Sunday, July 20, 2008 Scripture reading: Daniel 6:16
16Then the king gave the command, and Daniel was brought and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to Daniel, ‘May your God, whom you faithfully serve, deliver you!’
Sermon Title: "LOOKING FOR DANIELS" Sunday, July 20, 2008
JOEL DEICHMAN: I'm going to look at a
little passage here in Daniel Chapter 6 and see what
we can glean from this.
The king sent governors and administrators of his
kingdom to a den of lions who caused him to suffer
some type of loss. Daniel distinguished himself above
the governors because he had an excellent spirit about
him, and the king thought a lot of him.
So the governors set out to find some charge
against Daniel concerning the kingdom, but they could
find no charge because he was faithful, nor was there
any error or fault found in him. Then these men said
we shall not find any charge against this Daniel
unless we find it against him concerning the law of
his God.
So these governors established a royal decree
that whoever petitions any God except you, oh, king,
should be cast into the den of lions. Now the king
established the decree and signed it. According to
the statute, once it is signed and made law, a king
could not even change that law. It had to be
fulfilled.
Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed,
he went home and knelt down on his knees three times
that day and prayed and gave thanks before his God.
The men found Daniel praying and making supplication
for his God, and they went before the king and spoke
concerning the decree. Have you not signed a decree
that every man who petitions any God or man except
you, oh, king, shall be cast into the den of lions?
The king answered that is true.
Then it was said Daniel does not show due regard
for you, oh, king, or for the decree that you have
signed. When the king heard these words, he was
greatly displeased with himself and set his heart on
Daniel to deliver him.
These men said to the king the law is that no
decree or statute which a king established may be
changed. So the king gave the command, and they cast
Daniel to the den of lions, but the king spoke saying
to Daniel, the God whom you serve continually, he will
deliver you. When the king arose very early the next
morning he came to the den and cried with a loud and
lamenting voice to Daniel saying, Daniel, has your God
been able to deliver you from the lions?
Then Daniel said to the king, My God sent his
angel and shut the lions' mouths so that they have not
heard me because I was innocent before him, and also,
king, I have done no wrong before you. Daniel was
taken out of the den of lions and no injury was found
whatsoever in him because he believed in his God.
When people look at me and follow behind me, you
know, I wonder what they say? Do they see someone
like Daniel? Who do they see when they follow you?
Are you like Daniel? When I'm at work or at home or
at church, what do people see when they follow behind
me? Do they find that same kind of spirit that Daniel
had?
It says in verse three, Chapter 6 he had an
excellent spirit. In other words, he was one of the
favorites of the king because he was excellent at his
work, he had a good spirit about him, and they could
always count on him to do the right thing.
As we are approaching the coming of our Lord and
savior, what he's looking for are Daniels, men and
women who will do the work of the kingdom, who will be
there to do what God has asked them to do, do what God
has called them to do. We need people who are bold
and courageous, people of integrity and a steadfast
commitment to the code of ethics of Daniel.
I believe that's what God would call us to be,
that we would not be fault-finders, but we are people
who are looking to do God's work and to uplift the
king, King Jesus, and that we would be found to have
an excellent spirit within us.
I did say I would be brief and that is my
challenge this morning as we come to the altar to pray
is that you look at and examine your own heart and see
what you need to do to be like Daniel, to be a person
of integrity and one who can advance the kingdom these
days. Now will you stand as we approach the altar for
prayer?