Daniel 6
Welcome! Today we continue in our study of the Book of Daniel, focusing in on Chapter 6. To begin, I want to give a bit of a recap of where we have been.
Daniel was a Hebrew, an Israelite, who lived in Israel during his childhood years at a very turbulent time in Israel’s history. For generations, even going all the way back to Moses, God had warned that His promises of blessings on Israel were conditional on the people remaining true and faithful to God, practicing His commandments and decrees, and refusing to worship false gods. Over the centuries, Israel had strayed farther and farther away from God, and at last, God’s warnings were coming to pass. Removing His protection, God now began to allow foreign nations to attack into the heart of Israel, including Jerusalem, and take apart the nation piece by piece.
Probably as a teenager, Daniel had been taken captive out of Jerusalem into Babylon by the Babylonians. In a series of events, the Babylonians eventually completely overtook Israel and many surrounding nations to become the mightiest empire the world had yet seen. Their king, Nebuchadnezzar, tried to make each group he conquered forget their old ways and become a part of the Babylonian culture and worship their gods.
Welcome! Today we continue in our study of the Book of Daniel, focusing in on Chapter 6. To begin, I want to give a bit of a recap of where we have been.
Daniel was a Hebrew, an Israelite, who lived in Israel during his childhood years at a very turbulent time in Israel’s history. For generations, even going all the way back to Moses, God had warned that His promises of blessings on Israel were conditional on the people remaining true and faithful to God, practicing His commandments and decrees, and refusing to worship false gods. Over the centuries, Israel had strayed farther and farther away from God, and at last, God’s warnings were coming to pass. Removing His protection, God now began to allow foreign nations to attack into the heart of Israel, including Jerusalem, and take apart the nation piece by piece.
Probably as a teenager, Daniel had been taken captive out of Jerusalem into Babylon by the Babylonians. In a series of events, the Babylonians eventually completely overtook Israel and many surrounding nations to become the mightiest empire the world had yet seen. Their king, Nebuchadnezzar, tried to make each group he conquered forget their old ways and become a part of the Babylonian culture and worship their gods.
Daniel and his three Hebrew friends, however, did not do this, and instead they remained true to God and His ways, even when it was difficult, even when it could have cost them their lives. Early in their captivity, they chose to eat water and vegetables rather than eat the so-called delicacies from the king’s table. In taking this stand, they witnessed to those around them of the power of God, who kept them looking even healthier than those who ate “well.” And perhaps more importantly, they learned that God was not the God of Israel only, but the God of the whole earth, and that even in captivity, He would be there for them if they were to maintain a genuine relationship with Him, putting Him first in all things.
God blessed them, and Daniel especially, with great wisdom and with the supernatural power to interpret dreams, and after not only interpreting, but revealing a dream that Nebuchadnezzar had had, Daniel was raised up to be an important leader in the empire. Over a period of decades, Nebuchadnezzar and Daniel undoubtedly had many conversations together about the true God, but Nebuchadnezzar remained proud and smitten with the trappings of power. He had a statue made and required all to bow to it; Daniel’s Hebrew friends did not, and were cast into a fiery furnace to die. But God miraculously protected them, and Nebuchadnezzar was again forced to see the power of the true God. Later, Nebuchadnezzar had another dream, and Daniel told him sadly that it spoke of a period of madness that Nebuchadnezzar would experience for 7 years.
God blessed them, and Daniel especially, with great wisdom and with the supernatural power to interpret dreams, and after not only interpreting, but revealing a dream that Nebuchadnezzar had had, Daniel was raised up to be an important leader in the empire. Over a period of decades, Nebuchadnezzar and Daniel undoubtedly had many conversations together about the true God, but Nebuchadnezzar remained proud and smitten with the trappings of power. He had a statue made and required all to bow to it; Daniel’s Hebrew friends did not, and were cast into a fiery furnace to die. But God miraculously protected them, and Nebuchadnezzar was again forced to see the power of the true God. Later, Nebuchadnezzar had another dream, and Daniel told him sadly that it spoke of a period of madness that Nebuchadnezzar would experience for 7 years.
Daniel entreated Nebuchadnezzar to repent from his ways and turn to God, and perhaps God would spare him this awful fate, but Nebuchadnezzar remained proud until, one day, all that Daniel had prophesied came true. Nebuchadnezzar became mentally like a beast rather than a man, growling and eating grass from the field. At the end of those 7 years, Nebuchadnezzar finally turned to God, and it seems that in his remaining days he was a changed man, humbled, believing with Daniel in the true God.
Eventually, Nebuchadnezzar died, leaving Daniel, now a fairly old man, watching the great empire of Babylon fall in upon itself. With a succession of weaker and weaker leaders, Daniel remained but was a stranger to those in leadership, who were far more interested in wild parties than in the future of the kingdom. Finally, most of the kingdom had fallen, but Babylon, with her high walls, remained, even though it was surrounded by the armies of an up-and-coming empire, that of the Medes and Persians. One fateful night during one of these parties, a disconnected hand appeared writing strange words on a wall. No one could interpret them, so Daniel at long last was called, and he explained that they meant that this very night Babylon would fall. And this is exactly what happened. Whether through the help of traitors that opened the gates or through diverting the river that flowed into the city and entering under the walls through that muddy streambed, that very night the Mede and Persian forces swept through Babylon killing the last king of Babylon. The picture, by the way, is from a wall made at that time and shows a Mede and Persian soldier side by side.
I am sure there were many killed that night, amidst the confusion and darkness. Daniel easily could have been one of the casualties from a random arrow or spear. But he wasn’t. Although now probably in his 80s, an old man who had lived a full life, been used mightily by God, and seen multiple wondrous examples of God’s mercy and power in his own life, God was not done with him. The sun rose on a new empire that morning, and with it Daniel remained alive. God had another chapter in his life for him, and another chapter in the book of Daniel for us.
It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss. Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. – Daniel 6:1-3
So who is Darius? This passage equates him as king. There is another name associated with the king of the Mede-Persian Empire, and that is Cyrus. There are various theories about the relationship between Darius and Cyrus, and very little archaeological or other extra-biblical material to help us. The bottom line is that both names are associated with this empire at the time of Daniel. We will see them mentioned together in a way that seems to imply succession at the end of this chapter. The important thing is that Darius is the ruler here, not just of Babylon (a regional ruler) but of the entire realm. And now that he has captured Babylon, the final jewel in the belt of the Babylonian empire, it is time to build his new administration.
Creating a government for an empire isn’t easy to do from scratch, so it makes perfect sense that he looked for people who had served in the Babylonian empire but were not particularly loyal to the Babylonians. Non-Babylonian administrators who had served the Babylonians were ideal. And so Daniel’s name quite obviously came up. The king met with Daniel and many others, and apparently in the course of interviews with Daniel and with those who had worked with him, it became quickly clear that Daniel was special. He had “exceptional qualities.” What were these? It doesn’t say. But we can easily guess. He didn’t take bribes. He was fair and impartial. He worked really hard and wasn’t just a figurehead. He wasn’t ruled by emotions such as anger. He wasn’t afraid to confront a person or situation. He was good and kind. People loved working for him and he loved them back. He was wise – he made good decisions. And so on.
You know, I think it is good to think about these “exceptional qualities” and then look at ourselves in a mirror. How are we doing? There is an old song called “Dare to be a Daniel,” and the point is to be willing to stand alone. That is of course a part of the story of Daniel. But daring to be a Daniel also means to seek to grow in the qualities we are talking about here. This too is a part of the story of Daniel, one that challenges me very deeply.
Anyway, the king was so impressed with Daniel that he was going to make him one of the top three, and not only that, the top of the top three.
At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.” – Daniel 6:4-5
Wow – that sounds just like a modern political campaign! Imagine someone checking your high school/college records. Imagine someone talking to all of your old friends and acquaintances. Imagine someone checking your internet activities. Imagine someone checking your receipts, your financial records, your tax returns, your business receipts, and your police record. Imagine someone checking the times and locations of your phone calls, your DVD rentals, and so on and so on. This is what they did to Daniel (with slightly older technology) and they came up empty.
Now if Daniel was so great, why were they doing this? Because of jealousy, greed, and hunger for their own power. This is always how it is. And it is true for us as well. Remember Jesus’ own words:
“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also. – John 15:18-20
We’re not talking about being persecuted for being immature, or obnoxious, or breaking some little rules that you don’t think should matter. We’re talking about being persecuted for doing the right thing, for having character and actions like Daniel, character and actions beyond reproach.
So the administrators and the satraps went as a group to the king and said: “O King Darius, live forever! The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or man during the next thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into the lions’ den.”– Daniel 6:6-7
Now, somewhere in that statement is a lie, because Daniel did not agree to this. He would of course never agree to this. I would guess there was a vocal subgroup, and they had talked to some of the others and found that some agreed with them and some thought it was kind of stupid, and some others didn’t care. But the group went forward; what’s a little lie, anyway?
And it was very clever, because it is a kind of extreme flattery. “King, we love you! You’re great! Greater than the gods!” (Which wasn’t saying much given how the stories of their gods showed they were pretty wicked.) “Let us make this rule in honor of your greatness!” And this idea of worshiping a leader as a god goes both back and forward in time, from the Pharaohs, to the Caesars, even the Herods (see Acts 12), up to Japanese emperors.
“Now, O king, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” So King Darius put the decree in writing. – Daniel 6:8-9
It’s interesting that there was a degree of checks and balances on even a king, that once a decree was made in writing, even the king couldn’t undo it. As we shall see, this was a key detail for their plan. Anyway, Darius, “feeling all the love,” happily agreed.
Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. – Daniel 6:10
This may be my favorite verse of this chapter. Three times a day, every day, Daniel prays. (You see this pattern in David’s Psalm 55 too.) Now recall that Daniel was now an old man. This was a habit probably of at least decades. He had a favorite place – his upstairs room. He was apparently visible when he was up there – people could see him probably from above, on higher terraces, and they could see him get down on his knees and pray. Day after day after day. Three times, likely morning, midday, and evening.
It is an interesting detail that the windows opened toward Jerusalem. He had spent almost his whole life in Babylon, but Babylon was still not home. He was an Israelite, and home was Israel, Jerusalem, where in former times the Living Spirit resided in the Temple, where the sacrifices were kept, where the high priest entered into the Holy of Holies once a year. Daniel knew that God was God over the whole earth, but he still longed to be closer to the Living Presence of God.
And so, now there was a new law forbidding him to do this. Of course he would not stop praying. But did he have to do it so publically? Couldn’t he have just stayed in his lower residence, shut the windows or go in a closet, and pray there? Couldn’t he have just skipped the kneeling part and prayed while standing, or while sitting in a chair, or lying on bed? Yes, he could have. But he didn’t. Why?
I think it is because that would have been a victory for those opposed to Daniel’s God. I doubt Daniel’s enemies knew that being opposed to Daniel meant being opposed to his God, but that was exactly the situation. And when we live righteously for Christ, the same is true of us as well. Those who persecute Christians for their faith are persecuting God. Sometimes God responds by miraculously rescuing those who are persecuted. Sometimes God responds by giving those who are persecuted the power to stay true to Christ as they lose their lives. But God responds. We are His treasure, and nothing can snatch us out of His hand.
And, praying to God three times a day for who knows how many years, and having lived through all the things God had done for and through him in all these years, to Daniel it just didn’t seem right to “hide his lamp under his bed.” (Luke 8:16.) Whatever happened because of Daniel’s actions would happen. If he lived, he lived. If he died, he died. He left it to the Lord.
Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or man except to you, O king, would be thrown into the lions’ den?” The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” – Daniel 6:11-12
Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.” When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him. – Daniel 6:13-14
Regardless of what would happen next, do you see that God had already used this situation? The king was now aware of his former foolishness and vanity. For the rest of his life, he would remember the folly of pride. And this fruit would result whether Daniel lived or died.
We should remember this. We cannot usually predict the fruit that results from our “letting our light shine.” Even if it causes us trouble, God may use it to powerfully impact others. And ultimately this is what we are called to do – not live, but die, for Christ.
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.” – Matt. 16:24
Christ died for us so that we may live. Part of taking up our cross and following Him is dying for others so that they may live. Taking up our crosses includes taking some risks for the sake of the lost. I would not be saved, I would certainly not be here, if it were not for my friends in college who took risks with me, risks of ruining our friendships, risks of having me get angry, risks of even making enemies with me.
Then the men went as a group to the king and said to him, “Remember, O king, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.” So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!” – Daniel 6:15-16
Lions! Hungry, starving lions, raised and trained to kill people. You know that, centuries later, they still used lions for this, throwing Christians to the lions. Nobody survived this. The king’s message to Daniel was an earnest plea, but I do not think there was hope.
A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep. – Daniel 6:17-18
God is continuing to work on the king. Often the way God works is by bringing restlessness. I have prayed for restless nights for those who are close to turning to Christ. I suspect that I was prayed for in the same way – I know I experienced those restless nights.
At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?” – Daniel 6:19-20
Again, I want to emphasize the work of God on this king. What an amazing transformation has been going on in the 24 hours since the king was pleased to be worshiped for a month! And look at that phrase “servant of the living God” – that is a profession of personal faith, is it not? It is!
Daniel answered, “O king, live forever! My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in His sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king.” The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. – Daniel 6:21-23
Now, I have to stop for a moment and talk about foreshadowing. Again and again, God orchestrates real history as foreshadows, or hints, of greater true things to come. Most of these foreshadows are of Christ, of Jesus, our Savior, and there is a wonderful one here. I have to spell it out in case you missed it.
Here we have this man, who was found innocent in the sight of God. He was sentenced to death, although innocent, and put in what amounts to a tomb. Practically speaking, he was dead. Now, an angel was sent to this tomb. Not only that, but he who was dead, who must have been dead, on a morning was found not to be dead, but alive. And the one who finds this is overjoyed. Sound like anyone you know?
And, in a way, here, Daniel is a picture of the idea that Christ has conquered death, that death no longer has any hold on Him. In Daniel’s case, what if later that day, after all the celebrating has died down, Daniel went back to his upper room facing Jerusalem, and once again, begins kneeling, and praying, and giving thanks to God? Do you think Daniel’s enemies are going to go to the king again?
(Now, don’t answer if you read ahead and know the rest of this story. This is a conceptual question, OK?) Do you think they will go to the king again? No, they won’t, because that would be stupid. Not only will the king be really angry, why do they think Daniel’s God would allow him to die the next night if He didn’t allow him to die the first one? That’s just crazy. Death, death by lions, anyway, has no more hold on Daniel. And this is a foreshadowing of the wonderful truth that death no longer has any hold, ever, for eternity, on Jesus. And we, in our future wonderful resurrected perfect bodies, will also be beyond death forever.
Well, back to Daniel 6. What did happen after all the celebrating, anyway?
At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones. – Daniel 6:24
Apparently the Medes and Persians had another law, common in many cultures of those times – on account of the guilt of one person, all of that person’s family must pay. It’s harsh, yes. But it is a pretty effective deterrent, one would think. I doubt anyone else had the courage to falsely accuse Daniel of anything after that.
And I think God allowed it and used it to show that those lions weren’t just sick, or sleeping, or not hungry. This was truly a miracle.
Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations and men of every language throughout the land: “May you prosper greatly! “I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.” – Daniel 6:25-26a
“For He is the living God and He endures forever; His kingdom will not be destroyed, His dominion will never end. He rescues and He saves; He performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.”So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian. – Daniel 6:26b-28
What a testimony! Isn’t it amazing how God orchestrated events to bring Darius to a place of genuine belief and faith in God! And unlike how this took decades for Nebuchadnezzar to come around, the real crux of the conversion of Darius took one day. That is not to neglect the time, perhaps a year or two or three, prior to this, in which Darius and Daniel had begun to meet together, and over which Daniel had told him of his God, the living God, who endures forever. Those previous conversations, as well as Daniel’s impeccable character, were all necessary stepping stones towards this result.The remarkable conclusion is that Daniel led the leaders of two different empires to a personal faith in God. I don’t think this can be said of anyone else in history. What a remarkable story!
There is so much good to reflect on in the life of Daniel. His consistency from childhood into his 80s and even 90s.His single focus on only serving God and not himself.His exceptional character.His love for those who didn’t know God.His patience.His not overvaluing his own life or worrying about the cost of serving God.His consistency in prayer.His constant desire to be “home” with God. His willingness to shine God’s light. His willingness to let God defend him rather than him defending himself.
I know it may seem to be a painful thing to ask, but I want you to compare your life to Daniel’s. Where are you? Where are you spending your efforts? What is really important to you, really? What are you doing with your free time? Where is your heart? Spend a minute thinking about these questions, and then, reflect on these verses.And then, in prayer, respond to these verses as the Lord leads.
But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” – 2 Cor. 12:9
You do not have, because you do not ask God. – James 4:2b
How much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him! – Matt. 7:11b
Eventually, Nebuchadnezzar died, leaving Daniel, now a fairly old man, watching the great empire of Babylon fall in upon itself. With a succession of weaker and weaker leaders, Daniel remained but was a stranger to those in leadership, who were far more interested in wild parties than in the future of the kingdom. Finally, most of the kingdom had fallen, but Babylon, with her high walls, remained, even though it was surrounded by the armies of an up-and-coming empire, that of the Medes and Persians. One fateful night during one of these parties, a disconnected hand appeared writing strange words on a wall. No one could interpret them, so Daniel at long last was called, and he explained that they meant that this very night Babylon would fall. And this is exactly what happened. Whether through the help of traitors that opened the gates or through diverting the river that flowed into the city and entering under the walls through that muddy streambed, that very night the Mede and Persian forces swept through Babylon killing the last king of Babylon. The picture, by the way, is from a wall made at that time and shows a Mede and Persian soldier side by side.
I am sure there were many killed that night, amidst the confusion and darkness. Daniel easily could have been one of the casualties from a random arrow or spear. But he wasn’t. Although now probably in his 80s, an old man who had lived a full life, been used mightily by God, and seen multiple wondrous examples of God’s mercy and power in his own life, God was not done with him. The sun rose on a new empire that morning, and with it Daniel remained alive. God had another chapter in his life for him, and another chapter in the book of Daniel for us.
It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss. Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. – Daniel 6:1-3
So who is Darius? This passage equates him as king. There is another name associated with the king of the Mede-Persian Empire, and that is Cyrus. There are various theories about the relationship between Darius and Cyrus, and very little archaeological or other extra-biblical material to help us. The bottom line is that both names are associated with this empire at the time of Daniel. We will see them mentioned together in a way that seems to imply succession at the end of this chapter. The important thing is that Darius is the ruler here, not just of Babylon (a regional ruler) but of the entire realm. And now that he has captured Babylon, the final jewel in the belt of the Babylonian empire, it is time to build his new administration.
Creating a government for an empire isn’t easy to do from scratch, so it makes perfect sense that he looked for people who had served in the Babylonian empire but were not particularly loyal to the Babylonians. Non-Babylonian administrators who had served the Babylonians were ideal. And so Daniel’s name quite obviously came up. The king met with Daniel and many others, and apparently in the course of interviews with Daniel and with those who had worked with him, it became quickly clear that Daniel was special. He had “exceptional qualities.” What were these? It doesn’t say. But we can easily guess. He didn’t take bribes. He was fair and impartial. He worked really hard and wasn’t just a figurehead. He wasn’t ruled by emotions such as anger. He wasn’t afraid to confront a person or situation. He was good and kind. People loved working for him and he loved them back. He was wise – he made good decisions. And so on.
You know, I think it is good to think about these “exceptional qualities” and then look at ourselves in a mirror. How are we doing? There is an old song called “Dare to be a Daniel,” and the point is to be willing to stand alone. That is of course a part of the story of Daniel. But daring to be a Daniel also means to seek to grow in the qualities we are talking about here. This too is a part of the story of Daniel, one that challenges me very deeply.
Anyway, the king was so impressed with Daniel that he was going to make him one of the top three, and not only that, the top of the top three.
At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.” – Daniel 6:4-5
Wow – that sounds just like a modern political campaign! Imagine someone checking your high school/college records. Imagine someone talking to all of your old friends and acquaintances. Imagine someone checking your internet activities. Imagine someone checking your receipts, your financial records, your tax returns, your business receipts, and your police record. Imagine someone checking the times and locations of your phone calls, your DVD rentals, and so on and so on. This is what they did to Daniel (with slightly older technology) and they came up empty.
Now if Daniel was so great, why were they doing this? Because of jealousy, greed, and hunger for their own power. This is always how it is. And it is true for us as well. Remember Jesus’ own words:
“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also. – John 15:18-20
We’re not talking about being persecuted for being immature, or obnoxious, or breaking some little rules that you don’t think should matter. We’re talking about being persecuted for doing the right thing, for having character and actions like Daniel, character and actions beyond reproach.
So the administrators and the satraps went as a group to the king and said: “O King Darius, live forever! The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or man during the next thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into the lions’ den.”– Daniel 6:6-7
Now, somewhere in that statement is a lie, because Daniel did not agree to this. He would of course never agree to this. I would guess there was a vocal subgroup, and they had talked to some of the others and found that some agreed with them and some thought it was kind of stupid, and some others didn’t care. But the group went forward; what’s a little lie, anyway?
And it was very clever, because it is a kind of extreme flattery. “King, we love you! You’re great! Greater than the gods!” (Which wasn’t saying much given how the stories of their gods showed they were pretty wicked.) “Let us make this rule in honor of your greatness!” And this idea of worshiping a leader as a god goes both back and forward in time, from the Pharaohs, to the Caesars, even the Herods (see Acts 12), up to Japanese emperors.
“Now, O king, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” So King Darius put the decree in writing. – Daniel 6:8-9
It’s interesting that there was a degree of checks and balances on even a king, that once a decree was made in writing, even the king couldn’t undo it. As we shall see, this was a key detail for their plan. Anyway, Darius, “feeling all the love,” happily agreed.
Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. – Daniel 6:10
This may be my favorite verse of this chapter. Three times a day, every day, Daniel prays. (You see this pattern in David’s Psalm 55 too.) Now recall that Daniel was now an old man. This was a habit probably of at least decades. He had a favorite place – his upstairs room. He was apparently visible when he was up there – people could see him probably from above, on higher terraces, and they could see him get down on his knees and pray. Day after day after day. Three times, likely morning, midday, and evening.
It is an interesting detail that the windows opened toward Jerusalem. He had spent almost his whole life in Babylon, but Babylon was still not home. He was an Israelite, and home was Israel, Jerusalem, where in former times the Living Spirit resided in the Temple, where the sacrifices were kept, where the high priest entered into the Holy of Holies once a year. Daniel knew that God was God over the whole earth, but he still longed to be closer to the Living Presence of God.
And so, now there was a new law forbidding him to do this. Of course he would not stop praying. But did he have to do it so publically? Couldn’t he have just stayed in his lower residence, shut the windows or go in a closet, and pray there? Couldn’t he have just skipped the kneeling part and prayed while standing, or while sitting in a chair, or lying on bed? Yes, he could have. But he didn’t. Why?
I think it is because that would have been a victory for those opposed to Daniel’s God. I doubt Daniel’s enemies knew that being opposed to Daniel meant being opposed to his God, but that was exactly the situation. And when we live righteously for Christ, the same is true of us as well. Those who persecute Christians for their faith are persecuting God. Sometimes God responds by miraculously rescuing those who are persecuted. Sometimes God responds by giving those who are persecuted the power to stay true to Christ as they lose their lives. But God responds. We are His treasure, and nothing can snatch us out of His hand.
And, praying to God three times a day for who knows how many years, and having lived through all the things God had done for and through him in all these years, to Daniel it just didn’t seem right to “hide his lamp under his bed.” (Luke 8:16.) Whatever happened because of Daniel’s actions would happen. If he lived, he lived. If he died, he died. He left it to the Lord.
Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or man except to you, O king, would be thrown into the lions’ den?” The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” – Daniel 6:11-12
Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.” When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him. – Daniel 6:13-14
Regardless of what would happen next, do you see that God had already used this situation? The king was now aware of his former foolishness and vanity. For the rest of his life, he would remember the folly of pride. And this fruit would result whether Daniel lived or died.
We should remember this. We cannot usually predict the fruit that results from our “letting our light shine.” Even if it causes us trouble, God may use it to powerfully impact others. And ultimately this is what we are called to do – not live, but die, for Christ.
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.” – Matt. 16:24
Christ died for us so that we may live. Part of taking up our cross and following Him is dying for others so that they may live. Taking up our crosses includes taking some risks for the sake of the lost. I would not be saved, I would certainly not be here, if it were not for my friends in college who took risks with me, risks of ruining our friendships, risks of having me get angry, risks of even making enemies with me.
Then the men went as a group to the king and said to him, “Remember, O king, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.” So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!” – Daniel 6:15-16
Lions! Hungry, starving lions, raised and trained to kill people. You know that, centuries later, they still used lions for this, throwing Christians to the lions. Nobody survived this. The king’s message to Daniel was an earnest plea, but I do not think there was hope.
A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep. – Daniel 6:17-18
God is continuing to work on the king. Often the way God works is by bringing restlessness. I have prayed for restless nights for those who are close to turning to Christ. I suspect that I was prayed for in the same way – I know I experienced those restless nights.
At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?” – Daniel 6:19-20
Again, I want to emphasize the work of God on this king. What an amazing transformation has been going on in the 24 hours since the king was pleased to be worshiped for a month! And look at that phrase “servant of the living God” – that is a profession of personal faith, is it not? It is!
Daniel answered, “O king, live forever! My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in His sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king.” The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. – Daniel 6:21-23
Now, I have to stop for a moment and talk about foreshadowing. Again and again, God orchestrates real history as foreshadows, or hints, of greater true things to come. Most of these foreshadows are of Christ, of Jesus, our Savior, and there is a wonderful one here. I have to spell it out in case you missed it.
Here we have this man, who was found innocent in the sight of God. He was sentenced to death, although innocent, and put in what amounts to a tomb. Practically speaking, he was dead. Now, an angel was sent to this tomb. Not only that, but he who was dead, who must have been dead, on a morning was found not to be dead, but alive. And the one who finds this is overjoyed. Sound like anyone you know?
And, in a way, here, Daniel is a picture of the idea that Christ has conquered death, that death no longer has any hold on Him. In Daniel’s case, what if later that day, after all the celebrating has died down, Daniel went back to his upper room facing Jerusalem, and once again, begins kneeling, and praying, and giving thanks to God? Do you think Daniel’s enemies are going to go to the king again?
(Now, don’t answer if you read ahead and know the rest of this story. This is a conceptual question, OK?) Do you think they will go to the king again? No, they won’t, because that would be stupid. Not only will the king be really angry, why do they think Daniel’s God would allow him to die the next night if He didn’t allow him to die the first one? That’s just crazy. Death, death by lions, anyway, has no more hold on Daniel. And this is a foreshadowing of the wonderful truth that death no longer has any hold, ever, for eternity, on Jesus. And we, in our future wonderful resurrected perfect bodies, will also be beyond death forever.
Well, back to Daniel 6. What did happen after all the celebrating, anyway?
At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones. – Daniel 6:24
Apparently the Medes and Persians had another law, common in many cultures of those times – on account of the guilt of one person, all of that person’s family must pay. It’s harsh, yes. But it is a pretty effective deterrent, one would think. I doubt anyone else had the courage to falsely accuse Daniel of anything after that.
And I think God allowed it and used it to show that those lions weren’t just sick, or sleeping, or not hungry. This was truly a miracle.
Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations and men of every language throughout the land: “May you prosper greatly! “I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.” – Daniel 6:25-26a
“For He is the living God and He endures forever; His kingdom will not be destroyed, His dominion will never end. He rescues and He saves; He performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.”So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian. – Daniel 6:26b-28
What a testimony! Isn’t it amazing how God orchestrated events to bring Darius to a place of genuine belief and faith in God! And unlike how this took decades for Nebuchadnezzar to come around, the real crux of the conversion of Darius took one day. That is not to neglect the time, perhaps a year or two or three, prior to this, in which Darius and Daniel had begun to meet together, and over which Daniel had told him of his God, the living God, who endures forever. Those previous conversations, as well as Daniel’s impeccable character, were all necessary stepping stones towards this result.The remarkable conclusion is that Daniel led the leaders of two different empires to a personal faith in God. I don’t think this can be said of anyone else in history. What a remarkable story!
There is so much good to reflect on in the life of Daniel. His consistency from childhood into his 80s and even 90s.His single focus on only serving God and not himself.His exceptional character.His love for those who didn’t know God.His patience.His not overvaluing his own life or worrying about the cost of serving God.His consistency in prayer.His constant desire to be “home” with God. His willingness to shine God’s light. His willingness to let God defend him rather than him defending himself.
I know it may seem to be a painful thing to ask, but I want you to compare your life to Daniel’s. Where are you? Where are you spending your efforts? What is really important to you, really? What are you doing with your free time? Where is your heart? Spend a minute thinking about these questions, and then, reflect on these verses.And then, in prayer, respond to these verses as the Lord leads.
But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” – 2 Cor. 12:9
You do not have, because you do not ask God. – James 4:2b
How much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him! – Matt. 7:11b
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