Daniel 6: 1-10 Dealing with Personal Attacks
Dealing with Personal Attacks
18 June – written by Philip Maycock
Group questions in italics, leader’s notes, in standard font. These are not intended as the “correct answer”. They are given to help facilitate discussion
Context
The context for ch.6 is a new empire, that of the Medes and Persians. The king of Babylon is Darius the Mede, age 62 and Daniel is in his 80’s. Although Daniel had been given great political responsibility, it seems that after Nebuchadnezzar’s reign of 43 years, his role in the royal court reduces. We skip on a further 23 years to the end of the reign of Belshazzar and the crisis of the writing on the wall (ch.5). It seems that when all others fail, the Queen remembers Daniel and he is called in to interpret the writing on the wall, on the night of the coup that saw the empire change.
Under the new empire of the Medes and Persians, the king, Darius, thrusts Daniel back into a top role as one of three governors or administrators of Babylon. And before long Darius is minded to change the dynamic and give Daniel overall command and that’s when the trouble begins!
Read Daniel 6: 1-10
Q. What’s going on? In verse 4 this seem familiar in our politics, work, social or digital lives?
‘Election campaigns without attacks on rivals are almost unimaginable in the modern era. So called 'attack politics' makes up a substantial part of election campaigns around the world’
European Consortium for Political Research. 10-20% of people in the UK have personally been targeted by abusive content on-line’ Oxford Internet Survey
Q. Although we are far less high profile than our politicians, do we also experience personal attacks in different ways at some points in our lives?
Q. What form do they take?
Q. Have you ever felt someone was out to get you? Or felt trapped or undermined?
Personal attacks come in many shapes and sizes, they are not every day of the week and for us, In this country, they rarely threaten our physical life. However, for many Christians today, especially those living under totalitarian regimes, this is the reality that many face at some point in their lives.
For us, personal attacks may be more subtle, challenging our roles and responsibilities, affecting our relationships, well-being, and facing us with tough decisions. When they do come, they are often unexpected.
Q. What did Daniel’s detractors look for?
Corruption, negligence, deception, having a hidden agenda, double dealing, inconsistency. Skeletons in the cupboard!
Q. What did they find?
Q. What does that say about Daniel’s witness over many years?
See also ch.2:14, 27, 30 and ch.5:11, 12 and ch.6:16, 20.
Honest, diligent, consistent, always given his best.
Insight, intelligence, wisdom, and tact (ch.2:14)
A keen mind, with knowledge, and understanding.
Ability to interpret dreams (even when the message was not very palatable!), explain riddles and solve difficult problems.
Humility and acknowledgment that his gifts and wisdom were from God (‘he has the spirit of the holy gods in him’), (ch.2:27, 30).
He prayed regularly and privately, v10b.
Darius’ assessment of Daniel: ‘Your God, whom you serve continually’ (ch.6:16, 20)
Q. How do we live out our faith in a secular world?
Matt 5:16 ‘ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Q. What are the values that are important to us that can come under attack?
Some of the areas of difference with those around us are highlighted by Paul in Eph.4:25 – 5:2
Optional section:
Q. Justified criticism or unjustified personal attack? What’s the difference?
Although this wasn’t an issue for Daniel in this particular case, for us, at times, it might need to be our first consideration. Justified criticism or unjustified personal attack? Are the issues always clear cut? How do we respond?
Step back from responding in the heat of the moment in anger and defensiveness. We can’t control how someone else behaves, but we are responsible for how we handle our response.
Requires humility to consider criticisms honestly. Proverbs 15:31-33, ‘The one who heeds correction gains understanding. Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord, and humility comes before honour’.
Before God in prayer, with the help of others (often fellow Christians) who we trust to be objective.
Q. Do we expect that, because we’re Christians, life should be all ‘plain sailing’?
Q. Given Daniel’s experience in v5, should we be prepared for unjustified personal attacks at some points in our lives?
Q. What did Jesus and the early church have to say in this area?
Matt.5:11, Jesus: ‘Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven; for in the same way, they persecuted the prophets before you.’
1 Peter 2:12, ‘Conduct yourselves with such honour among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.’
Q. What were the motivations, actions and factors leading up to the unjustified personal attack on Daniel?
Malicious motive – to dispose of Daniel.
Attack on distinctives – they knew Daniel prayed privately, but visibly, three times a day.
Deception: v7 ‘The royal administrators, prefects etc, we have all agreed’ – except Daniel!
The higher good – Good PR, expressing unity (when there had just been a regime change)
Appeal to self-importance of king (you’re God!), and apparently virtuous law (no edict the king issues can be changed).
Q. What were the issues for Daniel?
Obey the law and compromise his faith, or obey God, pray and risk death.
Q. Why did Daniel consider that ‘not praying for 30 days’ as compromising his faith? Wasn’t that being too legalistic? Wouldn’t it have been better to comply and continue to be an influential leader for good? This is life or death!
Q. What did Daniel do? v10, ‘He got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before’.
I wonder what Daniel prayed that day when he went to his room? Maybe it was Psalm 31.
Read Psalm 31: 3-5, v14-20.
Daniel also ‘gave thanks’ - is that what you’d expect? What does David give thanks for in Psalm 31:19, 20? - God’s promises to be with us.
Q. Does that ring any bells with other events or teaching in the NT?
Fast forward to Paul and Silas in the Philippian jail, Acts 16: 24, 25
Eph 5:20 ‘always giving thanks to God the Father for everything’.
Q. What do we give thanks for in tough situations?
Biographies / autobiographies often start with a dramatic incident that is pivotal to the person’s story – and go on to draw out some of the major influences, practices and priorities that are the drivers or shapers of the person’s life. As we come to the close of our encounter with Daniel, which has been very much lived out in the public arena, we’re given a glimpse into his personal, inner life.
Q. What’s the secret to his life of integrity, wisdom, leadership, witness, and resilience?
Is there truth in the saying ‘Seven days without prayer makes one weak’!?
Q. What can we learn about prayer from Daniel? In what sort of situations did he pray? How did he pray? What did he pray for?
Saw it as a priority. Set time aside regularly ch.6:16 ‘Your God whom you serve continually’.
Ch.2:17, 18: Prayed in crisis, with friends.
Ch. 2: 20-23: Praise for who God is and for God’s answers to their prayers.
Ch. 9:1-5, 17-19: Confession and intercession for God’s people.
It’s interesting what Paul has to say after all his practical instructions to the Ephesians about living in a secular world (Eph. ch.4-6). Read Eph.6:10-20 or quote these verses:
‘Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms . . .
Therefore, put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand . . . .
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.’
Resilience – ‘after you have done everything to stand’.
Closing prayer: Day by day, O Lord, of these three things I pray, to see thee more clearly, to follow thee more nearly, to love thee more dearly, day by day.
Historical Note on Darius the Mede
There has been considerable discussion regarding the identity of Darius the Mede as there is no direct reference to him in non-biblical sources. Higher critical theologians of the 19th century considered him along with the rest of the book to be fictional. Since then further consideration of non-biblical sources (primarily the Greek historian Xenophon) have found grounds for considering that Darius may well have been the throne name of Cyaxares II, the last Median king. He was the uncle of Cyrus of Persia, and they jointly ruled the Medo-Persian Empire after the capture of Babylon until Cyaxares death two years later, when Cyrus became the sole king. In this case Darius / Cyaxares II might well have been considered ‘king’ of Babylon for the first year which chapter 6 references and would also be consistent in terms of Darius’ age, and use of terms like ‘the law of the Medes and Persians’.