Bible Study Notes for Lord’s Day,
September 13, 2009
Daniel 6
An Excellent Spirit Was in Him
Introduction Daniel and his three friends are in captivity in Babylon.
God especially gifted them to serve in the court of King Nebuchadnezzar,
in order to bring a godly influence and righteous change in pagan
Babylon. Nebuchadnezar, Belshazzar, now Darius the Mede.
1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty
satraps, to be over the whole kingdom; 2 and over these, three governors,
of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them,
so that the king would suffer no loss. 3 Then this Daniel distinguished
himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit
was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole
realm. 4 So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge
against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge
or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault
found in him. 5 Then these men said, “We shall not find any
charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning
the law of his God.”
6 So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and
said thus to him: “King Darius, live forever! 7 All the governors
of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and
advisors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and
to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for
thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions.
8 Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that
it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians,
which does not alter.” 9 Therefore King Darius signed the written
decree.
10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home.
And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he
knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave
thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.
11 Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making
supplication before his God. 12 And they went before the king, and
spoke concerning the king’s decree: “Have you not signed
a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within thirty
days, except you, 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 does not alter.”
13 So they answered and said before the king, “That Daniel,
who is one of the captives from Judah, does not show due regard
for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes
his petition three times a day.”
14 And the king, when he heard these words, was greatly displeased
with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he
labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him. 15 Then these
men approached the king, and said to the king, “Know, O king,
that it is the law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statute
which the king establishes may be changed.”
16 So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast
him into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel,
“Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.”
17 Then a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and
the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signets
of his lords, that the purpose concerning Daniel might not be changed.
18 Now the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting;
and no musicians were brought before him. Also his sleep went from
him. 19 Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in
haste to the den of lions. 20 And when he came to the den, he cried
out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to
Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom
you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?”
21 Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! 22
My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they
have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also,
O king, I have done no wrong before you.”
23 Now the king was exceedingly 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 injury whatever was found on him, because
he believed in his God.
24 And the king gave the command, and they brought those men who
had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions—them,
their children, and their wives; and the lions overpowered them,
and broke all their bones in pieces before they ever came to the
bottom of the den.
25 Then King Darius wrote:
To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth:
Peace be multiplied to you.
26 I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must
tremble and fear before the God of Daniel.
For He is the living God,
And steadfast forever;
His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed,
And His dominion shall endure to the end.
27 He delivers and rescues,
And He works signs and wonders
In heaven and on earth,
Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.
28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign
of Cyrus the Persian.
Introduction Another remarkable story of God “going to bat”
for one of His guys. But I want to focus on Daniel’s character.
Godly character is in short supply today. What was Daniel like?
It all came from "an excellent Spirit" the Holy Spirit.
1. Leadership abilites v1-2
1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty
satraps, to be over the whole kingdom; 2 and over these, three governors,
of whom Daniel was one
2. An excellent Spirit was in him
3 Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and
satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave
thought to setting him over the whole realm.
3. Distinguished
3 Then this Daniel distinguished himself
5. His faith in God was common knowledge
5 Then these men said, “We shall not find any charge against
this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of
his God.”
6. Faithful in prayer and thanksgiving
10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home.
And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he
knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave
thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.
7. Faithful to God’s nation Israel
10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home.
And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he
knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave
thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.
8. Bold
10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home.
And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he
knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave
thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.
9. Daniel had earned the favor of the king
14 And the king, when he heard these words, was greatly displeased
with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he
labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him. 15 Then these
men approached the king, and said to the king, “Know, O king,
that it is the law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statute
which the king establishes may be changed.”
16 So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast
him into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel,
“Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.”
17 Then a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and
the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signets
of his lords, that the purpose concerning Daniel might not be changed.
18 Now the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting;
and no musicians were brought before him. Also his sleep went from
him. 19 Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in
haste to the den of lions. 20 And when he came to the den, he cried
out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to
Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom
you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?”
21 Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! 22
My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they
have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also,
O king, I have done no wrong before you.”
23 Now the king was exceedingly 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 injury whatever was found on him, because
he believed in his God.
24 And the king gave the command, and they brought those men who
had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions—them,
their children, and their wives; and the lions overpowered them,
and broke all their bones in pieces before they ever came to the
bottom of the den.
10. Daniel was truthful in his testimony
21 Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! 22
My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they
have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also,
O king, I have done no wrong before you.”
11. Daniel turned yet another king to YHWH
25 Then King Darius wrote:
To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth:
Peace be multiplied to you.
26 I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must
tremble and fear before the God of Daniel.
For He is the living God,
And steadfast forever;
His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed,
And His dominion shall endure to the end.
27 He delivers and rescues,
And He works signs and wonders
In heaven and on earth,
Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.
12. Daniel continued under God’s blessing and prospered
28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign
of Cyrus the Persian.
Conclusion
3 Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and
satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him;
Pastor Steve Boggan
Living Waters Christian Fellowship
Heritage Ranch by Lake Nacimiento, CA
Website - livingwaters.cc
