The Faith of Daniel

Bulletins

Michael Hickox
10/20/24 - General

The book of Daniel speaks of God blessing Daniel and his friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Daniel 1:17 says, “Now as for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.”

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego faced a great test of faith in Daniel 3, when Nebuchadnezzar commanded the worship of a golden image upon hearing certain sounds. When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego refused to worship this golden image, they were thrown into a fiery furnace.

Several years later, Daniel faced a similar test. When we reach the 6^th chapter of Daniel, the kingdom is no longer ruled by Nebuchadnezzar or his descendants (see Daniel 5). Instead, the kingdom is under the rule of the Medes and Persians, with Darius the Median serving (Daniel 5:28-31).

As king, Darius set one hundred twenty princes over the kingdom, and three presidents over these princes (Daniel 6:1-2). Daniel was the first of the three presidents, and “was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm” (verse 3).

Daniel’s role made him envied by the other presidents and princes. They determined to “bring him down” (verse 4), but they realized they couldn’t find an accusation to bring against Daniel “unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God” (verse 5).

So the presidents and princes proposed to King Darius that he sign a decree that whoever “asks a petition of any god or man for thirty days, except of [Darius], he shall be cast into the den of lions” (verse 7). Darius, likely not realizing what he was doing (cf. verse 14), signed the decree (verse 9).

Verse 10 says, “When Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house (now his windows were open in his room toward Jerusalem) and he kneeled on his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did before.”

Daniel was thrown into the den of lions for this faithfulness (verse 16), yet his faithfulness was rewarded, as God sent His angel, who “shut the lions’ mouths” (verse 22), leaving Daniel unhurt.

Upon recognizing what had happened, Darius “turned the tables,” commanding that Daniel’s accusers be thrown into the lions’ den (verse 24), “and the lions had the mastery of them,” proving that the lions had the ability to do harm so long as God did not prevent them.

While it’s easy to see in hindsight that Daniel acted wisely, imagine how difficult it would have been in the moment for Daniel to continue praying to God faithfully, knowing a writing had been signed that would cause him to be cast into a lions’ den.

Though it’s unlikely for any of us to face this exact circumstance, we do encounter many instances in which walking by faith is difficult. Rather than walking by sight and rationalizing according to worldly wisdom, we must, like Daniel, allow God’s will to guide us.

The Christian’s faith can be strengthened by the faith of Daniel (cf. Heb. 11:33). Our lives may at times be envied, as Daniel’s was. We may be mistreated, as Daniel was. Yet, we must remember that ultimately, faith will be rewarded. The temporal deliverance of Daniel from the lions’ mouths is a “foretaste” of the eternal deliverance from hell that will be fully realized on the Day of Judgment by those who, like Daniel, choose to walk by faith.