In our last study we looked at David, and how he trusted in God. Today we’re going to look at another man who put his trust in God and got the same kind of results that David God. This man is treated a little differently in God’s Word than David is treated.

The scriptures call David a man after God’s own heart; but as good as David was, God makes it clear that he wasn’t perfect. David had some dirty laundry in his closet, and God put much of it on display in His Word. David lied, he committed adultery, he had a fellow believer murdered -- and we read about all of this in the Bible. Why did God do this with David’s life? Because He wanted us to understand that God can forgive us of anything if we are willing to come back to him, confess our sins, ask His forgiveness, and forsake our evil ways.

Proverbs 3:5-6.
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

The record of David’s battle with Goliath showed that in order to be a victor in life, you need to trust in the Lord instead of trusting in your own understanding.

We’re going to look at Daniel today. God doesn’t tell us a whole lot about Daniel’s personal life, nor does it tell us about his dirty laundry. That doesn’t mean he didn’t have any. Jesus Christ was the only man who lived without sin.

Daniel 6:1-2.
1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;
2 And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.

The Medes and Persians had conquered Babylon and made it part of their empire. Darius the Mede had taken over as King. Because he had such a large empire to run, he divided it into 120 satrapies, or states, and appointed a satrap, or governor, over each one. Over these he appointed three presidents, and Daniel was the principle president. The King was the final authority in the Empire.

Daniel 6:3.
3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.

Daniel was so outstanding on his job that the King wanted to elevate him even over the other presidents, and make him Chief Executive Officer in the kingdom.

Daniel had people he was accountable to on his job, and he was able to do such a spectacular job because he trusted God in his day to day work. What about you? Do you trust in the Lord with all your heart when you’re on the job? Do you take your job as seriously as Daniel did? Do you seek God’s counsel day by day on the job?

Daniel 6:4.
4 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.

Daniel’s co-workers were not quite as faultless on the job as he was. As we shall see, he had a less than ideal working environment. These men not only didn’t live up to Daniel’s standards of excellence; they were actively trying to sabotage him. They were supposed to be watching his back when it came to the King’s business; instead, his fellow employees were grinning in his face while trying to figure out how to stab him in the back.

How are things on your job? Is it a hotbed of righteousness? If you’re like most of us, the godly are in the minority on your job.

Daniel 6:5.
5 Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.

They couldn’t find anything to accuse Daniel of in relation to his job, so they started looking for something to charge him with in relation to his spiritual life. They were ready to stoop pretty low to get rid of Daniel.

Daniel 6:6-9.
6 Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever.
7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counselors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.
8 Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
9 Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.

Do you see something wrong with this picture? This group is supposed to represent “all” the presidents, governors and princes, but Daniel is nowhere to be seen. They went to the King behind his back.

The King didn’t seem to give this decree much thought. He trusted his advisors, and if it looked like a good idea to them, he was satisfied.

Daniel 6:10.
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.

What did Daniel do when he found out what had happened? Did he go to some of the co-workers who were still loyal to him and complain about what the others had done? Did he go straight to his boss, the King, and complain? No! Daniel went straight to God about this.

Complaining doesn’t get it, folks! Complaining is a way of leaning to your own understanding. Talking to God is trusting in the Lord with all your heart. The door to God’s throne room is always open to you, thanks to Jesus Christ.

Do you notice what else Daniel did? He prayed with his window open. That means anybody outside could see what he was doing. Daniel didn’t care who saw him praying. He didn’t change his daily pattern one single bit. How did he make it to the top? How did he get to be so trustworthy? He did it by trusting in the Lord with his whole heart, and by prayer. Daniel had always prayed this way before, and he was determined to continue walking with God the same way as before. He changed nothing.

Daniel 6:11-13.
11 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.
12 Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king's decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
13 Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.

How did these guys know when to look to catch Daniel praying? They were his co-workers, and they knew all about him. Daniel was determined to do what he had to do, and these men were determined to do what they had to do.

These men were doing their best to paint Daniel in the worst possible light. That’s why they brought up the fact that Daniel was part of the Jewish captivity, and that’s why they accused him of disregarding the King and his word.

Devious people will do this kind of thing to you. If they can’t dig up some dirt on you, they make it up.

Daniel 6:14.
14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.

The King cared a whole lot about Daniel. He went out of his way to try to rescue him. Because Daniel was someone he trusted and relied on, Darius called in all his lawyers and all his wise men, and they worked all day trying to find a way to get Daniel out of this trap; but they couldn’t do it.

Daniel 6:15-16.
15 Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.
16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.

Daniel was in his eighties when this was going on. You don’t really even need lions to kill an eighty year old man. Once you threw him into the lion’s den, if fear didn’t kill him, the fall probably would.

Daniel 6:17-18.
17 And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.
18 Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.

The King couldn’t sleep because his right hand man was in the lion’s den, and it was his fault, because he signed a law without thinking.

But Daniel was in good hands, even in the lion’s den.

Psalm 121:1-3.
1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

We don’t look to the hills for our help, like the pagans used to do. Instead, we look to the Lord.

The devil doesn’t sleep, but neither does our God. God’s got our back when we get into a tight situation sticking our neck out for Him. And I believe His grace covers us even when we’re not sticking our neck out.

Psalm 121:4-8.
4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.
6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
8 The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

When we put our full trust in the Lord, He protects us and directs our path.

Daniel 6:19-20.
19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.
20 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?

The King is thinking, “My favorite servant is gone, and I did this to him.” But something made Darius hold on to how great Daniel’s God was. That was his hope, that Daniel’s God had protected him.

Daniel 6:21-23.
21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.
22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.
23 Then was the king exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.

Where did Daniel’s help come from? Where does your help come from? Daniel was “prayed up” before this situation ever came up. When you find yourself in a tough situation, the key to deliverance is to trust in the Lord, not in yourself.

What got Daniel in trouble? Prayer, and trusting in the Lord with all his heart. What got him out? The same thing.

Don’t count on folks supporting you when you trust God. Sometimes that’s what upsets them.

Daniel trusted in his God, and his God delivered him. Is his God your God?

Daniel 6:24.
24 And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.

Those were some hungry lions! Why didn’t they bother Daniel the way they did these folks? Because God protected him. The one who took care of Daniel and who takes care of you does not sleep. He watches over you now and always.

If someone is plotting against you, the best thing you can do is pray for yourself and them. Trust in the Lord, not in your own strength or wisdom.

Proverbs 3:1-4.
1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

Did God do all this for Daniel? He certainly did, and He’s willing to do it for you, too. All you have to do is put your trust in Him, like Daniel did.

Daniel 6:25-28.
25 Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
26 I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.
27 He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.
28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

Darius was a pagan king, and look at what he said! Why? Because of what God did when Daniel trusted Him.

If you put your trust in God, God’s got your back. Never forget that.

Proverbs 3:5-8.
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

The fear of the Lord was certainly health to Daniel’s navel!

I encourage you each and every day with all your heart to trust in the Lord.