Lesson 7— Night of the Lions 16 The Daniel Seminar 1

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Lesson 7— Night of the Lions 2 The Daniel Seminar 15

Exhibit 3 (Continued)
WATCH FOR THESE POINTS
CHAPTER FOUR
• A king and a prophet caught in a death plot In spite of all the lessons Nebuchadnezzar had received about humility
• Wild beast tamed by an extra-terrestrial being toward God, he proudly exalts himself above God. God brings him down
• The prayer that should have cost Daniel his life, but saved it. to the level of an animal. Nebuchadnezzar acknowledges God, is
• God’s power revealed through faith and prayer. changed and restored. He learns that God, not Nebuchadnezzar, rules
over all.

DANIEL SURVIVES CHAPTER FIVE

Belshazzar knows all that happened to Nebuchadnezzar, but does not
In the man-to-man fighting of Babylon’s last night, Daniel’s life was learn from it. He blasphemes God and God's sanctuary. All unbeknown
spared. Perhaps his escape was due to his age, or his high reputation. to him, he is judged and condemned. He is suddenly faced with the ver-
More likely, however, God’s hand was over him. His work was not yet dict "found wanting". He loses his empire and his life. Daniel is pro-
finished. moted.

The Persians, too, might have wanted Daniel alive. During the many CHAPTER SIX
years of their contact with the Babylonian courts, they must have learned Daniel faces his greatest trial. He is cast into a den of lions. Yet he re-
about his outstanding wisdom and excellent spirit. mains faithful to God, is rescued and honoured. His enemies are judged
and destroyed by Darius for plotting his destruction.
Also Cyrus himself, now the ruler of their
entire empire, could have known about Do you see a pattern in all these stories?
Isaiah’s “Cyrus” prophecy. One hundred
and fifty years before Babylon’s fall, • The global aspirations of would-be world rulers in political and reli-
Isaiah had actually named Cyrus as gious affairs.
Babylon’s future conqueror. (see Isaiah
44:28 to 45:5, page 701). • Trial and conflict for God's faithful people at their hands
After the conquest, Darius the Mede re- • Protection, wisdom, and strength is given by God to those who are
ceived the kingdom (Daniel 5:30), evi- faithful
dently by appointment of Cyrus. The Medo-persians captured Baby-
lon just as Daniel had predicted. • God judges, saves, and rewards those who are true to Him.
When Darius appointed his governors, he
considered making Daniel prime minister. This did not please everybody. • He judges and rejects those who usurp His authority and oppress
Jealousy raged in the palace. At a secret meeting of rival officials it was His faithful people.
decided to do away with Daniel. He has weathered other life threatening
crises before, but none so horrifying as this one. The plot involved These conflicts and victories are miniature previews of greater conflicts
Daniel, now 80 years of age, being fed to the lions. and victories predicted in the final six chapters of Daniel which we are
now about to study.
Lesson 7— Night of the Lions 14 The Daniel Seminar 3

Exhibit 3 Life for a genuine prophet was never easy. Turn to Daniel 6 and read
how it happened.
THE DEEPER MEANING
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
BEHIND THE "STORIES'
OF DANIEL
A. KING DARIUS INSTALLS A NEW GOVERNMENT
Why were the experiences of Daniel and his friends recorded in his book
of great prophecies? QUESTION 1 (Daniel 6:1, 2, page 863)
What changes in government by Darius
For answer, notice each story:
led to the threat on Daniel's life?
CHAPTER ONE "It pleased Darius to set over the
At great risk, Daniel and his friends refuse to break their principles by kingdom one hundred and twenty
eating food from the king's table. As a result, they are honoured by God satraps (provincial governors),
and promoted to high positions by King Nebuchadnezzar. God honours to be over the whole kingdom; and
those who maintain their loyalty to Him. over these, _______________
governors." (verses 1,2)
CHAPTER TWO Darius the king made Daniel the
Nebuchadnezzar dreams about a metallic image. None of his wise men QUESTION 2 (Daniel 6:2) supreme governor above all other
can interpret the dream. He brings in the death decree. Daniel and his leaders beside himself
friends face execution. They pray for deliverance. God helps them by Who was to be one of the three gover-
giving Daniel the interpretation of the image. Daniel reveals the interpre- nors? ____________________
tation to the king. No human power, he said, could set up an everlasting
kingdom. God alone will do this. The four men are saved from death and QUESTION 3 (Daniel 6:3)
promoted to further positions of honour. God is acknowledged by the Why did the king consider promoting Daniel to the position of supreme
king. governor?

CHAPTER THREE "Because an excellent ___________ was in him." (verse 3)

Nebuchadnezzar defies divine predictions. He builds an image all of
gold, indicating his purpose to set up Babylon as the everlasting king-
dom. Daniel's three friends refuse to bow to the image. They choose to B. THE DEATH PLOT
be thrown into the furnace rather than break God's commandments. God
intervenes. The three are not only saved from burning, but are promoted QUESTION 4 (Daniel 6:4)
yet again to still higher positions. Nebuchadnezzar then orders everyone
to worship God or be put to death. He thinks he has authority to rule in Enemies emerge quickly when it comes to politics - especially when
God's affairs. favoured appointments are being made. Some contenders will stoop to
anything to bring down their rivals. Usually they start with "fitness for
office", "track record", or allegations of "corruption".
Lesson 7— Night of the Lions 4 The Daniel Seminar 13

How successful were Daniel's opponents in their attempts to discredit Exhibit 2

him?
WHAT THE BIBLE
"They could find no charge or fault, SAYS ABOUT PRAYER
because he was ____________."
(verse 4) WHAT IS PRAYER?

QUESTION 5 (Daniel 6:5, page 863) 1) Prayer is talking with God. Thanking God, praising God, and making re-
quests for His help in our lives. Prayer is asking for forgiveness of sin, for power
Not to be put off by Daniel's faultless re- over temptation, for protection against danger, for our everyday needs, for the
cord, what did his opponents suggest? needs of others, and for God's kingdom to come

"We shall not find any charge 2) “Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend."
against this Daniel unless we find it The king signed the decree that no
against him concerning the law of one should pray to any god save the EXAMPLES OF PRAYER
his ______ ." king for thirty days
1) Jesus often rose early for personal prayer. (Mark 1:35)
2) He spent time alone in prayer. (Luke 5:16)
QUESTION 6 (Daniel 6:6-9) 3) He prayed simply and openly. (John 11:41, 42)
4) At times He prayed with "vehement cries and tears (Hebrews 5:7)
Read the account of the plans made by Daniel's enemies, then mark the 5) Sometimes His prayers did not seem to be
following statements as TRUE (T) or FALSE (F). answered (Matthew 27:46; 26:39)
6) If Jesus needed to pray, how much more
do we? (Matthew 26:36, 39, 42, 44)
.
□ The plan was to get the king to make a decree.
WILL GOD ALWAYS ANSWER PRAYER?
No request (petition) was to be made to any "god"
□ or person other than the king
1)
2)
Our requests must be according to God's will.
We must forgive those who have wronged us
(1 John 5:14)

if we expect God to forgive us (Matthew 6:14-15)

□ The ban on prayer was for a period of 50 days. 3) If others have anything against us, we should
first try to make a right with them. (Matthew 5:23, 24; 6:14, 15;
Anyone found guilty of breaking the ban would be 18:21-35; Col 3:12,13)
□ executed by hanging.
4) Known sin must be given up. (Psalm 66:18)
The law of the "Medes and Persians" could be 5) We must be willing to obey God. (Proverbs 28:9)
□ changed, only if ten or more people signed a peti-
tion.
6)
7)
We are to pray in the name of Jesus our mediator.
God cannot answer selfish prayers.
(John 15:16)
(James 4:1-3)
8) Those who trust and obey God can expect answers
The law of the "Medes and Persians" could not be to their prayers. (His answers are sometimes “yes”
□ changed even by the king. and sometimes "no" God knows best Whatever His
answer, keep on trusting Him still. ) (1 John 3:22)
Lesson 7— Night of the Lions 12 The Daniel Seminar 5

Exhibit 1 (Continued) C. DANIEL AND THE SPIES

3) Faith enables us to keep God's commandments. (1 John 5:1-3) QUESTION 7 (Daniel 6:10, page 863)
4) Faith shields us from evil. Faith helps us to over- Although Daniel knew about the plot to kill him, what did he do?
come the corruptions that surround us. (1 John 5:4 Eph. 6:16)
ANSWER: __________________________________________

QUESTION 8 (Daniel 6:11)

HOW FAITH BEGINS Who waited outside Daniel's window to catch him breaking the newly
1) Faith is the gift of God. A "measure of faith signed law?
is given to everyone (Ephesians 2:8)
"Then these __________ assembled and found Daniel
2) Faith grows by hearing and acting upon God's Word. __________ ."
(Romans 10:17) (verse 11)

3) We should pray for our faith to increase. (Luke 17:5) QUESTION 9 (Daniel 6:12,13)
Read the report that was taken back to the king. Notice that while most
of the report was true, one part was totally false. What lie did it contain?
(verse 13).
HOW FAITH IS DEMONSTRATED
1) Faith in Christ is demonstrated by acts of love. (Galatians 5:6) ANSWER: ________________________
2) By active obedience to God's word. (Heb. 11:7,8 Rom. 3:31) QUESTION 10 (Daniel 6:14)
3) Without faith, right-doing is impossible and How do we know whether the king cared
faith, without right-doing, is dead (James 2:22-26) about Daniel and whether he recognised
Daniel's right to freely worship God?

"And the king, when he heard these Daniel continued His worship of
words, was greatly displeased with the King of heaven regardless of
himself, and set his heart on Daniel to the decree
_____________ him." (verse 14)

QUESTION 11 (Read Daniel 6:15,16)

Darius would have done anything to rescue Daniel. But the supposed
unchangeableness of Persian law, finally forced the king to take action
against him. How was Daniel, "the lawbreaker", to be punished?
Lesson 7— Night of the Lions 6 The Daniel Seminar 11

"So the king gave the command and they brought Daniel and cast him Exhibit 1
into the __________ of ___________ ." (verse 16)
WHAT THE BIBLE
QUESTION 12 (Daniel 6:16, page 863) SAYS ABOUT FAITH
What showed that Darius had some hope that God might save Daniel? WHAT IS FAITH?
1) In the Bible the word 'faith' means belief,
"But the king spoke saying to Daniel, ‘Your ___ whom you serve con- confidence, assurance, commitment, trust. (Hebrews 10:22, 23)
tinually, He will _____________ you.”
(verse 16)
2) Faith is believing what God has said in
(Perhaps Darius had heard about the spite of how things seem (Hebrews11:1; 2Corinthians5:7)
three Hebrews being rescued from the
fiery furnace many years before!) 3) Faith is not feeling. It is sometimes necessary,
to act against our feelings in order to obey
God's word (Hebrews 11:36-38)
D. SURVIVAL THROUGH FAITH
Daniel prayed earnestly to God that 4) Faith is believing in and obeying God though we
QUESTION 13 (Daniel 6:17) He would shut the month of the cannot see or hear Him. (Hebrews 11:27)
Three precautions were taken to make lions
sure that Daniel could not escape from 5) Faith is like a hand which takes hold of God's
the lion's den. What were they? promises (Matthew 9:20-22)

a) "Then a stone was brought and laid upon the _________ of 6) Faith is believing in Christ's sacrifice for
the den" our sin. (Romans 5:1)
b) "and the king __________ it with his own signet ring"
7) Faith is believing that He forgives us when we
c) "and with the __________ of his lords" ask Him. (1 John 1:9)

These seals prevented even Darius himself from getting Daniel out se- 8) Faith is right living with the help of God. (Romans 1:16,17)
cretly.

QUESTION 14 (Daniel 6:18,19) WHAT FAITH DOES FOR US

1) We are made right with God by accepting Christ
Was the king troubled over what he had done? Place a tick next to through faith. (Ephesians 2:8)
those true statements which help you answer this question.
2) Faith brings answers to our prayers. (Mark 11:22-24)
Lesson 7— Night of the Lions 10 The Daniel Seminar 7

REVIEW QUIZ
Underline the correct answers.
□ The king lost interest in food.

1) The king who first ruled Babylon after the conquest of Belshazzar
was:
□ He did not want to listen to his usual evening music
program.
a) Darius the Mede
b) Cyrus the Great □ He could not sleep.

2) Darius commanded his officers to:

a) cast Daniel into a lion’s den
□ He prayed all night to the "gods".
He left his palace early in the morning and went to the
b) take him out of the den
□ lion’s den.
3) Daniel’s custom was to:
QUESTION 15 (Daniel 6:20, page 864)
a) pray on his knees
b) pray twice a day As Darius hurried anxiously to the mouth of the den at daybreak, what
one question was on his lips?
4) Because Darius did not favour Daniel, he:
a) sealed the lion’s den so that Daniel could not escape “Has your God, whom you serve continually, been
b) spoke words of condemnation regarding him able to _______________ you from the lions?” (verse 20)

5) Darius wrote to all nations

a) about his great victory over Daniel’s enemies QUESTION 16 (Daniel 6:21,22)
b) about God’s power to deliver Daniel
What good news echoed up from the den?
6) Darius declared that God’s kingdom would:
"My God sent His _____ and shut
a) come one day in the future
the lions' mouths." (verse 22)
b) would never be destroyed
What a miracle! Daniel was still alive! The
king was filled with joy! But notice that
Daniel’s highest concern was how he
stood with God.

QUESTION 17 (Daniel 6:22, 23)

What reason is given for Daniel being Darius calls out to Daniel in the
saved from this horrifying death? Lion’s den, longing to hear the
voice of his faithful servant.
"Because I was _______ ________
Lesson 7— Night of the Lions 8 The Daniel Seminar 9

before Him; and also, O king, I have done no ______ before you." READ EXHIBIT 1 AND EXHIBIT 2: Pages 11-13
(verse 22) WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT FAITH
WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT PRAYER
Who had actually shut the lion's mouths?

ANSWER: __________________________________________
QUESTION 20
QUESTION 18 (Daniel 6:24) If ever faced with demands that conflict with God’s will, would you like to
have the kind of faith and courage that Daniel had? _____________
How did the king bring justice upon those who had plotted to destroy
Daniel?
STUDY EXHIBIT 3: Pages 14 & 15
ANSWER: ________________________________________
THE DEEPER MEANING BEHIND THE
“STORIES” OF DANIEL
E. A SECOND PAGAN KING ACKNOWLEDGES GOD

QUESTION 19 (Daniel 6:25-27, page OPTIONAL QUESTIONS

864)
TO THINK THROUGH
Like Nebuchadnezzar, Darius was elated
to discover the power of Daniel's God.
He wanted to tell the world. What mes- 1. Do you think that experiences like Daniel had in chapter 6 have
sage did he send throughout the whole any lessons for us today or for the future?
kingdom?
2. What inner strength did Daniel have that would account for his
loyalty and devotion to God, even when threatened with death?
"He is the _________ God." (verse 26)
Those who plotted against Daniel (if in doubt, read Isaiah 41:10, and Ezekiel 36: 26,27., page 841)
"His kingdom "shall not be
became the victims of their own
___________ ." (verse 26)
wicked plan and became food for 3. An interesting text in the book of Psalms describes Daniel per-
"He delivers and __________ ." (verse the lions
fectly. Would you like to read it and think about it? (Psalms 37:
27)
31)
"He works signs and ___________ in heaven and on earth." (verse 27)

Did the night in the lions' den shatter Daniel's nerve or deflect him from
his purpose in life? (Read Daniel 6:28)

ANSWER: ___________________________________________