Who else was sealed in a pit?
(Daniel 6:1-28; 9:1-20) Blog Feb. 02-8, 2020
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
REVIEW: Daniel 1 gives three keys for understanding the book: the key of explanation, the key for interpretation, and the key of operation. In chapter two God revealed future world history using a “1, 2, 3, 4, 10, bang, results” outline. The restoration of God’s kingdom through crisis was prophesied in chapter 2 and illustrated in chapter 3. The story told in chapter 4 illustrates the restoration of God’s king through crisis. In chapter 5 the restoration of God’s sanctuary is foretold by showing the fall of Babylon and the entrance of Cyrus who would order the restoration of God’s sacked sanctuary.
The Plot (Daniel 6:1-9;)
1. Having survived the fall of Babylon, where did Daniel find himself in the kingdom of Darius, the Mede? In a very high government position – one of three presidents just below the king.
2. What did King Darius propose to do with Daniel? Place him over the whole realm.
3. What did the other presidents do when they heard of the king’s idea to promote Daniel? They searched for a way to eliminate Daniel’s influence.
4. When all else failed what plan did the jealous presidents come up with? A plan to catch Daniel on religious grounds by having the king decree that for thirty days no petition could be made to anyone but to himself or be cast into the den of lions.
The Prayer (Daniel 6:10-18; 9:1-20; Matt. 5:17)
5. In the first year of King Darius for what was Daniel praying? He was praying for the forgiveness of sins & the restoration of God’s sanctuary.
6. When Daniel was caught petitioning God for the forgiveness of sins what did his enemies do? They told the king that Daniel had broken his law & reminded him that the law was unchangeable.
7. What other unchangeable Law must be perfectly fulfilled in order for God’s people to be delivered? God’s Ten Commandment Law which Jesus obeyed perfectly for us.
8. When thrown into the den of lions what kept Daniel from being eaten alive? God’s angels, because he was innocent before God & before the king he had done no wrong.
The Deliverance (Daniel 6:19-28; Mark 2:7; 1 Tim. 2:5; Rev. 14:7;)
9. What happened to Daniel’s accusers after Daniel was brought out of the lion’s den? They & their families were thrown into the lion’s den & immediately killed.
10. How does Daniel’s experience picture the experience of God’s people in the last days? There will be a final crisis over legislated worship, followed by a death decree, but God’s sealed people will be delivered while all their enemies will be slain. So Daniel faced a legislated restriction of communion with God, was sealed overnight in the den of lions, was raised triumphant because he was innocent before God in whom he believed, & his enemies were slain.
11. What do King Darius’ words spoken to Daniel early in the morning reveal about how he had spent the previous night? They show that he had been thinking about Daniel’s God, about Daniel’s faithfulness to God, about God’s power, & about his willingness to deliver his servants.
12. Who else was sealed in a pit and joyfully escaped one early morning? Jesus was sealed in Joseph’s tomb & rose again early Sunday morning to the joy of his disciples.
13. What angelic command in Revelation does Darius fulfil in his worldwide proclamation recorded in Daniel 6:25-27? That of Revelation 14:7.
14. What does Jesus’ resurrection represent for his people? Their deliverance from sin & death in the person of their Representative.
15. What does Daniel’s deliverance from the pit of lions represent? The deliverance of God’s captive people in Babylon in the person of their representative.
16. Who is working continuously to prevent the deliverance of God’s people? Satan & his angels.
17. What prophecy in Daniel corresponds to the story of deliverance recorded in chapter six? The prophecy of chapters 10-12.
18. How does God view the transfer of the power to forgive sins from himself to a mere mortal? God view such an act as a desolating abomination (see Daniel 8:10-13)