Week 18: Extraordinary Spirit > Trustworthy < Law His God
WEEK 18 | Daniel 6:1-5
Day 1 Deeper Daniel Father, open my eyes to see the truth in Your Word that I may know and love you more deeply.
Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord,
your salvation according to your promise;
then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me,
for I trust in your word.
And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,
for my hope is in your rules. Psalm 119:41-43 ESV
Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying,
“Let us burst their bonds apart
and cast away their cords from us.” Psalm 2:1-3
While preparing for Daniel 6, I kept thinking about Psalm 119, so finally I re-read it – all 176 verses -- in one sitting. (Guess what you’re going to do today, amigos!) The whole time I’m thinking, “Daniel could have written this.” It reads like someone yearning for Jerusalem, someone in exile, who is mocked for trusting in the God of the Law. So I did some research. Actually, we do not know who wrote Psalm 119; traditionally, David is credited as the author, but some scholars suggest it was either Ezra, Jeremiah, or...Daniel. It was clearly written by someone of some prestige persecuted by others of rank who sought to accuse him in order to shame or even destroy him (119:23, 78, 85-87, 95, 110, 157, 161). This psalmist did not yield but trusted in the God of the trustworthy Law, his rule of life. Given those characteristics, I think we are safe in at least having Daniel in mind as we read this psalm.
1. Read or listen to Psalm 119. (It’s 15:42 minutes if you listen to Max McLean read it on biblegateway.com).
2. List the reasons why the Law should be your rule of life as you live in a world that rages against the authority of God. The synonyms the author uses for Law include: word, saying, commandment, statute, judgement, precept, testimony, way, path.
3. Get the Word in! The psalmist wrote: “Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord.”
How do you seek the love of God in the Word? In other words, how do you already engage in the Bible as a regular Godward rhythm in your week?
How can you walk more confidently in the love of God while living in a world opposed to Him? In other words, where would you like to gain some skill or strength in the Word (ex. Bible memorization, reading daily, etc.) so that you are prepared to obey Him at all costs?
Prayer – Pray you would keep God’s Word continually, forever and ever, and walk in a wide place (in freedom) having sought His precepts. Pray you would speak His testimonies, even before people with authority, and not be put to shame because you delight in and love His commandments. Lift your hands toward Him whom you love and thank Him for the meditations His Spirit taught you today (Your prayer parallels Psalm 119:44-48).
Days 2-3 Jesus, the Greater DanielFather, open my eyes to see your Son and exalt Him with my life!
Our Daniel 6 Lessons will be structured differently. We want to enjoy preparing our hearts for celebrating Easter together in a few weeks, so before Resurrection Day we are going to review stories of Jesus’ Passion. Each lesson the stories will connect to our Daniel passage and help us answer the question: “How does this passage point to the Person and Work of Christ in some way?” Before we read the Daniel passage of the week, we will have these Jesus’ stories in our minds and then after we work through the Daniel text, we will discuss how Daniel looks forward to the death and resurrection of our Savior.
I will provide background context for each Jesus story, but I will not be asking any questions. Instead you are going to learn a new type of V Word Puzzle for each text. I will give you two title examples and then you will write two. It’s fun, I promise!
How to Read Your Bible – We are going to try a new way for observing a text where you give a unit of ideas (a paragraph or short story, etc.) a title. The boundaries given for the writing of this title help you identify the most important words in the text. These words, then, help you determine the key idea. The boundaries include:
The words in your title must come from the words in the text only.
You can only choose six words (or less) from the text.
You must write the words in the order they occur in the text, but they do not need to form a sentence.
You may use punctuation to communicate ( , . ; ! ? = + -- | / ( ) < > - “ “ ). Get creative with that!
TEST #1 Luke 20:1-8 – On Palm Sunday Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the same day the sacrificial lambs were set aside for the Passover. For four days the lambs would then be “tested” (inspected) for flaws. Jesus, the Lamb whom John the Baptizer prophesied would take away the sins of the world, will now also be inspected four different times by different leader groups. Their hope is to expose a flaw in Him. If they succeed, the people will rise up against Jesus, and they will have a reason to bring Him to trial. In this text, the Sadducees (chief priests) and Pharisees (scribes with elders) are the first team to test Him with a question.
One day, as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders came up 2 and said to him, “Tell us by what authority you do these things, or who it is that gave you this authority.” 3 He answered them, “I also will ask you a question. Now tell me, 4 was the baptism of John from heaven or from man?” 5 And they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’ 6 But if we say, ‘From man,’ all the people will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.” 7 So they answered that they did not know where it came from. 8 And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
Note the bolded words above. Then study one idea for a title for this text on the left and the explanation on the right.
EXAMPLE TITLE #1
Authority? The leaders are questioning Jesus’ authority. That kicks this off.
baptism<<<heaven Jesus answers their question with a question about where John got his authority to baptize.
believe? They know the answer. John’s authority came from heaven. They know they were hypocrites not to believe.
????? Their pride will not let them confess what they know. So they lie and say they do not know.
Neither tell Jesus is not obligated to answer them since they do answer him truthfully. He is clearly the authority.
TEST #2 Matthew 22:15-22 – Matthew’s version of this story names the Pharisees and Herodians as instigators of this second test, but Luke is more direct and refers to their disciples as “spies.” Jesus asked these spies to bring Him a Roman tribute coin. Because this coin bore the image of Caesar whom the Romans considered divine, it was unlawful to use it to pay the temple tax. Only a Jewish shekel was accepted as a temple tax payment. The question posited to Jesus implies that only two choices existed – either a Jew would submit to God or a Jew would submit to government.
Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words. 16 And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone's opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. 17 Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” 18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. 20 And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” 21 They said, “Caesar's.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” 22 When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away. You can try creating your own cross-word puzzle before seeing an example idea on next page.
EXAMPLE TITLE #2 Jesus aware test, “Render Caesar’s ___________|God’s ________”
Remember this an idea. It is not the only way to create a cross-word puzzle for this text.
TEST #3 Matthew 22:23-33 – The Pharisees upheld the entire Old Testament as authoritative. They also believed in the resurrection and would probably have quoted from Daniel 12:2; Isaiah 26:19; or Job 19:25-26, three classic passages on the resurrection, in a debate with the Sadducees who did not believe in the resurrection. In contrast to the Pharisees, the Sadducees based their theology on the Mosaic Law (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) alone. The wise Teacher, therefore, chooses a reference from Exodus to silence the Sadducees: “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God” (3:6). God speaks in the present tense am; on this one word, Jesus passed his third test.
According to the law of levirate marriage, if a married man dies and leaves no children, then his brother should marry the widow. The firstborn child of this union would be considered the deceased brother’s heir and carry on his name. With this law in mind, the Sadducees contrived a scenario to ridicule the doctrine of the resurrection.
The same day Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection, and they asked him a question, 24 saying, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies having no children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother.’ 25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first married and died, and having no offspring left his wife to his brother. 26 So too the second and third, down to the seventh. 27 After them all, the woman died. 28 In the resurrection, therefore, of the seven, whose wife will she be? For they all had her.”
29 But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 31 And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God: 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead, but of the living.” 33 And when the crowd heard it, they were astonished at his teaching.
Underline or circle words you might use. Then use the space below to brainstorm ideas.
Your TITLE for TEST #3 ______________________________________________________________________
TEST #4 Matthew 22:34-40 – The result of Jesus’ first, second, and third test is the same: His interrogators are silenced. This fourth test comes from a scribe, a lawyer whom the Pharisees put forth to pose their question. Like the Sadducees’ question, it also pertains to the law. Jesus answers by citing from Deuteronomy 6:4-5 and from Leviticus 19:18. Jesus concludes His answer with “On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” The Law referred to the 613 commandments in the Mosaic Law. Notice that Jesus gave two commandments instead of the scribe’s requested one. Consider how all the Law depends on these commands to love God and others. Mark concludes this last test with “And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions” (12:34c).
But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
Underline or circle words you might use. Then use the space below to brainstorm ideas.
Your TITLE for TEST #4 ______________________________________________________________________
Days 4-5 Central PassageFather, open my eyes to see the truth in Your Word that I may know and love you more deeply
Historical Context – Scholars have differing opinions about who Darius was. Most agree “Darius” was likely a title or throne name, for this would explain the difficulty in tracing this name in historical documents. Serving more as a governor over Babylon, Darius would a de-facto king under Cyrus the Great ruling a centralized government. The Medes-Persian or Achaemenid Empire was vast, covering an area of 2,100, 000 square miles in parts of Asia, Africa, and Europe. Therefore, it was divided into twenty provinces, each ruled by a king or satrap. Under the Medes-Persians, Babylon was no longer the capital but still a significant province. Babylon, for example, paid the highest taxes and contributed 1,000 silver talents and four months of food for the empire’s soldiers. Darius ruled only the province of Babylon and the 120 satraps he appointed could have governed territories or could have been administrators.
It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps over the kingdom, to be in charge of the whole kingdom, 2 and over them, three commissioners (of whom Daniel was one), so that these satraps would be accountable to them, and that the king would not suffer loss. 3 Then this Daniel began distinguishing himself among the commissioners and satraps because he possessed an extraordinary spirit, and the king intended to appoint him over the entire kingdom. 4 Then the commissioners and satraps began trying to find a ground of accusation against Daniel regarding government affairs; but they could find no ground of accusation or evidence of corruption, because he was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was to be found in him. 5 Then these men said, “We will not find any ground of accusation against this Daniel unless we find it against him regarding the law of his God.” Daniel 6:1-5 NASB
OBSERVE DICTION
Ask: Which words/phrases might provide clues to the author’s message? What do they literally mean?
Ex. satrap > “protectors of the kingdom”
Ex. extraordinary > pre-eminent, surpassing, exceeding. This word has been used before to describe the spirit of Daniel. See Daniel 5:12, 14. It also has described the radiance of the statue in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, the heat of the furnace prepared for SMA after the King was enraged, the greatness added to Nebuchadnezzar after he repented, and it will be used to describe the fourth beast of Daniel 7:7,19.
Ex. negligence > fault
*Underline the word “find” or “found” in Daniel 6:1-5.
OBSERVE DETAILS
Ask and answer simple w-questions: when? where? who? what? how?
Who do the 120 satraps report to?
Who do Daniel and the other commissioners report to?
Who does that person report to?
What/who is the point of this centralized government?
Why is Daniel distinguished among commissioners and satraps?
If Daniel is appointed to be over the entire kingdom, then who would now report to him?
On what ground do the commissioners and satraps initially seek to bring an accusation against Daniel?
Were they able to find any evidence that Daniel was negligent in his duties?
Were they able to find any evidence that Daniel was somehow misusing his power?
What one positive word sums up Daniel’s character?
What is the only ground on which the commissioners and satraps will be able to find an accusation against Daniel?
INTERPRET
Ask: Why did the author choose to include these details and use these words?
1. Re-read verse 5. Why are the commissioners and satraps’ conclusions regarding Daniel true?
2. List as many connection points as you can find between Jesus being tested by Jewish leadership and Daniel’s situation.
3. Reflect on the “cross-word puzzle” title of this lesson: Extraordinary Spirit > Trustworthy < Law His God. Try to answer the questions below in one sentence.
How did the Spirit that rested upon Daniel and the Law of His God make him trustworthy?
Why can trustworthy believers expect to rouse envy either in unbelievers or in believers insecure in the love of God?
These title words are not literally in the stories of Jesus, the Greater Daniel, but how does this title also capture the Person and Work of Jesus? (See Days 2-3.)
How can plotted snares ultimately result in gospel proclamation?
We never observe Daniel or Jesus envying anyone because “love does not envy.” In all circumstances they remain secure in their identity as bondservants to God doing His will from the heart, rendering their service with good will to God while not fearing man (Ephesians 6:5-8). Dr. Rebecca Konyndyk DeYoung defines envy as “feeling bitter when others have it better....It is a profound, self-defeating sorrow over another's success or superiority because that excellence makes the envier feel their own worthlessness or inferiority. Unlike coveting possessions, envy targets a person's qualities, and it acts as an enemy of love.”
Read again Psalm 119:41-43 that heads Day 1. The word steadfast (hesed) is a covenant word meaning “loyal love.” Psalm 119 speaks of God’s steadfast love for us and how His love and law can keep us faithful in all circumstances when we yield to them. Proverbs 20:6 says, “Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find?”
Again and again, we have learned in Daniel that God rules all and His rule is absolutely trustworthy. Our application for the next six week is to plan for His rule in our lives and then to live our plan over the summer as a way to enjoy God’s hesed to us and our hesedto Him. Plans are good for they keep us accountable to using our time wisely as we discussed last week. But before we consider our Rule of Life, we are going to prepare by focusing on the jealous love of our God.
APPLY – The Lord’s very name is Jealous (Exodus 34:14).
The Cry of the Soul by Dan B. Allender and Tremper Longman III explores how our emotions reveal our deepest questions about God. Each emotion has chapters organized in pairs: How man manifests this emotion unrighteously/ How God manifests this emotion righteously. This lesson we are focusing on God’s righteous jealousy to ground us in our relationship with Him. Before answering each question, reflect on the quote(s) from these authors.
“Jealousy is a desire to protect our beloved possession from alien suitors....God has the right to possess and protect....
God protects what He owns. He owns everything and everyone, including us, because He created us and sustains us.”
1. How does God’s possession and protection of you speak to your worth in Christ? If your heart is shrinking against the truth that you possess worth in Christ, read Ephesians 1.
Even knowing this truth, where do you fear God has abandoned you? Confess your fears to God and ask Him to help you to trust His Word, His banner of love over you.
“This adulterous rejection of divine intimacy incenses God; it provokes profound jealousy. Even more, it draws forth in God deep anguish.” (The authors reference Jeremiah 31:20; Luke 13:34.)
2. Reflect on the idea of rejecting “divine intimacy.” Pray to God right now. Ask Him to show you when, where, how, and why you reject an intimate relationship with Him.
“His jealousy is our shield; it is our promise of eternal protection and passionate exclusivity. It is our confidence that the divine Lover will win His bride.” (See Revelation 22:17.)
3. Praise God that He will complete what He has started in you. He is your inheritance and you are His.
Triads & Quads Time – Get together with your prayer partners.
Directions – Share with your group one way you will apply what you learned. Then each person will pray for the person to their right to be faithful in their application and each person will pray for one of our church petitions below:
Prayer
Pray for our spiritual growth that the Lord would help us to trust His jealous love for us and to yield our heart to His rule. Ask Him to strengthen us to seek Him daily and stand firm in steadfast love.
Pray for our people to love the lost and stir them to invite those who do not know Christ to come hear the good news on Easter Sunday. Pray the Holy Spirit would awaken the lost in our city and give them a desire to come on Easter Sunday with ears to hear the gospel.
Pray for the missionary your group adopted that God would provide all that is needed for them to be faithful to their calling and that He would ignite the Word they speak and live before those who need His salvation.
Pray for believers facing persecution around the world that God would protect them. Ask God to shield underground churches and secret meetings and keep His people safe from harm, violence, and arrest. Pray for God to be mightily present with those in chains and to help them bring glory to Him before their enemies. Petition our Father to grant the release of these brothers and sisters.
God’s joy & strength to you!