DANIEL SIMPLIFIED
CHAPTER 6.10
Gleanings
from the Book of Daniel:
A
Weekly Verse-by-Verse Bible Study Series
DANIEL
Chapter
Six
Daniel in the Lion’s Den
Introduction
More
people are familiar with the sixth chapter of Daniel than any other. Throwing
Daniel to the Lions accentuates not only his faith and spiritual character but
also his devotion to the Most High God.
Because
of his integrity and abilities, Daniel had been promoted by King Darius to
chief over the other two presidents, and 120 satraps or governors of the newly
acquired kingdom of Babylon. Overcome by jealousy, the subordinate noblemen
plotted to unseat Daniel from his position of power. They
requested the King to issue a thirty-day decree to pay homage to him in place
of other gods.
After
the irrevocable ordinance was signed, it became illegal to pray to any god,
save the King. Failure to do so would result in a death sentence, being thrown
into a pit of lions. The narrative continues…
1. The Promotion of
Daniel (Vv. 1-3)
2. The Plot against
Daniel (Vv. 4-9)
3. The Prayer of
Daniel (Vv. 10-11)
(Verse 10)
Now when Daniel knew that the writing was
signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber
toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and
gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
After Daniel heard of
the proclamation, despite the command prohibiting prayer to any other god, he
went to the upper room of his house for his customary daily devotions.
The tenth verse has a
great deal of information concerning Daniel’s private life. It was in the upper
chambers of his house; Daniel exhibited his godly character. Upon hearing the
news of Darius’ proclamation prohibiting prayer, notice Daniel's customary actions:
1. Daniel prayed in his
house
2. Daniel prayed in his
upper prayer room
3. Daniel prayed on his
knees
4. Daniel prayed to face
Jerusalem with his windows open
5. Daniel prayed to his
God
6. Daniel prayed giving
thanks to his God
7. Daniel prayed routinely
three times a day
The Upper Room
Upper rooms were
common lofts, chambers, or luxury areas for the wealthy. Normally the rooms
were large and had high latticed windows. Upper rooms also became a necessity
in Near Eastern cities where houses were small and cramped together.
Existing usually on
the second floor, sometimes on rooftops of houses, upper rooms served several
purposes:
1. They served as guest
rooms
2. They served as dining
rooms
a. Jesus ate the last Passover
with His disciples (cf. Mark 14:14; Luke 22:11-13)
3. They served as prayer
rooms
a. The disciples prayed in
one accord while waiting for the Holy Spirit (cf. Acts 1:13-14; 2:1)
b. Peter went to the
mother of John Mark’s house where all were praying for his release from prison
(cf. Acts 12:12-17)
4. They served as women’s
quarters
a. Tabitha was
resurrected by Peter (Acts 9:36 ff.)
5. They served as gathering
places for fellowship
a. Paul preached a sermon
until midnight (cf. Acts 20:7-12)
6. They served as rooms
for private matters
a. After the departure of
Judas Iscariot, Jesus spoke privately to His disciples of the things which must
come to pass (cf. John 13:31 ff.)
7. They served as rooms
for leisure activities
He went into his house; and his windows being
open in his chamber toward Jerusalem
Windows
Houses had latticework over their
windows to allow for ventilation in the hot climate. The windows were usually
small and high in urban homes, however, they were larger and more elaborate in
homes for the wealthy, especially for representatives of the government. For
the Jews, open windows facing Jerusalem were likewise symbolic of the hope of
one day returning to the city of God.
Facing Jerusalem
The Holy of Holies in the Temple was
where the presence of God once resided, for
the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD (cf. 1 Kings
8:10-11). But the glory cloud departed before the fall of Jerusalem in 587
B.C. (cf. Ezekiel 11:23). Even though the city was destroyed, it continued to
remain the theocratic center of the earth.
Facing Jerusalem when praying was
observed based on God's promise to return to the land and rebuild after the
captivity (cf. Jeremiah 29:10-14; Ezekiel 11:23). Synagogues are also built to
face Jerusalem, derived from their longing to return.
King Solomon set this precedent
when his army went into battle:
1
Kings 8:44 - If Thy people go out to battle against their enemy,
whithersoever Thou shalt send them, and shall pray unto the LORD toward the city which Thou hast
chosen, and toward the
house that I have built for Thy Name.
Solomon’s word prescribed their worship
in captivity:
2
Chronicles 6:38-29a - If they return to Thee with all their heart and with all
their soul in the land of their captivity, whither they have
carried them captives, and pray toward their land, which Thou gavest unto their fathers, and toward the City which Thou hast
chosen, and toward the house which I have built for Thy Name: Then hear Thou
from the heavens, even from
Thy dwelling place.
David previously followed this practice.
Three Psalms verify his commitment:
Psalm
5:7 – But as for me, I will come into Thy house in the multitude
of Thy mercy: and in
thy fear will I worship toward Thy holy Temple.
Psalm
28:2 – Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto Thee, when I lift up my hands
toward Thy holy oracle (place, sanctuary).
Psalm
138:2 - I will worship
toward Thy holy Temple, and praise Thy name for Thy lovingkindness and for Thy
truth: for Thou hast magnified Thy Word above all Thy Name.
This custom, initially adopted by King
Solomon continued until the new instruction by Jesus Christ to the Samaritan
woman, i.e., to worship the Father in
spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him (cf. John
4:20-24).
He kneeled upon his knees three times a day
Kneeling in Prayer
Kneeling was a common posture for
prayer. King Solomon had given this procedure for the dedicatory prayers of the
Temple.
Daniel’s discipline was habitual. His
physical attitude matched his spiritual attitude. When he approached God, he
had a perspective of humility. Daniel knelt on his knees.
Jesus kneeled in prayer, but it is only
mentioned one time in the Bible. Before His Crucifixion, He knelt to pray in
the Garden of Gethsemane:
Luke
22:41 - And He was withdrawn
from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed.
When Paul prayed for the Ephesians, he
too knelt in prayer:
Ephesians
3:14 - For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
Three times a Day
Faithfulness in prayer characterized Daniel's
life. Even though he prayed three times a day, it was not required. However, each
individual was committed to praying to God daily.
David practiced this as evidenced in
his prayer life:
Psalm
55:16-17 - As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall
save me. Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice.
However, Ezra officially established
praying three times a day when the Jews returned to their homeland. Rabbis
later made the practice to coincide with the Temple’s daily sacrifices
(morning, afternoon, and evening). This manner was continued by the Apostles,
and the early Christians (cf. Acts 2:15; 3:1; 10:9).
Times of sacrifice and prayer were undertaken
in the morning, afternoon, and evening. The morning would have been the third
hour (9 am), the sixth hour (noon), and the ninth hour (3 pm).
[He] prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as
he did aforetime
Daniel’s Prayer Life
Daniel had a deep
devotion and reverence toward God, and he exhibited that in his prayer life. As
a prayer warrior, he was disciplined, habitual, and consistent. Despite Darius'
command, Daniel continued to worship God in thanksgiving. Most likely he remembered:
Psalm 118:28 – Thou art my God, and I will praise Thee: thou art my God, I will exalt Thee.
And essentially, Daniel
adhered to Paul's principle:
1 Thessalonians 5:18 - In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of
God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
(Verse 11)
Then these men assembled, and found Daniel
praying and making supplication before his God.
These hostile officials wasted no time.
The word assembled connotes the idea
of thronging tumultuously toward Daniel’s house. Thus, they observed Daniel
praying at his window. The context indicates his adversaries had previously
known of Daniel’s habit. So, the entire plot was premeditated.
Examine the drama that plays out when
Daniel’s opponents accuse him before the King. The next study assures his execution
– The Lion’s Den.
QUESTIONS:
1. Where did Daniel pray?
2. When did Daniel pray?
3. How often did Daniel pray?
4. What was unique about Daniel’s prayer
habits?
5. Why did Daniel face Jerusalem when
praying?
6. How long had Daniel been praying to his
God?
7. What was the motive of Daniel’s
adversaries?
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