As you probably know, Paige was kept from giving her teaching on Daniel 6 by a broken water main in Nashville that blocked the way to her church. Pretty unusual!
However, even if the enemy successfully stalled or even stopped her teaching, he never wins. Once again, we will do Tim Keller ‘s take on this passage. He said many people have misinterpreted this famous story of Daniel in the Lion’s Den and assumed if they are good, nothing bad will happen to them. So when that proved untrue, they thought God was untrue. That is not the teaching of Daniel 6.
We do have an enemy who brings death, tears and sorrow into our lives. But ultimately, He will be destroyed and there will be no more death, no more tears, and no more sorrow.
Photo courtesy of Pexels Rainu Dipinder
Well may the accuser roar
of sins that I have done
I know them all and thousands more
Jehovah knoweth none
Samuel Gandy
Click Below to Hear Tim Keller’s Podcast from Gospel in Life
https://podcast.gospelinlife.com/e/the-lions-of-god-1631891627/
Do all the green and whatever black you can.
Icebreaker:
Have you been surprised by the fiery trials in your life? Why or why not? If not, share one thing that helped you trust God in those trials.
1. Read Daniel 6:1-10 and share what stands out and why.
Keller says as true believers these things should be true in our lives: salt, hurt, and light. (These can all be seen in the beatitudes of Jesus in Matthew 5)
SALT
2. Listen to Keller up until he gets to his second point about “hurt” and share what stands out to you and why.
3. We are to be the salt of the world, rather than separated from the world. Name ways you see this in Daniel in Daniel 6:3-4.
4. Keller talked about how Christians desire to separate from the world: Christian schools, Christian retirement centers, the best neighborhoods… what are your thoughts on this? In your life, how are you moving into the places that are rotting?
5. Keller talked about how many Christians go into the world (such as New York City) in order to make a name for themselves, which was the motive of those who built the Tower of Babel. Can you think of any ways you have tried to use God for your own advancement rather than His glory?
6. Where was Daniel’s identity and how did he demonstrate his fearlessness of what the world might think?
7. Keller said Daniel had a secular job. What was his point?
HURT: PART I.
8. Listen up to the break, when Gospel in Life gives an ad, and share what stands out and why.
9. What, according to verse 8, was the first trigger to the hostility of the officials? When you are jealous of the blessing, promotion, or success of a sister in Christ, what is your root problem?
10. What did Keller say was the ultimate reason for hostility against Christians? Do you agree or not and why?
HURT: PART II.
11. Listen up to when Keller jokes: Be like Daniel — let’s close in prayer. (He often does that for his point is we can’t live up to the high standard, but we can be strengthened to live better by pointing to and abiding in the ultimate Daniel, the ultimate Moses, the ultimate Esther…) What stands out and why?
12. Why is it that no matter how hard you try to love people in the world you are going to be misunderstood and hurt?
13. Keller says the world equates Christianity with religion rather than the gospel. Take a look at this chart and comment on two differences between religion and the gospel:
LIGHT
14. Read Daniel 6:16-23 and share what stands out and why.
15. Keller said roaring lions in Scripture represent judgment. How do you see this in Isaiah 5:25-29? Then how do you see that one day this will all be changed in Isaiah 11:6-7?
16. Listen to Keller to the end and share what stands out and why?
17. What are some similarities between Daniel and the ultimate Daniel and what are some differences?
18. Why does Darius love Daniel?
19. How can we be both salt (truth) and light (love) at the same time? I’m going to bring up a raging controversy right now about Alistair Begg telling a grandmother to go to the transgender wedding of her grandchild and to take a gift. I’d like to know how in these kind of situations we can be both truth and love? And I’m going out on a limb here, but after you answer, I’d like to share my thoughts which I sent to the podcast I like The World and Everything In It. But share your thoughts first, please.
My thoughts are below:
Listener Feedback Feb. 2024 (1)
128 comments
13. Keller says the world equates Christianity with religion rather than the gospel. Take a look at this chart and comment on two differences between religion and the gospel:
1. I obey, therefore I’m accepted – Religion; I’m accepted therefore I obey – Christianity.
2. My identity lies in my morality and therefore I can look down on others who do not live moral lifestyles – Religion; My identity lies in the One who died for his enemies including me It’s by grace alone, therefore I can’t look down on others who believe something different. I have no inner need to win arguments – Christianity
14. Read Daniel 6:16-23 and share what stands out and why. The King loved Daniel and maybe struggled with the thought that Daniel was innocent, but also could’ve struggled with belief in God. He couldn’t eat or sleep and he hurried the next day to see if God had preserved Daniel. I’m not sure if it was because he cared about Daniel and was hoping he survived or was scared that Daniel’s God is indeed The one and only GOD and he didn’t serve God like Daniel and therefore should fear God. Daniel was salt in a dark community and the king had to have been drawn to it.
15. Keller said roaring lions in Scripture represent judgment. How do you see this in Isaiah 5:25-29? Then how do you see that one day this will all be changed in Isaiah 11:6-7? There is man destroying one another in judgment but in the future the animals and those who normally ravage another will lie down together in peace.
16. Listen to Keller to the end and share what stands out and why? The miracles are restorations of the natural order. In the miracles God is showing us what originally he made the world to be like and he’s going to make it like that again. God works through the weak to shame the strong. Daniel petting the lions with their mouths shut. God is showing us what is in the future. The lion will lay with the lamb and the universe will be restored and there will nothing but harmony and peace. Our bodies will work right, no disease or death. Daniel’s pointing to the new heavens and the new earth.
17. What are some similarities between Daniel and the ultimate Daniel and what are some differences? Daniel trusts God and submits to him. He communes with Him daily throughout the day. He was willing to go into the Lions den fully trusting God. Jesus trusts God and submits to Him. He communes with him daily throughout the day. Jesus was willing to go on the cross fully submitting to God. The differences are that Jesus is God, Daniel is not. Jesus died on the cross for the joy set before Him was us. Daniel wasn’t the ultimate sacrificial lamb for sin. Daniel was living His life in dependance on God but was sinful because he was a human being and not divine. Jesus is Life and lived his life on earth not only dependent on God, but 100% sinless.
18. Why does Darius love Daniel? Daniel showed him immense respect and showed him God’s love via his desire to make the kingdom great. No other man in his kingdom had that in him. Daniel’s work ethic and trust in God brought illumined who God is into Darius’ dark life. He got a taste of God’s unmerited love through Daniel.
20. What is your take-a-way this week and why? And do you have a God hunt?
One question that Keller asked and it has caused me to ponder…
”Why are we so loving that we never offend and why are we so offensive that we aren’t loving ? Why can’t we keep love and truth together?”
Keller’s answer was because we don’t understand the total meaning of the story of Daniel and that is the gospel message. As a Christian in order to answer these questions I need to keep before me what Jesus did for me, He was beaten, spit upon, ridiculed and died for me, a sinner and He arose and is alive today! I am His child, only made righteous because He took my sin upon Himself…as Paige said, “our sins weren’t cancelled, they were transferred…thank You Jesus! People need the Lord and I know I need to balance truth and love, but I can only do it in His strength.
My God hunt…seeing and feeling the love from all you wonderful ladies here…y’all are truly amazing😊❤️!!!!
Such a good question from Keller and such a great God hunt from you, Sharon!
My takeaway:
Th story of Daniel reminded me of the power of faithful commitment to the Lord throughout a lifetime. We are not told how he died and where he was buried. I am presuming he was buried in the place of exile. I think of Abraham in Hebrews 10; Daniel must have felt the same- “For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.”
We can live in this world as exiles but as salt and light, we will get hurt in the process, but we can look forward to the city prepared by God for us.
“This world is not my home; I’m just a -passing through.”
Dee, I just listened to your take on question 19. What I loved about it is you emphasized that we should be one so that the world will know we are His, so we can disagree with one another on issues such as this, but still remain united as one.
Speaking of weights and measures, this verse of the day is fitting: “All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the LORD.” Proverbs 16:2 biblestudytools.com
Oh, that I would always seek God’s ways and not fear man nor rely on myself!