Daniel 6
Warren Wiersbe · Citado em PreceptAustin
Daniel 6
Wiersbe - Today, wherever you find dedicated believers living and working with unbelievers, you will often see the same forces at work that are described in this chapter, whether in families, churches, corporations, or governments. It’s certainly a commendable thing when people possess character so impeccable that they can’t be accused of doing wrong except in matters relating to their faith. (Wiersbe, Warren: Be Resolute (Daniel)- Determining to Go God's Direction). Daniel 6:3 Then this Daniel began distinguishing himself among the commissioners and satraps because he possessed an extraordinary spirit, and the king planned to appoint him over the entire kingdom. Extraordinary: Da 5:12,14 9:23 Ge 41:38-41 Neh 7:2 Pr 3:3,4 17:27 Ec 2:13 Daniel 6 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries EXCUSE ME… YOUR INTEGRITY IS SHOWING! See below for discussion of The Marks of Integrity as Exemplified in Daniel 6 Then - (Always stop interrogate expressions of time like "then") When? When his behavior was compared and contrasted with these other men. Darius recognized that Daniel was a rare jewel, a man of integrity among a crooked and perverse generation. Integrity as someone has said "is the first step in true greatness." (C. Sommons) Distinguishing (05330)(nesah) is an Aramaic verb meaning to exhibit or show a difference. The Hithpaal force is brought out in a reflexive usage (distinguishing himself). When one is distinguished he is identified as different and distinct. This is the only use in the Scriptures. It is worth noting that one of the meanings of the corresponding Hebrew word (nasah - 05329 - to be pre-eminent) is brightness or brilliance! Indeed, Daniel's spirit shone brightly in the darkness reminiscent of Paul's exhortation to believers "to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world." (Phil 2:15-note) Webster's 1828 says distinguish means "to ascertain and indicate difference by some external mark. The farmer distinguishes sheep by their ears. To separate one thing from another by some mark or quality." Daniel was separated from the other commissioners and satraps by his excellent spirit. Extraordinary (03493) (yattir) is an Aramaic adjective designating something as excellent, outstanding. superior. In Nebuchadnezzar's dream in Da 2:31 the statute was described as "large and of extraordinary (yattir) splendor." The Septuagint (Lxx) translates excellent in Da 6:3 with the adjective perissos which speaks of that which exceeds the usual expectation and thus is extraordinary or remarkable (Jesus used perissos in John 10:10 to describe His desire that we might have "life and have it abundantly (perissos)". Yattir is used 8x in Daniel - Da 2:31; 3:22; 4:36; 5:12, 14; 6:3; 7:7, 19 Reputation is what men think you are, while character is what God knows you are. Daniel was both. He was not a hypocritical "OT Pharisee". Daniel knew the truth that what a man is in the sight of God (Pr 15:3), is what a man truly is! Integrity (from "integer" = the whole of anything, a whole number not a fraction - think "whole character" not a fraction of one!) speaks of the unimpaired state of one's mind and heart, of moral soundness and purity, of incorruptness, of uprightness, of honesty. Just as we would talk about a whole number, so also we can talk about a whole person who is undivided. A person of integrity is living rightly, not divided, nor being a different person in different circumstances. A person of integrity is the same person in private that he or she is in public. Integrity has the same root word as does the word integrated. A leader of integrity has taken the principles that govern his life, internalized them, and integrated them into every area of his life. Integrity is not like a weathervane that changes direction with every shift of the social winds, as Daniel will soon dramatically demonstrate. INTEGRITY: "WYSIWYG" What you see is what you get Congruency between what you verbalize and what you practice. Your "life" matches your "lips"! (Does mine?) cp Jesus' advice - Mt 23:2,3) The essence of integrity is to be on the inside what we appear to be on the outside. Secret indulgences undermine integrity. Public and private behavior are the same. Integrity is what you do when you’re unaware that you’re children are looking and listening. Integrity is who we really are on the inside. A popular book was entitled "Who Are You When Nobody’s Looking?" (This is obviously a secular book because we as believers know that God is ALWAYS looking - Pr 15:3 See also - Ge 16:13 Dt 11:12 21:9 2Chr 6:20 Ps 33:18 Ps 34:15, Ps 113:6, Ps 139:2,3, Job 34:21, 31:4, Pr 5:21 Jer 16:17, 23:24, 32:19 Zech 4:10 Heb 4:13 1Pe 3:12 Ge 6:8. Related Resources: Omniscience of God Pr 15:3 The Omnipresence of God - Charles Simeon William Arnot on Proverbs 15:3, 11 The All-Seeing Proverbs 15:3 In Depth Commentary on site Newton notes that "Integrity describes a person whose thoughts and private behavior are consistent with their outward profession. The Christian leader with integrity is a person whose heart is set on loving and obeying God, no matter what the cost." (Newton, G. C. Growing toward spiritual maturity. Biblical essentials series. Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books.) A simple definition of integrity is doing what you say you will do. Does this describe me? The measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he never would be found out. (see also Judgment Seat of Christ) 1828 Webster's - Integrity comprehends the whole moral character, but has a special reference to uprightness in mutual dealings, transfers of property, and agencies for others. (How's your "integrity quotient"?) Integrity is an unimpaired condition or soundness, adherence to a code of moral values, and the quality or state of being complete and undivided. See also honesty. Integrity means soundness, completeness, honesty. John
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Wiersbe comments: Integrity means that your life is whole, that your heart is not divided. Jesus said, "No one can serve two masters" (Mt. 6:24-note). That's integrity. Duplicity means trying to serve two masters. Our Lord also said that nobody can look in two directions at the same time. If your eye is single, then your body is full of light. But if your eye is double, watch out. The darkness is coming in (Mt. 6:22,23-note). If you look at the darkness and the light simultaneously, the darkness crowds out the light. (Warren Wiersbe. Prayer, Praise and Promises). This same idea of an undivided heart is found in these verses - Mt 6:24-note, Jas 1:6-note, Jas 4:8-note Lk 16:13; cp. 1Ki 18:21; 2Ki 17:41; Ga 1:10] David prays for a single-mindedness, a single focus, a heart not focused with one "eye" on the world's delectables and the other on the heaven's divinity. (cp Jesus' desire that our "eye be single, [and then] thy whole body shall be full of light." Mt 6:22-note) RELATED RESOURCES: AN UNDIVIDED HEART GIVE ME AN UNDIVIDED HEART Several OT characters are designated persons of integrity: Noah (Gen. 6:9); Abraham (Ge 17:1); Jacob (Ge 25:27); Job (Job 1:1, 8; 2:3); and David (1Kings 9:4). The integrity of (George) Washington was incorruptible. His principles were free from the contamination of selfish and unworthy passions. His real and avowed motives were the same. His ends were always upright, and his means pure. He was a statesman without guile, and his professions, both to his fellow-citizens and to foreign nations, were always sincere. No circumstances ever induced him to use duplicity. He was an example of the distinction which exists between wisdom and cunning; and his manly, open conduct, was an illustration of the soundness of the maxim, "that honesty is the best policy." (Hall, V. M George Washington : The Character and Influence of One Man. San Francisco: Foundation for American Christian Education) It is interesting that Jesus did not use the word "integrity" but he did use terms and phrases that are virtually synonymous when he called for purity of heart (Mt. 5:8), singleness of purpose (Mt. 6:22), and purity of motive (Mt. 6:1-6). Do you refuse to compromise with the enemy when you’re under stress? That's integrity. Do you fulfill your commitments, and are you devoted to your duties? That's integrity Are you in constant, untiring pursuit of truth? Do you, in short, "ring true"? That's integrity When you die and people file out of the church after your memorial service, will they comment, "He said what he meant and meant what he said"? Will they say, "You knew where he stood," or "You could trust him," or "You could count on him"? Will someone say, "He had integrity"? Ten elements that make up personal integrity—and the Bible personalities who exemplified them—are honesty (Daniel), compassion (Boaz), wisdom (Solomon), self-control (Timothy), joy (Paul), trust (Abraham), faithfulness (Caleb and Joshua), balance (Mary and Martha), sexual purity (Joseph), and endurance (Job). "People of integrity can be trusted to be faithful. If they promise something, they will do it. Their actions are built on high moral principles. Their words are not spoken for gossip, spreading rumors, tearing others down, or for distorting the truth. People of integrity discover what pleases God—then they do it. Christians with integrity are committed both to hearing God’s Word and to doing what it says." (Ted Engstromm) In his book I Surrender, Patrick Morley writes that the church’s integrity problem is in the misconception "that we can add Christ to our lives, but not subtract sin. It is a change in belief without a change in behavior." He goes on to say, "It is revival without reformation, without repentance." Maintenance of personal integrity calls for us to be diligent to watch over our hearts - Pr 4:23 - See Commentary on Proverbs 4:23 G. K. Chesterton spoke to the need to discipline ourselves for godliness (1Ti 4:7, 8-note) by guarding our hearts writing that… Morality, like art, consists in drawing a line somewhere. PRAY FOR INTEGRITY If we would be men and women of integrity we would be wise to continually let the words of David as be the sincere prayer of our heart… Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity; And I have trusted in the LORD without wavering. Examine me, O LORD, and try me; Test my mind and my heart. Ps 26:1-note, Ps 26:2-note Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way. Ps 139:23-note, Ps 139:24-note The late esteemed Baptist preacher Adrian Rogers once asked… Does character count? It does if there is a God in glory - a God Who helped our founders establish this nation, and Who has sustained this nation and brought us thus far. (Read his entire answer = Does Character Count) Pray for revival Prepare for survival Get ready for arrival! Integrity leaves a legacy for one's children to follow in our steps. A righteous man who walks in his integrity-- How blessed are his sons after him. (Pr 20:7). Solomon asks… Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings. He will not stand before obscure men. (Pr 22:29) Comment: Remember that this is a proverb, not a promise, and your good work in the Lord's sight (Who will reward you in this life and/or the next) may not always be perceived as "good" in the eyes of your pagan peers or superiors. Irregardless to how men respond, we need to heed Paul's command… Whatever you do, do your work (present imperative = command to make this our habitual practice… LIKE DANIEL!) heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men; knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve (cp Da 6:20 "servant of the living God"!). (Col 3:23, 24-note) Integrity Will be Tested - A pastor preached a sermon on honesty one Sunday. On Monday morning he took the bus to get to his office. He paid the fare, and the bus driver gave him back too much change. During the rest of the journey, the pastor was rationalizing how God had provided him with some extra money he needed for the week. But he just could not live with himself, and before he got off the bus he said to the driver, "You have made a mistake. You’ve given me too much change." And he proceeded to give him back the extra money. The driver smiled and said, "There was no mistake. I was at your church yesterday and heard you preach on honesty. So I decided to put you to a test this morning." Integrity - one's deeds match one's words! Dr W H Houghton, pastored the Calvary Baptist Church in NYC and later served as president of Moody Bible Institute. When Dr. Houghton became pastor of the Baptist Tabernacle in Atlanta, a man in that city hired a private detective to follow Dr. Houghton and report on his conduct. After a few weeks, the detective was able to report to the man that Dr. Houghton’s life matched his preaching. As a result of Houghton's faithful life, a life of integrity, that man became a Christian. Wesley Pippert offers the following wise advice: One of the most effective disciplines I know is not to do something that first time — for repetition will come far easier… Not doing something for the first time is a tremendous bulwark against not doing it later. As moral philosopher Sissela Bok has said in her book, Lying (New York: Pantheon, 1978, p. 28), It is easy to tell a lie but hard to tell only one. Discipline will help us avoid the guilt that we often experience by dabbling in things we shouldn’t. An important fruit of discipline is integrity. Few things are more important than whether one has a good reputation, a “good name.” Not all people are gregarious or outgoing. Not all people are sought after or loveable. But everyone can have integrity. Integrity flows more out of a disciplined character than a daring personality. (From Letters to Graduates - Myrna Grant) (This quote is from a book I would highly recommend by Kent
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Wiersbe - The Integrity Crisis, 1988). Commissioners and satraps - KJV renders it "presidents and princes". Extraordinary (excellent, preeminent, exceptional) - This is a key Aramaic word in this "Gentile" (Da 2-7) section of Daniel (Da 2:31, 3:22, 4:36, 5:12, 5:14, 6:3, 7:7, 7:19). In the previous chapter we observed that King Nebuchadnezzar had appointed Daniel chief of the magicians, conjurers, Chaldeans, and diviners because of his extraordinary spirit (Da 5:11, 12). Enduring excellence for his 80+ years! What a testimony! Weekday Christians - A young man was being interviewed for a position in a small business firm. He had a neat appearance and made a good impression on the owner. He had also prepared an excellent résumé in which he listed his pastor, his Sunday school teacher, and a church deacon as references. The owner of the business studied the résumé for several minutes, then said, "I appreciate these recommendations from your church friends. But what I would really like is to hear from someone who knows you on weekdays." Sorry to say, there is a sharp contrast between the way some Christians act in church and how they behave in the world. The principles they profess on Sunday should be practiced every day. Daniel was an ideal model in his relationship with both God and man. He did not live by a double standard. His daily conduct was consistent with his spiritual values. His enemies tried to find some charge against him, but no fault could be found (6:4). His walk in the world was in harmony with his walk with God. Would our church friends be shocked if they observed our actions and heard our speech at our job or in our home? A good Sunday Christian will also be a good weekday Christian. — Richard De Haan Consistency! How much we need To walk a measured pace, To live the life of which we speak Until we see Christ's face. —Anon. A hypocrite is a person who is not himself on Sunday. Peter exhorts us as believers to live a "Danielesque" lifestyle and… Keep (present tense = continually, as your lifestyle) your behavior (anastrophe) excellent (kalos) among the Gentiles (How? go back to 1Pe 2:11-note to note one way!), so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers (Note: Exactly what they did to Daniel - accused him of breaking the Persian law!), they may on account of your good deeds (word study), as they observe them, glorify (doxazo) God in the day of visitation (episkope). (1Pe 2:12-note) and keep (present tense = continually, as your lifestyle) a good conscience (suneidesis) (How? By keeping your behavior excellent) (Why?) so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile (epereazo) your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame (Kataischuno). (1Pe 3:16-note, see also 1Pe 4:14, 15,16, 17-note) Jerry Bridges says that Daniel challenges each by "setting the bar high" noting that for NT believers… Godlike character is both the fruit of the Spirit as he works within us and the result of our personal efforts (Ed: God's sovereignty/man's responsibility). We are both totally dependent upon His working within us and totally responsible for our own character development (cp God's practical "definition" of the New Covenant - Ezek 36:27)… Though the power for godly character comes from Christ, the responsibility for developing and displaying that character is ours. (Amen or Oh my!) King planned to appoint him - Like Pharaoh with Joseph because "no one (was) so discerning and wise as" Joseph (Ge 41:38, 39, 40, 41). Over the entire kingdom - He was in effect the "president elect" (elected by Darius). Whether his co-presidents knew this is doubtful. Daniel seems to always rise to the top and even as Babylon ceased to be the leading world empire, he was for a very short time the third leading ruler in Babylon! (Da 5:29) It is certainly evidence of the good hand of Jehovah upon this man's life for it would be unusual (potentially even dangerous) to appoint a leader in a defeated kingdom to a post of power, not to mention the hesitancy to make such an appointment because of his age. Daniel 6:4 Then the commissioners and satraps began trying to find a ground of accusation against Daniel in regard to government affairs; but they could find no ground of accusation or evidence of corruption, inasmuch as he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption was to be found in him. began trying: Da 3:8 Ge 43:18 Judges 14:4 Ps 37:12,13,32,33 Pr 29:27 Ec 4:4 Jer 18:18,23 20:10 Mt 26:4 27:18 Lk 20:20 22:2 but: 1Sa 18:14 19:4,5 22:14 Lk 23:14,15 Jn 19:4 2Co 11:12 Php 2:15 1Ti 5:14 Titus 2:8 1Pe 2:12, 3:16, 4:14,15,16 Daniel 6 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Commissioners (sarekayya from sarak = "high official") - Translated presidents in other versions like KJV, ESV. Lehman Strauss - The promotion and primacy of Daniel marked the beginning of some real trouble for this godly old sage. The twin sins of envy and jealousy, stirred by the devil in the hearts of the other members of the king's cabinet, aroused those men to plot evil against Daniel. Their anticipated gain through graft and other dishonorable means would be in jeopardy as long as Daniel held the number one post in the king's cabinet. Then, too, they could not stand having this foreigner, and a Hebrew at that, in the position of superiority over them. (Lehman Strauss Commentary - The Prophecies of Daniel) Began trying to find a ground of accusation against Daniel - Why? Daniel was targeted because he was successful and he was godly. Lesson? Doing right is no guarantee everything will go right. Daniel like his three friends in Daniel 3 had become the target of envy/jealousy in the new Persian government. Beloved, we all do well to quickly confess and repent of the deadly sin of jealously which Solomon says "is severe (cruel) as Sheol (the grave)" (Song 8:6)! As someone has well said jealousy is the raw material of murder (cp Ge 4:6, 7, 8, cp Da 6:16). The man of integrity can become a target for those who lack integrity. Faithful (0540)(aman corresponding to the Hebrew verb aman = to believe) is an Aramaic verb meaning to trust in, to put one’s faith in someone or something. Used 3x in the Bible, Da 2:45 (of the trustworthiness of the dream interpretation), Da 6:4 (Daniel's personal trustworthiness) and Da 6:23 (of Daniel's faith or trust in his God.). The Lxx translates aman with pistos which in the passive sense describes persons as trustworthy and dependable, the opposite of dishonest. Of God as faithful (Heb 10:23). Negligence - Webster's 1828 = Habitual omission of that which ought to be done, or a habit of omitting to do things, either from carelessness or design. Negligence is usually the child of sloth or laziness, and the parent of disorders in business, often of poverty. Corruption - Webster's 1828 = perversion or deterioration of moral principles; loss of purity or integrity. A departure from the original or from what is pure or correct. Debasement; taint; or tendency to a worse state. "Keep my honor from corruption." (Shakespeare) Daniel reminds us of Paul who declared "In view of this (Acts 24:14, 15), I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men." (Acts 24:16) Thomas Brooks - Envy, it tortures the affections, it vexes the mind, it inflames the blood, it corrupts the heart, it wastes the spirits; and so it becomes man's tormentor and man's executioner at once. Keep the historical/Biblical context in mind. Although we cannot state the date with certainty, it would have been some time around the events of Daniel 6 that King Cyrus was looking favorably on the request of the Jews for release or had already issued such a decree as recorded in Ezra 1:2,3, 4 (Ezra 1:1 = "first year of Cyrus king of Persia" = 539BC) Lehman Strauss - Dr. Walter L. Wilson told how a good and godly Christian gentleman was confronted by a man who berated him and accused him of things which were false. The saint of God stood patiently until his accuser had finished, after which he bowed his head and prayed, "Father, I thank Thee that these accusations against me are not true." (Lehman Strauss Commentary – The Prophecies of Daniel) Alexander Maclaren rightly notes… however unobtrusive and quiet a Christian person’s life may be, there will be some people standing close by who, if not actually watching for his fall, are at least by no means indisposed to make the worst of a slip, and to rejoice over an inconsistency… Be content to be tried by a high standard, and do not wonder, and do not forget that there are keen eyes watching your conduct, in your home, in your relations to your friends, in your business, in your public life, which would weep no tears, but might gleam with malicious satisfaction, if they saw inconsistencies in you. Remember it, and shape your lives so that they may be disappointed (Ed: And even better so your Lord will not be disappointed!). If a minister falls into any kind of inconsistency or sin, if a professing Christian makes a bad failure… , what a talk there is, and what a pointing of fingers! We sometimes think it is hard; it is all right. It is just what should be meted out to us. Let us remember that unslumbering tribunal which sits in judgment upon all our professions, and is very ready to condemn, and very slow to acquit. (Daniel 6:5 A Tribute from Enemies) They could find no ground of accusation or evidence of corruption - Daniel's integrity was beyond question. Why? He was faithful or trustworthy. No spots on Daniel's life! Daniel practiced "pure" religion for James says… This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father, to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep (tereo) in the present tense = continually, as your habitual practice) oneself unstained (aspilos) by the world (kosmos). (Jas 1:27-note)
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Wiersbe - It’s certainly a commendable thing when people possess character so impeccable that they can’t be accused of doing wrong except in matters relating to their faith. (Be Resolute- Determining to Go God's Direction). Henry
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Wiersbe writes that "It has well been said that flattery is manipulation, not communication, and in his pride, Darius succumbed to the flattery of evil men. “For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulcher; they flatter with their tongue” (Ps. 5:9). (Wiersbe, Warren: Be Resolute (Daniel)- Determining to Go God's Direction).
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Wiersbe - Darius’ first decree in this chapter declared that he was god (Da 6:7–9), but this second decree declared that the God of the Hebrews was the true and living God! In doing this, Darius joined King Nebuchadnezzar by giving public testimony to the power and glory of the true and living God (Da 2:47; Da 3:28, 29; Da 4:1-3, 34, 35, 36, 37). God could have kept Daniel out of the lions’ den, but by rescuing him from the lions, God received greater glory… What a paradox that the Jews, who were supposed to be witnesses to the Gentiles of the true and living God, were being witnessed to by the Gentiles! (Ibid) Lawrence Richards - I suspect that the royal command did little to create faith in Israel's God. After all, faith can't be commanded! What did create faith, at least in the king, was Daniel's faithfulness to the Lord. Despite the threat to life itself, Daniel continued to worship God openly. God's faithfulness to His loyal servant, like His faithfulness to us, nurtures budding faith in others. You and I cannot command others to believe. But we can encourage them to believe—by an open, unashamed, and unpretentious witness to our Lord. (365 Day Devotional) Daniel 6:27 "He delivers and rescues and performs signs and wonders In heaven and on earth, Who has also delivered Daniel from the power of the lions." delivers: Job 36:15 Ps 18:48,50 32:7 35:17 97:10 Lk 1:74,75 2Co 1:8, 9, 10 2Ti 4:17,18 and: Da 4:2,3,34 Jer 32:19,20 Mk 16:17,18 Ac 4:30 Heb 2:4 Daniel 6 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries He delivers and rescues - Darius had witnessed divine deliverance from a den! Some commentators make the point that Daniel's great deliverance (as well as that of his 3 friends in Daniel 3) serves to foreshadow the physical and spiritual deliverance of Israel in the last days as described in Zechariah (Zech 14:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11) and Romans 11 (Ro 11:26, 27-note), as well as other passages. Performs signs and wonders (Da 3:28, 29; Da 4:3; Dt. 6:22; Neh 9:10; Ps 74:9; Ps 105:26-36; 135:9; Jer 32:20, 21) EBC - The sense of Da 3:26, 27 is like the last clause of Da 3:29 ("no other god can save in this way"--i.e., the way the three were saved from the fiery furnace) and like Da 4:34 ("His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation"--words Nebuchadnezzar spoke on recovering from his madness). (Gaebelein, F, Editor: Expositor's Bible Commentary OT 7 Volume Set: Books: Zondervan Publishing) Daniel 6:28 So this Daniel enjoyed success in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian. Da 1:21 2Ch 36:22,23 Ezra 1:1,2 Isa 44:28 45:1 Daniel 6 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries So this Daniel enjoyed success - Because of the intervening hand of the living God. Success in the context of Daniel 6 would certainly include "favor" (cp Da 1:8-note, Da 1:9-note) with and position in the Medo-Persian government. But success to Daniel, as to all spiritually minded men and women, is not defined so much by the temporal and earthly as by the eternal and heavenly (cp Da 12:13). In Daniel's case we know from Da 9:1,2, 3 (and Jer 25:11, 12, Jer 29:10) that he understood God's plan for Judah was 70 years of exile in Babylon. Knowing this truth he entreated God to fulfill His promise ( = "praying the will of [Word of] God"; ~ "claiming the promises of God"). Indeed it appears that Daniel lived to see the answer to his prayers and the fulfillment of God's prophetic promise for the scribe Ezra records… Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia (539BC), in order to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah (Jer 29:10), the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia (cp Isa 44:27, 28, Isa 45:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) so that he sent a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing (How "permanent" is this decree?), saying, "Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, 'The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth (Da 2:21), and He has appointed me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever there is among you of all His people, may his God be with him! Let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah, and rebuild the house of the LORD, the God of Israel; He is the God who is in Jerusalem." (Ezra 1:1, 2,3, cp 2Chr 36:22, 23, Ezra 6:3, 4, 5. Most Jews remained in Babylon - Which Jews returned? Why? Ezra 1:5) EBC has some interesting (albeit a bit speculative) comments - The chapter ends with this notice to Daniel's continued usefulness throughout the rest of the reign of Darius (Gubaru) as king of Babylon and in the reign of Cyrus (cf. Da 1:21) as king of Babylon. After this Daniel apparently retired from public service and gave himself to Bible study and prayer. He received the revelations of Daniel 10-12 in the third year of Cyrus (cf. Da 10:1). Apparently it was during his retirement that he revised his memoirs. A likely date for the publication of the Book of Daniel would seem to be about 532 B.C., judging from linguistic evidence (Gaebelein, F, Editor: Expositor's Bible Commentary OT 7 Volume Set: Books: Zondervan) James Smith summarizes Daniel 6 in Handfuls of Purpose: Daniel has now been probably sixty-eight years in the city of Babylon. He had lived under the reign of three kings, and was about eighty-five years old. He had had many severe trials and temptations, but he remained faithful to his God, his conscience, and his fellowmen. Notice his— I. Integrity. "We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it concerning the law of his God" (Da 6:5). His enemies themselves are witnesses to the purity of his life, His character was invulnerable. As a man of prayer and of faith he was faultless, even in the details of his arduous business life. The undercurrent of his nature was as pure as the upper. This was the secret of his moral strength. The daily life is perhaps the severest test of the Christian character, but the pure in heart shall see God, and seeing Him they shall endure. II. Steadfastness. "When Daniel knew that the writing was signed he went.. .and prayed, and gave thanks before God, as he did aforetime" (Da 6:10). Their plot was to get the law of the Medes (unalterable) to clash with the law of Daniel and his God. Although he knew that they had succeeded in making and setting a trap for his feet, he trusted in God and went on as aforetime. Circumstances, adverse as they were, had no effect in changing his holy purpose to be true to God, and his own conscience. General Gordon, when in the Sudan, used to lay his handkerchief at the door of his tent each morning while he prayed, and no one dared to enter till the signal was removed. Courage, brother, do not stumble in your prayer life. Be steadfast in your faith and practice. III. Sufferings. He was doubtless persecuted through envy (Da 6:3). Their dastardly scheme seemed to succeed. Daniel is condemned to the lions. This was the Persians' mode of capital punishment, as the fiery furnace was that of the Babylonians. This is one strong proof of the authenticity of the book. This was a great crisis in the experience of the prophet. Must all be sacrificed to appease the wrath of these haters of godliness? Every sacrifice we make for God brings for us a fuller enjoyment of the salvation of God. IV. Deliverance. "My God hath shut the lions mouths," etc. (Da 6:20-22). This was a new experience of the power of God. While his enemies are rejoicing over his supposed destruction, Daniel is rejoicing in a new salvation. God will vindicate the faith of His own true servant. He is able to do exceedingly above all that we think. V. Faith. "Because he believed in his God" (Da 6:23, l.c.). God will not deny Himself. To trust Him is to put Him on His honour. The secret of victory in the Christian life lies deep down in our oneness of life and purpose with Him. VI. Doom of Enemies. "They were cast into the den and their bones broken in pieces" (Da 6:24). The triumph of the wicked is short. They digged a pit for the servant of God, and they themselves fell into it, as Haman was hanged on his own gallows. As these enemies of Daniel had to do with Daniel's God, so the enemies of the Gospel of Christ have to do with the Christ of the Gospel. To reject the Word of God is to reject the God of the Word. The wrath of God must abide on the unbeliever (John 3:36). Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him Ray Prichard's lessons for modern day Daniels… It is possible to live a pure life in the midst of a thoroughly pagan world… Christians who live for God should expect opposition...The jealous satraps are never far away. Ironically, the more honest you are, the sooner they will attack. God can use us to touch unlikely people when we are faithful to Him...We never know who is watching us or what they are looking for, but this story teaches us that not every unbeliever hates Christians. For every satrap out there planning our downfall, there is a Darius keeping an eye on us, hoping that our faith may prove to be genuine. Such people have little or no faith and deep inside, they want what we have… Last week I listened to a successful businessman tell how he came to Christ. It seems that he had a Christian friend whose life made a huge impact on him. Day after day he watched his friend, studying how he handled the problems of life, and listened as he openly declared his faith. Eventually the businessman said to himself, “I want what my friend has,” and he came to saving faith in Jesus Christ. God is able to deliver his people from any danger they face… Take heart and trust in God. He can deliver you from whatever is troubling you this very moment… God always delivers in his own time and in his own way. (How to Tame Lions - Dr. Ray Pritchard - January 2000) DANIEL A VIRTUOUS MAN… A MAN OF INTEGRITY John