In life, we often encounter unexpected opposition from unfamiliar sources, leaving us puzzled and struggling to comprehend these situations. When we turn to the story of Daniel in the Bible, we discover valuable spiritual lessons that shed light on the cost of living righteously and provide answers to our questions.
I would recommend you watch the video for short story of Daniel, I would use Daniel 6 to explain this. It will help understand the lessons from the life of Daniel.
Background of Daniel
Following the siege of Jerusalem by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, he selected young and talented noble men from Israel's royal lineage to undergo training in Babylonian customs. After three years of preparation, they were to serve the king. Among them were Daniel and three others from Judea, whose names were changed in the process. Daniel's name, meaning "God is my judge," was one of those altered.
Daniel 1:6-7 (NIV) 'Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego. '
After Nebuchadnezzar, his son Belshazzar assumed the throne. During a lavish banquet, he disrespectfully used the stolen holy goblets from Jerusalem's temple. In response, a mysterious hand appeared, writing on the wall. Despite his astrologers' failure to interpret the message, Daniel was called upon for help (Daniel 5:13-16). For successfully deciphering the writing, Daniel was rewarded with the third-highest position in the Babylonian kingdom (verse 29). As Daniel had prophesied, King Belshazzar was slain that very night, and the Persian king Cyrus the Great took over the kingdom, with Darius the Mede becoming the ruler. Under the new regime, Daniel demonstrated exceptional competence in his role as one of the administrators, prompting King Darius to consider promoting him to a position of even greater authority over the entire kingdom (Daniel 6:1-3).
Daniel 6:1-4 (NIV) 'It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss. Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. '
King Darius appointed 120 Satraps - “a provincial governor in the ancient Persian empire.”, with 3 Administrators over the 120 Satraps.
To make it easy, think of a Daniel as an IAS (Indian Administrative Service) Officer of our times in King Darius, he was one among the 3 Administrators
Qualities of Daniel
Daniel 6:3 (NIV) 'Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. '
He distinguished himself among the 3 Administrators and was exceptional
Daniel 6:4 (NIV) 'At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. '
All the people who worked were jealous of him, they tried to find fault on him “the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs”
There were unable to find any charge against him - “but they were unable to do so”
He was very righteous to God and men, no sign of Corruption - “They could find no corruption in him”
He was very Sincere and trustworthy on what was assigned to him, He also had the in-depth knowledge on how to address issues as his wisdom was from God - “because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent.”
As we see Daniel was a righteous man, he had great opposition from every side to pin him down. they went and did something with the Law of God by asking the king Darius to issue a decree to making worshipping the King for next 30 days, failing to do so will be thrown in lions Den
Daniel 6:5,7-9 (NIV) 'Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.” The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den. Now, Your Majesty, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” So King Darius put the decree in writing. '
5 Lessons on Cost of being righteous
There are 5 Lessons from Daniel we can learn on Cost of being righteous
Lesson 1 - God protected Daniel with these impeccable qualities
Daniel 6:10 (NIV) 'Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. '
Daniel trusted and feared God and his dependence with God was very high - “Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. '”
Daniel did not change his pattern, instead he did what he did always. to trust and depend on God - “just as he had done before”
How did Daniel Pray - “he gave thanks to God”
He prayed with God by humbling him thru a window opened (he could have prayed outside but he was not hypocrite to pray like others) - “he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem”
Our God is righteous God, he gives good gifts to his children, in the case of Daniel we read Daniel 6:4(NIV) the qualities of righteousness came as a result of Daniel’s trust in God and his prayers as he got down to knees three times of Day.
Lesson 2 - When God blesses his children, the enemy will rise against God’s children
As the light of God shined on him due to which he was distinguished from others, to make a note to see something different in him. Here we read Daniel 6:3 “Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom”, he was distinguished and separated from the 3 administrators.
The world will not understand what is the source of this power (1 Peter 2:9), as we have been separated (”Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God”) and got to his kingdom . 1 Peter 2:9-10 (NIV) 'But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. '
Don’t be afraid of the enemy when they will come against you - 1 Peter 3:14 (NIV) 'But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats ; do not be frightened.” '
If Christ himself had this kind of struggles from the Pharisees and sadducee, Why would we be exempted from these struggle of people raising against us. Remember we are just mortals. 1 Peter 3:18. (NIV) 'For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. '
God’s eye was with Daniel to full-fill this verse 1 Peter 3:12 (NIV) 'For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” '
Let us not be discouraged if we encounter trouble from someone we know or an unknown adversary, as they may seek to find fault with us.
Lesson 3 - Why did God allow the enemy to succeed by writing a decree?
If you read Earlier Daniel 6:4 (NIV) 'At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. ' - God protected him from his enemies as they were not able to find any corruption.
The Next verse - Daniel 6:5 (NIV) 'Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.” '
This raises the question: Why did God permit the enemy to succeed by allowing the decree to be written?
From our view, we see small failure, God has bigger plans when he allows enemy to take control. e.g., Jobs life is a great example ~ he strengthened Job more on his faith and blessed him more 4x than his prior life.
Our God is all-knowing, and no schemes of the enemy can prevail against Him. Though it may seem in the short term that the enemy has defeated us with successful plans, God's greater purpose might involve allowing the enemy to succeed in order to fulfil his own plans.
God’s plan was bigger
He did bring out Daniel’s faithfulness to show how much he trusts him in spite of anything that changes around him. Daniel 6:10 (NIV) 'Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem…”
God’s Glory / Power and Might was revealed to the King and the people thru the actions of Daniel and his living in Lions Den Daniel 6:22 (NIV) 'My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.” '
God’s words get fulfilled for righteous suffering thru 1 Peter 3:9,14 (NIV) 'Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats ; do not be frightened.” '
Daniel did not heap abuse on his accusers - he was patient in suffering, He was obedient to take up the Lions Den when he was asked to do.
He trusted God and not on his own strength
He was blameless & innocent in the eyes of God - Daniel 6:22 “'My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.” '
His heart was clean with God and man - “Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”
God’s plan was to have all the people worship like Daniel, God is not satisfied with one Daniel, he wants the entire kingdom of Darius to be like Daniel so he did this 'Daniel 6:26-27 “I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. “For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.” '
Lesson 4 - Suffering is only for a set time
While there is suffering for Daniel, it was there for one night. For Daniel it was one night, our timeline may vary depending on how strong we are with God. Don’t be worried on the time as God gives the promise to endure the suffering as he will restore you and make stronger and steadfast after this suffering 1 Peter 5:10 'And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. '
Daniel Praised God and thanked God in the suffering - The enemy plans are weakened when we give praise - Daniel 6:10
We read in case of Daniel, he became even more powerful- Daniel 6:28 'So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.'
Lesson 5 - Battle is for the Lord / Not for us to fight
Daniel did not fight the battle, he did not argue or throw tandems with King or his fellow administrators. All he did was he prayed to God 3 times a day, He left God to fight the battle. The word say Daniel 6:22 'My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. …”
When God fights the battle, he brings grace to us thru some form, here the King was overjoyed as Daniel was not hurt - Daniel 6:23 (NIV) 'The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. '
Our God is a righteous God, he not only fights the battles, he will ensure the enemy is decapitated from the roots, we read the King ordered all the men along with their wives and children thrown in the same lions den. Daniel 6:24 'At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones. '
When God fights the battle for us, the enemy cannot stand even a chance
The Satraps alone did not go to lions den, even their wives and children went - God ensures there is no root of enemy to come back again.
The same lion’s mouth which was shut is now open - When God Opens the door no one can shut and what he shuts cannot be open as he holds the keys. Revelation 3:7. ' “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. '
The wrath of God is displayed here. Mostly we see Lions eat flesh, but here even bones were crushed and broken “before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones. '
Many times we will made to believe that enemy is upper control, trust In the lord - he will never put us to shame Psalms 25:2-3 (NIV) 'I trust in you; do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame, but shame will come on those who are treacherous without cause. '
Summary
I don’t know what kind of struggles you are going thru, there are many spiritual lessons we can learn from Daniel 6
Trust in the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and walk a dependent life with God like Daniel, His source of strength was he prayed 3 times / praising and thanksgiving to God. Lets try to do that at min 2 times a day early in the morning and night when we wind down.
Righteous suffering - Know that if God has allowed these suffering. its for a reason bigger than what we presume. We are truly blessed for the righteous suffering in God.
At times, we may be deceived by Satan, thinking that our suffering is righteous when, in reality, it could be a result of our self-righteous actions leading to sin. Therefore, it is crucial to seek God's guidance to be truly righteous in His eyes and to distinguish our suffering from the consequences of sin. By asking God for discernment, our suffering can become a genuine, righteous experience for Him.
Praise God and thank him for the suffering like Daniel. Thank God for the opportunity of the enemy finding you to bringing the opposition so that you suffer for righteous cause. The enemy’s power gets weakened when we praise and thank God in the midst of suffering.
Know this Suffering is only for a set time - it was only one night for Daniel, each of our suffering may vary according to what God decides. Be rest assured as Paul writes in 1 Peter 5:10 'And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. ' you will be stronger and steadfast after this event
Remember when we depend on God, the Battle is for God - not for us - we have to wait and allow God to fight the battle for us. Don’t do any action from your side that may cause God’s plan to scuttle
Yes! This is our calling.
Blessed read