(Daniel 6:1-16) “It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom a hundred and twenty satraps, who should be throughout the whole kingdom; and over them three.

• (Daniel 6:1-16) “It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom a hundred and twenty satraps, who should be throughout the whole kingdom; and over them three presidents, of whom Daniel was one; that these satraps might give account unto them, and that the king should have no damage. Then this Daniel was distinguished above the presidents and the satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. Then the presidents and the satraps sought to find occasion against Daniel as touching the kingdom; but they could find no occasion nor fault, forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him…

• …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. Then these presidents and satraps assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever. All the presidents of the kingdom, the deputies and the satraps, the counsellors and the governors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a strong interdict, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any god or man for thirty days, save of you, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. Now, O king, establish the interdict, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which alters not…

• …Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the interdict. And when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house (now his windows were open in his chamber toward Jerusalem) and he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. Then these men assembled together, and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his God. Then they came near, and spoke before the king concerning the king's interdict: Have you not signed an interdict, that every man that shall make petition unto any god or man within thirty days, save unto you, 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 alters not…

• …Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, who is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regards not you, O king, nor the interdict that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day. Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to rescue him. Then these men assembled together unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians, that no interdict nor statute which the king establishes may be changed. Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spoke and said unto Daniel, Your God whom you serve continually, he will deliver you.”

A Lesson from the life of Daniel

Noah and the…

David and…

The patience of…

The destruction of Sodom and…

Daniel and the…

I. Darius’ search for integrity

• Let’s turn our attention to what happened before Daniel was fed to the lions– (Dan. 6:1) “It pleased Darius to set over the

kingdom a hundred and twenty satraps, who should be throughout the whole kingdom”

– (v. 2) “and over them three presidents, of whom Daniel was one; that these satraps might give account unto them, and that the king should have no damage.”

Darius’ search for integrity

• The presidents were responsible for the activity of the overseers– (v. 2) “and over them three presidents, of whom Daniel

was one; that these satraps might give account unto them, and that the king should have no damage.”

– (v. 3) “Then this Daniel was distinguished above the presidents and the satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.”

• Note Daniel’s integrity in v. 3 very carefully

Darius’ search for integrity

• The presidents were responsible for the activity of the overseers– (v. 2) “and over them three presidents, of whom Daniel

was one; that these satraps might give account unto them, and that the king should have no damage.”

– (v. 3) “Then this Daniel was distinguished above the presidents and the satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.”

• Note Daniel’s integrity in v. 3 very carefully

II. Daniel’s integrity— the marks of godliness

• An excellent attitude– (v. 4) “Then the presidents and the satraps

sought to find occasion against Daniel as touching the kingdom; but they could find no occasion nor fault, forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.”

II. Daniel’s integrity— the marks of godliness

• An excellent attitude– (v. 4) “Then the presidents and the satraps

sought to find occasion against Daniel as touching the kingdom; but they could find no occasion nor fault, forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.”

Daniel’s integrity— the marks of godliness

• Faithful in his work– (Prov. 20:6) “Most men will proclaim every

one his own kindness; But a faithful man who can find?”

– (v. 7) “A righteous man that walks in his integrity, Blessed are his children after him.”

Daniel’s integrity— the marks of godliness

• Personal purity– (v. 4) “Then the presidents and the satraps

sought to find occasion against Daniel as touching the kingdom; but they could find no occasion nor fault, forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.”

Daniel’s integrity— the marks of godliness

• Personal purity– (6:5) “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.”

Daniel’s integrity— the marks of godliness

(6:6) “Then these presidents and satraps assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever.”

Daniel’s integrity— the marks of godliness

• Personal purity– (6:7) “All the presidents of the kingdom, the deputies

and the satraps, the counsellors and the governors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a strong interdict, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any god or man for thirty days, save of you, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.”

– (v. 10) “And when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house (now his windows were open in his chamber toward Jerusalem) and he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.”

Daniel’s integrity— the marks of godliness

• Consistent walk with God– (v. 10) “And when Daniel knew that the writing

was signed, he went into his house (now his windows were open in his chamber toward Jerusalem) and he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.”

Daniel’s integrity— the marks of godliness

• Consistent walk with God– (v. 10) “And when Daniel knew that the writing

was signed, he went into his house (now his windows were open in his chamber toward Jerusalem) and he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.”

Daniel’s integrity— the marks of godliness

• Consistent walk with God– (Psalm 55:17) “Evening, and morning, and at

noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.”

III. How to develop integrity

• Let’s review the marks of Daniel’s godliness– Excellent attitude– Faithful at work– Personal purity– Consistent walk with God– (6:11) “Then these men assembled together,

and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his God.”

III. How to develop integrity

• Let’s review the marks of Daniel’s godliness– Excellent attitude– Faithful at work– Personal purity– Consistent walk with God– (6:11) “Then these men assembled together,

and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his God.”

How to develop integrity

Three lessons as we consider Daniel’s life– 1. You will seldom get what you deserve from

people, so don’t expect it– 2. You will always get what is best from God,

so don’t doubt it– 3. Your ability to handle both is directly related

to the consistency of your walk with God

How to develop integrity

• One man’s experience– (Ezekiel 22:30) “And I sought for a man among

them, that should build up the wall, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found none.”

“When you’re faced with a busy day, save precious time by skipping your devotions.”

--Satan

• Have you come to the place in your life where you are not getting what you deserve from people?

• Why should we deprive ourselves of the fullness of life that Christ has promised us?

• If you are not a Christian, why not become one today?

• If you are not committed as a Christian, do whatever is necessary today• Heaven is the goal, if we walk

with the Lord

The Lord’s invitation is simple

“Why do you wait? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” (Acts 22:16)