Lesson 423 - Junior

Memory Verse

"Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee"  (Daniel 6:16).

Notes

 

Evil Versus Good

A new king named Darius was reigning in Babylon, who selected 120 princes to be over the whole kingdom. Over these he appointed three presidents, of whom Daniel was first.

Sinners are always watching the lives of Christians; often they try to find fault with God's people. They have a right to watch them, and it is most important for all who profess to know Christ to live a life above reproach. Those who watched Daniel could find no fault in him. He was "faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him." However, the presidents and princes were not content. They agreed that they could find no accusation against Daniel, except "against him concerning the law of his God."

Ever since Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, this battle of Satan against God has been raging: sin against righteousness; evil men against the children of God. And this war shall never cease until the Lord puts down Satan in the end of the world. Until then, "all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" [2TM:3:12]). But God always gives the victory over the enemy unto those who trust Him and serve Him with all their heart, as we shall see.

Daniel's Devotions

Daniel knew that he was being watched; he knew that wicked men had conspired against him; he knew that King Darius had signed a decree to the effect that if any person should ask a petition of any god or man for thirty days other than of the king, he should be cast into the den of lions. Daniel also knew of the image of gold which King Nebuchadnezzar had made before this time, and of his three friends, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego who had refused to bow down and worship the image. He knew, too, of the great deliverance God had wrought by bringing them out of the burning, fiery furnace without any hurt. Would he doubt God's power to deliver him if he were cast into the den of lions? No, not this man who served God "continually."

In a chamber, or bedroom, of his house, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, "he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime."

Many years before, when king Solomon prayed unto God at the dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem he said, "I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there." And he prayed that in the land of their captivity, if they would "pray toward their land, . . . and toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for thy name: then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling place, their prayer and their supplications" [2CH:6:6], [2CH:6:37-39]). Daniel, while in captivity in Babylon, prayed with his windows open "toward Jerusalem," looking in faith toward God's holy city. Today when we pray, we lift our heart in faith toward the heavenly Jerusalem, and God hears and answers, just as He did for Daniel.

Daniel's Enemies

Surely enough, those who were trying so hard to find a fault in Daniel heard him praying unto God and not to the ungodly king. At once they went to the king and said, "Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?" The king said this was true. Then they told the king that Daniel had disregarded his law, and was praying three times a day. The king felt sad when he heard that, and tried to deliver Daniel, but the wicked men reminded the king that the law could not be changed. How determined they were to carry out their plan! How hard they worked to accomplish their purpose!

Satan and his forces are always busy trying to overthrow Christians today. Many methods are used by the powers of evil to draw men, women, boys and girls down to destruction. The sinful things such as shows, dances, cigarettes, worldly dress, filthy conversation, degrading reading material have no part in the life of those who have a purpose, as Daniel did, to serve God continually. Their windows are "open toward Jerusalem"; they are praying daily, giving thanks to God, and He is keeping them day by day.

Into the Lions' Den

Against his will, but under pressure from the presidents and princes, the king commanded that Daniel be cast into the den of lions. Then to Daniel he said, "Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee." In his heart he knew that Daniel's God was a great and powerful God, One who was able to deliver Daniel. A stone was laid at the mouth of the den, upon which the king's seal was placed meaning that the law could not be changed.

There was no sleep for the king that night: no music in his palace and no eating. No doubt his thoughts were upon Daniel, and certainly he must have felt a deep regret for signing such a decree and permitting God's servant to be endangered.

The Deliverance

Very early in the morning King Darius arose and hurried to the den of lions. Hoping that Daniel was alive he called to him and said: "O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?" Echoing up from among the rocks of the den came the reply: "O king, live for ever. My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me."

How happy the king now was! Daniel was alive and unhurt, "because he believed in his God." The king commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den, and that those men, which had accused him should be cast into the den of lions, as well as their wives and their children.

Evildoers Punished

No angel was sent to deliver them. Their god could not defend them and they were caught in the trap they had set for Daniel. The fierce lions broke all their bones before they ever came to the bottom of the den. Such was the fate of those who conspired again God's servant.

Let us always remember that God will punish those who try to injure others. Let us never be guilty of "digging a pit" for others, or we will fall into it ourselves. There are many examples in the Bible of those who did this and were caught in their own snare.

David had some enemies who tried to harm him and this is what he said: "For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul. Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall" [PS:35:7-8]). The wicked Haman, in the days of Queen Esther, plotted against Mordecai the Jew. Haman had prepared the gallows for Mordecai, but his own sin found him out and he was the one who was hanged on the gallows.

Consistent Living

Another lesson, which we should learn from this true story is that God takes care of His own who serve Him continually, even when they are facing the severest test. Some young people seek the Lord only when they are in trouble; others seek Him only during a revival campaign. If they neglect to read the Word and pray, they soon lose Jesus and His love out of their heart. Remember, Daniel served God continually; he prayed three times every day.

"Would God that more people would pray,

For "tis prayer that moves mountains away;

Those mountains of doubt are sure to move out,

If unceasingly, brother, you pray."

Through this deliverance the king was convinced that Daniel's God was the living God and he made a decree that in every dominion of his kingdom men should tremble and fear before Him whose kingdom shall not be destroyed, and whose dominion shall be even unto the end. "He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions."

Questions

 

1. What position did Daniel hold in the government of the land?

2. Tell of the conspiracy against Daniel.

3. What did Daniel do when he knew that the king had signed the decree?

4. How did the king feel when word was brought to him that Daniel dis¬obeyed the decree?

5. What comforting words did the king say to Daniel when he was cast into the den of lions?

6. How did the king spend the night? and what did he do early in the morning?

7. What were Daniel's words to the king?

8. What happened to those who had accused Daniel?

9. What lessons may we learn from this account?

10. After Daniel's deliverance, what message did King Darius send to the people?