Like we discussed last section, people will notice that you’re not like the rest. In fact, the worse society becomes, the more the exceptional qualities of those with integrity will become obvious. Back to Daniel 6.

⁴ So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him.

All it can take is a small stain to ruin a white cloth and take away its purpose. But there was not even a little bit of dirt to be found on Daniel’s cloth. Daniel had public integrity so his enemies couldn’t find anything to accuse him of. 122 vs 1 and Daniel still came up clean.

You never know when people are testing your integrity.

A Pastor went shopping and paid at the till. The cashier handed him his change and as he walked away, he realised that he was given too much. The day before he had just preached about truth and honesty, and it was fresh on his mind. He went back and returned the money and said, “You gave me too much change.” “I know,” the cashier said. “I did it on purpose. I watched your sermon online this morning and I wanted to see if you were really about this honesty thing”. All it’d take is one stain to ruin the credibility of the pastor.

Once again, 1 Corinthians 10:12 (NIV) ¹² So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!

Now Daniel was faithful in not only his public life, but also in his private life, and the officials knew it. ⁵ Then these men said, “We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.” (Daniel 6:5). They decided to attack Daniel at the point of his spiritual life.

So, what was their plan? In basic terms, “Be a God for a Month”. They needed something Darius would agree to.

⁷ All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counsellors and advisors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions.

Now this is where it gets complicated. In the Medo-Persian empire, once a law was enacted, it couldn’t be changed or revoked. So, what can Daniel do? If we found out that a law like this had been enacted, a lot of us would say, “Well, I guess I’ll just have to stop praying.” “I mean it’s against the law and the Bible says to obey the authorities.” “You’ve gotta apply wisdom. God will understand.”

Great excuses. But they’re excuses, nonetheless. That wasn’t good enough for Daniel.

¹⁰ Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.

Note, Daniel didn’t need to hold a special fast or prayer meeting for wisdom on what to do. His life was a prayer meeting. He had already developed a consistent walk with God, and he knew what to do. This was the source of his integrity.

You know what’s so wild about my man Daniel. He left the windows open. Even someone of strong faith may rationalize closing the window saying “No one really needs to know I am praying. Prayer is private thing anyway.” But nah, Daniel had no fear.

His enemies banked on Daniel’s integrity and courage.

¹² And they went before the king, and spoke concerning the king’s decree: “Have you not signed a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within thirty days, except 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 does not alter.”

¹³ So they answered and said before the king, “That Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah, does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.”

¹⁴ And the king, when he heard these words, was greatly 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.

You see, Darius wasn’t even a believer in Daniel’s God, but neither was he crazy. He wanted a government led by people he could trust. Darius knew the kind of man Daniel was, and I won’t lie, it feels like Darius had a lot of love for Daniel. Darius spent all day trying to figure out a way to save Daniel from the lion’s den, but the enemy was not trying to hear it at all.

¹⁵ Then these men approached the king, and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is the law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statute which the king establishes may be changed.”

They say your integrity is severely tested in adversity. What you are really like can only be measured when your life is falling apart. Well, Daniel’s life seemed to be falling apart here, so what will he do?

WANT MORE? NEXT PART