Daniel - Lecture 8

Introduction: These transcripts are from Kay Arthur's lectures on the old course on Daniel and not the new lecture series circa 2006. They are provided as a service to the body of Christ with the written permission of Precept Ministries International. This material is the property of Precept Ministries International and all rights are reserved.

The transcripts are for the most part verbatim with deletions identified by the characters (...). The utilization of italics, bolding, hyperlinks and pop up notes represent editorial additions. Any written additions are identified by the designation "Ed note". All references are the NASB unless otherwise indicated.

Please note that these lectures by Kay Arthur supplement the excellent Precept Upon Precept inductive Bible study on the Daniel. Click on the link below and note that you can download lesson 1 free of charge.

Daniel 1-6 - Part 1 - Living Out a Biblical Worldview
Daniel 7-12 - Part 2 - Gaining Understanding of the Time of the End

Below are links to the excellent Precept study of the Revelation. If you are planning on doing this four part study, I would strongly encourage you to first complete the Daniel study, as knowledge of the prophecies in Daniel is critical to a full understanding of the prophecies in the Revelation. Note that for each part, you may download a PDF of lesson one at no charge.

Revelation 1-3 - Part 1 - Jesus' Message to the Church
Revelation 4-22 - Part 2 - The Unveiling of the Book of Revelation
Revelation 5-22 - Part 3 - What is the Sign of His Coming and the End of the Age?
Revelation 5-22 Part 4 - Interpreting Revelation in the Light of Biblical Prophecy4

If you can find a local Precept class studying Revelation, I would strongly encourage you to join the class, as I know of no other study available anywhere in the world that will equip you so thoroughly to discern the signs of the times and cause you to live expectantly as you look for Christ's Return!

LECTURE 8:
FIX YOUR EYES ON GOD--NOT THE LIONS

by Kay Arthur

Are you being challenged? Do you feel threatened?
Do you feel like you are in a cage of lions and they are about to devour you?

There is ONLY ONE THING FOR YOU TO DO = " FIX YOUR EYES ON THE GOD WHO CONTROLS THE LIONS RATHER THAN ON THE LIONS.

Daniel in the Lion's Den--he knew where to keep his eyes fixed
and since he belonged to God he did not have to compromise.
The key theme is THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD--THE MOST HIGH GOD rules over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes...if He rules over nations can He not rule over men?

THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD OVERRIDES THE PLOTS OF EVIL MEN...evil people may be plotting against you...it may be hard for you in the office where you work...people may be out to get you...they may be jealous of you.
" God overrides the impotence of a king caught in the trap to destroy Daniel.
" God overrides the nature and appetites of hungry lions.

DO VICTORIES LIKE DANIEL IN THE LION'S DEN JUST HAPPEN?

No-they are won on our knees, shut up in our closet w/ God and His word

To be sure the shutting of the lion's mouths was a victory but just as great was the fact that Daniel did not give in to the threats on his life...did not allow his faith to be devoured by the lions.

Convictions are born in your closet on your knees w/ God and innocence is perfected

This is why so many Christians falter under pressure...they have not been on their knees, bc they are not secure in the Word of God and are not convinced God is Who He says He is and is what He says He can do.

Victories come to those constantly serve Him...

Victories come to those who don't take their eyes off of God in the midst of the trial or circumstances.

WHO IS DARIUS? Scholars say there is no such man in historical writings
1). ''Darius'' could be a title (''holder of the scepter'')

2). Darius could have been GUBARU (GOBRYAS) born in 601BC...so he would have been about 62 y.o.

3). Cyrus divided his kingdom into 20 provinces--each province could have been an independent kingdom w/ a king (so 20 kingdoms and 20 kings, one of whom could have been Darius over the province of Babylon).

Whom are you going to believe? The Bible is not wrong!

Cf to Pontius Pilate who had no record prior to the archeological find.

DANIEL 6:3 over the entire kingdom...he would have been 2nd in power

DANIEL 6:4 No negligence--Christians often are negligent in their work, their homes, etc.

All we do should be to the glory of God.

DANIEL 6:7 ''All the commissioners...'' =a lie bc Daniel wasn't there
DANIEL 6:9 The king was caught in his pride's trap & he was himself caught in a snare and later tried to get out...the law of the king could never be revoked bc

1). The oriental culture considered the king's decree DIVINE

2). When a law was made it had to be executed by sunset ( = went into effect immediately ).

Darius was caught in the snare...it is by pride that we come into condemnation of the devil or into the same condemnation that the devil came into (1Tim 3:6)...the devil was created the highest angelic being but was caught in his own pride ( ''I will ascend to heaven..'' see Isaiah 14:12-14 for Satan's list of ''I wills'').

DANIEL 6:10 ''Now when...'' this was no accident.
Windows open toward Jerusalem...nothing was going to keep Daniel from praying...they have daily prayer bells at Precepts...

Daniel could have prayed w/o kneeling...but he would have been saying I fear men more than God.

STORY OF BUSINESSMAN & PROSTITUTE: ''Welcome to the world of AIDS!'' This man reaped what he sowed (Gala 6:8 For the one who sows to his own flesh shall from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit shall from the Spirit reap eternal life.) and feared men >>God. Contrast the story of Ted DeMoss who said ''No''...he kept ''kneeling toward Jerusalem''.

KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE THINGS ETERNAL RATHER THAN THE THINGS TEMPORAL

WHY DANIEL PRAYED TOWARD JERUSALEM:

2Chronicles 6:20 to listen to the prayer which Thy servant shall pray toward this place.''

This is why Daniel has his windows open toward Jerusalem...he knows God will listen to prayer as well as hearing their CRIES of desperate need.
6:20 that Thine eyes may be open toward this house day and night, toward the place of which Thou hast said that Thou wouldst put Thy name there, to listen to the prayer which Thy servant shall pray toward this place.21 "And listen to the supplications of Thy servant and of Thy people Israel, when they pray toward this place; hear Thou from Thy dwelling place, from heaven; hear Thou and forgive.22 "If a man sins against his neighbor, and is made to take an oath, and he comes and takes an oath before Thine altar in this house,23 then hear Thou from heaven and act and judge Thy servants, punishing the wicked by bringing his way on his own head and justifying the righteous by giving him according to his righteousness.24 "And if Thy people Israel are defeated before an enemy, because they have sinned against Thee, and they return to Thee and confess Thy name, and pray and make supplication before Thee in this house,25 then hear Thou from heaven and forgive the sin of Thy people Israel, and bring them back to the land which Thou hast given to them and to their fathers.

Verse 21 ''toward this place'',

v26 ''pray towards this place'',

v29 ''towards this house'',

v32 ''pray towards this city,

v34 ''pray towards this city which Thou hast chosen and the house that I have built,

v38 ''pray toward the land which Thou has chosen.'' Daniel believed God.

Why Daniel did not stop praying?
" He was convinced that God honored prayer even if it cost his life...it saved his life.

First 6 Chapters are Historical and Chronological
Daniel knew that if he would pray toward Jerusalem, then God would bring them back to the land.

KING JEHOSHAPHAT SEEKS THE LORD:
2Chronicles 20:1-13 Jehoshaphat...the same idea as Daniel's prayer toward Jerusalem... v12 "O our God, wilt Thou not judge them? For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on Thee." in the midst of the trial where did Daniel fix his eyes? On the Most High God...so whatever your trial, there is a God in heaven Who hears and answers prayer.

JER 29:1-14
The letter to the exiles; God knows the plans He has for you to give you a future and a hope...God is sovereign so NO ONE can frustrate His plan for you. Be steadfast. Seek Him w/ all your heart.

Jer 29:7 'And seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare. '

Jer 29:10 "For thus says the Lord, 'When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place.11 'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. 12 'Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 'And you will seek Me and find [Me,] when you search for Me with all your heart.

Remember this-God is sovereign...therefore no one can frustrate His plan for you!

Cross-reference Dan 6:12 with Esther 1:19 and 8:8 -laws of the Medes and Persians

You may be in a difficult situation and it looks like the enemy is winning...BUT God is on the throne-put your eyes on heaven and watch the throne.

Innocence comes through the Word of God and on your knees bc the Word of God & Prayer cleanses you and keeps you in right relationship toward God.

Why Did God Deliver Daniel?
Daniel was delivered because he (6:23) ''trusted in his God'' --

Do we really believe the power in prayer?
Cross-reference Dan 6:24=Deut 19:15-21--what they plotted came back on them.

Trials are the platforms on which people see
the SUFFICIENCY of GOD

The POWER of God to deliver (in the fire, through the fire or shutting the mouths of lions)

4C'S IN DANIEL'S LIVE THAT GOD HONORED:

1). COMMITMENT: they tried to destroy Daniel's faith in God, to destroy belief in country, family and self.

Commitment comes because of conviction

2). CONVICTION: Conviction comes from knowing the truth, from knowing God and from being convinced that God means what He says. Conviction helps you hold on to your commitment.

3). COURAGE: be strong and courageous.

4). CONSISTENCY: even his enemies knew he would be consistent.

Circumstances did not alter his relationship with God,

Don't let circumstances in your office, your home, your church, etc. alter your relationship to God, keep you from being consistent, cause you to lose your courage, change your convictions, cause you to waver from your commitment.

Daniel was a man of INTEGRITY-his enemy's knew it, the king knew, and his God knew it.

BY FAITH HE SHUT THE MOUTH OF LIONS
HEB 11:33 who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed [acts of] righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions,...35 Women received [back] their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, in order that they might obtain a better resurrection; 36 and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated 38 (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground. 39 And all these, having GAINED APPROVAL THROUGH THEIR FAITH, did not receive what was promised,

SOMETIMES GOD DOES NOT SHUT THE LION'S MOUTH (cf v 35) but if He does not it is bc He has a higher purpose...men of whom the world was not worthy.

BELIEVE GOD NO MATTER WHAT and DO NOT LET THE WORLD CHANGE YOUR CONVICTIONS BECAUSE OF THEIR THREATS.

HAVE THE COURAGE OF YOUR CONVICTIONS AND WALK IN THEM.
BE STRONG AND BE COURAGEOUS

AND YOU WILL THEN BE RECORDED IN THE HALLS OF FAITH

Hebr 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and [that] He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

Father thank You for Your word. Thank You Father for prayer. Thank You for communicating with us through Your word and for communing with us in prayer. May nothing keep us from our knees. May we know that that is when we are the strongest for it's on our knees that our convictions are born. It's on our knees that we gain our courage. It's on our knees where we remember that You are God and we are man, that you are the God Who is able to shut the lion's mouths or if not Who will go into the lion's den or fiery furnace with us and Who promises He will never leave us or forsake us so that we can say 'I will not fear what man shall do unto me.' Father we thank You for this account of Daniel. Father may we learn from his life and may we become Daniels for the 1990's. In Your Name we pray. Amen.