Faith, Law, and Power: Lessons from Daniel

Oct 23, 2014

Devotional

Day 1: Faithfulness Amidst Hostile Laws

Daniel’s unwavering commitment to God, even when laws were enacted to suppress his faith, stands as a powerful example for believers facing increasing societal pressures. When Daniel learned of the decree forbidding prayer to anyone but the king, he continued his daily practice of praying toward Jerusalem, undeterred by the threat of the lion’s den. His integrity and faithfulness were so evident that even his enemies could find no fault in him except in matters concerning his devotion to God. This narrative challenges us to consider how we respond when our faith is tested by external pressures or laws that conflict with God’s commands. [05:37]

Daniel 6:10-11 (ESV)
When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and plea before his God.

Reflection: Is there a situation in your life where you feel pressured to compromise your faith or spiritual practices? What would it look like to remain faithful to God in that area today, regardless of the cost?

Day 2: The Danger of Relativizing Truth

Throughout history, powerful leaders have sought to impose their will and redefine truth, often using law and cultural influence to suppress genuine faith and distort reality. Daniel’s vision of Antiochus Epiphanes, who stopped the daily burnt offering and desecrated the temple, illustrates how power can be wielded to “throw truth to the ground.” This serves as a warning against the subtle and overt ways truth can be compromised in society, reminding us that the greatest trial in history revolved around the question, “What is truth?” and that truth about God’s love and forgiveness cannot be imposed by force but must be embraced from the heart. [39:01]

Daniel 8:11-12 (ESV)
It became great, even as great as the Prince of the host. And the regular burnt offering was taken away from him, and the place of his sanctuary was overthrown. And a host will be given over to it together with the regular burnt offering because of transgression, and it will throw truth to the ground, and it will act and prosper.

Reflection: In what ways are you tempted to compromise or relativize truth in your daily life? How can you intentionally uphold God’s truth in your words and actions today?

Day 3: The Coming Deception and the Call to Spiritual Readiness

Scripture warns of a coming time when deception will be so great that the whole world will be drawn to worship a false power, described as the “beast” or the “man of lawlessness.” This deception will not be easily recognized, and only those deeply rooted in God’s Word will be able to stand firm. The call is urgent: to arm ourselves with the Word of God, the only offensive weapon we have, so that we are not swept away by the prevailing winds of falsehood and spiritual lawlessness. [28:19]

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, 8-10 (ESV)
Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God... And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.

Reflection: What practical steps can you take today to deepen your understanding of God’s Word so that you are prepared to discern truth from deception in a world of increasing spiritual confusion?

Day 4: The Power of Repentance and Returning to God’s Word

Daniel’s heartfelt prayer of confession for his people reveals the devastating consequences of abandoning God’s Word and the transformative power of repentance. Jerusalem lay in ruins not merely because of external enemies, but because God’s people had forsaken Scripture in their hearts long before disaster struck. Daniel’s example calls us to examine our own lives, confess where we have neglected God’s Word, and return to Him with humility and sincerity, trusting in His mercy to restore and renew. [42:52]

Daniel 9:4-6, 8-9 (ESV)
I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession, saying, “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land... To us, O Lord, belongs open shame... because we have sinned against you. To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him.”

Reflection: Is there an area where you have neglected God’s Word or drifted from Him? Take time today to confess this to God and ask Him to renew your heart and desire for His truth.

Day 5: Seeing the Face of God Through His Word

The ultimate purpose of studying Scripture is not merely to gain knowledge, but to encounter the living God and be transformed by His presence. Like Daniel by the river and the disciples on the stormy sea, we are invited to see Jesus standing above the torrent of history, sovereign and unshakable. When we immerse ourselves in God’s Word, the “day star” rises in our hearts, giving us hope, stability, and a vision of Christ that sustains us through every trial. [52:54]

2 Peter 1:19 (ESV)
And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

Reflection: How can you approach your time in Scripture this week with the expectation of truly encountering God, rather than simply fulfilling a duty or gaining information?

Sermon Summary

The story of Daniel in the second half of his book offers a profound meditation on the relationship between faith, law, and power. Daniel, a man of integrity and unwavering devotion, finds himself at the center of a political system that has shifted from the absolute monarchy of Babylon to the rule of law under the Medo-Persians. This change, while seemingly an improvement, introduces a new danger: the use of law itself to suppress the public practice of faith. Daniel’s refusal to compromise his devotion, even when the law is weaponized against him, sets a pattern that echoes throughout history and into our own time.

The visions in Daniel—of beasts, empires, and the succession of world powers—are not merely cryptic prophecies but deep reflections on the nature of human government. Empires are depicted as animals, sometimes with human features, highlighting the tension between instinctual, amoral power and the possibility of humanizing influence. The fourth beast, more terrifying and complex than the rest, points forward to a time when lawlessness and the deification of man will reach their zenith, a theme echoed in the New Testament and Revelation. These are not just metaphors; they are warnings about the real spiritual and societal forces at work in history.

Daniel’s visions also grapple with the question of time—how long suffering and persecution will last. For those who endure discrimination or oppression for their faith, the duration of trial is not a trivial matter. The timetables in Daniel are not arbitrary; they are God’s assurance that suffering has a limit and that ultimate justice will come with the arrival of the Son of Man, who will judge the beastly powers and establish a kingdom of righteousness.

History, as Daniel shows, is repetitive. The abomination committed by Antiochus Epiphanes—stopping the daily sacrifice and desecrating the temple—becomes a prototype for future acts of sacrilege and persecution. The real danger, however, is not only external pressure but the internal abandonment of daily devotion. The call is to examine what stops our own “daily burnt offering”—our living sacrifice to God.

Finally, Daniel’s prayer for Jerusalem and his concern for his people remind us that God’s purposes in history are complex and ongoing. The ultimate hope is not in human government but in the coming of the Son of Man, who stands above the river of history and invites us to know Him personally. The challenge is clear: immerse yourself in the Word of God, not for mere knowledge, but to see the face of God and be equipped to stand firm in a world of deception and shifting powers.

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Key Takeaways

1. The Subtle Danger of Law Used Against Faith Daniel’s experience under Medo-Persian rule reveals that the most insidious threats to faith often come not from overt persecution, but from laws that quietly undermine the public practice of belief. As societies move from laws that reflect God’s standards to “positive law” that can be manipulated, believers must be vigilant and discerning, recognizing when legal changes threaten the freedom to obey God. This calls for a deep awareness of how culture and law interact, and a readiness to stand firm even when obedience to God becomes costly. [05:37]
2. Empires as Beasts: The Nature of Power and Lawlessness The imagery of empires as beasts in Daniel is not just apocalyptic spectacle; it is a profound commentary on the nature of human government. States can act with animal-like instinct, driven by power and survival, yet sometimes display humanizing qualities. The progression to the final, most terrifying beast—marked by intelligence and iron strength—warns of a future where lawlessness and the worship of man reach their peak, echoing the warnings of Paul and Revelation. This challenges us to discern the spiritual realities behind political movements and to resist the deification of human power. [16:18]
3. The Importance of Perseverance and the Question of Time For those enduring persecution or discrimination, the pressing question is always, “How long, O Lord?” Daniel’s visions assure us that God is sovereign over the duration of suffering; the periods of trial are not random but are set by divine wisdom. This perspective gives hope and endurance, reminding us that even when God seems absent, He is working toward a final deliverance and justice. Our task is to persevere, trusting that the Son of Man will ultimately judge evil and vindicate His people. [28:19]
4. The Repetition of History and the Danger of Abandoned Devotion The events surrounding Antiochus Epiphanes—his suppression of worship and desecration of the temple—are not isolated incidents but patterns that repeat throughout history. The greatest threat to faith is often not external oppression but the gradual abandonment of daily devotion and sacrifice. We must ask ourselves what has stopped our own “daily burnt offering,” recognizing that spiritual decline often precedes public compromise. The call is to renew our commitment to God in the ordinary routines of life. [41:23]
5. The Transforming Power of God’s Word and the Call to Know Him The ultimate safeguard against deception and spiritual drift is a deep, personal engagement with the Word of God. It is not enough to affirm the inspiration of Scripture; we must immerse ourselves in it until we see the face of God and are equipped to speak truth into our culture. This requires time, discipline, and a willingness to let God’s Word shape our hearts and minds. Only then will we be able to stand firm and shine as lights in a dark world, awaiting the coming of the Son of Man. [52:54]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:13] - Daniel’s Integrity and the Trap of Law
[02:37] - The Shift from Babylon to Medo-Persia
[04:15] - The Use of Law Against Faith
[05:37] - Daniel’s Faithfulness and the Lion’s Den
[08:47] - The Rise of Positive Law and Persecution
[11:35] - The Power that Restrains the Beasts
[13:11] - Empires as Beasts: The Nature of Government
[16:18] - The Fourth Beast and the Coming Judgment
[20:00] - Daniel, Revelation, and the Lawless One
[22:27] - The Mystery of Lawlessness in History
[26:30] - The Deification of Man and World Government
[28:19] - The Question of Time and Endurance
[36:45] - Antiochus Epiphanes and the Abomination
[41:23] - The Loss of Daily Devotion
[42:13] - Daniel’s Prayer and the Ruins of Jerusalem
[47:51] - The Seventy Sevens and the Coming Messiah
[50:51] - The Man Above the River: Hope in Prophecy
[52:54] - The Call to Know God Through His Word
[55:20] - Closing and Personal Challenge

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Daniel, Faith, Law, and Power

Bible Reading

- Daniel 6:1-16 (Daniel’s integrity, the law against prayer, and the lion’s den)
- Daniel 7:1-14 (Daniel’s vision of the four beasts and the coming of the Son of Man)
- 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 (Paul’s teaching on the “man of lawlessness” and the end times)

Observation Questions

What specific law did the Medo-Persian officials use to target Daniel, and how did Daniel respond when he learned about it? ([05:37])
In Daniel’s vision in chapter 7, how are the empires described, and what is unique about the fourth beast? ([16:18])
According to 2 Thessalonians 2, what are some characteristics of the “man of lawlessness” and what will ultimately happen to him?
What daily practice was stopped by Antiochus Epiphanes, and why was this significant for the people of Israel? ([36:45])

Interpretation Questions

Why does the sermon suggest that laws can be a more subtle threat to faith than outright persecution? How does this relate to Daniel’s experience? ([05:37])
What is the significance of empires being described as beasts with both animal and human features? What does this imagery communicate about the nature of human government? ([14:05])
The sermon mentions that Daniel’s visions include specific time periods for suffering. Why is it important for believers to know that suffering has a limit set by God? ([28:19])
The stopping of the daily burnt offering is described as both a historical event and a spiritual warning. What does the sermon say is the real danger for believers today regarding their “daily burnt offering”? ([41:23])

Application Questions

The sermon warns about laws that quietly undermine the public practice of faith. Are there any laws or cultural trends today that you feel make it harder to live out your faith publicly? How do you discern when to stand firm, even if it’s costly? ([05:37])
Daniel’s integrity was so strong that his enemies could only attack his faith. If someone examined your life closely, what would they find? Are there areas where you feel pressure to compromise your devotion to God? ([04:15])
The vision of the beasts challenges us to see the spiritual realities behind political movements. How do you process news or political changes in light of your faith? Do you find it easy or difficult to resist the “deification of man” in our culture? ([16:18])
When facing suffering or discrimination, Daniel’s story reminds us that God sets a limit to trials. How do you find hope and endurance when you don’t know how long a difficult season will last? ([28:19])
The sermon asks, “What has stopped your own daily burnt offering?” Is there a habit or routine of devotion to God that you have let slip? What practical step could you take this week to renew your daily commitment? ([41:23])
Daniel’s prayer for Jerusalem was marked by confession and concern for his people. When you pray, do you include confession and intercession for your community or nation? How might you grow in this area? ([42:13])
The ultimate challenge is to immerse ourselves in God’s Word, not just for knowledge but to know God personally. What is one specific way you can deepen your engagement with Scripture this month? ([52:54])

End with prayer, asking God for courage to stand firm, wisdom to discern the times, and a renewed passion for His Word.

Sermon Clips

“Daniel lived in Babylon he lived for another city as we've seen. This is the second mention of Jerusalem in the book. and these satraps and presidents decided to attend a prayer meeting so they turned up underneath the window and they listened to Daniel pray and then they rub their hands they went to Darius they said Darius you cite this law recently and he said yes I did well this Daniel disobeys it and of course Darius was devastated and then he tried to reverse the law and he found out what the nature of law is once you get it on the statute book you can't reverse it.”

“I could not begin to overemphasize the importance of this the first positive discrimination recorded here against belief in God is the use of positive law now this is immensely important not only for you lawyers but for the rest of us the law of God is the base of our Western law giving to a large extent and normally speaking up to very recently the law of the state has paralleled the law of God but now we enter increasingly into the realm of positive law stealth law laws that are enacted and we hardly notice them come into being until we discover they are discriminatory against the public practice of religious faith do you recognize that here is scripture starting to discuss this issue you.”

“The clever thing about this is of course very obvious. It's to pass a law that forces you to disobey the more basic law that you believe. That is the law of God. We face it in our societies increasingly today. Scripture talks about it at this point, this turning point in Daniel where things begin to become seriously worse.”

“And you know as well as I do, that when persecution starts, the thing that you're interested in is how long, oh Lord, is this going to last? These bits of time that appear all over the rest of this book are not arbitrary things, they're serious things. Because in every case they have to do with grim situations where people are faced with extreme discrimination against the practice of their faith in God. I find it heartening, ladies and gentlemen, Scripture talks about this.”

“It's interesting, isn't it? In chapter 1, Daniel refused to eat. In chapter 6, the lions refused to eat. Why? Do lions operate by laws? And here is Daniel again with a simple story. Raising a very deep question. Is there a power that can control the animal? Very soon we're about to see a world empire represented as a lion.”

“And Darius discovered that there was a power, a supernatural power, that could restrain the animal. Daniel was delivered on this occasion. But let me remind you that this is the section of Daniel where we find that people are not always delivered.”

“And these are interesting animals because they're mostly composites. You've noticed that of course haven't you. Because the first one. you will see that it was like a lion and an eagle's wings that it was made to stand at its feet and the heart of man literally was given to it. So it was an animal but it had certain humanizing qualities. Now this is fascinating to me. This is imagery of course but it's powerful imagery. It is not simply there as a simple code to identify what nation we're talking about. It's far deeper than that. It's meant to evoke ideas of what it constitutes to be a state that behaves part animal by sheer instinct and survival. The law of the jungle.”

“The first had the heart of a man, human emotion. The last had the eyes of a man, human insight and intelligence. Great iron teeth, it wasn't quite just like a physical furry animal, was it, was it? It was a bit like a cyborg. It was a combination of animal and metal. It's surreal of course, it's meant to be. and it was fearsome it shook Daniel to the core what is God saying to him and why is it relevant to us well let us notice the wider context because this animal is judged and the context of the judgment is the coming of the Son of man on the clouds of heaven and books were opened and rational judgment sits the context of course is a law court in heaven and the notion of law is meaningless unless it is backed up by a judicial system.”

“We need sometimes a little elementary lesson in English grammar. Metaphor is used all over scripture. But we use metaphor to stand for a reality of course. And the question to be asked is, what is the reality behind the metaphor? Well let's listen to the plain straightforward language of Saint Paul. No imagery at all. Listen to this. Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you brothers not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word or a letter seeming to be from us to the effect that the day of the Lord has already come. Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first.”

“The mystery of lawlessness is already at work. That's why he was telling them. Because the seeds that would lead to this were already operating in their society and of course he's not talking about lawlessness in the sense of absence of law Roman law was very powerful he's talking about spiritual lawlessness it's already at work only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way and then and this is straightforward statement no metaphors or anything here and then the lawless one will be revealed please notice the word revealed you will not have to guess who this is ladies and gentlemen whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.”

“History is moving not only to a magnificent harvest of the resurrection but to a harvest of evil and down through history there have been glimmerings of what one day will be there will be there will be there will be the lawless one now it is very interesting isn't it that the descriptions are on one hand animal the animal or the beast the lawless one and Daniel's animals prepare us for these for this final beast whose number is 666 oh I'm a mathematician you'd love me to tell you what that means wouldn't you attempts to decipher it have been over successful you ask me who it is I haven't a notion I'll tell you what it is though because scripture tells you what it is having described this hideous beast it says by the way his number is 666 it is the number of a man that's what it is I don't know who it is but the most hideous thing about it is this the most hideous thing about it is the number of people that have been saved in America and this one that is the number of people that have been saved and the second one has been saved in America and this one has been It's the number of a man.”

“Now do you take seriously these scriptures? That the entire world will one day worship a man. Oh but you say we're in the 21st century. That would never happen. Wouldn't it? Do you know anything about the UK philosophy in North Korea? Korea? Many of you have lived through states where people proclaim themselves essentially as God. In Albania, in Romania, in China, in Russia. It's never going to happen again, is it? We would be fools to think it can never happen again. It's been happening throughout history. And Daniel is the starting point so to speak where for the first time in history Israel seems to have been eliminated. And all the promises of Jerusalem and now the Gentile powers are dominating.”

“The notion of the deification of man is not some innocent idea that is somehow going to be eliminated by advances in education. It is going to grow and fade and grow and fade and grow bigger until it dominates planet Earth.”

“The whole world will worship the beast you think that's going to be some little trivial thing that you can see through easily I'm afraid not ladies and gentlemen it says in the book of Revelation rather intriguingly doesn't go into detail that they'll make an image to the beast that speaks and lives and the whole earth will be deceived will we be deceived how are we arming ourselves not to fall for the greatest deception this world has ever seen oh I don't know when it'll happen but in our society at the moment the level of deception is phenomenal and Christians by thousands are throwing away the only sword they've got this is the only offensive weapon we've got ladies and gentlemen and we're throwing it away and I'm going to challenge you.”

“This morning particularly you young people some of you that will go from this place and you will dedicate your lives to the Word of God and his proclamation you will spend hours a day getting into the Word of God and relating it to your culture culture because there's an absolute dearth of it in Europe and in the rest of the world we will do everything but study the Word of God the Word of God even we Christian workers it's the first thing to go and we need to recover it or we'd be blown away by the wind when it comes forgive me I'm older now I feel I can talk to you as an older person but I'm so glad I was taught these things when I was 17.”

“The Lord will come and will destroy this beast and from all the animals that have lived out through history and stamped and thrashed there will take over the rule a perfect man oh it's magnificent isn't it the Son of Man will come in the clouds of heaven and take over the government and the Saints will receive the kingdom but grim times will have to be gone through where God will not appear to deliver where God will appear to be completely absent.”

“If you relativize truth in the end power will determine what you believe gosh this is Daniel 26 centuries ago talking about throwing truth to the ground it's as if it had been written yesterday power and truth gosh that's a fascinating topic the greatest trial in history revolved around it are you a king said Pilate to Jesus what sort of a king are you oh my kingdom is not of this world he said otherwise my servants would have been fighting but to this end I was born and to this end I came into the world that I should bear witness to the truth and Pilate said perhaps not cynically what is truth and he went out and said the man's innocent because Pilate could say that whatever else you can say about truth the one thing you cannot do about with truth is impose it by power especially if it's a truth about the love of God and his forgiveness of the eternal life to be offered in the name of Jesus you need to study truth and power and here it is in Daniel.”

“Antiochus stopped the daily burnt offering. What has stopped yours? What stops mine? And I realize with horror that it takes far less than Antiochus or Stalin or Mao or Ceausescu to stop my living daily commitment to God. The daily burnt offering had been stopped in many hearts in here before it had been stopped publicly. It's repeated again and again in Daniel. It seems such an innocent little thing. It's a massive thing. Because its New Testament counterpart is Romans 12. Present your bodies a living sacrifice which is your reasonable worship. It speaks to me and I suspect it speaks to you too.”

“And Daniel stands with his nation in one of the most moving prayers in the whole of Scripture. We have rebelled. We have forsaken your law. And again and again and again we are ashamed, utterly ashamed. The whole thing in ruins. Darius passed a law to stop Daniel obeying the law. He didn't. Jerusalem fell in love with the pagan gods and stopped it internally. It was a costly thing to do.”

“What Paul is arguing in Galatians is the gospel. There aren't two gospels. One for men, one for women. One for slaves, one for free. One for Jews, one for Gentiles. There's only one gospel. And it's by faith in Jesus Christ. But we've got different roles, ladies and gentlemen. And Daniel was concerned. What's going to happen to Jerusalem and my people? Paul was concerned.”

“Rabbi Nehemiah in 50 BC said we'd better be looking for the Messiah pretty soon because I've been looking at Daniel gosh that's getting a bit near the bone isn't it? Why is it like that? Because Daniel started reading Jeremiah and realizing that there were 70 years he took it seriously but mercifully instead of fighting his fellow believers about his interpretation he went and prayed about it and I suggest the same thing is a very good idea and down to Messiah the Prince and he would be cut off the business of bringing in everlasting righteousness and please notice that hasn't happened yet is immensely complex but it will happen.”

“He's standing beside the river Tigris and he's watching it flow and the metaphor of flow permeates what the angel tells him the great flow of history where is history going where's your history going where's the river going to take you as you leave this conference how will we get stability when we don't know what's going to happen tomorrow and as Daniel looked he saw something spectacular he saw a glorious man standing above the flowing river and that description of that man matches almost word for word the vision that John the Apostle saw at the beginning of the book of Revelation do you see a man standing above the river if you're going to survive you'll have to you know oh this is so important what's prophecy for what Peter tells us in the verses I quoted last night what is prophecy for you do well you take heed to it because it's like a lamp shining in a dark place until the day star rises in your hearts one day ladies and gentlemen the day star is going to literally come across earth's horizon but the Word of God is meant to have the effect of doing that in your heart right now that the thing is so real that the day star arises in your heart and you say with all your heart even so come Lord Jesus.”

“And how easy it is for us to rake up the old notes. To go as dry as a bone constantly repeating old sermons never doing anything fresh. Why do you study Scripture my brother my sister? Oh you say I've got a Bible study to prepare. Have you? Wonderful. We study Scripture to get to know God. And I want to challenge you as you go away. Some of you young people your lives could be utterly transformed. It's going to cost you. It's going to cost you hours of study to get into this world.”

“I am staggered at the number of theoretical believers in the inspiration of Scripture. They'll sign on the dotted line. They believe it. They haven't a clue what's in it. And their level of understanding is that of a child. And so when they go out into the culture they're wiped away because they've got nothing to say. Forgive me. But if the Word of God is the sword of the Spirit. we're throwing it away at our peril.”

“Go your way Daniel. You rest but you will rise and stand in your lot at the end of the day. Oh my friends I often think forgive me I've said it before in this context when Sally and I get to heaven I wonder will we say when we see it and the glory dawns upon us. If I'd known what it was like I'd have invested more in it. The whole point of our study is to make that real now so that we invest more in it and the hardest thing to invest is your time. May God bless you.”

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