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2. Stories From The Old Testament That Build Faith & Devotion

3. The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6 In The Lion’s Den Dan 6  Time Line for events in this chapter –  Persia defeats Babylon in 539 B.C.  Persian king Cyrus makes Darius the Mede “king” over Babylon 5:31 cp. 1:21 6:28  Not the same “Darius” from Ezra Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion

4. The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6 In The Lion’s Den Dan 6  Time Line for events in this chapter –  Daniel = “a youth” taken captive in Dan 1 606/605 B.C.  Dan 6 occurs 66/67 years after Dan 1  Daniel would be in his 80’s in Dan 6 Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion

5. The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6 In The Lion’s Den Dan 6  Daniel continues to do well in the kingdoms of men vv. 1-3  He was one of the top 3 “commissioners”  Darius the Mede planned to appoint Daniel over the entire kingdom Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion

6. The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6 In The Lion’s Den Dan 6  Daniel’s political “colleagues” (rivals) were obviously jealous of him…they planned to “accuse” him before the king vv. 4-5  Their only “ground” was re: Daniel’s faithful observance of the law of his God Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion

7. The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6 In The Lion’s Den Dan 6  Daniel’s enemies had to have known about his faithful practice of his religion  Daniel openly practiced his religion  This is exactly what Jesus taught Mt 5:16  Outsiders need to “see our good works” Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion

8. The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6 In The Lion’s Den Dan 6  The enemies’ plan vv. 6-9  They advise Darius to pass a law forbidding prayer to any other “god” except the king  Violators would be cast into the lion’s den  They planned this with Daniel in mind Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion

9. The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6 In The Lion’s Den Dan 6  Daniel’s reaction v. 10  He didn’t worry or even “panic”  He knew Darius signed the edict  He “…continued praying & giving thanks to God as he had been previously doing” Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion

10. The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6 In The Lion’s Den Dan 6  Applications… Ê Despite the position Daniel was now in because of his political enemies, he still “gave thanks” Phil 4:6 Eph 5:3-4 - What was there to be “thankful” for?? Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion

11. The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6 In The Lion’s Den Dan 6  Applications… Ê Despite the position Daniel was now in because of his political enemies, he still “gave thanks” Phil 4:6 Eph 5:3-4 - How easy to be bitter, “speak evil?” Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion

12. The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6 In The Lion’s Den Dan 6  Applications… Ë The greater principle at work…obeying God instead of men Acts 4:19 5:29 - How easy to compromise just once? - How easy to justify compromising? Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion

13. The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6 In The Lion’s Den Dan 6  Applications… Ì What do these passages emphasize? Mt 10:28 Rev 2:10 - What is Daniel facing? - What is his responsibility to God? Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion

14. The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6 In The Lion’s Den Dan 6  The “fallout” re: Daniel’s faith vv. 11-13, 15  His enemies inform Darius of Daniel’s “disobedience”  They remind the king of the law he signed, and of the nature of Medo-Persian law Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion

15. The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6 In The Lion’s Den Dan 6  Darius’ reaction vv. 14, 16-18  He was “deeply distressed”…he obviously liked & respected Daniel v. 3  He initially tried to “deliver” Daniel, trying until sunset to rescue him Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion

16. The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6 In The Lion’s Den Dan 6  Darius’ reaction vv. 14, 16-18  He had no other option…Daniel had to be cast into the lion’s den  He hoped Daniel’s God would deliver him  He fretted all night long Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion

17. The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6 In The Lion’s Den Dan 6  Darius’ reaction vv. 14, 16-18  Darius showed more “anxious worry” over Daniel than Daniel did for himself  POINT Ù what was the point of Jesus’ teaching in Mt 6:25-34? Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion

18. The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6 In The Lion’s Den Dan 6  Daniel’s deliverance vv. 19-23  Darius came early to the den to see if Daniel had survived  Daniel responded that God had sent His angel to protect him Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion

19. The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6 In The Lion’s Den Dan 6  Daniel’s deliverance vv. 19-23  Daniel repeated his innocence  They brought Daniel out of the lion’s den… he was found unharmed because he had “trusted in his God” Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion

20. The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6 In The Lion’s Den Dan 6  Daniel’s deliverance vv. 19-23  Though not mentioned by name, it appears Daniel is referenced in Heb 11:33b  He had the same faith as others described in this chapter Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion

21. The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6 In The Lion’s Den Dan 6  Darius judges Daniel’s enemies v. 24  They are brought to the lion’s den  They & all their families are cast in…they are crushed before hitting the bottom  Consistent with David’s prayer Psa 7:14-16 Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion

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