We worked our way through the last narrative section in the book of Daniel. It is the majestic and familiar story of Daniel and his night spent in the lion’s den. The story is driven by men jealous of the power and favor God had granted Daniel. He has taken on a new role advising Darius, the new ruler of Babylon. Darius was planning to place Daniel over all the wise men and this did not sit well with some of them. Since they couldn’t seem to establish any dirt on Daniel they resorted to lawfare. They knew Daniel prayed to his God three times a day. They suggested to Darius, he should issue a decree for all men to make their prayers and petitions to him alone for the next 30 days. If they petitioned anyone but the king they would be thrown into the lion’s den. Darius was a new king and thought this was a good idea, probably seeing it as a way of establishing his authority over the newly conquered territory. Since this was a law of the Medes and Persians it could not be changed. Upon learning the document had been signed by Darius, Daniel went to his house and prayed to Yahweh. This violation of the new law was reported to Darius who became distressed over this new development and labored to rescue Daniel until the sun went down. He was unable to circumvent the new law and eventually called for Daniel to be cast into the lion’s den. Before he was cast in Darius declared, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” Daniel was cast in, a stone was laid over the opening and Darius sealed it with his ring. Darius did not sleep but spent the night fasting. At daybreak he went to the den and cried out to Daniel asking in anguish if his God was able to deliver him. To Darius surprise and delight Daniel answered, God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths. He commanded Daniel be taken out of the den and the men who had tricked him into signing this new law be brought and cast into the den with their wives and children. He then issued a new decree to all the people to stand in fear and trembling before the God of Daniel because He is the living God. Daniel was faithful and trusted God and God delivered Him.

Each chapter we have worked through so far has given us different aspects of God’s nature and work.
• In chapter 1 - Daniel and his 3 friends were made healthy and strong on a vegetarian diet. This was clearly a work of God and it communicates to us how God remembers His people and sustains them. The message is about how God never forgets His own people even when things seem to be going really wrong.
• In chapter 2 - Nebuchadnezzar is troubled by a dream and demands his wise men tell him both the dream and its meaning or die. God gives the dream and its meaning to Daniel and rescues him and his friends from death.
• In chapter 3 - Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refuse to bow to an idol and are thrown into an extremely hot furnace. Nebuchadnezzar sees a fourth man like a son of the God’s walking in the fire with them. He calls them to come out and declares how their God is the true God. This points to how God is with His people in all circumstances.
• In chapter 4 - Nebuchadnezzar gives his testimony of how God cast him down from his pride to live like an animal for 7 periods of time. After he comes to acknowledge and honor God, God restores him and makes him greater than before. The big message here especially for people in exile is, “God restores the humble.”
• In chapter 5 - We see a stark contrast with the testimony of Nebuchadnezzar in chapter 4. Here in chapter 5 an arrogant king Belteshazzar exercises rebellion against God and God brings judgement against Belteshazzar. This chapter declares how God is a just God and will judge the unrepentant prideful heart.

We heard the final part of what I call Nebuchadnezzar’s testimony. It is the only chapter in Daniel which appears to be the dictated words of someone else and in this case it is Nebuchadnezzar asking Daniel to write down these things. It is the greatest king of that day bearing witness to the greatness of the God of Daniel. He bears testimony to this by pointing out how he had a dream which troubled him. He called on many wise men to tell him the dream but it was finally Daniel who was able to interpret it. It is a dream about a great tree which reached to the heavens was visible everywhere on earth and was the sustainer of all the birds and beasts. In the dream a watcher from heaven comes and declares the tree should be cut down but a band of iron and bronze are to be put around the stump until 7 times pass by. Daniel was hesitant to give the king what amounted to bad news. The king saw this and told Daniel not to fear. So Daniel tells the king how he is the tree and he is going to be cut down and driven into a state of madness for 7 periods of time. Once the king comes to recognize the greatness of God his sanity and kingdom will be restored. One year later Nebuchadnezzar was walking on the roof of his royal palace and as he looked on Babylon he began to declare his own greatness. As he was making much of himself a voice came from heaven telling him the kingdom has departed from him and he will be driven from among men and will dwell with the beasts. He ate grass like an ox and lived like and animal until 7 periods of time passed over him, and he came to realize the most high rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom He will. This happened and at the end of 7 periods of time Nebuchadnezzar said he lifted his eyes to heaven and said, “I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, ‘What have you done?’” Upon coming to recognize the greatness of God and that all glory belongs to Him, Nebuchadnezzar’s reason returned to him. God established him in his kingdom and gave him even more greatness. Nebuchadnezzar’s story is an incredible story of God pursuing a pagan man and bringing him to himself. It shows us God will do whatever is necessary in order to bring a person to repentance. God is able to save anyone He has set His love upon. He is the great and glorious God who has sent His Son to seek and to save those who are lost and in rebellion against Him.