“Catch 22” Daniel 6: /18/2009 Dane Boyles

“Catch 22” By the time we get to chap. 6, Daniel was about 85 years old. He had worked all through the administrations of Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar.

Daniel 6:1-2 1 It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, 2 with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss.

Daniel 6:3 3 Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.

“Catch 22” Daniel was elevated because of his loyalty to God. 12 The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; (Psa. 92:12) 14 They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, (Psa. 92:14)

“Catch 22” Rather than complain about the misfortunes of being exiled and having to live in a foreign country, he made the best of his circumstances. In Daniel’s and Jesus’ cases, their greatest test came toward the end of their days.

Daniel 6:4 4 “At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent.”

“Catch 22” Daniel was hated because he was honorable. They went through every document with a fine toothed comb.

Daniel 6:5 5 Finally, these men said, ‘We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.’ ”

“Catch 22” The only way they could pin him down was to use his religion against him. 6 So the administrators and the satraps went as a group to the king and said: “O King Darius, live forever! (Daniel 6:6)

Daniel 6:7 7 The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or man during the next thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into the lions’ den.

Daniel 6:8-9 8 Now, O king, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” 9 So King Darius put the decree in writing.

“Catch 22” The death decree suspended all religious freedom for one month. Our first obligation is to God Himself. What should Daniel do? 30 DAYS WITHOUT PRAYER!

“Catch 22” What would you do?  Would you hide your faith?  Would you suspend your beliefs just this once.

“Catch 22” Daniel was in a Catch 22 situation.  If he prayed, He’d face a terrible death.  If he put his beliefs on hold, He’d compromise his faith.

“Catch 22”  The term “appropriate” is a euphemism that describes the world’s way of seeing things; that our actions must be culturally & socially acceptable.

Daniel 6:10 10 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.

“Catch 22” What is the rationale for that? Daniel felt it was more dangerous NOT to pray to God than to be thrown into the lion’s den.

Romans 4:18 18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”

“Catch 22” Abraham transferred hope to something else.  He had to anchor his hope & faith in God and not in anything he could see or feel.  His faith had to transcend the natural.

Romans 4: Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.

“Catch 22”  His faith & trust in God, and not in self, were remade into accredited righteousness.  How does this act of not trusting in self resolve this?  Having no hope in what you see, doesn’t mean there is no hope.

“Catch 22”  Abraham’s act of not living by sight, is converted into a state of being before God. 22 This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” (Rom. 4:22) 8 Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.” (Rom. 4:8)

“Catch 22” He did not waiver through unbelief. He was strengthened in his faith. He gave glory to God. He was fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.

“Catch 22” This is the exact same thing Daniel believed and did. When the decree came out, Daniel didn’t waiver. He was strengthened in his faith (v. 16).

Daniel 6:16 16 So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!”

“Catch 22” He gave glory to God. He was fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. 19 At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. (Daniel 6:19)

Daniel 6:20 20 When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”

Daniel 6: Daniel answered, “O king, live forever! 22 My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king.”

“Catch 22” The fact that his faith was credited to him as righteousness saved his life. When someone lives by faith, it will produce suffering.  We are told that we will suffer for our righteousness.

“Catch 22” Daniel could have tried to avoid the psychological turmoil associated with this.  But suffering is an inherent part of faith.  So if we try to avoid suffering, we will avoid living by faith.

Two Lessons from the Lions’ Den Remember not to rely on situational appearances. Remember not to allow your ignorance to attribute inactivity to the Lord.