“… 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.
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. Finally
these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man
Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.” So
these administrators and satraps went as a group to the king and said: “May
King Darius live forever! The royal administrators,
prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should
issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human
being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown
into the lions’ den. 8 Now, Your
Majesty, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in
accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”
So King Darius put the decree in
writing. Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went
home 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. Then these men
went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help...” (Acts 6:1-11 NIV).
*
Daniel
had a top position in King Darius’ kingdom. He was chief of presidents. “...It pleased Darius
to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty 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...” (Daniel
6:1-2 KJV).
Not only did Daniel have the top position, but he was preferred
over all others, because of his excellent character and spirit. “...Then this Daniel 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...”
(Daniel 6:3 KJV).
Because of
his righteous character and spirit, the other presidents and princes decided to
conspire against him. “...Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel
concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was
faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him...” (Daniel 6:4 KJV).
God gives
HIS PEOPLE “his” excellent Holy Spirit. “…God … sent forth the Spirit of His Son “INTO” OUR HEARTS…” (Galatians 4:6
NASB). “…It is God (the Holy Spirit) who
works in you to will (to want
to do righteous) and to act (to actually become righteous) in order to fulfill
his good purpose...” (Philippians 2:13 NIV). “…Now may the God of peace,
… that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good (an
indwelling and excellent spirit) for doing his will,
and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ...”
(Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV).
God’s excellent Holy
Spirit DWELLS within HIS PEOPLE. “…God has given [you]
HIS ...[excellent indwelling Holy]... Spirit as PROOF that
… he [dwells]…in [YOU]…” (1
John 4:13 NLT). “…The
Spirit of God dwell[s]… in you…” (Romans 8:9 KJV).
(Hebrews 1:9 NASB). “…Thanks
be unto God for his unspeakable GIFT (Jesus, the excellent indwelling Holy
Spirit)…” (2 Corinthians 9:16
KJV). “ …We have this treasure (the
excellent indwelling Holy Spirit) “in” earthen vessels…” (2 Corinthians 4:6-7 KJV). “…[People will]… know (WITNESS) that
everything [YOU have]… (the excellent indwelling Holy Spirit) IS
A GIFT “FROM” [God]…”
(John 17:6-9 NLT). “…You
will receive the gift of the
(excellent indwelling) Holy Spirit….” (Acts 2:38 NASB). “…by the GRACE of God I am what I am…” (1
Corinthians 15:10 NIV).
“... Daniel was
preferred above the presidents and
prince...because
an excellent spirit was in him...”
(Daniel 6:3 KJV).
“...the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel
concerning the kingdom...” (Daniel 6:4 KJV).
The
bible TELLS all of God’s PEOPLE to LET their
excellent Spirit SHINE brightly through their conduct. “…Let your
light so shine before men,
that they may
see your good works (empowered by the Holy
Spirit) and glorify your Father which is in heaven…”
(Matthew 5:16 KJV).
Daniel’s
conduct, in his government position, reflected the EXCELLENT Spirit God had
given to him. It made Daniel PREFERABLE above ALL others, because he wasn’t
corrupt or negligent in his duties, but was found trustworthy! “... Daniel was preferred above
the presidents and prince...because an excellent spirit was in him...” (Daniel 6:3 KJV).
The
others SAW Daniel’s GOOD works through his conduct. “…Let your
light so shine before men,
that they may
see your good works …”
(Matthew 5:16 KJV).
Daniel
was faithful in his duties to the King and his was faithful in his covenant
relationship with God. “...[And[... they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was
faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him...” (Daniel 6:4 KJV).
Daniel’s faithfulness was a
virtue and a fruit of God’s Holy Spirit. “…GOD IS SPIRIT…” (John 4:24 KJV). “…The Spirit of God dwell[s]… in [HIS PEOPLE]…” (Romans 8:9 KJV)
“…Ye shall know [God’s people]…
by their fruits…” (Matthew 7:16 KJV).
“…The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
gentleness, goodness ... [faithfulness]...Meekness, temperance…” (Galatians
5:22-23 KJV). "....The [excellent] ...Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in [his people’s]... lives …” (Galatians 5 NLT).
“…He (she) who ABIDES in Me and I in him (her), he (she) bears much
fruit
… ” (John 15:1-11 NASB). "… [if you] ...bear much fruit, [you] ... PROVE to be My disciples”
(John 15:8 NIV).
"…[When]...“YOU” bear much fruit,
[you]... PROVE to be [God’s] ...disciples” (John 15:8 NIV).
“...They could find no corruption in him, because he was
trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent...” (Daniel 6:4 NIV). Daniel wasn’t perfect, but he had an EXCELLENT Spirit. “…GOD IS SPIRIT…” (John 4:24 KJV). “…The Spirit of God dwell[s]… in [HIS PEOPLE]…” (Romans 8:9 KJV)
“…Ye shall know [God’s people]…
by their fruits…” (Matthew 7:16 KJV).
“…The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
gentleness, goodness ... [faithfulness]...Meekness, temperance…” (Galatians
5:22-23 KJV). "....The [excellent] ...Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in [his people’s]... lives …” (Galatians 5 NLT).
“...They could find no corruption in him...” (Daniel 6:4
NIV). The other
presidents and princes looked and searched until they could find another way to
discredit Daniel.
The other presidents and princes were looking and searching for a
particular way to discredit Daniel that would be plausible and strongly
supported in pretext that would get rid of their rival.
“...the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel
concerning the kingdom...” (Daniel 6:4 KJV).
Why did the
other presidents and princes want to do Daniel this way? Their HEARTS were NOT
right, which made them jealous and envious. “
… the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality,
impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and
things like these …” (Galatians
5:20-22 NASB).
“… from
within, out of the heart of
man, proceed evil thoughts (thoughts that command
behavior)…these … come from within, and defile a person (make their behavior
unclean)...”
(Mark 7:21-23 KJV). The heart, however, “…is deceitful above all
things and desperately wicked…who can know it…” (Jeremiah 17:9 KJV). "…Offspring
of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth
speaks. The good man, out of his good treasure, brings forth good
things, and the evil man, out of his evil treasure, brings forth evil things."
(Matthew 12:34-35).
The other presidents
and princes literally plotted together to find a way to “FIND FAULT” in Daniel’s
duties as a government official. They could find NONE in his conduct, which is
a POWERFUL testimony of WHO he choose to be as God’s child. So they went after
Daniel, by creating a conflict between his faith and his government duties.
Even though there was
no fault found or detected in Daniel’s conduct or in his duties as chief, they
attempted to created one of their OWN. “... Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this
Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God. Then these presidents and princes assembled together to
the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever. All the
presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, 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 lions. 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. Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree...” (Daniel 6:5-10 KJV).
It is NATURAL
for the sinful flesh to HATE or be HOSTILE toward God and his people, who carry
his Holy Spirit. “…The
sinful nature
is always
hostile to God…” (Romans
8:1-14 NLT).
Daniel served his
government faithfully, but he was first and foremost devoted to serving the
LIVING God amidst a gaggle of Babylonian deities, gods, and idols.
Daniel did NOT excite
this HATRED from the other presidents or princes. Their behavior is a GLOWING
witness of how the SINFUL NATURE is EVIDENT in the lives of those who DO NOT
have the excellent, indwelling Holy
Spirit within them. “… the deeds of the flesh are evident, ... enmities, strife, jealousy ....envying ... and things like these …”
(Galatians 5:20-22 NASB).
They were jealous and
envious of his HOLY life EVIDENT through his righteous conduct. “...All the presidents of the
kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, 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 lions...” (Daniel 6:5-10 KJV).
This NEW
LAW would put Daniel in conflict with his duties as chief and his devotion to God, the Holy Spirit. This put Daniel
INSIDE a STORM of LIFE. This STORM disturbed his atmosphere and disrupted his
normal routines.
If Daniel
choose, his devotion to God over the NEW LAW, he would FACE the LION’S DEN.
“...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 lions...” (Daniel 6:5-10
KJV).
The other
government officials had went to GREAT lengths to discredit Daniel. They did it
out of jealousy and envy which is evident of a nature heavily influenced by a
carnal mind. They manipulated and deceived the king into signing a NEW LAW, in
which he was unaware, would impact Daniel, his preferred chief.
In the 21st
century many people assemble together to plot against righteousness and
righteous conduct, just like in Daniel’s days. “...All the presidents of the kingdom,
the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to
establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree ... king Darius signed the writing and the
decree...” (Daniel 6:5-10
KJV).
“…What
shall it profit a man (woman), if he (she) shall gain the whole world, and lose
his own soul?” (Mark 8:36 KJV)..“…thou hast gone a whoring after the heathen, and …art polluted with their idols…” (Ezekiel 23:30).
The other government officials were
influential people and managed to cleverly impress the king to sign the NEW LAW
into effect. “...All
the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors,
and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute ... [and]... king Darius signed the writing and the decree...” (Daniel 6:5-10 KJV).
ALL the
GOVERNMENT RULERS plotted against ONE righteous MAN.“...All the presidents of the kingdom,
the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to
establish a royal statute ...” (Daniel
6:5-10 KJV).
ALL the
GOVERNMENT RULERS were able to consult and establish this NEW LAW, except
DANIEL. If ONE sinner can destroyed MUCH GOOD, what can a GROUP of sinners do? They
can RUIN religious freedom for ONE righteous man. “…
ONE sinner destroy[ed]… MUCH GOOD…” (Ecclesiastes 9:18 NASB). “...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 lions...” (Daniel 6:5-10 KJV).
“…The sinful nature wants to do
evil…” (Galatians 5 NLT).“…The
sinful nature wants to do ... the opposite
of what the Spirit wants …” (Galatians 5 NLT).
“… from
within, out of the heart of
man, proceed evil thoughts (thoughts that command
unclean behavior and)…these … come from within, and defile a person (make a
person unclean)...”
(Mark 7:21-23 KJV). "...
out of the
abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man, out of his
good treasure, brings forth good things, and the evil man, out of his evil treasure, brings forth evil things."
(Matthew 12:34-35).
King Darius’ government
officials carried weight and influence with him, and because he wanted the
honor as a “god” they promised him, he SIGNED the NEW LAW into effect. “...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 lions...” (Daniel 6:5-10
KJV).
It is unconscious-able
that NONE of the other government officials found Daniel’s righteous conduct
applaud-able. “…The sinful nature wants to do
evil…” (Galatians 5 NLT).“…The
sinful nature wants to do ... the
opposite of what the Spirit wants …” (Galatians 5 NLT).
Without Daniel’s
devotion and connection with God, the
Holy Spirit, he would not have been a man of an excellent spirit.“...The trouble is with me, for I am all too
human, a slave to sin...[because of
the sinful nature] ...I want to do
what is good, but I don’t...”
(Romans 7:14-25 NLT). “…you are not free to carry out your good intentions. … …” (Galatians 5 NLT). “…There is not a just man upon earth, that
doeth good, and sinneth not…”
(Ecclesiastes 7:20 KJV). “...there is “NONE” good but one, that is,
God...” (Nahum 1:7 & Mark 10:18 KJV). “… [ALL (every human being) have become]…..unclean and [their so-called]
righteousnesses
(efforts to do good is) as filthy rags….” (Isaiah 64:6 KJV). “... APART FROM [the Holy Spirit]... [mankind]... can do nothing [good] …” (John
15:1-11 NASB).
“… [they]... are not free to carry
out...[their]... good intentions. … ” (Galatians 5 NLT). “…by the
GRACE of God (and his excellent indwelling Holy Spirit) I am what I am…”
(1 Corinthians 15:10 NIV).
It was Daniel’s
devotion and connection with God, the
Holy Spirit, that made him an PREFERRABLE Chief of Presidents. “... Daniel was preferred above
the presidents and prince...because an excellent spirit was in him...” (Daniel 6:3 KJV).
Daniel
worked in a world and environment where it would have been EASIER to blend in
with the MAJORITY, than to stand, ALONE, for righteousness. “…Let your light so shine before men, that
they may see
your good works
…”
(Matthew 5:16 KJV).
Every
child of God FACES the STORMS of LIFE where choices have to be made between
what is RIGHTEOUS and what is UNRIGHTEOUS. God’s people don’t merely
demonstrate ethical behavior, but they empowered to display righteous behavior
through the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Standing in
righteousness, like Daniel, was not simply about what HE DID, but who he had
become BECAUSE of God’s Holy Spirit. “…Therefore
if any man (woman) be in Christ, he (she) is a new creature: old things are passed
away; behold, all
things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV). “...For in him we live, and
move, and have our being (identity) ... we
are also his offspring...” (Acts 17:28
KJV). “…GOD
IS SPIRIT…” (John 4:24 KJV).
“…The Spirit of God dwell[s]… in [HIS PEOPLE]…” (Romans 8:9 KJV)
“…Ye shall know [God’s people]…
by their fruits…” (Matthew 7:16 KJV).
“…The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
gentleness, goodness ... [faithfulness]...Meekness, temperance…” (Galatians
5:22-23 KJV). "....The [excellent] ...Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in [his people’s]... lives …” (Galatians 5 NLT)."… [if you] ...bear much fruit, [you] ... PROVE to be My disciples”
(John 15:8 NIV).
“...They could find no corruption in him, because he was
trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent...” (Daniel 6:4 NIV). Daniel wasn’t perfect, but he had an EXCELLENT Spirit. “…GOD IS SPIRIT…” (John 4:24 KJV). “…The Spirit of God dwell[s]… in [HIS PEOPLE]…” (Romans 8:9 KJV)
“…Ye shall know [God’s people]…
by their fruits…” (Matthew 7:16 KJV).
“…The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
gentleness, goodness ... [faithfulness]...Meekness, temperance…” (Galatians
5:22-23 KJV). "....The [excellent] ...Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in [his people’s]... lives …” (Galatians 5 NLT).
When
God’s people are truly dedicated and devoted to him they know, personally, how
the covenant relationship with God, the
Holy Spirit, has transformed their lives.
Thus, righteous
behavior is also a result of who and what you keep company with. “... He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools
shall be destroyed...” (Proverbs 13:20 KJV). “... Do
not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good
character...” (1 Corinthians 15:33 NIV). “…he that is joined unto the Lord (Jesus)
is ONE spirit… [with God again]” (1
Corinthians 6:17 KJV). “…. old things are
passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17
KJV). “... and man (woman)
...[becomes]... a living soul
(AGAIN)…”
(GENESIS 2:7 KJV).
. “... He that walketh with wise men shall be wise...” (Proverbs 13:20 KJV).
Daniel’s
conduct demonstrated what his dedicated and devoted, covenant relationship with
God, the Holy Spirit, DID for his
life. “…abide
in me, and I in you…”
(John 15:4 KJV). “…if
any man (woman) be in Christ, he (she) is a NEW creature …” (2
Corinthians 5:17 KJV). “..in him we live, and
move, and have our being (identity) ...we are also his offspring...” (Acts 17:28
KJV).
“…It is God who works in you…”
(Philippians 2:13 NIV). “…The God of peace … that great Shepherd of the
sheep … work[s] in us what is pleasing
to him, through Jesus Christ…”
(Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV). “…The
God of peace … that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip[s] you with
everything good for doing his will…”
(Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV). “… [God] grant[s]… [his people]… to be strengthened with might by his
Spirit in the inner man…”
(Ephesians 3:16 KJV). “...The same God who
does the work IN and THROUGH all of us who are his. The HOLY SPIRIT DISPLAYS God’s power THROUGH each of us …”
(1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT).
“…by the
GRACE of God I am what I am…” (1 Corinthians 15:10 NIV). “…Apart from [the excellent Holy Spirit]… [mankind cannot]... do
nothing…” (John 15:5 NIV).
“... Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his
house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled
upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God,
as he did aforetime. Then these men assembled,
and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. Then they came
near, and spake before the king concerning the king's decree; Hast thou not
signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of 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, The
thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth
not. Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the
children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree
that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day. Then the king, when he heard these words,
was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him
...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.
Then the king commanded, and
they brought Daniel, and cast him into the
den of lions...” (Daniel 6:10-16
KJV).
