06.21.2015 Daniel in the Lions' Den -Standing with our Brothers and Sisters at Charleston AME

Daniel in the Lions' Den -Standing with our Brothers and Sisters at Charleston AME from Grace Summit on Vimeo.

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I thought it would be appropriate for us to pray together for the AME church in South Carolina today – let’s bow our heads and set our hearts – pray a bit on your own – and I will pray a lament from Habukkuk.
Lord, we pray for those who grieve and mourn this morning – bring comfort and give grace to those in that church – as they meet this morning – as they grieve the losses of so many – for the families who lost their loved ones – we tell you our hearts are with them. Thank You for that church and the role it has played in history and in our nation. As we think of the continual violence, we pray with Habakkuk – How long, O Lord, will I call for help…
How long, O Lord, will I call for help,
And You will not hear?
I cry out to You, “Violence!”
Yet You do not save.
3 Why do You make me see iniquity,
And cause me to look on wickedness?
Yes, destruction and violence are before me;
Strife exists and contention arises.
4 Therefore the law is [b]ignored
And justice [c]is never upheld.
For the wicked surround the righteous;
Therefore justice comes out perverted.
We live in a world of violence – and yet You will have the final victory. Thank You for the testimony of that church to offer forgiveness – and may we join with them as brothers and sisters in Christ today.
We are going to look at Daniel in the Lion’s Den this morning. Because this is such a familiar story – I am going to read it and make comments as I go. I am reading out of the NET Bible today…
Daniel 6:1 It seemed like a good idea to Darius to appoint over the kingdom 120 satraps who would be in charge of the entire kingdom. 2 Over them would be three supervisors, one of whom was Daniel. These satraps were accountable to them, so that the king’s interests might not incur damage. 3 Now this Daniel was distinguishing himself above the other supervisors and the satraps, for he had an extraordinary spirit. In fact, the king intended to appoint him over the entire kingdom.
Darius is the third ruler in Daniel – and to me this illustrates that God’s Kingdom will outlast any earthly kingdom – and His people will continue. Oftentimes – the continuation of God’s people is a continuation through suffering.
I was at a Pastor’s Conference – many of you know Doug B. – He used to be at Kent State – He does a lot of ministry in Asia – and he has been engaged in China recently. There are places there, where there is freedom – but there are other places where the men have been thrown in prison for meeting as Christians. And yet the work, the kingdom of God in China, is exploding with growth.

4 Consequently the supervisors and satraps were trying to find some pretext against Daniel in connection with administrative matters. But they were unable to find any such damaging evidence, because he was trustworthy and guilty of no negligence or corruption. 5 So these men concluded, “We won’t find any pretext against this man Daniel unless it is in connection with the law of his God.” 6 So these supervisors and satraps came by collusion to the king and said to him, “O King Darius, live forever!
Daniel was trustworthy – he could be fully trusted by the king in a land where he was an outsider and a servant – but in that situation he was completely faithful and able to be trusted FULLY – they could find nothing against him.
7 To all the supervisors of the kingdom, the prefects, satraps, counselors, and governors it seemed like a good idea for a royal edict to be issued and an interdict to be enforced. For the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human other than you, O king, should be thrown into a den of lions. 8 Now let the king issue a written interdict so that it cannot be altered, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be changed. 9 So King Darius issued the written interdict.
What happens – they set a trap – the king falls into the trap. The problem with the king – Darius is a pretty good guy – he seems to be a decent individual who was favorable toward Daniel and the Jewish people. But what happens here – the old Bibles call it vainglory – and he has a need for applause and recognition and attention – and it causes him to suspend proper judgment. He wanted to be recognized and seen. What will you do for recognition and applause? How much does it mean to you? What logical thinking will you suspend? What will you compromise? Because good people will often make serious compromises – maybe without even realizing it – to get attention or recognition.
Pride is the desire to be better than everyone else. Vainglory is the deep need for recognition and to be seen.
10 When Daniel realized that a written decree had been issued, he entered his home, where the windows in his upper room opened toward Jerusalem. Three times daily he was kneeling and offering prayers and thanks to his God just as he had been accustomed to do previously. 11 Then those officials who had gone to the king came by collusion and found Daniel praying and asking for help before his God.
He knew what was going on, and yet he remained faithful. He entered his home. Daniel, knowing he was in danger and that his life hangs in the balance, he remains faithful to God doing what he had always done. He does it in quiet faithfulness. He doesn’t argue that the law is unjust. He simply goes into his house, like he always has – and continues his faithfulness. What we see – there is tremendous power in gentle non-cooperation with evil.
12 So they approached the king and said to him, “Did you not issue an edict to the effect that for the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human other than to you, O king, would be thrown into a den of lions?” The king replied, “That is correct, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be changed.” 13 Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the edict that you issued. Three times daily he offers his prayer.”
14 When the king heard this, he was very upset and began thinking about how he might rescue Daniel. Until late afternoon he was struggling to find a way to rescue him.
The king and Daniel have a relationship. Here is this captured slave and the king is deeply connected to him – he is overly concerned about him. And it is through relationship that Daniel has his influence. Without relationship there is really no influence. IT is that way with us – unless we engage relationally with people – unless we enter into the context of society, we have no influence. It only comes as we engage – and it is so easy as things get bad – to back out and say “Let it go” – let it go the way it is going. Daniel was fully engaged – to the point that the king was extremely concerned for him.
15 Then those men came by collusion to the king and said to him, “Recall, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no edict or decree that the king issues can be changed.” 16 So the king gave the order,
There was no choice – not even the king can change it…
and Daniel was brought and thrown into a den of lions. The king consoled Daniel by saying, “Your God whom you continually serve will rescue you!”
Coming out of the mouth of a pagan king – Daniel was known by all as one who served his God continually. Are you known as someone who is continually serving God? Is that what the outside world thinks?
17 Then a stone was brought and placed over the opening to the den. The king sealed it with his signet ring and with those of his nobles so that nothing could be changed with regard to Daniel. 18 Then the king departed to his palace. But he spent the night without eating, and no diversions were brought to him. He was unable to sleep.
19 In the morning, at the earliest sign of daylight, the king got up and rushed to the lions’ den.
Get this picture – all night long – he had deep regret all for wanting to be noticed. When the sun cracks the horizon – he runs to the den…

20 As he approached the den, he called out to Daniel in a worried voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, was your God whom you continually serve able to rescue you from the lions?”
21 Then Daniel spoke to the king, “O king, live forever! 22 My God sent his angel and closed the lions’ mouths so that they have not harmed me, because I was found to be innocent before him. Nor have I done any harm to you, O king.”
Only God could rescue Daniel – only God could rescue King Darius – Darius from himself; Daniel from the lions.
23 Then the king was delighted and gave an order to haul Daniel up from the den. So Daniel was hauled up out of the den. He had no injury of any kind, because he had trusted in his God. 24 The king gave another order, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and thrown into the lions’ den—they, their children, and their wives. They did not even reach the bottom of the den before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.
So those who conspired are thrown into the lion’s den.
25 Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and language groups who were living in all the land: “Peace and prosperity! 26 I have issued an edict that throughout all the dominion of my kingdom people are to revere and fear the God of Daniel.
This is the theme throughout Daniel – it is all about pagan kings giving honor to God. Those who were the king’s enemies give the kings faith – as they see their lives and faith – they are overwhelmed and they give honor to the God those people serve.
“For he is the living God;
he endures forever.
His kingdom will not be destroyed;
his authority is forever.
Once again, we see – God is the true ruler – it is His kingdom that endures forever.
27 He rescues and delivers
and performs signs and wonders
in the heavens and on the earth.
He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions!”
28 So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
This story is about the power and influence the people of God can have in a culture that is antagonistic to the people of God and to God. We live in such a culture. The ability to have power and influence is growing! As things get worse, as more and more of this pops up in the news, our power grows – contrary to what we would naturally think. We think the church had more power 50 years ago – but it is not true – we have more power today. Daniel’s influence was not political. It was not one of activism – but it changed his society and the structures of the society. Daniel’s influence was not argumentative – but he influenced the hearts of the people without arguing, posting, or tweeting! It was not one of power – but he influenced the power of an entire kingdom. It was an influence of witness and life. The person of Daniel was the witness – it was not just words. It included words – but it was a life that was completely blameless.
Let me give you some practical things that made his witness so influential.
First – he continually served his God. His loyalty. He refused to compromise his faith. It was a refusal – when the situations come up in our lives when a little compromise will get us ahead – we must refuse to compromise. Until we get to that point – we don’t have a foundation to build on. We live in a world of little compromises. His refusal – His lack of compromise was gentle – and it was patterned after a future Jesus when He quietly refused to speak before Pilate.
We also see in Daniel’s loyalty – a loyalty to God himself and not a devotion to beliefs, views, positions, or values. Those devotions always end badly. Those positions have influence ONLY when they are based on the living God. Whether it was the Pharisees or anyone else in history – there were those who were committed to systems of belief before they were committed to God. It is usually not known until afterwards.
The AME – African Methodist Episcopal church – the only reason it exists is because the Methodists wouldn’t fully let them in – and I’m sure they regret it today.
Second – Daniel’s overall character was blameless. He was consistent, authentic, and honest. Peter said to keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles – there could be no accusation brought against him.
The important thing here is to separate behavior from religious rules. The Pharisees had impeccable behavior in one sense – but the worst behavior in another.
Third – it was his response to opposition. Daniel is a great example. He lived in a world opposed to everything he thought and Daniel never reacted in kind. He always took the way of the cross – he always loved his enemies. He was always respectful of the king. We need to learn a theology of enemy love. This may be the greatest need in America. If you haven’t read or listened to what the family members of those who have died are saying – you have hurt us – but we forgive you. I urge you to find it.
What has happened – Charleston is coming together. It is because of enemy love. That and that alone can transform what is wrong with this country – because that kind of love can only come from Christ.
Finally – for us to have this influence – Jesus said in John 13:34 – love one another as I have loved you – by this all will know that you are my disciples. If we are to have influence and power – it must be through our love for one another. The church – not just this one – though this one – but Christians need to demonstrate that we are one family – they may be a different denomination/race/economic situation – but we are family. And what we need to do in our everyday lives – we all have different capacities – we need to engage in this community relationally. To the capacity that you are able – fully! But how relationally engaged are you? That is first! Engage fully to the capacity you can.
Second – to your own capacity – we need to serve this church community. That will look different for everyone – but what matters is that you do it fully to your ability.
Third – we need to be able to share with one another – not just the word, but what we have. And what we need – and what others need. To the capacity we are able. As much as you can – give aid and help according to what you are able. Those are the ways we love one another. That is how we love one another.
Acts 2:38-44 talks about this kind of love – it is a high, high standard that God has set. It starts simply by beginning to engage. Let’s pray.
Lord, we thank You – we again recognize and realize what time we live in and what is going on – we are not blind or naïve to think it will all work out unless we become agents of transformation – by a power of witness. Lord, giving up all the ways the world would exercise power – because those aren’t your ways – for us it must be different – in Your name we pray.