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Six Moral Conflicts – God’s
Sovereignty is Victorious!
Ted Barker
Summary
Daniel and his friends are involuntary
missionaries and yet God is Sovereign
and delivers them so that He is glorified
and His ways are demonstrated to
mankind. Will you let Him do the same
with you?
Goal
“ … I stir up your pure minds … that ye
may be mindful of the words spoken
before by the holy prophets … and the
commandment of us the apostles of the
Lord and Saviour.” (2Peter 3:1-2) and
for you to recognize, appreciate and
anticipate that the Sovereignty of God
will apply to your own life.
Other references – 1Cor. 10:11
Main Theme
The Sovereignty of God over the affairs of
mankind and how it may apply to you.
Pagan kings’ confessions: Daniel 2:47;
4:37; 6:26
Six Moral Conflicts
No. 1:
Between pagan Self-indulgence
and obedient Abstinence in promoting
health – Abstinence Wins: Daniel1:9;
1:17
No. 2: Between pagan Magi and heavenly
Wisdom in the interpretation of dreams
– Divine Wisdom Wins: Daniel 2:47
No. 3: Heathen Idolatry arrayed against
loyalty to God –
Loyalty to God Wins: Daniel 3:28
Six Moral Conflicts
No. 4: A pagan king’s pride challenges Divine
Sovereignty -Sovereignty wins -The King is turned out to
grass until he extols God: Daniel 4:37
No. 5:
Impious sacrilege defies the
Reverence for sacred objects
Reverence wins: The handwriting on the wall.
Belshazzar dethroned: Daniel 5:26
No. 6:
Malicious plotting against both His
saint and the Providence of God.
Providence wins. The lions’ mouths are kept
closed: Daniel 6: 22, 26, and 27
Prayer
Ephesians 6:18; Philippians 4:6;
1Thessalonians 5:17; 1 Timothy 2:8;
Jeremiah 33:3 Hebrews 11:6
Introduction
“Daniel” – God is my Judge (not a critic
but One Who “sees” and determines
causes).
“Sovereignty” – Supremacy of Authority;
royal rank, total independence,
paramount
Daniel and his friends were involuntary
missionaries and were given a foreign
name, lived in a foreign land, learned a
foreign language, adapted to a foreign
culture and be loyal to foreign
monarchies.
Underlying Theme
God’s sovereign power through miracles:
One of 6 primary periods – the others
are (i) Creation and the Flood, (ii)
Patriarchs and Moses, (iii) Elijah and
Elisha, (iv) Jesus and the Apostles, and
(v) Time of the Second Advent -authentication of Divine Purpose.
Conflict No. 1
Between Pagan self indulgence and
conscientious abstinence in promoting
health
Abstinence based on God’s
principles and for His Glory wins.
Ref.: Daniel 1: 1-21; 1 Corinthians
10:31
Conflict No. 1
Daniel 1:1-2 Nebuchadnezzar’s siege of
Jerusalem and capture of vessels
3-4 Eunuchs: selection, training and
development
5 The king’s meat and wine – a bad
thing?
6 Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah
7 New names as part of the
brainwashing and indoctrination
New Names
Daniel – God is my
judge
Hannaniah – The Lord
is Gracious
Mishael – Who is like
the Lord
Azariah – The LORD is
my helper
Belteshazzar – Bel
protect the King
Shadrach – Command
of Aku (Babyl. God)
Meshach – Who is
what Aku is
Abed-nego – Servant
of Nego (a god of
vegetation)
Conflict No. 1
8-16 Daniel “purposed in his heart”;
favor favorable standing; the test
17-21 God’s blessings; their interview
with the king; outstanding results
GOD’S SOVEREIGN WISDOM EXCEEDS THE
WORLD’S WISDOM!
How does this apply to me?
Am I being tempted by the world’s
“enticements”?
Who has my heart? 23:26
Where do I go to satisfy my appetites -the world?
Who do I honor? 1 Samuel 12:30b
Conflict No. 2
Between pagan magi and Heavenly
Wisdom in the interpretation of dreams.
Heavenly or Divine Wisdom Wins
Ref: Daniel 2: 1-49
Conflict No. 2
Daniel 2:1-9 Nebuchadnezzar’s troubling
dream and seeking an interpretation
10-11
The Chaldeans are “close” to
knowing from whom to obtain an
interpretation
12-14
King’s fury and degree to slay
the wise men
15-18
Daniel’s respectful and wise
response – more time and more prayer
Conflict No. 2
19-23
The secret interpretation revealed
and Daniel’s blessing of God
24 Daniel reveals he knows the
interpretation
25-30
Daniel meets with King
Nebuchadnezzar and God is given credit
31-45
The interpretation of the dream –
gold: Babylonian; silver: Medo-Persian;
brass: Greece; iron and clay: Roman
empire-revived Roman empire; stone
cutout without hands- Messianic Kingdom
Conflict No. 2
46-47
Nebuchadnezzar’s response –
“God of gods”
48-49
Promotion of Daniel, Shadrach,
Meshach and Abed-nego
GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY PREVAILS AND LIVES ARE
PRESERVED!
How does this apply to me?
When did wisdom come from God?
How do I respond to answered
prayer?
Do I “almost” know God? Daniel
2:10-11; 46-47
How must I be saved? Acts 4:12
Conflict No. 3
Heathen idolatry arrayed against
allegiance or loyalty to God
Allegiance and loyalty to God Wins
Ref: Daniel 3: 1-30
Conflict No. 3
Daniel 3:1 Nebuchadnezzar’s image of
gold
2-3 Summit meeting
4-5 Instructions how to worship
6 Consequences of failure to worship
identified
7 The worship ceremony
8-12 Certain men accuse the Jews and
approach the king
Conflict No. 3
13-15
The king’s furious response and
his interview with Shadrach, Meshach
and Abed-nego and his brash answer
regarding “who is that God that will
deliver you?” (again so close to the truth)
16-18
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego’s reply with unwavering faith and
obedience to God
19-20
Nebuchadnezzar’s furious
response – hotter furnace, strong men
Conflict No. 3
21 Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego in
their combustible attire
22 The king’s men are consumed by the
fire
23 Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego
are cast down into the furnace
24-26
Nebuchadnezzar sees four men
and calls for Shadrach, Meshach and
Abed-nego to come forth
Conflict No. 3
27 Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego’s
lack of harm confirmed
28-30
Nebuchadnezzar’s praise to the
“God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego”, the king’s decree and the
promotion of Shadrach, Meshach and
Abed-nego
GOD’S SOVEREIGN PROTECTION EXCEEDS THE
WRATH OF MAN!
How does this apply to me?
Am I willing to say “No” to the gods of
this world and suffer the consequences
and experience the blessings? Romans
12:1-2
How do you classify God? One of many?
A god of someone else?
Who have you chosen to give your heart
to? Proverbs 23:26
Conflict No. 4
A pagan king’s pride challenges Divine
Sovereignty
Divine Sovereignty wins – the king is
turned out to grass until he extols God
Ref: Daniel 4: 1-37
Conflict No. 4
Daniel 4:1-3 Nebuchadnezzar introduces
his personal experiences which he
describes as “wonders” of God
4-7 Another dream that he wants
interpreted; his men fail
8-9 “But at last Daniel” and the king tells
Daniel the dream
10-18
Nebuchadnezzar describes the
dream
19-26
Daniel is astonished at the
dream and interprets it
Conflict No. 4
27 Daniel urges the king to repent
28-33
The dream unfolds and
Nebuchadnezzar is driven to the fields
34-37
Nebuchadnezzar’s restoration
and manifold praise of God and his
key acknowledgment – “those that walk
in pride he is able to abase.”
GOD’S SOVEREIGN WAYS NULLIFY THE KING’S
PRIDE!
How does this apply to me?
Daniel encouraged Nebuchadnezzar “to
break off his sin by righteousness and his
iniquities by showing mercy” – Why?
because God wanted Nebuchadnezzar to
repent – is he showing me an opportunity
to demonstrate repentance in some area
of my life – for salvation? (Isaiah 55:7;
Isaiah 64:6; 1Corinthians 1:30 –
Righteousness provided by God.)
GOD’S SOVEREIGN WAYS NULLIFY THE KING’S
PRIDE!
Am I proud? Do I even look proud?
Proverbs 6:16-17? Am I suffering the
consequences of pride? Proverbs 11:2;
16:6; Am I succumbing to the pride of
life? 1John 2:16; How shall I repent?
Conflict No. 5
Impious sacrilege defies reverence for
Sacred Objects
Reverence wins – “handwriting on the
wall” and Belshazzar dethroned
Ref: Daniel 5: 1-31
Conflict No. 5
Daniel 5:1-2 Belshazzar’s feast;
command to bring the gold and silver
vessels
3-4 The vessels were used for drinking
and the gods praised
5-7 The handwriting on the wall and call
for interpretation
Conflict No. 5
8-12 Wise men fail, queen identifies
Daniel and he is summoned.
13-28 An offer to Daniel and Daniel’s
explanation and interpretation
29-31 Daniel is rewarded and Belshazzar
is dethroned and slain and Darius takes
the kingdom
GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY DEMANDS THAT HE AND
HIS OWN WILL BE REVERED
How does this apply to me?
Do I profane God, His name or the things
of God?
Am I being brought to sin by worldly
pleasures? Has God been putting any
“writing on the wall” for me to read?
Psalm 38:4, 51:3
Conflict No. 6
Malicious plotting against both His saint
and the Providence of God; God’s
sovereignty results in His shutting the
lions’ mouths.
Ref: Daniel 6: 1-28
Conflict No. 6
Daniel 6:1-3 Darius reorganizes and
Daniel is preferred
4 Jealous princes attempt to find a fault
(crime) against Daniel
5-9 They concur that they will only
entrap Daniel by the law of his God
(which they know by now, Daniel will
adhere to) and thus plot successfully by
duping the king
10-13
Aware of the decree, Daniel
prays, is observed and the men confront
the king
Conflict No. 6
14-15
The king is displeased with
himself and is pressured to follow
through and put Daniel in the den of
lions.
16-17
At the king’s command Daniel is
put in the den of lions
18-20
The king has a sleepless night
and goes early to the den of lions
Conflict No. 6
18-20
The king has a sleepless night
and goes early to the den of lions
21-23
Daniel assures the king he is
well because God has sent an angel and
shut the lions’ mouths; the king rejoices
24 Daniel’s accusers are cast into the
den of lions and are consumed
25-28
Darius issues a decree praising
God and Daniel prospers
GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY GUARDS HIS OWN AND
BRINGS PRAISES TO HIMSELF!
How does this apply to me?
Do I plot against what is God’s, intentionally or
unintentionally?
As an act of mercy, do I see God’s trying to
persuade me to stopping fighting Him and
submit to Him as even the Apostle did?
Is my life so consistently godly that my
enemies would know that they could entrap me
by obedience, love and dependence ? Am I an
epistle readable to all me? (2Cor3:2)
So What?
GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY IS PRESENT –
WHAT HINDERS ME FROM
EXPERIENCING IT?