From the Pastor, Dennis Plourde
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Hungry Lions
Hebrews 12:1-2; Daniel 6:10-18
     I wonder if Daniel would survive in our world today? Daniel, a man of honesty, integrity and faith. A man who kept his word. I watched some of the Senate hearings this past week and at times wanted to shout, "just tell the truth!" Would Daniel survive in politics today?
     I remember meeting a man a number of years ago who asked where we were from (at that point we were pastoring in down East Maine). I told him and he asked if I knew Anthony. I responded with a "yes", and that Anthony was a member and Deacon of one of the congregations I served (three at once!). He smiled and went on to say how Anthony was the most honest man he had ever met. If Anthony said he would deliver something, it was delivered. You did not need a written contract on Anthony's part; his word was his bond. And, if there was ever a delay (he ran a seafood company) he always called and explained the reason and let you know when the product would arrive. He was a man of faith, honesty and integrity – a modern day Daniel in the business world.
     As we come to our story today Daniel's faith is again being challenged. Now, how old do you think Daniel is as he gets tossed into the lion's den? You have three pieces of paper in your bulletin. If you think Daniel is a teen, select the pink one. If you think he may be middle aged – say 30-60, pick the red one. And, should you think he is over 70, pick the blue one. Now raise your choice: it looks like 50% for teen, 40% for middle age and 10% for over 70. Well, those who said over 70 are probably correct. (Daniel was taken captive in 605 BC and the date of his adventure with the lions is estimated to be about 539 BC, or 66 years after being taken into captivity. And if he were 12 when he was taken captive, that would make him about 78 when he encountered the lions! Amazing how those images from Sunday School stay in our mind – a young Daniel in the lion's den.)
     Daniel is a man of faith and courage in a foreign land. A brief look at his life as recorded in the first few chapters of Daniel show a young man of faith and courage in a foreign land. Remember when they are first led away he is concerned about the food – he wants to keep the dietary laws, and the diet the king has proposed would have them eat food that is forbidden under the law. He spoke with the one in charge and proposed that for a set amount of time (10 days) he and his friends be given a special diet of fruit and vegetables. If after the agreed upon period they are not at least as healthy as their counterparts who eat the king's diet they will consent to eat what the king has provided. They are, however, far better than the others after the trial period (1:15).
     Not only do they grow in stature but also in wisdom and understanding (1:19). Daniel also grew in his ability to understand and interpret dreams and visions. Although he was present in the king's court he and his friends were not deterred from their faith by the trappings of power and privilege. They remained faithful to their God even in the midst of a fiery furnace. They kept each other strong. Hear the words of Daniel's three friends as they are confronted with their refusal to bow down to an image of the king. "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, 'O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to present a defense to you in this matter. If our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire and out of your hand, O king, let him deliver us. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods and we will not worship the golden statue that you have set up'"(3:16-17). (Do you know the Hebrew names of these three? Or Daniel's Babylonian name? Answers at end.)
     Now, in our text for today Daniel has risen to top leadership in the nation. He has survived longer than king Nebuchadnezzar and is now in a position to be named leader of all the satraps of the kingdom under king Darius. As the other leaders discover this they become jealous of Daniel. "After all, he is not one of us; he is a foreigner in our midst." Yet, they know they cannot find any fault with Daniel and his work in the kingdom (6:4). However, Daniel has one shortcoming in their estimation: his faith. So they set a trap for Daniel, betting that he will not betray his faith or his God. Daniel prays three times a day—in his window! Now, if they can get the king to decree that for 30 days only the king is to be prayed to—they will have a case against Daniel. They know Daniel will not waiver – they are right.
     I have wondered what I would do? I mean, why not just pray away from the window where you are not seen? I would still be praying and what difference does it make whether I am seen or not? Or maybe just hide in the closet (Daniel doesn't have Jesus' words to pray in secret). It is hard to imagine with all our freedoms what we would do if such freedom as this were to be taken from us.
     Daniel does as he has always done. They have him! Now they present to the king their demands. It is a law and as such it cannot be changed. There is no commuting of the sentence. Once it is decreed even the king cannot change the order (6:12, 15). So it is into the lion's den for Daniel.
     The king knows he has been tricked and spends a sleepless night. He wonders against all hope if Daniel can survive the night. There is nothing he can do but spend a sleepless night waiting for the morning. Can you imagine the king heading out at first light to yell into the lion's den for Daniel? Scripture says, "When he came near the den where Daniel was, he anxiously cried out…" Imagine what those with him are thinking. The king has gone off his rocker. There is no way Daniel can be alive. Yet to the shock of all Daniel calls out, "I am okay, God has shut the mouths of the lions." The result is not quite the same for those who set Daniel up. The lions pounce before they hit the floor (6:24).
     The king then sends a decree in all the known languages regarding Daniel and the God of Daniel: "May you have abundant prosperity! I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people should tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: For he is the living God, enduring forever. His kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion has no end. He delivers and rescues, he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth; for he has saved Daniel from the power of the lions."
     How is our faith in the midst of hungry lions? I know how I would like to think mine would be. But I don't know for sure. I do know the power of group mentality and how people do things (good and bad) under the pressure of a group. We want to fit in and be a part of the group. It is hard to stand alone. It is hard especially in the midst of a crowd of friends or strangers.
     Daniel, though, will not be swayed by the crowd or by a decree of the king. He has prayed faithfully three times a day in his window and he will continue even if it costs him his life. Compromise is not in his vocabulary when it comes to his faith. He will stand with his God regardless of the outcome. He will not let the rule of the crowd dictate his faith habits. He knew from whence his strength came. As he stood before a former king with the threat of his life in the balance and the life of all the wise men of his day he professed: "…no wise men, enchanters, magicians, or diviners can show to the king the mystery that the king is asking, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has disclosed to King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come" (2:26-28). Daniel's strength does not come from his own knowledge or wisdom, but from the living God.
     The danger comes when we begin to think we have accomplished all this on our own. Look what I have done. Look what I have accomplished. Daniel knew all things are possible only because of God's presence in his life. Come ahead several hundred years to Acts 12:20. Herod dons his royal robes and delivers a speech to the people. The people are so taken with Herod's words they proclaim "the voice of an angel and not a mortal." As the people keep shouting, Luke records the end of Herod: "And immediately, because he had not given God the glory, an angel of the Lord struck him down…"

     If we touch a life – let God receive the glory
     If we change the world – let God receive the glory
     If we escape hungry lions – let God receive the glory


(Answer to trivia: Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah (1:6) And Belteshazzar (1:7))

First Baptist Church
22800 56th Ave. W.
Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043-3922
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30 July 2007
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