Persecuted For Doing Right
by Rev. Kirby Williams
Learning from Daniel how to respond to persecution for faithfulness to God.
Text: Daniel 6:1-15
Date: 01/07/2018, the Evening service.
Series: "Daniel: Divine Dominion and Deliverance" Part 15
Description:
As we launch into our fifth and final court story in Daniel, we will see Daniel persecuted by his fellow administrators for doing nothing more than praying to God-- something he had done every day of his 65 years of forced service in the court of pagan kings. When professional jealousy drives them to try and eliminate Daniel, they find there is nothing in Daniel's life they can capitalize on to condemn him. And so they manipulate the king to pass an injunction that will punish Daniel for his devotional life. We will find encouragement in Daniel's faithful refusal to compromise his principles even in the face of horrible consequences. But we will also pay special attention to the modus operandi of the forces of evil, noticing how the enemy has used the same tactics throughout the history of God's people and right up to today. Those who live according to God's standards will sooner or later be persecuted, not for doing wrong-- but for doing right!
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I. Introduction
II. Exposition of the text, Daniel 6:1-15.
A. Context
B. Conspiring to frame Daniel.
1. Jealousy among the leadership, vs. 1-3.
a. Darius the Mede, vs. 1a.
i. The Liberal view.
ii. Darius as an appointed governor.
iii. Darius as Cyrus himself, Dan. 6:28.
b. The satraps, vs. 1b.
c. The three high officials, vs. 2.
d. Daniel rises above, vs. 3.
2. The plot against Daniel, vs. 4-5.
a. Digging for dirt, vs. 4.
b. Switching tactics, vs. 5.
i. Daniel's brilliant witness.
ii. The typical response of the darkness.
3. The chicanery of the satraps and officials, vs. 6-9.
a. The unscrupulous proposal, vs. 6-7.
i. A sycophantic proposal.
ii. A high probability of success.
¥ Stroking the king's ego.
¥ Political expediency.
iii. A risky undertaking.
b. The appeal, vs. 8.
c. The signing, vs. 9.
4. Setting and springing the trap, vs. 10-11.
a. Daniel's powerful witness, vs. 10.
i. Daniel's personal devotions.
ii. Bravely facing the consequences.
b. The sting, vs. 11.
5. Telling the king, vs. 12-13
6. Darius' reaction, vs. 14, Ex. 20:16.
7. Sealing the deal, vs. 15.
III. Application
A. Preparing for persecution.
B. Following Daniel's example, Matt. 16:18.
IV. Conclusion
