Thy God Will Deliver Thee

Q: What does the Bible say about Daniel in the lion's den?

Daniel's story illustrates God's ability to deliver His faithful servants from impossible situations. Daniel in the lion's den, as recorded in Daniel 6, shows not only the faithfulness of Daniel who refused to abandon his commitment to pray to God, but it also highlights God's sovereignty in delivering His people from peril. The situation reveals both the jealousy of those opposed to Daniel and the steadfastness of his faith, resulting in God's miraculous intervention. The narrative emphasizes that God is capable of delivering His people from the most severe trials, showing that nothing is too difficult for Him.

Q: How do we know God delivers His people?

God's deliverance is evidenced in Scripture through stories like Daniel's, where He intervenes in times of trouble. The assurance of God's deliverance for His people can be found throughout the Bible, particularly in the story of Daniel. In Daniel 6:22, Daniel states, 'My God has sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths.' This illustrates that God's intervention is both real and powerful. In moments of extreme adversity, believers are reminded that God reigns and rules over all situations, ultimately delivering them according to His purpose and plan. Furthermore, God's track record of delivering His people in Scripture provides encouragement and hope that He will do the same today.

Q: Why is faithfulness important for Christians?

Faithfulness demonstrates a believer's trust in God and His promises, as exemplified by Daniel. Faithfulness is crucial for Christians as it reflects a commitment to God's calling even in difficult circumstances. Daniel’s unwavering resolve to pray despite the king's decree illustrates the importance of standing firm in one's faith. As 1 Corinthians 4:2 states, 'Moreover it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful.' Faithfulness not only strengthens the believer but also serves as a testimony to others of God’s goodness and the believers' trust in Him. It demonstrates that one's allegiance is to God, who has the power to deliver, protect, and bless His people.

I have to go back two verses
to acquaint you with the situation. Two verses in chapter 5. You
know the story of Belshazzar. Well, verse 30, And that night
was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldean slain. And Darius the
Median took the kingdom. Darius became the king, being
62 years old. Now, chapter 6. It pleased Darius
to set over the kingdom 120 princes, which should be over the whole
kingdom. And over these 120 princes, three presidents, of whom Daniel
was the chief. Daniel was the first president,
right under the king. That the princes might give accounts
unto them, the three presidents, and the king should have no damage.
Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and above
the princes, because an excellent spirit was in him, and the king
thought to set him over the whole realm. Well, verse 4, then the
presidents and the princes sought to find occasion against Daniel
concerning the kingdom. They were jealous, envious of
this man Daniel. But they could find none occasion,
no fault, for as much as he was a faithful, faithful man, neither
was there ever a fault found in him. And then said these men,
these two presidents and 120 leaders, they said, we shall
not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it
against him concerning the law of his God. We're not going to
be able to find anything wrong with the way he does business.
We're going to have to find something pertaining to his God. Then these
presidents and princes assembled together to the king. They went
to the king and they said to the king, King Darius, live forever. All the presidents of the kingdom,
the governors, the princes, the counselors, 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 any man for thirty days, except of you, O king,
he'll be cast into the den of lions. Now these men knew Daniel,
believed God, they knew Daniel prayed. They knew Daniel worshiped
the living God, and he prayed every day. And so they went to
the king, and they said, now we want to honor you. This was
not to honor the king, this was to get Daniel, because they knew
he wasn't going to quit praying. So they said, we're going to
honor you, and you make a law, just 30 days, that no one in
the kingdom ask anything of a God or a man. No petitions, no requests,
except to you. Well, he never thought. Darius,
full of pride himself and haughtiness, well, yeah, that sounded good
to him. All right, verse 8. Now if a fellow does ask a petition
of a god or a man, we cast him into the lion's den. Now, O king,
verse 8, establish the decree and sign the writing that it
be not changed. Now that's very important, that
statement. You can't change it. According to the law of the Medes
and the Persians, which altereth not, only the king could make
a law and sign it into effect, and once he signed it, it could
not be changed. That was the law, the Medes and
Persians. Verse 9, Therefore King Dohas signed the writing
and the decree. Now when Daniel knew that the
writing was signed, he got wind of it, he knew what they were
doing. He went right to his house and his windows being opened
in the chamber towards Jerusalem, towards the temple, He kneeled upon his knees three
times a day and he prayed, gave thanks before God as he did before
time. Then these men assembled and
found Daniel praying and making supplication and petition before
his God. So they came near and spoke before
the king concerning the king's decree. And they said, Hast thou
not signed a decree? that every man that shall ask
the petition of any god or any 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. That's so. I signed
it according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot
be changed. Well, they had Daniel now. They
answered. Then answered they and said before
the king, your favored one. Daniel, which
is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee,
O king, he has no respect for you, nor the decree that you
signed. But he makes his petition three
times a day to his God. Then the king, when he heard
these words, was sore displeased with himself. What a fool! He had been. He didn't see through
their scheme. But, now watch, "...and set his
heart on Daniel to deliver him. And he labored till the going
down of the sun all day long." He walked the floor. He paced
the floor. How am I going to deliver Daniel and be true to
my law? And he found no answer. Then
these men assembled again unto the king, and they said to him,
No, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, that no
decree nor statute which the king establishes and signs can
be changed." Can't change it. Then the king commanded, and
they brought Daniel, cast him into the den of lions. And the
king spake and said to Daniel, Thy God, whom thou servest continually,
he'll deliver thee. He'll deliver thee. Nothing too
hard for him. And a stone was brought laid
upon the mouth of the lion's den. The king sealed it with
his own signet, and with the signet of his Lord's, that the
purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel. The law was
the law. Daniel broke it. He's in the
lion's den. No change. Then the king went
to his palace and he passed the night fasting. A troubled man,
neither were instruments of music brought before him, and his sleep
went from him. And then the king arose very
early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions
himself in person. 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? Then said Daniel unto the king,
O king, live for ever. My God hath sent his angel, and
hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me. For
as much as before him innocence was found in me, and also before
thee, O king, I have done thee no harm. I have done thee no
hurt. Then was the king exceeding glad
for Daniel, 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. And the king commanded, and they
brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast them into
the den of lions, them, their children, their wives. And the lions had the mastery
of them and break all their bones in pieces wherever they came
to the bottom of the den. Why do you suppose, why do you suppose that nearly
an entire chapter in God's Word is devoted to this
event in the life of Daniel? Almost an entire chapter. It's
a popular story. I imagine you could walk out
on the street tonight and just stop just about anybody and ask
him, have you ever heard of Daniel and the Lion's Den? Oh yeah,
I've heard about Daniel and the Lion's Den. Almost everybody
has, but yet few people, very few people, very few preachers
can give you a picture of the redemptive work of Jesus Christ
our Lord from that writing right there, very few, or tell you
why that story is there. Now I know this, I know this,
the scripture is bifocal. There's a primary reason for
this scripture and there's plenty of applied reasons. In other
words, I know this does reveal the faithfulness and dedication
of a true servant of God. Daniel, Daniel believed God. And Daniel would not compromise
that faith even if it cost him his life. That's an example for
you and me. You know, when they cast the
disciples in prison and God delivered them, and these magistrates told
them, said, now you quit preaching in that name or we're going to
put you back in prison. And Peter said, whether it be
right to fear you or God, you decide. Whether it be right to
listen to you or listen to God, you decide. We can't help but
preach what we've seen and heard. And that's what we see here.
We see a faithful servant of God. who believed God, willing
to be killed before he compromised his faith in God. And then the
second thing I see here, it also reveals this, that a believer,
now get this, a believer can occupy a place of prominence
and leadership in his community. and still be true to his convictions
and his principles. Oh, yes. I hear people say, well,
a true Christian couldn't serve in a place of leadership. Think
Daniel was a Christian? A true Christian, he couldn't
serve in a place of leadership and prominence and all in a community. Daniel did. Daniel did. Yes sir, I believe a man can
serve wherever God puts him, and be true to his convictions,
and true to his principles, and true to his faith. A true Christian
will. He'll stand, having done all,
he'll still stand. And he'll gain respect from people
whom he leads. They respect him. They did Daniel.
And then thirdly, I see this. I see in this story, and this
is what he usually preached, As the main point, if a man preaches
from this chapter, it reveals the power of God to deliver his
people out of the most difficult trials and the most difficult
troubles. Is anything too hard for God?
You know, he said to Paul, he said, my grace is sufficient. And my friends, it is. Whatever
the trial, whatever the difficulty, whatever the danger, God reigns
and God rules. Now, we'll go out Saturday morning,
get on an airplane and fly to Charlotte and change planes and
fly to Houston. We're going to get on a Guatemalan
airline. Last time I got on one of those, I had a cracked window,
Richard. But I'll tell you this, God can
keep you on a Guatemalan airline just as well as He can a United
airline. God's on the throne. You'd think you flew that plane
too, didn't you, Brother Ballard, with a cracked window? Our God reigns. Daniel, your
God is able to deliver you. Even that old king knew that.
Don could tell us a little bit about that tonight. Don McGuinness
took his airplane down to Cincinnati a few weeks ago, had a load of
men there with him, got in that airplane, And Don's flown a lot. Don used to be a crop duster.
Nobody knows that, but he used to be one of those crazy fellas
that flies down over corn fields and sprays it, you know. You've
got to be weak upstairs to do that. You know, right? But anyway, they started to take
off in Cincinnati and got about ten feet off the ground, and
that airplane almost came apart. And by God's grace, they circled
and brought the thing down. rented a car and drove home.
You're thankful, aren't you? Our God's able. Now see, my first
cousin got in a plane like that, going on a hunting trip, he and
several of his fellas, and the plane did that and they crashed.
And they're dead. But God's on the throne. God's
on the throne. And see, I see that all the way.
The most difficult places and trials, He's able. He's able. But what did the Master say about
the Old Testament? I want you to go to, hold that
place there and go to Luke 24. You see this Old Testament, this
Old Testament is the Scriptures, this is the Scriptures, and the
Scriptures bear witness of Christ. And when you have these stories,
when you have these parables, when you have these pictures,
when you have these types, when you have all these things, learn
the message, learn the meaning, but learn Christ from these pictures. That's what he said in Luke 24,
verse 27. Listen. And beginning at Moses,
that's the book of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, and all the prophets. Is Daniel a prophet? In all the
prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things
concerning himself. That's what the scripture is
concerning in Christ Jesus. Look at verse 45, 44. Luke 24,
44. And he said to them, These are
the words which I have spake unto you, while I was yet with
you, that all things must be fulfilled which are written in
the law of Moses, in the prophets, both major and minor, in the
Psalms concerning me. And then he opened their understanding
that they might understand the scriptures. That's what I'm doing
tonight. I'm opening the scriptures. Daniel
was a prophet. And to him give all the prophets
witness, all of them without exception, Daniel included. Christ
is in this picture. Christ is here, and I'm going
to show it to you. But now you must remember, please remember,
that no type Please remember this, no type, no picture, no
parable, no pattern can fully accurately picture the person
and work of Christ, because no human being can mirror the Son
of God. You know, the priest were types
of Christ. Weren't the priest types of Christ?
No question about it. Even was a type of picture of
Christ, but a very imperfect picture. Abram was a man, Christ
the God-man. The priests were many, Christ
was one. They had a temporary office, his was eternal. They
died, he lived. They offered many sacrifices,
he won. They offered animal blood, he
his own blood. They ministered on earth, he ministered in heaven.
Their work was totally ineffectual, his was effectual. So the priests
were very poor types of Christ, but they were pictures. We need
pictures. I was preaching one time, and
I used a story about Abraham Lincoln. I don't know whether
it's true or not. They say it's true, but everything
they tell on him really happened. He had a long life. But I told
this story about Lincoln and his son, Tad. I'd heard this
story years ago, but Lincoln was sitting in the White House,
and there was a soldier out there on the White House grounds that
just had to see Mr. Lincoln. He was under some kind
of judgment or some kind of indictment, and only the president could
free him. Only the president could set
him free. But they wouldn't let him in. He lost all his papers
and all these things. He couldn't get in. Tried to
tell them they wouldn't let him in. Of course they wouldn't.
And a little boy came up to him and said, why are you so sad?
And he said, I need to see the president, but I can't get in.
Nobody can get me in. He said, I can get you in. If
you want to see my daddy, you follow me. He took him by the
hand, just a little young tad. And he walked out by the guards
into the office of the president. And the man sat down and told
him his story. And I use that illustration, Lincoln, as God.
The boy is the son of God who took me to see the Father. He
brought me to God. Christ did. Boy, when I got through
that message, the fellow met me. I hardly got off the pulpit.
He met me. His veins standing out, his fists
doubled up, he was mad. And he said, I'll never come
here to you again. Well, I wasn't going to quit
just because he wasn't going to come back, but I said, well,
why? He said, you used Lincoln as
a type of God. He said the man didn't even claim
to believe in Christ. And on and on and on. You'll
never guess where I was preaching, could you? Way down south. In
the 60s. Should have known better. But no picture is a perfect picture
of Christ or the Father. But I'm going to use Darius as
a picture of the Father. Yeah, I certainly am. Now here's
the story. You heard me read. Daniel was a faithful, preferred
servant. of King Darius. He loved him,
loved him very much, exalted and elevated him above all the
people. And the other leaders were jealous
of him. They hated Daniel, they hated
the king's love for Daniel. And so they came to the king
and persuaded him to make a very foolish law. The king wasn't
thinking, but they persuaded him to make a foolish law. and
sign it into effect immediately, that if anybody asks anything
of a man or a God except the King for 30 days, throw him in
the lions' den. Well, he signed it. He signed
it. And the law was established,
and it says in here it could not be changed. It could not
be changed. Three times it could not be changed
when the King signed it. It's a law. Well, Daniel is going
to pray. And so they knew he would. So
they found him praying and they went and told the king that Daniel
was praying, talking to his God. And the king, oh my, he was displeased,
heartbroken, but nothing he could do about it. So he cast Daniel
in the lion's den. Now, Darius, King Darius, must
serve as a type of our eternal God in this picture. He's a poor
type, that's what I told you, but so is every other human.
Daniel is a type of his elect, his beloved people, you and me.
Daniel is a type of us folks right here. Darius is a picture
of God. Now, Darius made a law. He made
a law. And that law was made to honor
himself, but it sprang out of foolishness. But our God has
made a law. His word, His laws, the laws
of His kingdom, the rules and ways and commandments of His
kingdom, but all of them are born of His holiness. They're
all born of His holiness. They're good laws. Darius' law
was a bad law, but it was a law, Bob. God's laws are good laws. They're for our happiness and
our holiness. Darius' law was a foolish law, it served no good
cause, but God's law is good law, and his word is perfect
and holy, being the very foundation of his kingdom, and is for our
eternal good and our happiness. God's word, my word, is established
in my holiness. Only the king could sign a law
into effect, and when it was signed, it couldn't be changed.
And I'll tell you this, God's laws are unchangeable. They're
signed, they're given, and signed by the king. They cannot change.
Cannot change. And he says, Cursed is everyone
that continued not in all things written in the law to do them. You know what it says? Well,
Daniel broke Darius' law. The reason had nothing to do
with it. The fact is, he broke it. Daniel knew what he was doing,
and he broke that law. And it cannot be changed, and
so Daniel has to suffer. And I'm telling you this, God's
laws are good and holy and perfect and born of his holiness and
given to honor him and for our holiness and our happiness, but
we have broken God's law. broken all of them to offend
in one point is to be guilty of all the law of God. And we
did it willingly, and we did it deliberately. And the scripture
says, the soul that sinneth, it'll have to die. And we're
in the same position Daniel is. Daniel knew the law, and Daniel
broke it. And Daniel's under condemnation.
He's under judgment. Our King's laws, we know them. We've heard them and we've broken
them. And we're under his judgment
and his condemnation and it cannot be changed. Believe me, it cannot
be changed. I know as I was telling somebody
before the service, I talked to a funeral director one time
in Catlisburg. I was up there preaching a funeral
and he stood there and he said, you know why I don't have any
respect for preachers? I said, why? He said, well, I've
been in this business for years and years and years and years
and years. And he said, you know, I've never buried a lost man.
He said, everybody I bring in here and embalm and put them
in a coffin, some preacher stands over them and preaches them right
into heaven. He said, that's why I don't have any use for
preachers. They lie. I said, you're right. Well, I'll
tell you this, we can use all the emotionalism and sentimentality
we want to, but if you've broken God's law, you're going to die,
now write her down. There's no way around it. That's
just it. He can't be changed. Well, here's
the main point. Look at verse 14. Then the king,
when he heard these words, he loved Daniel, didn't he? His
heart was set on Daniel. He was displeased with himself.
And he set his heart on Daniel to deliver him. And he labored
to the going down of the sun to deliver him. Now, the king
was powerless to deliver Daniel. Do you know the question he was
laboring with? Now you see this king to rise
as he paced the floor that day. Till they were going down to
the sun, he paced the floor. What was on his mind? I love
Daniel, but I signed that law. Daniel broke that law. I wish
I could deliver. But if I deliver Daniel, I'm
no longer king. If I deliver Daniel, I've got
to deliver every criminal, in the realm. If I let a man go
that broke this law, I've got to let a man go that broke that
law. My law's gone, my kingdom's gone, my respect's gone, my honor's
gone, everything's gone, but I love Daniel. He just went round
and round with that. What am I going to do? What am
I going to do? What am I going to do? He found
no answer. How can I be just? How can I
enforce my law? How can I let my law stand, my
word stand, my truth stand, and set this man free that I love?
He came to this conclusion. It cannot be done. It cannot
be done. And I'm telling you this, God
is holy, just, and righteous. His law is true and holy and
cannot be changed. We've broken it. God loves His
elect. We don't know what love is until
we know the love of God. Herein is love. Not that we loved
Him. He loved us. And God's mercy and God's pity
and God's grace and God's love wanted to deliver His people.
But how is God going to be just and justify them? You've broken
the law. How is God? King Geras had a
problem. He had a dilemma. And he couldn't
solve it. But my God can solve it. All things are possible with
God. God can solve this thing. God can solve this thing. Old
Job says, How can man be justified as born of a woman? How can he
be clean as born of a woman? How can God be just and justify? God can solve it. And God, I don't know how to
say this or explain it, but there was a meeting in eternity of
the attributes of God to discuss this issue right here. How can man be just with God?
How can God be God, just, holy, righteous, and manifest his love,
compassion, and kindness? How can his law stand and be
honored and magnified? How can man be dealt with in
judgment and wrath and at the same time be accepted in love
and mercy? How can the guilty become not
guilty? How can the guilty become innocent? How can the wretched,
unclean become justified and holy? How? You know? Find out how that can be done,
you'll learn the gospel. So God's truth says, well, if
man is delivered by a man, he'll have to be a man. Whoever delivers
the sinner is going to have to be a man, because the law is
binding on men. Righteousness says you'll have
to be a perfect man. Holiness says you'll have to
magnify and honor the law, but justice says you'll have to die. And love says you'll have to
do it willingly. Where can such a one be found?
Who can love God with all his mind, soul, and strength? Where
can such a one be found who can love his enemy as himself? Really,
honestly, willingly. Who can die and yet live? Where
can one be found who can come to earth and yet never leave
the bosom of the Father? Where can one be found who is
holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and yet one of
them, numbered with them? Where can one be found who can
be in the form of God, equal with God, able to satisfy, magnify,
and honor the law, and yet take upon himself the form of a servant? and become obedient unto death,
even the death of the cross. Where can one be found who can
meet every jot and tittle of the law head on and never entertain
a thought of sin and always please the Father? Where can one be
found who can take the full force of God's wrath for all God's
elect and yet not perish? Where can one be found who can
be laid dead in a tomb and three days later walk out under his
own power? Where can one be found who can
then ascend to heaven in the form of a man and have such glory
and acceptance that he can sit down on the right hand of God
Almighty? Find him and you've found the
ransom. Find him, and you've found the
solution. Find him, and you've found the
way that God can set old Daniel free, and old Richard, and Jim,
and Chuck, and Bea, and Pat, all the rest of you. Guilty.
Guilty. Guilty as homemade sin, they
used to say in Alabama, whatever that means. Guilty as homemade
sin. under condemnation of the law
and sent and held him for the lion's den. Rightfully so. And yet God, out of His love
and mercy, sent His Son down here and took our place. Took
our place. He could do it because He's God.
And He could do it because He's a man. And the law got no charge
against me now. I can walk right by the lion's
den and not be afraid. That's right, I can walk right
by the lion's den and say, that place has no fear, holds no fear
for me. I've already been there and come
out. I can walk right by the king's palace whose decree I
broke without any fear because he's reconciled and I'm set free. Is that it? That's what that's
teaching. Darius' dilemma, can your God
deliver you? Can thy God deliver thee? Well, the God of heaven can, because
he by his grace has made a way through Christ Jesus. That's
the gospel. That's the gospel. All right. Let's sing a hymn,
brother. for the mic

Thy God Will Deliver Thee

What does the Bible say about Daniel in the lion's den?

How do we know God delivers His people?

Why is faithfulness important for Christians?

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About Henry Mahan

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Thy God Will Deliver Thee

What does the Bible say about Daniel in the lion's den?

How do we know God delivers His people?

Why is faithfulness important for Christians?

Sermon Transcript

About Henry Mahan

Comments

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