 00:39:54.539 persevering faith? 00:39:56.440 --> 00:39:57.280 Would you help us 00:39:57.280 --> 00:39:58.559 to fix our eyes 00:39:58.559 --> 00:39:59.360 on Jesus, 00:40:00.039 --> 00:40:00.780 the author 00:40:00.780 --> 00:40:01.519 and perfecter 00:40:01.519 --> 00:40:02.240 of our faith, 00:40:03.240 --> 00:40:04.119 who for the joy 00:40:04.119 --> 00:40:04.820 set before him 00:40:04.820 --> 00:40:05.680 endured the cross 00:40:05.680 --> 00:40:06.960 despising the shame 00:40:06.960 --> 00:40:07.960 and is seated 00:40:07.960 --> 00:40:09.079 at the right hand 00:40:09.079 --> 00:40:10.200 of you, 00:40:10.780 --> 00:40:11.500 God our Father, 00:40:11.500 --> 00:40:13.840 and who promises 00:40:13.840 --> 00:40:16.980 to blaze that trail 00:40:16.980 --> 00:40:17.679 and to bring us 00:40:17.679 --> 00:40:18.019 with him 00:40:18.019 --> 00:40:18.559 in his train. 00:40:20.719 --> 00:40:21.659 We ask all this 00:40:21.659 --> 00:40:22.500 in the name of Jesus, 00:40:22.659 --> 00:40:23.059 our Lord. 00:40:23.320 --> 00:40:23.579 Amen.