Daniel 6:3
“Then the commissioners and satraps began trying to find a ground of accusation against Daniel in regard to government affairs; but they could find no ground of accusation or evidence of corruption, inasmuch as he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption was to be found in him. Then these men said, ‘We will not find any ground of accusation against this Daniel unless we find it against him with regard to the law of his God.’ Then these commissioners and satraps came by agreement to the king and spoke to him as follows: ‘King Darius, live forever! All the commissioners of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the high officials and the governors have consulted together that the king should establish a statute and enforce an injunction that anyone who makes a petition to any god or man besides you, O king, for thirty days, shall be cast into the lions’ den. Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document so that it may not be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be revoked.’ Therefore King Darius signed the document, that is, the injunction. Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously. Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his God. Then they approached and spoke before the king about the king’s injunction, ‘Did you not sign an injunction that any man who makes a petition to any god or man besides you, O king, for thirty days, is to be cast into the lions’ den?’ The king replied, ‘the statement is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be revoked.’ Then they answered and spoke before the king, ‘Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the injunction which you signed, but keeps making his petition three times a day.’ Then, as soon as the king heard this statement, he was deeply distressed and set his mind on delivering Daniel; and even until sunset he kept exerting himself to rescue him. Then these men came by agreement to the king and said to the king, ‘Recognize, O king, that it is the law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or statute which the king establishes may be changed.’ Then the king gave orders, and Daniel was brought in and cast into the lions’ den. The king spoke and said to Daniel, ‘Your God whom you constantly serve will Himself deliver you.’”
Proverbs 1:33
“But he who listens to me shall live securely and will be at ease from the dread of evil.”
How do you relate to Daniel in 21st Century teenage life?
(Personal Answer)
What false idols are you tempted to bow down to, and how do you honor God by not yielding to the temptation?
(Personal Answer)
Daniel 6:19-23
“Then the king arose at dawn, at the break of day, and went in haste to the lions’ den. When he had come near the den to Daniel, he cried out with a troubled voice. The king spoke and said to Daniel, ‘Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you constantly serve, been able to deliver you from the lions?’ Then Daniel spoke to the king, ‘O king, live forever! My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths and they have not harmed me, inasmuch I was found innocent before Him and also toward you, O king, I have committed no crime.’ Then the king was very pleased and gave orders for Daniel to be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den and no injury whatever was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.”
Proverbs 2:1-6
“My son, if you will receive my words and treasure my commandments within you, Make your ear attentive to wisdom, incline your heart to understanding; For if you cry for discernment lift your voice for understanding; If you seek her as silver and search for her as for hidden treasures; They you will discern the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.”
How does Daniel inspire you to live before God?
(Personal Answer)
What is Proverbs saying about achieving such a goal?
“It brought glory to God, because it allowed God to come through for Daniel. Daniel could have easily submitted to the King’s wishes to eat his food and drink his wine, but he didn’t and God blessed Daniel in appearance. Daniel could have easily submitted to the king’s decree and not prayed to God for 30 days, but he didn’t and God delivered Daniel from the mouth of lions’. It was because of Daniel’s unwavering faith and dedication to the Lord that God used to display His glory in mighty ways.”
Daniel 6:25-27
“Then Darius the king wrote to all the peoples, nations and men of every language who were living in all the land: “May your peace abound! I make a decree that in all the dominion of my kingdom men are to fear and tremble before the God of Daniel;” Proverbs 2:7-22“He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, Guarding the paths of justice, and He preserves the way of His godly ones. Then you will discern righteousness and justice and equity and every good course. For wisdom will enter your heart and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; Discretion will guard you, understanding will watch over you, to deliver you from the way of evil, from the man who speaks perverse things; from those who leave the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness; Who delight in doing evil and rejoice in the perversity of evil; whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways; to deliver you from the strange woman, from the adulteress who flatters with her words; That leaves the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God; for the house sinks down to death and her tracks lead to the dead; None who go to her return again, nor do they reach the paths of life. So you will walk in the way of good men and keep to the paths of righteous. For the upright will live in the land and the blameless will remain in it; but the wicked will be cut off from the land and the treacherous will be uprooted from it. “
How did Daniel’s quest for purity, dedication and unwavering loyalty bring glory to God?
“It brought glory to God, because it allowed God to come through for Daniel. Daniel could have easily submitted to the King’s wishes to eat his food and drink his wine, but he didn’t and God blessed Daniel in appearance. Daniel could have easily submitted to the king’s decree and not prayed to God for 30 days, but he didn’t and God delivered Daniel from the mouth of lions’. It was because of Daniel’s unwavering faith and dedication to the Lord that God used to display His glory in mighty ways.“
How is God using you today to do the same?
(Personal Answer)
How do you want him to use you tomorrow?
(Personal Answer)
APPLICATION:
How do these passages relate to me today? What changes does it bring to my life?
LOCKER ROOM:
What is the most difficult thing you have ever faced? How did you deal with it?
MEMORY VERSE:
Daniel 1:8
“But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s choice food or with the wine which he drank; so he sought permis-sion from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself.”
MY PRAYER
Adoration: Father, today I praise You for…
Confession: Father, please forgive me for…
Thanksgiving: Father, today I’m thankful for…
Supplication: Father, the people and things that I wish to pray for today are…