The Law of God in Type and Antitype
Faithfulness till Death
Daniel 6
Brief Idea: Daniel was a remarkable character. His inveterate enemies could find no unfaithfulness or inconsistency in his life. They did, however, anticipate that they could use his faithfulness to God’s Law to destroy him. Daniel 6 repeats the plot of Daniel 3.
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. 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. 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. Daniel 6:3-5.
The key to Daniel’s prominence in world affairs is no mystery. His character, his excellency of spirit, set him apart. Youth today who aspire to change the world should take note of the most useful thing they can do to achieve a high level of influence—cultivate excellency in character.
The key to Daniel’s supply of enemies is no mystery. It was the blessings that attended his life that inspired envy on the part of those that coveted them. More particularly, it was Daniel’s character (which brings such blessings) that inspired enmity in the hearts of the unfaithful.
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 2Ti 3:12
For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous. Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. 1 John 3:11-13
Notice the phrase “Cain, who was of that wicked one.” Cain was the first human seed of the serpent. The gospel promise to the serpent had included a gift of enmity between the seeds of the woman and of the serpent. Much of scripture is the history of God cultivating that enmity by encouraging holiness and separation among the faithful. Much of scripture is the history of that wicked one working to remove the enmity by uniting men in wrong doing.
They key to Daniel’s honor was his willingness to die rather than to be unfaithful. This, the simple lesson of Daniel 3 and 6, ought not to be overlooked for its simplicity. The decision one makes regarding faithfulness during threat of execution reveals the quality of one’s faith.
A decision like this will face all that live in the last generation. It is no wonder that such a decision comes up twice in the book of Daniel.
Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. Re 2:10
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. . . . And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Mt 10:22, 28
Tomorrow’s lesson is on the Fear of God. Death decisions spring from fear. Those that fear human death also fear man, the agent that can inflict such death. Those that dread the second death also reverently listen to God, the Agent that alone can inflict such death.
Both God and men offer life for compliance. Men offer a continuation of the life we now have (and some have bravado enough to offer an eternal reward as well—i.e. crusaders and Muslim extremists). God offers the crown of eternal life. Whether the human offer is overly attractive depends on the value we place on our temporal life. The Bible suggests that it ought not to be overvalued.
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Re 12:11
He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. Joh 12:25
But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. Ac 20:24
Our thinking today impacts our faithfulness tomorrow. To daily value our ministry and the gospel and a joyfully clear conscience at the end of life, this will help deter us from counting “life dear” unto ourselves. It would equip us to be faithful despite the tears of friends and the enmity of dearest relatives. It would ready our hearts by reminding us that one can be “put to death” and yet “not . . . perish.”
Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. Ac 21:13
And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake. But there shall not an hair of your head perish. In your patience possess ye your souls. Lu 21:16-19.
Why were Daniel and his friends delivered from death? In history God’s faithful Christians have not always been rewarded with such deliverance. The apostles themselves were some of millions killed like Abel.
But Daniel and his friends were types of the generation that faces the test of the Mark of the Beast. Those that are faithful in the face of the international Sunday-law will be delivered at the last possible moment.
Think of the deliverances of Daniel 3 and 6. God could have delivered the men before they were tested. They might have been granted an escape before they were accused. God could have saved them while they were being condemned. He might, at least, spared them from the fire and den. But in both cases God permitted his faithful men to demonstrate an absolute victory over fear of man. They were faithful unto death without dying.
They could have crippled themselves by reasoning and questioning about why God was permitting them to be so mistreated. Such questions erode our own confidence in God and unnerve us for the fatal trial.
In Daniel 6 the prophet’s unswerving faithfulness is flanked by an unchangeable national law. Neither will budge. This is the type of showdown that will bring the world to its final crisis. The papacy has argued since Gregory VII (and it became official dogma in the middle of the 1800’s) that it has never erred and that it not capable of erring.
Cultivating correct views today of the value of life, the value of ministry and the value of eternity will establish our hearts and prepare us for that ultimate test.
Daniel Class
Lesson 14
Darius and the Fear God
I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end. Daniel 6:26
The first element of the first angel’s message is the final element of the Daniel 6 saga.
1 ¶ It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;
2 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.
6 ¶ Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever.
7 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.
8 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.
9 Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.
10 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.
11 ¶ Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.
12 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.
13 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.
14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.
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.
16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.
17 And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.
18 ¶ Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.
19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.
20 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?
21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.
22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.
23 Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.
24 And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.
25 ¶ Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
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