VI. Daniel in the Lions’ Den (Daniel 6:1-28)

VI. Daniel in the Lions’ Den (6:1-28)

6:1-3 Daniel was a godly and capable leader because his first allegiance was to his heavenly King. He wasn’t primarily serving human rulers, but rather serving God (see Col 3:23). King Darius had the good sense to make Daniel one of the top three administrators (6:1-2), and Daniel proved to be so exceptional that the king planned to set him over the whole realm (6:3). Yet, neither Daniel nor the king realized what lay ahead for this faithful kingdom man.

6:4-5 Daniel’s faithfulness stirred up jealousy against him among the other government officials. They hated him—not because he was evil—but because he was good. This is often the response of the wicked toward the righteous. Why did Cain murder Abel? “Because [Cain’s] deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous” (1 John 3:12).

The officials tried to find a charge against Daniel (6:4), but he had been serving in the Babylonian government for almost forty years by this point, and his ethical record was spotless. So, what was plan B? They tried to find something against him concerning the law of his God (6:5). Consider yourself blessed if the only thing your enemies can say about you is that you’re too faithful to God.

6:6-9 It’s interesting that Daniel’s life had been such a consistent testimony to his faith in God that these officials apparently knew about his prayer routine. We can assume this because of the suggestion they made to Da-rius (6:7). It was a brilliant scheme in that it appealed to the king’s ego. They essentially said, “Your Majesty, we think it would be a great idea for you to declare yourself ‘God for a month,’ having all petitions directed to you.” And when Darius signed the written edict, it became an irrevocable law (6:8-9).

6:10 Daniel didn’t disappoint his enemies. They knew he would be true to his God, and he was. Notice that Daniel didn’t make a big deal out of his opposition to the unfair edict or flaunt his prayers. He simply went home and prayed just as he had done before, with his windows opened toward Jerusalem. No earthly commands could prevent him from fulfilling his heavenly duties. His attitude was the same as that of the apostles many years later: “We must obey God rather than people” (Acts 5:29). Daniel was unflappable in his faith.

6:11-18 Daniel’s accusers may have been cowardly plotters, but they had the powerful law of the Medes and the Persians behind them (6:12). They informed the king about Daniel, and the king immediately realized he’d been set up (6:13-14). Though he made every effort to set Daniel free, he could not break his own law (6:14-15). He’d been duped into executing his best administrator!

Beaten, Darius had Daniel thrown into the lions’ den (6:16). Then, he spent a sleepless night fasting (6:18). Like Nebuchadnezzar, Darius even paid homage to the true God and declared to the prisoner, May your God, whom you continually serve, rescue you! (6:16). A pagan king who had never worshiped the Lord before was suddenly giving him glory in hopes that he would deliver his servant.

6:19-22 The next morning, nobody was happier over Daniel’s survival than King Darius. At the miracle, he clearly realized that Daniel’s God was wholly unlike gods of wood and stone. Daniel’s God was not to be messed with. Daniel replied to him that God’s angel had shut the lions’ mouths because he was innocent. Then Daniel reminded the king, Before you . . . I have not done harm (6:22), essentially saying, “Your Majesty, the only thing I was ‘guilty’ of was being faithful to my God.”

6:23-28 Darius was deeply relieved to have Daniel out of the den, and he vented his displeasure against those men who had maliciously accused Daniel (6:23-24). His gruesome judgment was typical of the vengeance taken by kings in the ancient world.

Darius’s decree honoring the true God is a theological gem that sounds like it could have been written by one of the psalmists. Once again, as Nebuchadnezzar had (3:29; 4:3, 34-35), this Gentile ruler gave glory to the living God who rescues and delivers and whose kingdom will never be destroyed (6:26-27). The Jewish people may have been in exile, but God had not abandoned them; moreover, he was determined to receive praise from their captors. Thus, Daniel continued to prosper under Gentile rulers (6:28)—a reminder to the Jewish readers of his book to be faithful to God while Israel was under Gentile domination.