Daniel 6: Daniel In The Lion's Den

Chapter 6: Daniel In The Lion's Den

v1-v9: Daniel Was Betrayed

Darius, the first ruler of Babylon from Mede-Persia, appointed 120 satraps to administer each of the provinces of the Persian empire. They are similar to the current MPs or Mayors. 

Daniel was one of the three high level officers whom the satraps report to and to give account so that there no financial losses to the king. Daniel was already 80 years old. Daniel distinguished himself and was highly esteemed among all the officials as he has an excellent spirit. The king planned to make him the overall leader of the kingdom, much like the prime minister. 

However the high officials became jealous of Daniel and collaborated with the satraps to find something to complain about Daniel. However they can't find anything wrong with Daniel as he was faithful and honest to the king. 

They came up with a plan to take advantage of Daniel's faithfulness and his worship to God. They convinced Darius to sign an ordinance and enforce an injunction, that whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days shall be cast into the den of lions. In other words, for thirty days, Darius will be the God of Babylon Empire. This will also help to unite all the people in Babylon to conform to the new empire. 

They lied to Darius that all the governors have agreed to it, as Daniel was not consulted. The king signed it. In the Mede-Persians law, once the king made a decree, it cannot be change, even by the king himself. 

v10-24: Daniel in the Lion's Den

When Daniel found out about this injunction, he went home and kneel down and prayed to God. He had opened the window that faces Jerusalem, in obedience to 1 kings 8, to pray towards Jerusalem. His faithfulness to God is open and transparent to everyone. 

Are we open to all our friends and colleagues that we are a Christian? Will we bow to pray during lunch when they are there among us? Or do we hide our faith as we are embarrassed about it?  And when we are in trouble, who is the first person we tell? Most of us will use our own mind and logic to avoid it, or speak to a friend for help. However, Daniel went home to his house and prayed to God. 

His enemies went together to watch what Daniel did, and reported it to the king Darius. When Darius heard it, he was distressed as he admired Daniel. He tried to come up with an excuse to rescue Daniel. However, the men remind him that he cannot change the ordinance established by the king. 

Darius had no choice but to give the order to put Daniel in the den of lions. They threw him in and put a stone cover over the mouth of the den.  Darius said to Daniel, that he hope that the God Daniel believe in will deliver him. 

Darius went back to his palace but couldn't eat nor sleep. In the next morning, Darius hurried to the den and call to Daniel to see if he is still alive, and whether his God has saved him. To his amazement, Daniel replied that God has sent angels to shut the mouth of the lions, for God has found no wrong in Daniel.  Darius was overjoyed and ask his men to lift Daniel out of the den. Daniel did not have any wounds on him at all. It appears that Daniel had a better night than king Darius!

Darius put all the conspirators into the den instead, together with their wives and children. 

v25-28: Darius honors God

Darius learnt a lesson from this event, and he wrote to everyone in his land, to decree that all must tremble in fear to the God of Daniel. He wrote this praise: 

"For He is the living God, and He endures forever; His kingdom will never be destroyed, and His dominion will never end. He delivers and rescues; He performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth, for He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.”  (v26-27)

Daniel continued to prosper during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.