Good Morning! - Daniel 6:23-24 - Daniel Delivered - His Enemies Devoured by the Lions - 2009.11.12

Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should
take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken upout of the den, and no
manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God. And the king commanded, and theybrought 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 broke all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den (Daniel 6:23-24)

King Darius Cyaxares II (of secular history) was a Mede whose kingdom would merge into the Persian empire. His identity is controversial but I take this position. He did not have the power of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. You remember that Nebuchadnezzar was the original world-class king. All the political power was in his hands and he shared it with no one. He killed and kept alive at his whim and pleasure and no man questioned his authority or reasoning. He was the head of gold on the image in the Book of Daniel. When his grandson, Belshazzar was weighed in the balance and found wanting according to the handwriting on the wall, he was deposed that night and the head of gold was no more.

Darius was the king of the silver breast and arms of the image, and was a less powerful king. Under his reign, the empire of the Medes was broken up into 120 provinces and ruled over by 120 princes. Over these 120 men he set three presidents to supervise them. So, Darius found himself in a much weaker position as he had to please these 120 princes and three presidents to some degree. It was no longer a golden autocracy ruled entirely by one man. He only ruled two years. Cyrus, who followed him, was the son of Darius' sister Mundane and of Cambyses the Persian. "This was what brought the empire together into the Medo-Persian Empire which now ruled the world. Thee were other Darius's that followed, one in particular.

Daniel's enemies had sown to the wind and were reaping a whirlwind. It reminds me of the wicked Haman in the Book of Esther who had gallows built on which to hang Mordecai and ended up getting hung there himself (Esther 7:10). And what of Jesus' disciple Judas who sold out his Lord for 30 pieces of silver and ended up hanging himself, dropping to the ground and bursting open (Matthew 27:5; Acts 1:18) . Don't forget the crowd in Moses' day who defied God and the earth opened up and swallowed them all and closed back over them (Numbers 16:32). Selling out God can be expensive.

These men who were responsible for having Daniel put in the lions' den were cast in themselves with their wives and children. These mild-mannered lions whose jaws the angel of God had closed came to life and were tearing at the bodies of these people before they had a chance to hit the floor. Terrible! One thing we should remember is that while God is a God of infinite love, His patience can be exhausted and He is rightfully referred to as an awesome God. The saved and the unsaved alike are subject to God's judgment falling upon them.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men;….(1Corinthians 5:10-11a).

This is the judgment seat of Christ for rewarding or withholding rewards for the saved people who are going to Heaven. This is not for unsaved people who will be judged at the Great White Throne Judgment in Revelation 20:11-15. And yet the writer speaks of the terror of the Lord at the judgment of the saved. It will not be a happy time until it's over.

For over forty years I have read the following verses every time I have administered the Lord's Supper as a warning to careless Christians who may partake of the ceremony thoughtlessly and with unconfessed sin in the life. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world (1Corinthians 11:29-32).

In this passage we are warned of a sin unto sickness and a sin unto death. Please understand that this was not something that was limited to two thousand years ago. It holds true for today. God loves us with an eternal love and at the same time He is serious about His blood-bought children directing their hearts toward Him in genuine devotion and a commitment to holy living. People of unbelief have always been in trouble with God, saints and sinners alike. You do not have to lose your eternal soul to be in trouble with God.

These wicked men who went after God's servant are an example of how we ought not to live. For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10:30-31).

Please note that the book of Hebrews is not in the Old Testament under the law of Moses. It is in the New Testament under the covenant of grace. A sorry attitude toward God is not going to turn out well. He is the living God and He will have the last word. His power and commitment toward us in love and mercy are without measure. At the same time, there is a sin unto sickness and there is a sin unto premature death. Ω

Memory Verse for this week:

(Psalm 103:13-14) Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust (Psalm 103:13-14).