DANIEL’S LIFE OF PRAYER

Daniel 6:1-28

Key Verse 6:10

“Now when Daniel learned that a decree had been published, he went 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.”

Daniel chapter 6 is about the famous story of the prophet Daniel in the lion’s den. Daniel was a POW in Babylon. He served under many kings and experienced the change of rule and kingdoms, yet Daniel and his faith did not change. Instead, Daniel and his faith grew especially in the times of crisis and persecutions. How could his faith grow in the midst of them? It was because Daniel was a man of prayer. The strength of his life of faith was his prayer life. When he prayed, he believed that God was the sovereign God and the living God who heard and answered prayers. Because Daniel’s prayers were faithful and unselfish, God heard them and God was with Daniel and protected him and used him. Daniel was really an ordinary person, just a sinner like us, but his prayer life made him great in the eyes of God

Today, we want to learn from Daniel how to deal with times of crisis, stress, problems and trials in our life. It is through faithful, believing prayer that God gives us the great victory. This is because through these things that we can learn to depend on God and God gives us the victory through prayer. Through this message, may God give you a greater spiritual desire to pray, especially when you are faced with trials, persecutions and the crisis of life. May God give you more faith and help you to experience his saving grace when you pray faithfully to him like Daniel.

Part 1. The king’s decree. (1-9)

Let’s read verses 1-3, “It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, 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. 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.” King Darius divided his kingdom into 120 states to have 120 satraps or governors over them. In charge of these were three prime ministers in which Daniel was one of the three.

By now Daniel was about 90 years old. He had worked hard and had a good work record. His work habits and his wisdom were far better than anyone else. His integrity, loyalty and faithfulness were unmatched. Daniel’s work ethic was incredible. This was because he lived before God’s eyes and not men’s eyes. Whether his boss was watching him or not, Daniel lived before God’s eyes. When his boss was on vacation, Daniel continued to live before God’s eyes. And when Daniel kept climbing the ladder of success, he continued to live before God’s eyes. He did not use his position for selfish gain. He did not abuse his position. Quite often those who gain important positions often abuse them and take advantage of things and do things they should not do, thinking that they can get away with it. This is especially true with those who are in politics. Ex-President Bill Clinton did this. But Daniel was not like that. He was clear to live before God and made sure that he did not become corrupted by blending in with others. For example, he did not try to undermine the government while he was working for the king. He simply worked for the king and tried to honor God and it was God who kept blessing him with higher and greater positions. Because of his impeccable record, and exceptional qualities, he was about to be promoted above the other two administrators, by King Darius. Those who are going to graduate and begin full time work can learn from Daniel how to be successful. The temptation to be like others and take advantage of our positions is very tempting. The temptations to be selfish and only think about money is even greater.

At this time, some people became jealous of Daniel and planned to do him harm and ruin his record and career. But they could find nothing. Let’s read verse 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.” These men tried to dig up Daniel’s past. They tried to find some past wrong doing, or mismanagement, abuse or affair or something or anything to bring a charge against him. Perhaps they could find something he promised, but didn’t keep. Like he might have said, “Read my lips, no more taxes!” But they could not find anything against him. Then they reached a conclusion. What was it?

Let’s read verse 5, “Finally, these men said, ‘We will never find any basis for charge against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.’” This time they decided to attack his faith and persecute him. Daniel was an old man and also a mature man of faith, yet God was still allowing him to go through persecutions and trials .Let’s read verses 6-9, “So the administrators and the satraps went as a group to the king and said, ‘O King Darius, live forever! The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisors 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. Now, O king, issue a 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.’ So King Darius put the decree in writing.”

This decree greatly flattered the king’s ego and sense of pride. He could feel that his rule would be strengthened from this edict. He could also feel like he was even like a god from this edict. There was nothing in this decree that King Darius did not like. So he said, “That sounds good to me. Let’s do it and put it in writing.” However, King Darius had no idea of the motivation behind this decree, that it was directly aimed at personally destroying Daniel. This time was another great trial and testing of Daniel’s faith and his obedience. Should he obey the decree or obey God? We should not be surprised when we go through trials for believing in Jesus. When we try to live by faith, we will certainly go through trials. What is the purpose of these trials? James 1:2-4 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” The purpose of these trials is so that our faith may be mature and complete. Without trials we can not mature as Christians. We just remain as baby Christians. But when we go through trials with the right attitude, then we can truly experience God as our Heavenly Father who loves us. Even Daniel, an old man in the faith needed to go through trials. God thought that he was still not mature enough and still not complete. Until we reach our final destination in heaven, we will go through many trials because this is God’s way to grow us as mature believers with true and genuine faith. Now let’s find out from Daniel how he overcame this crisis.

Part 2. Daniel is saved from the lions. (10-28)

What did Daniel do when he learned that the decree had been published? Let’s read verse 10, “Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened towards Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as had done before.” We see here that Daniel prayed to God. This shows that he was a man of faith. But it was not easy for him given the circumstances and consequences that he now faced.

When he thought about this decree he might reason that for 30 days he could miss his prayer time. After all, there is nothing in the Old Testament that says one should pray to God everyday. But this human reasoning would only weaken his faith. How could he not pray to God? He believed God and had faith in God. By not praying to God it would be as if he were denying God and ignoring God. Daniel who believed that God was the living God, could not do this. He could not in his heart let in any compromise. How could he face God if he compromised even this one time? It would be better to face the hungry lions than to stand before God on the day of judgment with God knowing full well that Daniel had denied him.

Yet, when Daniel thought of this edict he probably shuddered thinking about having to face the big mouths of hungry lions who would eat him alive. He was a human being like us. It was a terrible thought to Daniel. In this time of crisis Daniel knew the only way out was to go to God in prayer. The only way for certain victory was through prayer. Let’s look how he prayed.

First, he went to his usual place of prayer, his upstairs room in his home. In his upstairs room he kept the windows open towards Jerusalem which was in the promised land. And from that position, he prayed. He prayed towards Jerusalem because he believed the promises of God. The promises of God were that God would restore his people who he put in exile and bring them back after 70 years of Babylonian captivity. Daniel prayed towards Jerusalem because he believed that God would bring back this remmant and once again restore his people. In Jersualem God would rebuild his temple and fulfill his will. He looked to the Messiah to come. He had a sense of history and knew where all history was heading. This means that Daniel believed that the God of Israel, not the gods of the Babylonians or the politicians who were trying to destroy him, was the true ruler. When we pray, we should not look at the situation in hopelessness and despair. Rather we should look at the one who we pray to. When we pray we should look towards heaven and pray believing that God is still ruling, even when we go through terrible times. Especially, we should pray, “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come and will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

Secondly, Daniel prayed three times a day on his knees. Three times a day can also mean that he prayed continuously. Of course there were three times a day that the people of God prayed: 9AM, 12 Noon and 3PM. But Daniel made prayer a continual part of his life. Wherever he was he prayed. Here in his favorite place, he also prayed on his knees. Perhaps all his pants had holes in them in the knees or patches where the knees were. As an old man he could lay in bed and pray because this was easier. But have you ever tried to lay in bed and pray? It usually starts pretty good. But soon you become heavy eyed and sleepy and fall asleep. Prayer requires effort and attitude. Sometimes it requires struggling and wrestling. When Daniel prayed, he gave himself fully to prayer even when he was physically tired. These days the Second Generation are having a prayer meeting in the morning. Is it just for final exams? Is it an emergency prayer for these finals? I wonder. No, actually it is so that they can learn to pray continuously throughout the year. This is to equip them to be ready and spiritually alert to overcome the trials and temptations that come to us when we are young and growing in our faith. In school, there are so many peer pressures to be like others. Young shepherds and shepherdess have to keep a prayer life so that they can have a pure heart and overcome the temptations to have boy friends and girlfriends like the ungodly world. One shepherd’s father thought that he was a homosexual because he did not have a girlfriend. But God helped him when he prayed and he kept a clear identity through prayer. Later God gave him the best wife. When young people get together and pray and privately pray continually God can make them alert to be good shepherds in their class. We were all shocked to read about the college student from Wisconsin who was responsible for all those pipe bombings in mailboxes in the Midwest. To his friends and classmates, he seemed ordinary. However, if there was a fellow classmate who prayed for him and became a shepherd for him, he could have avoided getting into so much trouble.

Thirdly, Daniel gave thanks to God, just as he had done before. In Daniel’s time of crisis, he did not ignore and stop his prayer life. He did not panic and lose control and give into his emotions. He did not try to do something humanly to relieve the stress like drinking or sleeping a lot or taking drugs. He remained faithful to God and believed God would answer his prayers. It says, he gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before. It is easy to give thanks to God when we are sailing along in our lives of faith and everything is smooth and pleasant. But when the crisis hits, when the trials come and the storms of life are over us, we quickly lose thankfulness and become angry at God and angry at others. We become full of complaints and filled with bitter and revengeful desires.

Our real faith is shown when we are in times of crisis and trials. Perhaps Daniel could have had some people who were loyal to him become hit men and do away with those who were trying to destroy him. After all, Daniel had a lot of power. But Daniel did not fight the physical fight and he did not struggle with people. Instead he went on his knees to God and fought the spiritual fight through prayer. When he went to God in prayer, he first thanked God. I am not sure what he thanked God for. But it says that he gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before. So Daniel was in the habit of thanking God. Perhaps he thanked God for the trial and thanked God that God would be glorified through it whether he lived or died. Perhaps he thanked God for being the Sovereign God and ruler God. I have learned that the best way to pray to God is first by thanking God. So when I pray by myself I try to think of many things to thank God for. I experienced that when I first start praying by thanking God, God begins to open my spiritual eyes to know who he is. Then I know that God is sovereign and the living God who loves me and will be with me to the very end

I Thessalonians 5:17-18 says, “Pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” In the time of crisis, Daniel did not compromise. This was the characteristic of his faith throughout the whole book of Daniel. He continued in his prayer, relying on God, thanking God and asking God’s help. He struggled in prayer. His prayers were not merely a shopping list. They were earnest prayers of faith and prayers of hope. Daniel’s prayers were courageous prayers of faith. Everyone knew where Daniel prayed. Yet Daniel did not hide and pray in secret. He prayed boldly where he always used to pray. He did not let this decree intimidate him. He knew that people were watching him to catch him and to condemn him. However, he also knew that God was also watching him when he prayed. He knew God was living and that God would deliver him. He knew that all men were merely like grass.

Let’s read verse 11, “Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help.” When these men found out that Daniel was praying to God, they went and told the king. They reminded him of his decree. Then they told him about Daniel. Look at verse 13, “Then they said to the king, ‘Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.” These men thought that they could get the king angry at Daniel by mentioning that he was an exile and that he paid no attention to the decree. They tried to make him look disobedient and rebellious. However, King Darius knew that Daniel was innocent. He was distressed about this and tried to rescue Daniel.

However, Darius had made a foolish decree and put it in writing. By law it could not be repealed. He was trapped by his own law and unable to do anything humanly to help Daniel. So the king had to give in. He could only believe that God could help Daniel. Let’s read verse 16, “So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lion’s den. The king said to Daniel, ‘May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!’” It appeared that if Darius was putting Daniel into his own tomb to die by the mouths of hungry and ferocious lions.

As the stone was put over the mouth of the lions den, the king and his advisors sealed Daniel’s fate with their signet rings. This was their signature so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. King Darius then was uncomfortable and restless the whole night. Let’s read verse 18, “Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.” The king had planned to watch the new Star War’s movie in his hot tub, but he could not do it because he was so distressed. He could not eat, or sleep when he thought about Daniel.

Then at first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lion’s den. Look at verse 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?’” Let’s read Daniel’s reply and testimony in verses 21-22, “Daniel answered, ‘O king, live forever! 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.’”

Daniel testified that God was with him and rescued him. God had sent his angel to shut the mouth of the lions. As we know, the lion is the king of all the beasts that God made. Lions have big heads and big mouths and many big and sharp teeth. They also like to roar very loudly to frighten their victims. They bite their prey with power. When they see their victim, they run to it and pounce on it and drag it down and bite its neck into the jugular vein. The lion’s victim dies instantly. Now Daniel had been thrown into a den of lions. There must have been at least ten lions there. They normally would not feed them very well, so these lions were very hungry. No man could survive even one minute in such a place.

However, Daniel survived because God was with him in the lion’s den. God sent his angel to shut the mouths of all the lions. God made them harmless like ordinary house cats that many people have as pets. They just came and laid at Daniel’s feet and made soft purring noises. Daniel’s faith is mentioned in Hebrews 11:33. It says, “who through faith…shut the mouths of lions.” By faith in God through prayer, God shut the mouths of the king of the beasts and Daniel was not hurt. According to verse 23, when Daniel was lifted from the lion’s den, no wound was found on him because he had trusted in his God. This was a clear sign of Daniel’s faith from the beginning to the end. He trusted in God and God saved him. His prayer life was a sign of his trust in God.

Through prayer, Daniel experienced a great victory. It was in God that he won a great victory. He won the victory over the lions. This victory was the powerful witness to the pagan king Darius. Look at verse 23, “The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.” Sometimes in our life we face many lions. At work, our boss can appear to be a lion or our coworkers at work can appear to be like lions. They want to eat us up and devour us and crush us. We want to avoid them and are afraid to face them. Sometimes our teachers can appear to be like lions, too. But we learn here how to overcome the lions. Trust in God by praying like Daniel. God will deliver you when you pray with faith like Daniel. Don’t think or say, “I don’t have Daniel’s faith!!” Just remember, the same God you pray to is the same God that rescued Daniel. Is your situation any worse than Daniel’s? God will rescue you and make you strong when you spend time to pray. Remember, the victory is not with men nor from us. The victory comes through faith in Jesus. Psalm 34:19 says, “a righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all.”

What happened to Daniel’s enemies? Let’s read verse 24, “At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lion’s den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.” This shows us that God’s judgment fell on those who were against his servant to cause him harm. Those who think they can cause trouble to God’s servant and succeed will find their plans back firing on them. God will punish them according to what their deeds deserve.

This whole event moved King Darius to write a personal testimony. In verses 26-27 we read what he learned about God. Let’s read verses 26-27, “I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. ‘For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.’” Here we see that King Darius learned that the God of Daniel is the living God. He learned that God lives forever and his kingdom will never be destroyed. Human kings and kingdoms have limits. We have seen the four kingdoms that Daniel served under. We saw that the king could not rescue Daniel. But God saved him and revealed his power and glory. In the end it is only God who can save us. It is he who we should rely on, not friends, not our job, not our money or wisdom. Only Jesus is our true and living savior.

Look at verse 28, “So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.” Through this event, God made Daniel even greater. This shows us that out times of crisis are for God’s purpose to exalt him and make us fruitful. When we face a life trial and crisis we need to learn to pray all the more. Then we will experience God’s power to deliver us from the lion’s den. May God make each of you very prayerful so that you may trust in God like Daniel. May God use you crisis and trials as an opportunity for you to come closer to him and pray more to him. May God be glorified through your prayer life.