Daniel in the lions’ den
6
📚It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom a hundred and twenty satraps, who would be over the whole kingdom, 2 📚and over these, three presidents, of whom Daniel was one 📖, so that the satraps might be accountable to them, and the king might not suffer loss.6:2 No doubt Daniel came to his notice because of the position he already occupied (Dan 5:29).⚜
3 📚Then this Daniel distinguished himself among the presidents and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king considered setting him over the whole realm. 4 📚Then the presidents and satraps sought to find a matter for an accusation against Daniel concerning the kingdom. but they could find no such matter or fault, because he was faithful, and no error or corruption 📖 was found in him.
5 📚Then these men said, “We will not find any matter against this Daniel, unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God”.
6 📚Then these presidents and satraps came together to the king, and said this to him, “King Darius, live forever! 7 📚All 📖 the presidents of the kingdom, the governors and the satraps, the counsellors and the commanders, have consulted together about establishing a royal law and making a firm decree, that whoever makes a prayer to any God or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, will be thrown into the den of lions. 8 📚Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the document, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which is unalterable”. 9 📚Therefore King Darius signed the document containing the decree.
Daniel’s faithfulness in prayer
10 📚Now when Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went into his house, and the windows in his room being open toward Jerusalem, he got down on his knees three times a day, and prayed and gave thanks 📖 in the presence of his God, just as he did before.
6:10 Daniel did not close the windows and resort to secret prayer. In his faithfulness to God and courage in the face of danger he was an example not only to those of his own day but to all succeeding generations. If he considered something right to do, he did it regardless of consequences.⚜
11 📚Then these men came together, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.
The punishment
12 📚Then they approached the king and spoke concerning the king’s decree: “Did you not sign a decree stating that every man who requests anything from any God or man for thirty days, except from you, O king, will be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The statement is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which is unalterable”.
13 📚Then they answered and said to the king, “That Daniel, who is one of those captives from Judah, shows no regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you signed, but makes his prayer three times a day”. 14 📚Then the king, when he heard these words, was deeply distressed 📖, and set his heart on Daniel to rescue him; and he made efforts until sunset to rescue him.
15 📚Then these men came together to the king, and said to the king, “Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is this: no decree or statute which the king establishes may be changed”.
16 📚Then the king gave an order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the den of lions. Now the king spoke and said to Daniel, “Your God whom you serve continually, will rescue you”.
6:16 Verse 20. Another testimony to Daniel’s character (v 4).⚜
17 📚And a stone was brought, and laid on the den’s mouth, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring, and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that the purpose concerning Daniel might not be changed. 18 📚Then the king went to his palace, and spent the night fasting; nor were instruments of music brought before him; and his sleep left him.
God’s protection
19 📚Then the king arose very early in the morning, and hurried to the den of lions. 20 📚And when he came to the den, he cried out with an anguished voice to Daniel. And the king spoke and said to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God 📖, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”
21 📚Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! 22 📚My God has sent his angel, and has shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his presence. And also I have done no wrong before you, O king”.
23 📚Then the king was exceedingly glad for him, and gave orders to take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury at all was found on him, because he had trusted 📖 in his God.
24 📚And the king gave orders, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel and threw them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives. And the lions overpowered them, and broke all their bones in pieces before they got to the bottom of the den.
The result
25 📚Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and those of all languages who live on the whole earth: “Peace be multiplied to you. 26 📚I issue a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. “For he is the living God, and continues on forever, and his kingdom will not be destroyed, and his dominion will be to the end.
27 📚He delivers and rescues, and he performs signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions”.
6:25-27 Because of Daniel, some of the mightiest monarchs in ancient times wrote down professions of faith in the greatness of the God of Israel, and sent them everywhere. This is an example of what one man can do who boldly and openly stands for God in all circumstances. King Darius meant well in making this decree (v 26). He was trying to turn his whole kingdom to thoughts of the God of Daniel. It seems he little realized that fear and reverence for God cannot be a matter of a proclamation of a king no matter how powerful. These things must come from the heart made new by God’s Spirit.⚜
28 📚So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus 📖 the Persian.