....... Chapter 6 - Daniel in the Den of Lions
....... Chapter 6 - Daniel in the Den of Lions
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Background The events of chapter 6 take place shortly after Babylon was taken over by Media-Persia. The Media-Persia empire lasted from approximately BC 539 - 360. Babylonian is now ruled by Darius the Mede who is under Cyrus the Persian in alliance with each other. This is a fulfillment of the Daniel 2 prophecy concerning the two arms of Nebuchadnezzar's image. God revealed through Isaiah (BC738 - 706) more than 160 years earlier the name of the ruler Cyrus, king of Persia-who would eventually permit the Jews' return to their land. See Isaiah 44:28, 45:1-4 Cyrus was Mede by mother, Persian by Father Darius is a common name for Medo-Persian rulers. Darius was made governor by Cyrus. It is not explicitly clear in history exactly who this was. Some of the possibilities include:
This is the last chapter of the historical section of Daniel. The remaining chapters are primarily prophetic in nature.
How old was Daniel? Probably in his 80s at this time.
Where's Daniel's three friends? The same question could be asked in chapter 4 of Daniel. There are at least a couple possibilities here. 1) A lot of time has passed and maybe Daniel's friends are no longer living. 2) Since the prime objective of the satraps is to do away with Daniel and since his friends don't appear to be much of a threat, their interest may have been limited to that of eliminating Daniel. |
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Situation Dan 6: 1 - 3 Daniel was appointed as one of three commissioners or presidents over 120 satraps (officials). A similar example of this kind of appointment can be found in Esther 1:1 with King Xerxes. It was clear that Daniel distinguished himself among the others. He possessed an extraordinary spirit and the king recognized these characteristics and planned to appoint Daniel over the entire Kingdome. Dan 6: 4 The satraps tried to find grounds for accusation against Daniel but none could be found. It is interesting when a person is placed in a position of high visibility that it is common for others to exhibit jealousy toward that person. Christians also appear to be under a lot of scrutiny from the other who are looking for where they can find fault and where they can point the finger.
Phil 2:12 - 17 12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed-- not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence-- continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. 14 Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16 as you hold out the word of life-- in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. 17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. (NIV)
Acts 24:16 "... I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.(NIV) Someone said "A conscience is something that only a good man can enjoy."
Daniel is an example of one who exhibited the principles of Philippians. The satraps couldn't find any grounds for accusation, no evidence of corruption, he was faithful and showed no evidence of negligence. |
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THE PLOT (Dan 6: 5 - 9) An Injunction was created such that anyone who makes petition to any god or man besides the king for thirty days shall be cast into the lions' den. This law was a bad law from the beginning in that it wasn't designed to be followed but instead it was designed to be broken. What makes it even more suspicious is that time for the law to be valid was limited to 30 days. This injuction was to be enforced by the laws of the Medes and Persians, which may not be revoked. Other examples of this can be found in Esther 1:19, 3:12, 8:8 and 8:10. Esth 1:19 "Therefore, if it pleases the king, let him issue a royal decree and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media, which cannot be repealed, ......." (NIV) Esth 8:8 "Now write another decree in the king's name in behalf of the Jews as seems best to you, and seal it with the king's signet ring-- for no document written in the king's name and sealed with his ring can be revoked." (NIV)
All the recorded evidence points to Darius as a good person. Why do you suppose then that king Darius accepted the recommendation of the officials for this injunction? Flattery? Darius appeared to have yielded to his weakness in this area. What about us? "A long time ago I discovered that I am not as bad as my enemies say and I am not nearly as good as my friends say that I am." McGee
DANIELS RESPONSE (Dan 6: 10)What can we learn about the character of Daniel here? Although Daniel was aware of the Injunction, as always, Daniel kneeled before God; praying and giving thanks. Isn't Daniel's actions contrary to Romans 13:1 that says "Let every person be in subjection to governing authorities..."? That is correct except for when the governing authorities are in direct violation of an even higher authority, God. Acts 4:29 "...we must obey God rather than man" It is interesting to note that the roof chamber is mentioned fairly frequently throughout the old testament as a place of prayer. See: Judges 3:20, 1 Kings 17:19, 2 Kings 4:10, Jer 23:14. Why did Daniel Pray toward Jerusalem? Isn't God the God of Heaven? King Solomon addresses this when he summoned his elders as recorded in 1 Kings 8. I King 8 27 "But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built! 29 May your eyes be open toward this temple night and day, this place of which you said, 'My Name shall be there,' so that you will hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place. 30 Hear the supplication of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive. (NIV) 44 "When your people go to war against their enemies, wherever you send them, and when they pray to the LORD toward the city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name, 45 then hear from heaven their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause. 46 "When they sin against you-- for there is no one who does not sin-- and you become angry with them and give them over to the enemy, who takes them captive to his own land, far away or near; 47 and if they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their conquerors and say, 'We have sinned, we have done wrong, we have acted wickedly'; 48 and if they turn back to you with all their heart and soul in the land of their enemies who took them captive, and pray to you toward the land you gave their fathers, toward the city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name; 49 then from heaven, your dwelling place, hear their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause. 50 And forgive your people, who have sinned against you; forgive all the offenses they have committed against you, and cause their conquerors to show them mercy; 51 for they are your people and your inheritance, whom you brought out of Egypt, out of that iron-smelting furnace. (NIV)
Ps 5:7 "But I, by your great mercy, will come into your house; in reverence will I bow down toward your holy temple." (NIV)
Also see II Chronicles 6
Ps 55:17 (three times a day)17 Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and He hears my voice. (NIV)
How does this principle relate to us today? Jesus addresses this question in His conversation with the women at the well in John 4. |
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John 4 20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem." 21 Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."(NIV)
SATRAP'S PLOT CONTINUES (Dan 6: 11 - 13) Satraps came by agreement to catch Daniel in the act. When they caught him in the act they told the King.
KINGS RESPONSE (Dan 6: 14 - 15)What kind of impact did Daniel's life have on the King? It can be seen from the text that Daniel's life had a significant impact on the King. The king also realized that it was due to his lack of discernment that an innocent man was about to be destroyed. The king was distressed and set his mind to deliver Daniel.
THE KING WAS FORCED TO TAKE ACTION (Dan 6: 16 - 18)Daniel was cast into the lions' den and the King Said: "Your God whom you constantly serve will Himself deliver you".
THE NEXT MORNING (Dan 6: 19 - 25)King: "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you constantly serve, been able to deliver you from the lions?" vs 20 Daniel: "O king, liver forever! My God sent His angel and shut the lions' moths, and they have not harmed me, inasmuch as I was found innocent before Him; and also toward you, O king, I have committed no crime." vs 22 As was the case in Daniel 3, once again God sends His angel to rescue His servant. Dan 3:28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. (NIV) Ps 91:11 "For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;" (NIV)
NEW DECREE (Dan 6: 24 - 28)Dan 6 25 Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations and men of every language throughout the land: "May you prosper greatly! 26 "I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. "For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. 27 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." (NIV)
Daniel 5:24 points out that our life and breath is in God's hand. How does this fact in the light of chapter 6 affect our perspective on honor and obedience to God?
Most of Daniel's life from a teen age boy to that of an old man was spent in the palace of pagan kings. When it comes to our walk with God, which is more dangerous; the Lions' den or the palace of the pagan kings?
1 Peter 5 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen. (NIV)
Psalm 1 1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. (NIV) |
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