Now I'm going to read the 6th
chapter of Daniel. And I want you, I want you, everyone
who has a Bible, if your neighbor doesn't have a Bible, you might
share it with them. But we must read the scripture
to get the full meaning of this message. Daniel chapter 6. Now listen carefully to the reading
of the first 24 verses. I call this message Darius, that's
the king, Darius, Darius' Dilemma. It pleased Darius to set over
the kingdom a hundred and twenty princes, which should be over
the whole kingdom, and over these three presidents, of whom Daniel
was first. was not the king of Israel. He
was what we call a pagan king. Daniel was in captivity. Daniel
was an Israelite who had been captured and was serving in this
country. Verse 2, Now over these three
presidents, of whom Daniel was the first, that the princes might
give account unto the presidents, the three presidents, and the
king should have no damage or not have to be involved with
all the matters of business. Then this Daniel was preferred
above the presidents and princes, over the hundred and twenty princes
and the three presidents and the other two. Daniel was the
one the king loved. He preferred him over all of
them. Because an excellent spirit was in Daniel, and the king thought
to set him over the whole realm. He thought about making him second
in command over the whole realm. Then the presidents, the other
two presidents and the 120 princes, sought to find occasion against
Daniel concerning the kingdom. But they could find none occasion
nor fault. For as much as he was faithful,
neither was there any error or fault found in him. He was a
man of integrity and honesty and truth. Then said these men,
We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel. except we
find it against him concerning the law of his God. Daniel worshiped
the Lord God. These other men did not. They
didn't know God, didn't worship God. They were heathen. The king
didn't worship God. No one did in the kingdom except
Daniel. So if we're going to find anything wrong with him,
we'll have to find it concerning his God. Then these presidents
and princes assembled together to the king. And they said thus
unto the king, King Darius, live forever. All the presidents of
the kingdom, the governors, the princes, the counselors, and
the captains have consulted together to establish a royal statute.
Now they were lying. All of them hadn't. Daniel hadn't
had no part in this. But all the rest of them did.
And to make a firm decree that whosoever shall ask a petition
of any god or man for 30 days Save of thee, O King, he shall
be cast into the den of lions." Do you understand what the decree
was, what the law? These men wanted to get at Daniel.
They knew that Daniel prayed and worshiped the Lord God, and
they came before the king, appealing to his pride, and they said,
we've come up with something to honor you, with which to honor
you, and we want to make a law that if anybody, over a period
of 30 days, prays, asks a petition, or makes a request of any God
or any man except you, throw him in a den of lions. Verse
8, Now O King, establish the decree, and sign the writing,
that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and the
Persians, which changeth not, altereth not. Wherefore King
Darius signed the writing and the decree that appealed to him.
appealed to his pride. Now when Daniel knew that the
writing was signed, he went to his house and his windows being
open in his chamber towards Jerusalem, toward his native land and the
capital of his religion, he kneeled upon his knees three times a
day and he prayed and gave thanks unto his God as he always did. He was a man of prayer He was
then a man of prayer, as he always did. Then these men assembled and
found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.
Then they came near and spake before the king concerning the
king's decree. Hast thou not signed the decree
that every man that shall ask a petition of any god or 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, according to the law of the Medes and Persians,
which changeth not, which cannot be changed. Once it's signed,
once it's decreed, it cannot change. Then answered they and
said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the
captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor your decree
that you have 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. Why did I sign
that fool law? Now, he loved Daniel. And that's
what he would say, why did I do that? And he sent his heart on
Daniel to deliver him, to save his life, and he labored to the
going down of the sun. He walked the floor. He wrung
his hands. He did his best to find a way
to deliver Daniel. Then these men assembled unto
the King again, and they said unto the King, No, O King, that
the law of the Medes and the Persians is, that no decree nor
statute which the King signs and establishes May be changed,
do you know that? Then the king commanded, and
they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. Now
the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God, whom thou servest
continually, he will deliver thee. And a stone was brought and laid
upon the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own
signet, and with the signet of his that the purpose might not
be changed concerning Daniel. And then the king went to his
palace and passed the night fasting. Neither were instruments of music
brought before him, and he didn't sleep a wink. Then the king arose
very early in the morning and went in haste unto the den of
lions. When he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice
unto Daniel. 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 innocency
was found in me, and also before thee, O King, have I done no
hurt, I have not transgressed your laws. Then was the King
exceeding 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 manner of hurt was found upon him, because he
believed in his God." And the king commanded, and they brought
those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den
of lions, them and their children, their wives. And the lions had
the mastery of them and break all their bones in pieces wherever
they came at the bottom of the den. Why do you suppose that
so much space is given in the word of God to this stove? Why
do you suppose? Nearly everyone has heard of
Daniel in the lion's den. I doubt if there's a person in
this building that hasn't heard about Daniel in the lion's den.
Well, I'll tell you, it certainly does. It does reveal the faithfulness
and dedication of God's servant, Daniel, without question. And
when I heard this preached upon when I grew up and I've heard
others preach and talk about Daniel in the lion's den, this
is the point that they made chiefly that Daniel was a faithful, dedicated
man, and because of his faithfulness and dedication, God did deliver
him. And God did. God did. Daniel
believed God. And I'll tell you this, I think
it shows this also. I think it shows that a man who
really knows God and loves God will not compromise what he believes. You know, Peter said over here,
in Acts chapter 4. Let me just read it to you, don't
you turn. Acts 4, 20. And we talked about that this
morning in our Sunday school class. In the pulpit and in the
pew, all for commitment to the gospel
of Christ and to our God. Peter said, I cannot but speak
the things which I've seen and heard. I've got to preach the
gospel. The Apostle Paul said this, war
is unto me if I preach not the gospel. Necessity is laid upon
me, I must preach the gospel. And here's a man who was committed,
committed to God, committed to the truth. Even to giving his
life, he was willing to die for what he believed. Are we? Whatever
sacrifice, this man was willing to sacrifice everything he had. to be true to God. All right,
the third thing. I believe it shows this. I looked
over this story, and I believe it shows thirdly, it reveals
thirdly, that a believer, a true believer, a man who knows God,
can occupy a place of leadership, a place of prominence and leadership
in business, in community affairs, even in
government, and be true to his principles and conviction. I
believe he can. I hear people say, well, you
can't be the boss and be a Christian. I take issue with that. I take
issue with that. You can't be the principal, or in your business
the president, or in your business the foreman. I believe he can. Daniel did. Daniel believed God
and where he worked, where he served, where he labored, they
knew he believed God. I believe he cared. This man did. He had a place
of prominence, a place of leadership, and yet he was true to his principles
and his conviction, and true to the God in whom he believed.
And then I know, fourthly, that this reveals the power of God
to deliver his people from the most difficult trial. Our Lord
said in this world you will have tribulation and some of you here,
I know you and I know your situation and I know some of you are going
through the most difficult time of your life, the most trying
time of your life. And you feel like sometimes when
you're alone and all this trouble is coming in upon you and the
things, the decisions you have to make and these things that
you just feel, like one man said to me one day, I feel like sometimes
running off and hiding. I feel like sometimes just throwing
it all aside and just quitting. Don't. God is able to deliver. Our God is able. Daniel, they threw this impossible
situation into a den of lions. John put a stone over the door
and God delivered him. God delivered him. I like what
old King Darius said. He said, Daniel, thy God, whom
thou service continually, he will deliver thee. He didn't
say he can. He can, but he will deliver thee.
He will. I don't like that song, God will
make a way somehow. Let's just say God will make
a way. He is the way. And you take courage. You believe
God. I tell you this, there's nowhere
else to go. And in his good time, in his own time, for your good
and his glory, he'll deliver. But you know, our Lord said,
and I do want you to turn to this scripture, and just keep
Daniel 6 open, but turn to Luke 24. Our Lord said this, He was
talking to his disciples after he had risen from the grave and
before he ascended to heaven. And he said to them in Luke 24.44,
I want you to listen to this. In Luke 24.44, our Lord Jesus
said, in Luke 24.44, he said unto them, These are the words
which I 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 and in the Psalms concerning me." Now, Bob, this
is concerning Christ. It has to be. It's concerning
Christ. This much space is not given
in the Word of God to talk about Daniel alone. Christ is here. Christ is here. In fact, the
Apostle said in Acts 10, to him give all the prophets witness.
So this story here in Daniel 6, like all Old Testament stories,
pictures, promises, is a picture of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Daniel 6 is the gospel according to Daniel 6. Now remember this,
I want you to remember this, in studying pictures and parables,
and this is where a lot of preachers make a great error, in studying
parables and types, No picture, no parable, no earthly type can
fully and accurately picture Christ. No earthly type and no
earthly pattern can fully and accurately picture the person
and work of our Lord Jesus Christ. You can take an earthly story
and illustrate a heavenly truth, But that earthly story can never
illustrate it fully and accurately because it is earthly. I'll give
you an example of that. You know this, when the tabernacle
stood in the wilderness. And that tabernacle itself is
a picture of Christ. But the priesthood, the high
priest, on the day of atonement, when he would slay the animal
or the bullock out on the altar and burn it with fire. come in
and wash his hands, come into the holy place and get the incense
and go into the Holy of Holies and sprinkle the blood on the
mercy seat before the glory of God. That was a picture of atonement
when Christ would die on the cross and minister not in earthly
place made with hands, but in heaven itself and make an atonement
for our souls. That is a picture of Christ.
But it's not a real good picture when you look at all the things
that are contrary to Christ. These priests were men. Christ
is the God-man. Another thing, these priests
were many. Christ is one. Another thing,
these priests were priests for a little while, and then they
died. Christ is an eternal priest.
These men died. He ever lived. These men offered
many sacrifices. There were many days of atonement.
There were many atonements. Christ, by one sacrifice, hath
perfected forever them that are sanctified. These men offered
animal blood, Christ his own blood. These men ministered on
earth, Christ in heaven. Their sacrifices could never
put away sin. He has effectually put away sin.
So you see, when I use the priesthood, I'm glad God gave us Melchizedek. Melchizedek is the most perfect
picture of Christ in the Bible. Melchizedek. The high priest,
the king of Salem, who appeared to Abraham in the desert and
gave him bread and wine and blessed him. Melchizedek had no beginning
or end. Melchizedek is the priest of
the most high God. In fact, the only one who could
picture God is God. That's Christ, Melchizedek. So
if King Darius here is a type of the Heavenly Father, and he
is, he is an earthly picture of the Heavenly Father, but if
King Darius is a type of the Heavenly Father, he is in many
ways a very poor type. First of all, Darius was persuaded
by jealous men to establish a law to corrupt Daniel. God's perfect
law rises out of God's perfect holiness, not out of foolishness.
Darius's law was a foolish law. God's law is a perfect law. It
arises out of his holiness. Secondly, Darius's pride led
him to sign that law into effect. But the law of God has nothing
to do with pride, nothing to do with vainglory. The law of
God arises out of his character. Isaiah said, I saw the Lord high
and lifted up, his train filled the temple, and the seraphim
said, he is holy, holy, holy. God's law is perfect and holy. Darius' law was a foolish law
that served no good cause. God's law is perfect and holy,
and God's law is the foundation of God's kingdom. And God's law
is established for the happiness and holiness of his kingdom.
The law of God is good. David said, I love thy law. I
love thy law. And then again Darius was powerless
to deliver his friend. I close my eyes and I can see
him walking the floor, can't you? Why did I do this? Why did
I sign this thing? These foolish men talked me into
signing this law into effect. I love Daniel. I loved Daniel,
and yet he found no way. He labored till the going down
of the sun. He labored all day long. Is there
not some way, is there not some way that I can be king, and that
law can be law, and I won't violate the law of the Medes and Persians,
which alters not? Is there not some way, some way
that I can deliver my friends? And he was absolutely powerless
to manifest his love and his mercy toward Daniel, and still
enforce his law. And God, that's not a picture
of our God, because he's able. He's able to deliver. Now then,
how is Darius then a type of the Heavenly Father? How is he
a picture of our Heavenly Father? Well, in the first place, only
the King can make laws. Every holy law comes from God. It's like the sun giving forth
its rays of light and warmth and life. And God's law comes
from the very person and character of our God. His holiness shines
forth in every word that he speaks. His holiness in every law, in
every commandment, in every word. Grace pours from his lips. All
that God speaks. And the law is not in effect
until it comes from the King, until it's signed by the King.
Secondly, this is church. Darius is a type of the Heavenly
Father. Secondly, once the law is signed
by the King, it cannot be changed. I wish the whole world could
hear me say tonight, God in his holiness, God in his righteousness,
God in his truth, God in his immaculate holiness cannot change. His law cannot change. It alters not. It changes not. The scripture says, Cursed is
everyone that continueth not in all things written in the
book of the law to do them, because the law cannot change. God's
law is perfect, and if God changed his law, it would be an admission
of imperfection somewhere. And then thirdly, in this sense,
Darius is a type of the Father, the law is given to the King,
it's in effect, it cannot be changed. God's law cannot be
changed. Thirdly, the offender has got
to die. The soul that's in it, the scripture
says, shall Surely it does. Sin, when it is punished, brings
forth death. There is no way around it. The
offender has got to be slain. He has got to die. God will by
no means clear the guilty. Is that right? He can't do it. In another way, Darius is
like the Heavenly Father. He labored to deliver Daniel. And I'm saying this, that God
in his eternal purpose, long before this, here's one thing,
another way that Darius is not like the Heavenly Father, Darius
didn't foresee this problem before it occurred. He had to wait until
it occurred, then be confronted with it. Not so God. Before the
foundation of the world. Our God knew that this problem
would be a problem, that man would fall and would need a Savior,
and that his love and mercy would need expression. And so this
whole thing, you talk about Darius walking up and down, laboring
to the going down of the sun, and all night he didn't sleep
a wink, trying to determine or discover some way, some way to
relieve his friend, to deliver his friend. But this situation
of our redemption, Christ said, you're my friends. I call you
not servants, I call you friends. He loved us. Darius loved Daniel,
but his love for Daniel was nothing compared to my Lord's love for
us. He loved us with an unchanging love, with an infinite love,
with an immutable, eternal love. And before the world began, here's
the story. Now, here's the story in Daniel
6. The law was signed, settled, unchanging. Daniel broke the
law. No question whether the law was
just run just. He still broke it. He broke the law. Thirdly,
Daniel must die. Is that right? He must die. The
law can't be changed. He's an offender. He's guilty.
He's got to die. Fourthly, the king loved Daniel,
and his heart was set to deliver him, but he couldn't find a way.
Here is the very situation which gave birth to the gospel right
here. Can you get the gospel out of this? This is the very
situation that gave birth to the gospel. God's holy law is
perfect, unchanging, established by the decree of God. You and
I have broken that law. Right? We have sinned and broken
that law. We must die. Now, you just face
it. You can talk about joining the
Church and becoming baptized and accepting Jesus. You can
do anything you want to do, and you're not changing the fact
that somebody is going to die for what we've done. Sin, when
it's finished, brings forth death. God cannot clear the guilty and
be God. Now, you can face it. But God
will have his sheep. God will deliver his friends.
God will deliver the ones upon whom he has set his love. And
I can't picture or paraphrase all that took place back yonder
in the Council Halls of Eternity when this was dealt with as clear
and real as it's dealt with right now. But I do know that God's
character and God's attributes were in direct confrontation
over this sinner. That's right, before the world
began, before the problem was present, before the problem was
faced, Almighty God's character and attributes in eternity past
were in direct confrontation over sinners. First of all, God's
holiness speaks, and God's holiness says, these sinners are guilty. They have been tried before God's
holy law, and there isn't one single law they haven't violated,
not one single law. You talk about guilty. Here's a man brought before the
judge, and the judge and the jury and the lawyers and the
people quibble over the extent of his guilt. That's not us.
We busted every one of them. We've trod them under our feet.
We've walked under our feet. The holy law of God to offend
in one point is to be guilty of the whole law of God. We've
sinned and come short of the glory of God in every aspect. And holiness says they're guilty.
There's none that are not guilty. And justice stands and speaks,
and justice, God's justice says, then they must die. Then they
must die. Guilty sinners must die. The
Word says that the Cursed is everyone that continueth not
in all things written in the book of the law to do them. It's
terrible. Deliver them all to the going
down into the pit. But God's love speaks. And I'll
tell you this, God's love is as prominent in the character
of God as his holiness. There's no attribute of God that
gives way to any other attribute as far as importance is concerned.
God is love. God is holy, but God is love. And love is not a lesser attribute.
Now, I know it isn't. God is best described by holiness,
but what's wrong with saying God is love? And love stands
and says, I want him free. I want the sinner free. I want
to express to him compassion and affection. I want him forgiven. Mercy stands and says, let him
go. Mercy! Let them go! Let them all go!"
And truth and righteousness stands and says, it cannot be. It cannot
be. I've heard holiness speak, and
holiness has brought the just charge against every sinner.
And I've heard justice speak, and justice is spoken truthfully. The soul that sinneth, it shall
die. And Lord, I've heard your expression, and I've heard your
petition, and I've heard your plea, but it cannot be. It cannot
be. The very character of God Almighty
is at stake. It cannot be that one sinner
who has offended a holy God can be set free. They must all die. Truth and righteousness has declared
it. They must die. But wisdom speaks. Wisdom stands. God Almighty's wisdom The cross
of Christ reveals the wisdom of God. And wisdom stands and
wisdom says, may I speak. And wisdom turns and says, oh
holiness and justice, I will be heard. Oh love and mercy,
I will be heard. Perhaps there is a place where
justice and love can meet. and both be satisfied. Perhaps
there is a place where justice and holiness and mercy and love
can meet and both be satisfied. If a substitute can be found,
if one who is willing, one who is able, can be found who will
stand in the place of all of God's elect, Holiness, will you
be satisfied? Truth, will you be satisfied?
Justice, will you be satisfied? But truth says, he'll have to
be a man. He'll have to be a man, because
the law is binding upon men. It's required of men that they
keep God's law. It's men that have broken God's
law, and it's men that must obey God's law. The law is binding upon men,
so if this substitute is found, wisdom, if you find a substitute,
I'm saying this, that he must be a man and he must not be a
part of Adam's race in the sense that he takes his blood and nature
from Adam. Righteousness stands and says,
yes, and he must be a perfect man. He must be a perfect man. He cannot offend in one point. There must not be found in him
any guile. And holiness says he must keep
the law perfectly. Not one stain or spot or mark
shall be against him in word, thought, or deed. And justice
stands and says, well, if you find such a man who is perfect
and holy and harmless and undefiled and separate from sinners, If
you find such a man who can fulfill perfectly the holy law of God,
if you find such a man who can be born without being identified
with Adam in his nature, and he can keep that law perfectly
in every jot and tittle, at the end of his life he'll still have
to die. Because every claim and crime
must be laid on him. And love stands and says, well,
he'll have to be willing He cannot be a reluctant redeemer. He'll have to be willing. He'll
have to be willing to be numbered with the transgressors. God must
be just and justifier, holy and righteous. And they all begin
to talk. They all begin to say, where
can such a one be found? Where can such a one be found
who can love God with all his heart, mind, soul, and strength?
Where can such a one be found who can love his enemies as himself? Who can be God to satisfy and
man to suffer? Who can die and yet live? Who can come to this earth and
never leave the bosom of the Father? Who is holy, harmless,
undefiled, separate from sinners, and yet numbered with the transgressors?
Who can be in the form of God, equal with God, and yet make
himself of no reputation? Who can meet every jot and tittle
of the holy Lord God, nor entertain one thought of sin all the days
of his life? Who can take the full force of
God's wrath and justice for all the sins of all his people, and
come away victorious, satisfying that justice? Who can be buried
and walk out of the tomb under his own power? Who can ascend to heaven and
be invited by the Heavenly Father to sit at his right hand as the
forerunner of a chosen people? Who can do it? Where can he be
found? Turn to Revelation 5, and I'll
show him to you. Revelation 5, verse 1. Revelation 5-1, I saw in the
right hand of him that sat on the throne a book, written with
the N on the backside, sealed with seven seals. This is the
book of God's purpose. This is the book of God's decree.
This is the book of God's grace. This is the book of life. This
is the book with God in which all the purposes of God in regard
to his love and mercy, grace and justice, righteousness and
holiness is written, right here in this hand. And I saw a strong
angel proclaiming with a loud voice, who is worthy to open
this book and to loose the seals thereof and to allow God's justice
and holiness, God's love and mercy to be revealed and manifested
Who's worthy? And no man, no man, no man in
heaven or earth or under the earth, no man of any age, time,
or generation, nobody, no being, no angel was able to open the
book either to look thereon. And I wept much. And my friends,
Here it is, here's the gospel. Now this awesome, profound revelation
of God Almighty's purpose is right here. And I'll tell you,
I weep much over all the plans and All the waves of salvation
and all these things are there for the Catholics and the Baptists
and the Mormons and all the rest I'm devising and coming up with
in order to get you to heaven. It's no man, no way, no recipe,
no plan. Forget it. There's no way. Nobody. You're not going to open that
book. You're not even going to look on it. No man in heaven,
earth, or hell. And I wept much because no man
was found worthy To fulfill all this, who could love God with
all his heart? No man. Neither to look their
own. One of the elders said to me,
one of the elders, one of God's preachers, don't weep, behold
the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Who's that? That's Christ Jesus. The Lion of the tribe of Judah.
That's David's son. That's the root of David. He
hath prevailed. to open the book, not only to
look on it, but to open it, and not only to open it, but to loose
the seven seals. And lo, I beheld, and lo, in
the midst of the throne, and of the four beasts, in the midst
of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain. John the Baptist
said, There he is, the Lamb of God. And I say to you tonight,
look to Christ. He is the Lamb of God. He is
a Lamb as it had been slain. A lamb as it had been slain,
having seven horns, the perfect power of God, omnipotent, seven
eyes, omniscient, omnipresent, knows and sees all things, the
seven spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. And he came,
good my soul, he came. He took upon himself willingly.
He said, nobody takes my life away. He came to this earth.
And he took that book out of the right hand of him that sat
on the throne. He took it and he fulfilled every
jot and tittle. And I'll tell you this, Allen
Rowe, he's precious to those who see that. He's precious.
There's my Savior. There's my Redeemer. There's
the one who enabled God to be just and justify, righteous and
merciful, truth and love. And I tell you, turn to Psalm
85, verse 10, and you just put a big circle around this scripture
right here. And if anybody asks you what
it means, sometimes you say to them, I know what it means. I know what it means. Verse 10,
I know what it means. I didn't used to know what this
meant, but I know what it means now. I was in religion, I didn't
know what it meant. I was a preacher and I didn't
know what it meant. I went to preacher school and they turned
me out as a clone, but I didn't know what it meant. But I know
what it means now. Mercy, mercy, pure mercy and uncompromised
truth are met together. Righteousness. pure holy perfection
and peace, grace that kissed each other. Where did that take
place? At Calvary's Cross. And there
we were all perfected. See, so that's our hope. That's
our message. That's our gospel. Isn't that
clear from Daniel 6? Old Uriah walked the floor. God
never walked the floor. Because the answer came from
Him. And yet, He did it in such a way that He's still God. And
I'll tell you this, when we get to glory, we're going to walk
in justly. God's not going to have to bring
anybody in the back door. Everybody's coming in innocent, holy and
perfect because of what Christ did. All right, that's it, Mike. Thank you. Come and lead us in
a song.