I have been reviewing the book of Daniel, in pursuit of my interest in prophecy. However, chapter 6 caught my attention. If you grew up in a Christian home, you inevitably have heard the story of “Daniel in the lion’s den”. It is a great story for children as most kids are fascinated with animals, especially lions. The story of God saving Daniel from the lion's den is timeless and is precious to all that endears the Christian faith. Nevertheless, beyond more than a mere glance, if a deeper exposition is given to this chapter, we see that it illuminates the astounding influence faith, character and devotion to God can have on a nation. A little background information is helpful before we begin. We have King Darius (of the Medo-Persia empire) running the world kingdom after Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had passed on, here we find Daniel a much older man, still in servitude as a key government official despite these regime changes:
1 It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, 2 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. 3 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. 4 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. 5 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."
1 It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, 2 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. 3 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. 4 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. 5 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."
A quick definition of the word satrap:
Sa-trap
1 : the governor of a province in ancient Persia
Satrap was a governor of a state, like South Carolina, Georgia, or Florida. But unlike the U.S.A, President Darius had a one level above the governors, a regional head. Daniel was one of the regional heads, and he would be in charge of the southeast United States following our example. But President Darius saw that Daniel was an exceptional individual with work ethic and character that was so attractive to the President that he was about to make Daniel the Vice President (with power) over the entire nation!
Daniel’s co-workers were not so good; in fact they were “down right” evil. They did not want Darius to make Daniel the Vice President, so they tried to discredit him, but they could not find anything wrong with him, in terms of his character and his work ethic.
Let’s continue our excursion in Scripture:
6 So the administrators and the satraps went as a group to the king and said: "O King Darius, live forever! 7 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. 8 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." 9 So King Darius put the decree in writing.
6 So the administrators and the satraps went as a group to the king and said: "O King Darius, live forever! 7 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. 8 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." 9 So King Darius put the decree in writing.
Daniel’s political enemies knew Daniel’s lifestyle. They saw him conduct his lifestyle in an honorable manner, plus they saw him worshipping God daily from his roof top apartment. They knew that he would never defile himself by worshipping anything or anyone other than his God. They devised a perfect trap. They convinced the king that he, Darius was like a god, and that no one should pray to any other gods or God, except to Darius for the next 30 days. It interesting to analyze why Darius thought this may have been a good suggestion, but we will never really know. Any king that desires to have a good administration, such as putting Daniel in charge, perhaps isn’t evil at the core of his heart. It is clear that he had a measure of wisdom when he desired to put a righteous man like Daniel in charge. However, he may have thought that it was good idea to get his subjects to obey the laws of the land by enacting them to worship him – I don’t know, I am just guessing. Later we see that he regrets this deeply. At any rate, Darius agrees and finalizes the law by putting it into writing. Apparently in ancient Persia, when a king decrees a new law and puts it into writing, there is no repeal of this decree. The trap was set! But God’s hand was on this as He put a 30 day limit to this wicked scheme.
10 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. 11 Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. 12 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."
13 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." 14 When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.
15 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."
16 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!"
10 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. 11 Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. 12 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."
13 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." 14 When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.
15 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."
16 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 learns about the decree. What does he do? He does the very thing his enemies wanted, he prayed to his God, sealing his death sentence. “Practical “Christianity would perhaps have suggested that he should have closed his windows, or prayed in his bathroom privately. After all it was only for 30 days and he can "play the game" for that long. And not to mention God is a God of love, and filled with grace, surely He would understand that under the circumstances, it would be just fine if Daniel prayed in hiding or even stopped praying for a little while.
A modern day example is: we are comfortable carrying our bibles to church on Sunday or praying before we eat in restaurants in America, but how about doing this in Iran (incidently is ancient Persia)? Would we change our behavior because of fear or do we continue our devotion in faith? Daniel continued in faith. In fact it was his faith that prevented him from changing his behavior. His faith was expressed through relentless devotion!
When the king realized his mistake and understood the trap was for favorite future VP Daniel, he was very upset. Amazingly, he was powerless to do anything about this. God orchestrated a 30 day moratorium on Darius’ power through the wicked plans of Satan, to show Darius that God alone could save Daniel.
Let’s read on from Scripture:
17 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. 18 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.
19 At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions' den. 20 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?"
21 Daniel answered, "O king, live forever! 22 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."
23 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.
Darius the king had a rougher night in the gold-crested, silver lined, sweet aroma filled king’s chamber, than Daniel the servant in a dungeon with lions! Imagine if you were Daniel, you should be dead, but there you are patting these big kitties – that would be way too cool than a restless night! How much stronger will your faith be? How much more in love with God will you be? God was Daniel's shield and armor. Only because of faith, did Daniel experience God in a greater and profound way.
The joy was also shared by king Darius when he found Daniel totally unhurt. Daniel had no anger or bitterness against the king, he affirms his loyalty to his God, and his honesty to his boss. I would have loved to have witnessed the joy Darius and Daniel felt when God performed this miracle.
24 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.
25 Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations and men of every language throughout the land:
"May you prosper greatly!
"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.
"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."
he performs signs and wonders
in the heavens and on the earth.
He has rescued Daniel
from the power of the lions."
28 So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus [a] the Persian.
The consequences of evil doers goes beyond them, it effects their families as well. They and their families died a horrific death by the same lions. They had hoped to remove Daniel but they were removed. Darius, clearly now a believer, gives glory to God and issued a decree that all people in his kingdom acknowledge and worship the God of Daniel.
The consequences of evil doers goes beyond them, it effects their families as well. They and their families died a horrific death by the same lions. They had hoped to remove Daniel but they were removed. Darius, clearly now a believer, gives glory to God and issued a decree that all people in his kingdom acknowledge and worship the God of Daniel.
What can you learn from this spiritual ancestor of ours who lived in a very dark religious era some 2600 years ago? If we had faith like this and lived it out without compromise, we will change America. Faith draws God’s attention and causes Him to act in and through us, and miracles happen. A nation, a community or perhaps just one person will say “The God of those Christians is the TRUE living God”.
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