“Trial by the Beast”

Scripture: Daniel 6:13-28

Last week, we saw how Daniel’s fellow governmental officials became jealous of him, and plotted to rid themselves of the Hebrew. Daniel, in faith, not only continued to trust in his God, but he began to pray even more earnestly and more intentionally. Through it all, he was strengthened by the Spirit of God, and never gave in to the threats of the world.

But today, we see just what the Spirit can do for a faithful person, when they are willing to put it all on the line for Almighty God.

Read Daniel 6:13-16

It would seem that Daniel’s faith had finally sold him down the creek, and there wasn’t a single paddle in sight! Or was there? The Holy Spirit is always present but seldom in an obvious way. It comes in faith, and it works in faith, and no matter what the world or the church may think, no one can influence it one way or the other. It is who it is, and it does what it does.
But what it does is purely a matter of bringing glory to Almighty God. It isn’t to make our lives easier, and it isn’t to make the world’s lives more difficult – it is, through the faith and righteousness of God’s people, a demonstration of Divine power and holy grace. And we are never quite sure of when or how he will appear, but we do know that it always involves a step in faith by us before he can begin.

The American novelist Peter Matthiessen writes:
Explore the road of life. You may discover all sorts of bears and lions on the road, but the lions never get out of the road of the person who waits to see the way clear before starting to walk.
- Peter Matthiessen The Snow Leopard (New York: Viking Press, 1978)

The Spirit will never begin to clear our way until we start the journey, trusting that we are on his path and in his way.

The lions in Daniel’s case were those who were opposing him – not the king, and certainly not the beast – it was the other officials. The king had been duped by his administrators, and now was simply following the law of the land. Even Jesus told us that we are to “give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” (Matthew 22: 15-22, etal), and Darius seems to be doing both. He even offers a prayer to God on Daniel’s behalf, which might very well have caused the other officials some major concern! They had tricked him into setting himself up as a “most high god”, and now it might appear that he was reversing his belief!

Could the Spirit be working in Darius’ life too?

Read Daniel 6:17-22

“Has your God saved you?” The king’s words are more of a plea than a simple question! It actually implies the answer that Darius wanted – that God has, indeed, kept Daniel safe. But it also suggests that a lot of doubt continued to cloud the king’s heart and mind. He wanted God to rescue Daniel, but he wasn’t all that sure that he would or could! But he would soon discover that Daniel’s God had a power beyond anything that he could develop or even imagine.

And so, we come to the first understanding as to whom the Trial of the Beast was for. It wasn’t for Daniel, as his faith never faltered, his trust in God never wavered, and he never doubted that the Lord would be with him no matter what happened. Remember the 3 young men in the fiery furnace? They told Nebuchadnezzar that their God could save them from the fire, but that even if he didn’t, he was still their God and that the idol of gold wasn’t! (Daniel 3:16-18) That was the same faith that Daniel was exhibiting.
Daniel wasn’t on trial – the trial was for Darius. Darius had liked Daniel, and knew what he had been doing to make the kingdom great. Daniel had never caused him any concern, never cheated him of wealth or prestige or power, never used his position to make himself appear exceptional or better than others, and never used it to demean any other official or person.
Daniel was a great benefit to the king, and when he finally realized the predicament that he had forced his favored subject into, he turned to the only power that he thought might be able to save the day – Daniel’s Almighty and Glorious Jehovah! It wasn’t in a personal faith that made him do this, but rather in the faith that he had witnessed in Daniel.
Darius was tried by the peril of the beast, and, I believe, was found worthy.

Read Daniel 6:23-28

No charring or even the smell of smoke on the clothes of the 3 young men (Daniel 3:26-27), and not a scratch on Daniel. Now that was a mighty powerful force that working in and for them, wasn’t it! And the proof of God’s power and wisdom wasn’t lost on Darius – the very sentence that the others had tried to have imposed on their intended victim was turned around and pronounced on them and their families.

Which brings us to the second understanding of who the trial was for. It certainly wasn’t the lion (!), and Daniel was vindicated by God’s salvation – the trial was for those who had falsely accused this man of God. They had opposed Daniel simply because he was sitting in a better light with Darius than they were. He was honest, skilled, and faithful to both God and his king, and they weren’t. They had used deceit against the king, and convinced him to issue an edict that would accomplish their means and little else. And Darius would see through their ploy.

The “trial by lion” was not only for Darius, but also for these officials, and they, unlike Darius, were found wanting and unworthy.

Daniel had been kept safe even while he was in the midst of a fury. We may wonder why God didn’t just keep the officials from setting the scheme up in the first place! But if he did, how would that bring such unmistakable glory to him? Why didn’t God give Darius the wisdom to see what they were up to, and then nip their whole plan in the bud? Same answer – where would the glory for God come from?
Daniel had to be placed in a precarious position for the entire night, so that the Lord’s power could be demonstrated in such an incredible and unexpected manner. Was Daniel overjoyed that he would be used by God in this way? Not especially! Remember that when he heard about the edict, he went straight to his room and began praying for the Lord’s help. But he was praying with confidence that the prayers would be answered, he was praying with a faith that was strong and focused, he was praying to his God who he knew in an intimate and holy way. Daniel wasn’t sure how his Lord God Jehovah would respond to his prayers - he just knew that he would.

Isn’t it interesting that God not only kept him safe from the lions, but once the stone was sealed on the lion’s den, the opposing factions no longer had a word to say.

George Bernard Shaw once wrote:
I never thought much of the courage of a lion tamer. Inside the cage, he is at least safe from people.
--George Bernard Shaw

In his faithful obedience to both the Lord and king Darius, Daniel would be safe from all harm – from the lion as well as those who hated him.

How strong is our faith? How focused and intentional and trusting are our prayers? Do we have a relationship with Almighty God that will survive and even grow when we find ourselves facing our own “lions”?

One last thought - remember Daniel’s words from the pit – “My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions.” It wasn’t “an” angel, it wasn’t “one angel” – it was “his” angel. Periodically in scripture, we read the words “the angel of the Lord”. Out of 197 references to “angel” in scripture, I found 52 references to “angel of the Lord” (all but 1 of which was in the Old Testament), and 8 more of “his angel”. Some scholars believe that these references aren’t to the average heavenly being, but to Jesus Himself. Every one of the above references were in a significant situation and not one in which God was simply sending a message to someone.
Are we truly prepared to experience the power of Christ, whether in his presence or in the coming of the Holy Spirit? Do we believe that his power is absolute and perfect, just as the 3 young Hebrew men did, just as Daniel did, just as Peter and John would, just as Paul would, just as countless men and women through the ages have? That is what faith is all about.
It’s not about being fearless – it’s about trusting. It’s not about living perfectly – it’s about receiving the righteousness of God through faith in Christ.

The next time your “lions” begin to growl and roar at you, start praying, just as Daniel did, for God’s help. And leave the means of that help completely up to him. God is faithful and will always give to his faithful. In 1 Corinthians 10:13, we read “And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so you can stand up under it.”

Believe it! The Lord will be with us in all trials, as well as in all victories, and Jehovah Jireh will provide!