Daniel 6

CHAPTER 6

Daniel in the Den of Lions (6:1–28)

1–9 Darius, the new king, made Daniel chief administrator of all Babylonia. The other lesser administrators became envious; they were offended that an exiled Jew should be placed over them. Therefore, they conspired to discredit Daniel in the eyes of the king and thereby cause him to lose his position.

Their plot involved forcing Daniel to choose between his loyalty to the king and his loyalty to his God. Knowing that Daniel prayed to God daily, the other administrators persuaded the king to forbid prayer to anyone but the king for a period of thirty days (verses 6–7). Naturally the king was flattered; furthermore, he was led to believe that Daniel himself had agreed with the proposal. Therefore the king unwittingly signed Daniel’s death warrant: anyone caught praying to any god or man (other than the king) would be thrown into the lions’ den. According to the law of the Medes and Persians, a royal decree put in writing could not be repealed (verse 8). Thus, even if Darius discovered the plot, he would be unable to save Daniel’s life.

10–14 The plot worked. The plotters found Daniel praying to his God and informed the king. The king was greatly distressed (verse 14); not only was he about to lose his best administrator but he also realized he had been tricked into signing the decree.

Daniel had learned about the decree (verse 10), but he still resolved to pray openly. One might ask: Why didn’t Daniel simply pray in private for thirty days? Daniel wasn’t being asked to worship another god, after all; it would have been no sin to pray in private.

But Daniel believed it would be dishonoring to God to change his prayer routine. It would show that he feared Darius more than he feared God. His fellow Jews no doubt took encouragement from seeing Daniel pray at his open window, and they would have been disheartened if he had displayed a lack of courage. Like his three friends on the way to the fiery furnace, Daniel valued his relationship with God more than life itself. Therefore, he refused to compromise.¹⁶

15–24 Daniel was thrown into the den of lions; the king could not sleep all night. The next morning the king hurried to the lions' den and called out to Daniel (verses 19–20). And Daniel answered him: “My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions” (verses 21–22). No wound was found on Daniel, because he had trusted in his God (verse 23). The overjoyed king then released Daniel and ordered that all the conspirators, together with their families, be thrown into the lions’ den (verse 24). This time, the lions’ mouths did not stay shut (see Proverbs 11:8).

25–28 King Darius then issued a new decree in which he commanded all the people in his kingdom to fear and reverence Daniel’s God¹⁷ (verse 26). The king gave three reasons: Daniel’s God was living, He was eternal, and He was able to miraculously save all those who trusted in Him (verse 27). The chapter ends with the note that Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus¹⁸ (verse 28).

Thus Daniel gained a place among the heroes of the faith listed in Hebrews Chapter 11 (Hebrews 11:33). He trusted God—no matter what the consequences. If Daniel had compromised, Darius would not have reverenced Daniel’s God, the Jewish exiles would have been disheartened, and we would not have this story to strengthen our own faith. Once again, Daniel has taught us that though God may not keep us from danger, He will be with us in danger (see Daniel 3:26–30 and comment). With David, we can say to God: Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me (Psalm 23:4). May such faith become an ever-growing reality in our lives.