(Daniel) Daniel in the Lion's Den — Willie Mullan

Seventy-two please, six, seven, two, am I a soldier of the cross, a follower of the lamb, and shall I fear to own his cause, or blush to speak his name? Six, seven, two please. After six this evening, the book of Daniel, after six chapters please, and going right through this wonderful chapter this evening, twenty-eight verses, and if you allow me a minute for every verse, that's twenty-eight minutes, and if you allow me two, that's two twenty-eights, and it might take three twenty-eights.

So I've promised the class that I'll try and let you out each evening now about a quarter past nine, if possible, I can't just keep to the second. This is a great story this evening. The whole chapter is history, and it is well known history.

You know we've got a little granddaughter in our family now, and sometimes she comes and hangs over my knee while I turn over the pages of a great pictorial bible she has. And she knows a whole lot of these stories, she's only two.

And she'll hang over my knee and watch the pages going over, but there's one thing sure, when I turn to Daniel in the lion's den she'll smile. She knows that. Daniel, lion, scouts out you know. And it is really amazing how many of us, from our very earliest babyhood days, somehow got the hold of the story of Daniel.

In the lion's den, you try the kids out and you'll see, they did get the hold of this, and they do still. And it's perfectly true that there are many circuses on the rounds, and many lion timers who have cast in on this.

There's nothing thrilled the kids at the circus, like the lion timer rattling the gate before he goes into the lions. And it's all connected with what they've taken in early on. Daniel in the lion's den.

But it's not just the thrill and wonder of that old story that this great class is concerned with this evening. There are deeper things here. There are truths here that need to be taught. And there are lessons here, great spiritual lessons that need to be learned.

Daniel's Prosperity Through Dedication and Humility

And so that's what we're after this evening. And I want to bring the whole story before you under these very simple headings, looking firstly at the prosperity of Daniel. You know, God really prospered this young slave.

And we must take time to look at the compilacy of his fellow presidents. And then we shall look at the subtlety of the plan. The great heart of the story, of course, is the fidelity of the servant who is steadfast and unwavering.

Of course, we shall look at the sincerity of the king. And there's a real spiritual depth as we look at the reality of the den. And the great lesson is the victory of the Lord. I just can't do those headings, we're going back to an old familiar story.

Have a look at the prosperity of Daniel for a moment, verse 1. It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom a hundred and twenty princes. Likely to get the figure into your mind, a hundred and twenty princes over this great empire of Medo-Persia.

And for anyone to be chosen or selected or elected to be one of these princes, it was a very high honor indeed. And it pleased Darius to set over the kingdom a hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom.

And over these three presidents. There were three presidents over and above the princes, of whom Daniel was first. My, this was a great honor indeed. You know, immediately there comes to a spiritual mind the great text from 1 Samuel.

When God said, then thus honor me, I will honor. And I think that's true in every dispensation of life. Then thus honor God, God will honor. No doubts at all about that, that will work out. You remember Daniel honored God when he was just a boy.

Let's go back to the first chapter, do you remember that? And as we went down the first chapter, I pointed out to you that he was taken as a captive when he was just fourteen or fifteen or sixteen years of age.

All the scholars claim that he was either fourteen or fifteen or sixteen. He was quite a young boy. And although he was brought to Babylon as a young captive lad, and then you could measure that very wicked king, who eventually got saved, he meant to brainwash Daniel.

This is something I think that we should learn, that brainwashing didn't begin with the Russians. It began way back there in Babylon, and they set about to make these young princes, because Daniel was a young prince, belonging to the tribe of Judah, which was the royal tribe.

And Nebuchadnezzar meant to make these young princes real for a Babylonian. But immediately this young man took his stand for God, you see verse eight. But Daniel, and he's just a lad, don't forget that bit, Daniel purposed in his heart, and that's the place to purpose, Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's means.

You know, he was taking his stand for God, in a real dedicated way, and through his dedication he honoured God. I think you remember in chapter two, when the king had this great dream, you remember Daniel got the secret of the dream, and then the king was all pleased.

And at verse thirty, this is what Daniel said, looking into the king's face he said, but ask for me. This secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living. You can see how humble this character was, and remember his humility.

Honoured God, he hadn't taken any glory to himself, didn't think that I'm a wonderful fellow. He says, ask for me, there's nothing special about me. And this humility honoured God. His dedication honoured God, his humility honoured God, and last week we were at chapter five.

And you remember how he was brought into the feast, and how he spoke to Belshazzar, who was then king. Remember verse twenty-three, how he looked into this king's face and said, but thou hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of Heaven.

And they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, thou drunken men, and thou hast prayed the gods of silver and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which he not, nor hear, nor know.

And the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified. You know he was a fearless character. He could speak to either proper offense, and he would speak the truth for God.

And in his dedication, and in his humiliation, and in his proclamation, he glorified God. He honoured God. And I can tell you the time has come now when God is going to honour him. And God gave him honour.

God has given him this honour of being the first president in the kingdom. And I think it's good for all of us to learn this. Let's have a look at Psalm 1 just for the moment. The first Psalm. Psalm 1, verse 1.

Watch it carefully. Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. And I think if you look at Daniel's life, you'll find that he never walked once in the counsel of the ungodly.

Nor did you find him hanging around with sinners. And most definitely he never sat in the seat of the scornful. But you'll find this about him. Not only was there separation from the world, but you'll find that his delight is in the law of the Lord.

In one of the chapters soon to come, you'll find when he's an old man of 83 years of age, that he's pondering night and day the writings of Jeremiah. And you'll find that this man, who had separation in his very soul, and meditation in his heart, you'll find that he meditated in God's law day and night.

And the psalmist says, blessed is the man that walketh not, but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law that he meditated day and night. And then he said this, he shall be, this is a promise you know, it shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his seed, and his leaf also shall not wither.

And here's the bit that really matters, whatsoever he doeth, shall prosper. My dear friends, this will be carried out. The man that honours God, God will honour him. The man who walks in separation, the man whose delight is in the law of the Lord, the man who meditates day and night, whatsoever he doeth, shall prosper.

And you can see prosperity coming to Daniel. Now let's follow the truth. We're back at Daniel, chapter 6 again. It says, it pleased Darius to set over the kingdom and 120 princes, which should be over the whole kingdom, and over these three presidents of whom Daniel was first.

That the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage. Then this Daniel was preferred, what a great word, above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him.

I think that's a great phrase, because in these verses you not only see Daniel's position, but you see Daniel's disposition. And the dictionary I have, the word disposition means, his natural tendency.

You know, his natural tendency was uneasy to get on with mess. And I won't be going there on Sunday morning either. But that would be one of the good illustrations that I could take quite easily, but there are plenty more.

This moderation in all things, this is an excellent spirit. This is his natural tendency. You know, he's a great character. Not only is he a humble man, not only is he a man whom God hath greatly honoured, but in this honoured position, he carries this excellent spirit.

This easy to get on with mess. This was his disposition. This was his natural tendency. And it says at the end of verse three, and the king thought to set him over the whole elements. You know, he's about to be handed over the reins of the whole province.

Yes, this is the prosperity of Daniel. And then there comes the conspiracy. Because there's one thing that's absolutely sure, and it's more sure in our day than in Daniel's day. And it's this. That if you're going to live godly in Christ Jesus, you shall suffer persecution.

You can make up your mind about that. Some people would love to be really spiritual, you know, and they'd love to occupy the position that some of the sanctified saints have. But they wouldn't want the persecution that comes with it.

Because you've got to be a real tough character if you're going to live for God. Because folks will say things about you. Yes, there came this conspiracy. Look at it very carefully now. Verse four. Then the presidents and princes, that's a hundred and twenty-two of them, then the presidents and princes fought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom.

That was his public life, isn't it? And these men are searching into his public life. Of course he had a lot of things to do for the kingdom. There must have been all kinds of documents to sign and many things to be done in his exalted public position.

And of course the first thing they think about, we'll find a fault with him concerning the kingdom. It says they fought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom, but they could find none occasioned.

No fault. That's a pretty good testimony, isn't it? When a hundred and twenty-two of them start going through the books and they can't find anything wrong with your business life, you're doing pretty well.

I wonder how we would all stand this test now. If our public life was to be examined by boys who were looking for flaws, our money and many of us would come out on Scotland. And remember this, this was in Babylon.

This wasn't in Oregon, this was in Babylon. This was in a day when the Holy Ghost had not come. We're living in the dispensation of grace and the Holy Ghost is within you. And Daniel wasn't. And yet he was faultless.

And they went a little bit further with Daniel. They went this far. It says that but they could find none occasion nor fault. For as much as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.

Because that's different now. They were looking at the kingdom before, but they're looking at him now. In plain statements they searched into Daniel's public life and then they examined very carefully his private life.

And they couldn't find any error or fault in his private life either. I asked a lady coming in, it was only fun. I hope that some of the things I say in this meeting are taken as fun. Because I was having fun about our friend Mr. Carson the other day.

Mr. Carson and I are the dearest friends in this world. And always have been and always will be. In fact in my whole life he's one of the outstanding characters that I've ever known. But sometimes I have fun.

And somebody seems to have the idea that him and I have foreign culture. Not on your life. Not on your life. And I asked a lady coming in tonight, we were having fun again. Her husband was behind her, I said.

Oh how is he getting on? Oh she says I don't need to tell you. I don't need to tell you. I said that he'd be here some time. Oh she went on you know. Ah yes, you know. It's only fun. But I wonder how our public life would stand up to an examination.

He'd get out of bed on the wrong side sometimes. I can't get out on the wrong side, I lie at the wall. Well you'll find this, that when they examined his public life, and they examined his private life, they could find no fault.

He was a fightless, faithful, lovable, easy to get on with gentleman. That's a pretty good testimony, isn't it? He was a great character, you can say that over again. He was a great character. Cause these conspirators, they said, verse 5, then said these men, we shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the Lord his God.

And when they were talking about the Lord his God, they were talking about him praying to God. I wonder if men set out to find faults and flaws in us, I wonder would they switch to this. They would say we can only find it towards his prayer life.

Have you got the prayer life at all? You know these boys knew that this man prayed. He had the prayer testimony all over the realm. He had the prayer time, they knew the time he went to pray. You know when old General Gordon was the Field Marshal of the British Army, and he was a great character.

There were times when he put a white hanky outside his tent. And every Major and every Captain and every Soldier knew that when that white hanky was there he was praying to God and you are not allowed to disturb him.

They all knew you know. Old General taught to God. And there are times when you need to shut the door on the family. And I shut the door on them, I assure you. And everything in which I must get time with God.

Do you have time? Do you just fiddle the day through? So a fainting fault for you would be to go to your prayer life. Somebody couldn't even find it, but they knew where to go for Daniel. It's almost strange that you should go to a man's prayer life to find fault.

They would have trouble with some of us. Yes, but this is what they did. They remembered Daniel's prayer life and saw the conspiracy was set about there. Now I want you to see the subtlety of the plan that was presented.

The Conspiracy to Criminalize Daniel's Prayer

Then these Presidents and Princes, 122 of them, assembled together to the King and said thus unto him, King Darius, live forever. All the Presidents of the Kingdom, well that was a lie to begin with. Because all the Presidents of the Kingdom were not in on this at all.

There were only two of them in. They were deceiving the King. This was a subtle plan to deceive the King. They came in and said all the Presidents of the Kingdom, the Governors and the Princes, the Councillors and the Captains have consulted together to establish a Royal Statute.

And to make a firm decree that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O King, he shall be cast into the Den of Lies. You know this is an indictment on their own idols.

Because there were quite a number of idols. There were quite a number of gods set up at Babylon. The Babylonian gods were numerous. But they didn't matter that much. You can leave them off for thirty days.

Well I couldn't leave my God for thirty days, but just now I would need to see the Lord's face to make the first leap. So this is an indictment on idolatry. When it suits them, they can let these gods go.

But it's also deifying the King. They deceived him and then they deified him. They said we're not asking anything of anyone save of thee. You will be able to meet all our needs for thirty days. They exhausted him for that position.

Of course it was all a subtle plan that the King didn't see. And they said this. All the presidents of the kingdom have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O King, he shall be cast into the Den of Lies.

Now O King, establish the decree and sign the writing that it be not changed according to the law of the Medes and Persians which altereth not. You see they deceived the King and then they deified the King and then they dared the King to sign it with this law of the Medes and Persians.

You can see that this new kingdom is really inferior to the great Babylonian kingdom. This is Darius the King of the Medes you know. You see when the Babylonian empire was there and Nebuchadnezzar was there, he could do what he liked.

He put down whom he would, he exalted whom he would and nobody could say anything to him. But here is a new kingdom, it's inferior because Babylon was represented by gold and Medes and Persians was represented by silver and that is inferior.

Now they have a law that even the King cannot alter. It is not absolute sovereignty. If he signs this, it cannot be altered, even he cannot alter it. And they dared him to do it. And he did it. And that's the subtlety of the plan.

Daniel's Faithful Prayer Despite the Decree

Now look at the fidelity of the session for a moment, verse 10. Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he knew all that was going on, he went into his house and his windows being opened in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he knelt upon his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God as he did before time.

You notice in the notes he went to his usual place of prayer. He had the place of prayer. Our Lord usually either went to the mountain or to the garden of Gethsemane. Do you have a place where you go to pray?

Remember our Lord saying, and though when thy prayers enter into thy closet and shut thy door and pray to thy Father which is in secret, many times a day. Do you mean? Because this man went to his usual place and got into his usual position on his knees and his usual plan three times a day, as a full time.

Signed up. This is a faithful man. This is a fearless man. This was the prayer testimony that this man had. Everybody knew he went three times a day. Everybody knew that he opened his windows toward Jerusalem.

Everybody knew that he prayed and thanked God three times a day. He didn't mind who saw him pray. It's a bittersweet. You know some of us if we went to a chapel we'd be nearly afraid to bow our heads and give thanks.

In case somebody would see me. Ah shame on you. There's not much of a Daniel about us. I was ragged you know. Going round the country in my early days with jock troops. Boy I can tell you the training was terrible.

You talk about a Royal Recruit getting knocked into shape. On one occasion old Lord MacLean took jock troops and I to the great hotel the Grand Central in Belfast. Royal Avenue. Just fun to see boys like us in the Grand Central.

Old Lord MacLean was a stiff old Victorian. Great old character he was. And this place was filled with all the snobs of the day. And jock said to me the devil is saying to me that I'm afraid to sing in this place.

I said the devil's a bigger fool than I took him for it is. And in two ticks you see he shifted the chair back and said would you like me to sing to you. This is enough to get you thrown out you know.

And before anybody could say no he sang. You see he was trained as an opera singer and he was one of the best in the country. And when he started everybody liked it. And he just sang about the Lord Jesus.

I don't think it was ever done before now. It will never be done again. And this was the sort of character when we went along in the train we went the way up the East Coast of Scotland having meetings and he said if the train stops at that side, at that siding there, at your window, you open it and you preach over that window.

He said you're very curious if you can do it. So you just have to get the window down and put your head up and say for God's full of the world that you just got into it you know. And the other character was with us he said to him I'll have you window.

And when it stops at that side, get it open quick and get up and give them the word. And this is how he got on you know. Ah some of us are too shy for the Lord aren't we? And Daniel opened the windows.

And Daniel knelt before his God, God of his dreams. And Daniel knew all the time that the right thing was fine. It's time that we were faithful to God you know. A whole lot of we think. Faithful even unto death as need be.

And you can see this identity of the servants can't you? And here is what happens. Verse 11. Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying. I think that's a great phrase. Found Daniel praying. You know they couldn't find fault and they couldn't find error.

They looked and looked and looked for every conceivable thing they could put their finger on and they couldn't find it. Ah but you could easily find them praying. When would they come round to find you praying?

Three times a day. And that's not a label on a medicine bottle you know. I know that's what it says often. But it was three times a day. And they found him praying. Making supplication before his God.

Verse 12. Then they came near and spake before the king concerning the king's decree. Thou hast thou not signed the decree that every man that shall ask a petition of any man or any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions.

The king answered and said, This thing is true according to the law of the Medes and Persians which answereth not. Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel. You can almost feel the sting in the way they said it.

That Daniel. Which is of the children of the captivity of Judah. They're rubbing it in now, he's a Jew. Regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.

The King's Sorrow and Daniel's Deliverance

Now I want you to see the sincerity of the king. Then the king, he just woke up there and he'd been deceived. When he heard these words he was so displeased with himself. He loathed himself. He knew he had been fooled.

And he knew the law of the kingdom didn't allow him to alter it. It says he was so displeased with himself and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him. You know he loathed himself and he loved Daniel. And he laboured, he laboured to save him.

He laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him. And I can tell you this, that there are little experiences in life where even the king on the throne should he labour to the going down of the sun he couldn't deliver you because God means to do something else.

And this is a great thing to learn in life. People say if so and so had been there, if this had happened, if only John had been there. Friend, don't talk like that. Because there are times when even the king was there.

He couldn't deliver you. Because God meant to let Daniel go into the den of lions. Make no mistake about that. And although he allowed these wicked men to get this subtle plan signed, yet he was directing Daniel.

This is a mighty thing because he was going to glorify his name here. And it's a great thing for you to learn early in life. That even if the king was there he couldn't save you from that experience. Because God meant you to go through it.

Nevertheless we must say this about the king. That he loathed himself, he loved Daniel, he laboured to the going down of the sun. Verse 15,. Then these men assembled unto the king and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is that no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.

They are talking now all right. Then the king commanded and they brought Daniel and cast them into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel just as he was going in, Thy God whom thou hast serviced continually, he will deliver thee.

What a statement it is from the king. Thy God. That's complimentary isn't it. He says I know all about my God but Daniel is different. Thy God. That was complimentary to all. He says whom thou hast serviced continually.

That is testimonial. That's because this fellow had a great testimony. Everybody knew who he served. And I'll tell you this. Not only is it complimental and testimonial but as he went in he said this.

The Darkness and Fierceness of the Lions' Den

He will deliver thee. And that's exceptional isn't it. Coming from a heathen king. Ah yes you know. Now we want to get into the depths of this den. Verse 17. And a stone was brought and laid upon the mouth of the dead.

I think you know that sometimes when we look at these paintings, these pictorial bibles that I was talking about while I have the greatest delight in learning lots of things from the little one as I saw things.

I can see that some of the pictures are all wrong. Because it's the sort of cage that the man has painted in this pictorial bible and Daniel is lying in the corner. Well that was not so. You see the den of lions was something that the kingdom of the Medes and Persians found as capital punishment.

We used to hang them, the Americans, electrocute. But the Medes and Persians had a great den on the ground. And they kept lions in there. And they had a hole at the top. And they just dropped the man and brought him down and put the lid on.

And he's in the dark. And he should be ate. And that's why it says very plainly here. And a stone was brought and laid upon, not up against, laid upon the mouth of the dead. And the king sealed it with his own signet.

And with the signet of his lord. That the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel. You know I try to think this through. The moment that this man has dropped through this hole and the lid is on.

Well he's alone isn't he. I don't know where he leaned against the wall in the dark. Waiting for the lions to jump or what he did. I don't know where he dropped on his knees. And I know he wasn't altogether frightened because Hebrews chapter 11 told me that by faith the mouth of the lions was stopped.

And I know he was exercising faith. But there's a loneliness there. And there's a darkness there. That we would need to get into our imagination. Of course I can see immediately the problem for the painter.

You can't get the picture properly if it's going to be dark and on the ground. But we must get it properly. We must see the loneliness. And we must see the darkness. And we must understand the fierceness.

These lions were fierce you know. This was real. This was a terrible moment. Of course the angel of the Lord came near. We'll learn that in a moment. I'll get to that. And of course the greatness of the power of God the same.

You know it's almost like Calvary but there's one great point left out. When our Lord went down into the depths of Calvary he was alone. And even the sun refused to shine. There was a darkness that we can't explain.

And I can tell you there was a fierceness down there because every weave and billow of God's holy righteous wrath went over his holy head. Because he was bearing my sin. But there was no one here near for the Lord.

Even his father turned his face away. And out of the depths comes a cry, my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? And Daniel never experienced that. He was not forsaken of God. And I'm just touching that because I had someone trying to preach Calvary from this and missing it completely.

God's Power, the Angel, and the Victory of Daniel

But I want you to notice this. Verse 18. Then the king went to his palace and passed the night fasting. You can see how much he was touched. Neither were instruments of music brought before him and his sleep went from him.

Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste on to the den of lions. And when he came to the den he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel. Beautiful words used here. He's lamenting.

And the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou hast serviced continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live forever.

My God hath sent his angel and hath shut the lions' mouths. Oh, that's a tremendous little touch there, you know. Yes, Daniel went into the deep depths and I believe his faith was in God. I believe that he believed that God would deliver him and that he could see the angel closing the lions' mouths.

You know, it's tremendous to go through the scriptures from Genesis to Revelation. This is for the preachers now. And take every animal you can find and see what God did with them all. That's me on the field now.

He shut the lions' mouths. And the longer they keep Daniel down there, the greater danger these lions are in. They'll be scarce to death if they keep them there too long. But God can shut the lions' mouths.

Are you thinking now, do you remember that God opened the ass's mouth and spake? Because God spake by an ass's mouth before tonight. I know there's an ass on the platform now, but it doesn't matter. The past is slow anyway.

And I can tell you this, that God used the raven's mouth to bring bread and flesh in the morning, bread and flesh in the evening. And I can tell you that God used the great fish's mouth to swallow Jonah.

And I can tell you that when Peter was talking about money to pay the tax, the Lord set away and threw the hook in. And the first fish he gets, open it's mouth, and in it's mouth was a piece of silver.

Ah yes, you know I thought a lot about that bit of silver. Because the Lord was going to take that bit of silver and pay it for his tax. And I just want to know whose it is. Because even if a bit of silver falls into the river, it's not yours.

And I have a feeling, you know, that my Lord dropped it in and gave it to fish. And it held it there, just in it's mouth. And he says to Peter, if you want money I'll tell you what to do, go away and catch fish.

And that's one way you do it in the church. It's not pea soup suppers, you know. Oh no, they have these glad rag days and all that sort of thing. And they sell little hops and slips, ah blabbers. No there's just one way to get money for the Lord.

Catch fish, catch fish till you see how it works. That's how it's done. But I'm starting you preachers on a line. He can suck the lion's mouth, he can use the arse's mouth, he can employ the raven's mouth, he can take the fish's mouth and go ahead now, there's a whole lot more for you, I'm only starting you along.

Yes, I want you to get the hold of this, you know. God really delivered Daniel. And I want you to see this. Verse 24,. And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the Dane of lions, then their children and their wives.