Daniel 6:13-23

The people of God are taken into exile—both Israel and Judah sacked and their inhabitants taken to Babylon—all as a result of their patent unfaithfulness. Yet even in exile, God’s promises go out to them. Even though they have repeatedly failed God, God will not fail them. This week we have the story of Daniel, a  devoted follower of God who keeps faith in a pagan kingdom. This morning we’re having a look at the episode of the lion’s den, which on the surface is a story of God’s care for those who trust in him, but which also conveys deeper signs of an  amazing revelation.

[ read Daniel 6:13-23]

DANIEL & JOSEPH

Today we have the story of a man who was taken into slavery in a foreign, pagan kingdom; but as The Lord was with him, he prospered, impressed the foreign rulers, and rose up in the ranks, especially through interpreting the king’s dreams. Sounds very familiar, doesn’t it? Did you think I was speaking of Joseph who was sold into slavery in Egypt? Joseph, whom God blessed and enabled to interpret Pharoah’s dreams; Joseph, who rose to the top of the world power of his day to become the equivalent of prime minister? Joseph, whose rise brought hope and salvation to his larger family? No, we’re talking about Daniel.

It is a pretty accurate echo: Daniel, enslaved by the Babylonians, rises up through the ranks, interprets Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams, and ends up president of the University of Babylon. Through Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar comes to proclaim “The God of Daniel is the true God!” as does King Darius.  

DANIEL & JESUS

Another round of connections becomes clear when we consider ten points about this story in comparison with the story of Jesus:

1. 1.Daniel considers Darius’ decree much less important than faith in God.
   
2. 2.Darius wants to spare Daniel.
   
3. 3.The administrators charge Darius to abide by the law of the land.
   
4. 4.The people abuse Daniel during his execution.
   
5. 5.A stone is placed over the opening to the lion’s den, sealed by Darius and his officials.
   
6. 6.Darius doesn’t sleep and worries about Daniel.
   
7. 7.They come to the Lion’s den at the first light of dawn.
   
8. 8.Daniel’s emergence from the Lion’s den validates his innocence.
   
9. 9.Daniel emerges alive and unscathed.
   
10. 10.All testify that Daniel’s trust in God preserved him.
    

In case you didn’t get it already, here are the same ten points in the life of Christ:

1. 1.Jesus considers the temple authority’s decrees much less important than faith in God.
   
2. 2.Pilate wants to spare Jesus.
   
3. 3.The temple authorities charge Pilate to abide by the law of the land.
   
4. 4.The people abuse Jesus during his execution.
   
5. 5.A stone is placed over the opening to the tomb, sealed by Pilate.
   
6. 6.Pilate’s wife doesn’t sleep and worries about Jesus.
   
7. 7.They come to the tomb at the first light of dawn.
   
8. 8.Jesus’ emergence from the tomb vindicates his innocence.
   
9. 9.Jesus appears alive and unscathed (the Lord of life—not someone recovering from crucifixion).
   
10. 10.His raising begins a movement of faith still alive—one that proclaims his perfect trust in the Lord.
    

And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. —Philippians 2:8

BABYLON TODAY

When the people of God were taken into exile—their homes and homeland burned to the ground—their captors said, “Sing us some of your songs from Zion.” But the Psalmist says, “How can we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land?” It was an insult, as if to say, “We’re so happy to have conquered you that we’d like to use some of your sacred songs for our victory celebration.” It would be like having Nazi soldiers in a death camp telling prisoners to play “Havah Nagilah”(Havah Nagilah means “Let us rejoice”).

We can imagine other things they might have said to people like Daniel, Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego who insisted upon remaining faithful to the Lord even in captivity in Babylon. “What? Are you still worshiping the God of Israel? Really? Even when there is no Israel anymore? Seriously, you’re slaves, isn’t it time to drop it and worship our gods?” The implication is this: Your God isn’t working for you; isn’t it time you tried some that will?

The irony here is that while the Lord provided Israel with everything, they still chased after other gods, but now that all has been taken from them, they worship one whom to all the world appeared to be utterly defeated?

Sometimes it takes defeat to throw us into the arms of God. For ancient pagans, your god was only as good as his or her provision for your health and success. When a god “didn’t work” for you, you threw it on the fire and had a new one made.

Sometimes 21st century America feels like it is moving closer to Babylon than Jerusalem. Urbane sophisticates look down their noses at believers and, like the Babylonians, say, “What? Really? You still go to church? Don’t you know that Christianity is an obsolete, patriarchal scheme designed to keep exploited lower classes content?” Or else we hear the modern pagans saying, “Oh yeah, I used to go to church, but it didn’t really work for me.”

Brothers and sisters, our faith is always like the faith of God’s people in exile. Like resident aliens in Babylon, we trust, serve, and worship the Lord not because it works or doesn’t work, but because The Lord is God and is worthy of our devotion and service—whether we are rich or poor, slave or free.  Like wedding vows, the people of God pledge their faith to love the Lord “for better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and in health.”

To love the Lord and to be transformed by his love is the whole point. It seems that Israel’s relationship with God was actually improved by exile. The quality of Daniel’s faith—and those with him—is exemplary. In fact, it changed the nation.

Consider: Nebuchadnezzar—raised pagan—comes to proclaim that the God of Israel is the one, true God. King Darius as well will proclaim that the God of Daniel is the one true God. The simple act of trusting in God unconditionally turned Babylon into a nation with more believers in YHWH than Israel!

TURNING NATIONS

What will turn a nation today? Does it require that we turn up the temperature by overheating the fires of Hell as a threat? Does it mean we arm up and storm the gates of Hell and secular culture with the sword of truth and the shield of righteousness? No—all it takes is for people of faith to continue trusting in the Lord unswervingly, keeping faith when all around abandon theirs. There is no greater witness than persistence in the face of adversity.

We are to trust and obey no matter what kind of lions we feel locked in with. You may be locked into difficult relationships, or feel that a work situation has become intolerable, or find a family member on the verge of attacking you, or otherwise feel like you are in danger of being pounced upon, shredded, and eaten; but all these lions—no matter how large, scary, and drooling they may be—stand beneath the power of our one Lord, who can shut their mouths and render them harmless.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.

Trust.

Trust and obey. †