Verses 1-3 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom; 2 And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage. 3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.
The word translated as “princes” is “achashdarpan” and it means a satrap (a provincial governor in the ancient Persian empire). The word translated as “presidents” is “carek” and it means chief overseer. So it seems that at the time of King Darius’ reign, Babylon had 120 provinces. This number is interesting in that the number 12 in Scripture refers to godly government. Remember that the Jews had been living in Babylon for many years at this point, and perhaps they were converting the pagan Babylonians to their system of worship. Not really sure, but King Darius must have heard about Daniel and his words spoken to King Belshazzar on the last night of his life, and he must have liked what he heard about Daniel and what he saw because Daniel, once again, became the main person running this Babylonian, pagan empire, second only to the king himself. God was in control.
Verse 4 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.
Once again Daniel had to face jealously and conspiracy from the native born Babylonian leaders. And once again, they could find nothing to accuse him of or with which to discredit him.
Application: It is not uncommon for the Christian believer to excel at the job and for their coworkers to resent their talents and achievements. Daniel faced this continually. But God uses the ill will of others to show His power and to provide a witnessing opportunity. Be patient and see what the LORD will do if this is a situation in your life. Nothing happens by accident to the Christian believer. There is always a divine purpose for all the trials, tribulations or good times in life.
Verses 5-9 Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God. 6 Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever. 7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. 8 Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. 9 Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.
Once again, it was Daniel’s faith in God that the rest of the ruling elite used to attempt to discredit him. They knew that under Persian law, once a king signed a decree, it could not be changed by either the king who signed it nor by anyone else. The reason for this was that it was believed that the king was a god and gods did not make mistakes, so a decree could not be reversed. So if they could make a law that Daniel would have to violate in order to remain faithful and true to God, that would be the way to discredit Daniel and to remove him from office. Notice that the men conspiring against Daniel lied to King Darius. They reported to him that ALL the presidents, etc., had consulted together. This was not true as Daniel, the number one president, had not been present when they were drafting the decree.
Verse 10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
Daniel knew that his worshiping of God was illegal for the next thirty days, but he did it anyway. Daniel did not work for the Babylonian government only and have his allegiance there. Daniel worked for God Almighty and had his allegiance in God’s kingdom. And he did not provide a closet or secret area for his worship activities but did what he had always done in the open for all to see. He trusted God. “And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, Saying, did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us. Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.” Acts 5:27-32
Application: The prophet Daniel had to make a choice between his career or job and his God. He chose the LORD. Christian believers may be faced with complying with employment requirements that are contrary to the Word of God. If they chose to be obedient to God they may lose their job. If they are obedient to the demands of their job, they lose fellowship with God. Sometimes the believer looks for a compromise that will allow both job and faith to be kept, but that only leads to a gradual decline into the things of this world. Each believer, when faced with this type of difficult decision, needs to remember the prophet Daniel and remember his resolve to obey the LORD regardless of the consequences. Then the LORD will repay the believer for any loss in employment or income and blessings will flow. Think about it.
Verses 11-13 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. 12 Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king’s decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. 13 Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.
Daniel would have remembered his three friends, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, being reported by the envious wise men to King Nebuchadnezzar, who had them thrown into a fiery furnace because they refused to worship the king’s golden image. They were set up by the use of their religious beliefs and practices and their refusal to adopt the ways of the pagans amongst whom they lived. Now Daniel was having the same type of thing happen to him. But Daniel would also remember the miraculous delivery of his friends, and so he would be able to wait upon the LORD and put his faith and trust in receiving a positive outcome.
Application: Christian believers are usually not persecuted for what they do, but are usually persecuted for what they will not do. They will not assimilate into pagan practices and culture. They will not engage in sinful behaviors. They will not deny their God and Savior and worship other gods and goddesses. They will not compromise just to get along with unbelievers.
Verse 14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.
Remember how the character of King Nebuchadnezzar was slowly revealed in the beginning chapters of this book written by the prophet Daniel? His character left a lot to be desired. But King Darius’ character being revealed in this chapter appears to be one of common sense, a willingness to admit being wrong, and compassion for his servants. He tried, in vain, to right the wrong he had caused by signing a decree that really was not needed and which really did nothing to advance his leadership or his empire. Only one person was to be hurt, and the king never wanted to have Daniel killed as he could be trusted to be working for the good of the king and because he was faithful in fulfilling his duties towards king and country.
Verses 15-17 Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed. 16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee. 17 And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.
King Darius was in a political trap. He could not break the law of the Medes and Persians as that would have brought into question his authority to rule the empire as a god, and so he could not refuse to carry out the promised capital punishment. Notice that King Darius had faith in Daniel’s God that he would be delivered from this death. Where did that faith come from? Perhaps it was from two sources. First, King Darius would have watched Daniel and listened to his words. Daniel lived by his faith in the LORD and his lifestyle was a testimony to the majesty and authority of the LORD. King Darius even stated that Daniel served his God continually. Secondly, God gave the king faith in that moment. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 King Darius hoped for the physical salvation of Daniel, even though he could not see it because the den was blocked and sealed with a stone.
Verses 18-20 Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him. 19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. 20 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?
King Darius was more concerned about the fate of Daniel than he was about his own comfort, entertainment or sleep. He fasted all night. Neither King Nebuchadnezzar or King Belshazzar were reported to engage in fasting. They were partying kings and loved to praise their multiple gods at their extravaganzas. But this Medo-Persian king was different from those that the prophet Daniel had worked for in the past. He had compassion.
Verses 21-22 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. 22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.
The saying, “king live for ever” was a cultural norm. Everyone, including the king, knew that death would come one day, but it was the standard of social behavior back in the days of these empires.
One can only imagine how Daniel spent his night in the den with the hungry lions. These animals were kept isolated and hungry so that they would kill anything that was put into their den. Daniel should have been devoured quickly, but God turned these mistreated wild cats into gentle kitties and they did not try to harm Daniel even though they were very hungry.
Verse 23 Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.
There could only be one answer for the fact than Daniel was not killed and eaten by the lions, and everyone involved in this conspiracy and in the carrying out of the sentencing of the prophet would have had to know that the God Daniel worshipped in spite of the decree was all powerful and the source of miracles.
Verse 24 And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.
The conspirators were trapped in their own plot and they received the punishment which they had tried to use against Daniel to destroy him. Unfortunately, their children and their wives who apparently were not involve in the conspiracy also paid the price and died a horrible death. “. . . The LORD, The LORD GOD, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.” Exodus 34:6-7
Application: Parents need to take heed that their sins can cause harm to their children and to their grandchildren. Just as the conspirators in this chapter of Daniel thought that their actions would result in getting rid of the man they envied and who they politically wanted to destroy, and that they would reap the benefit of their deception to the king, they did not realize that what they did would backfire and cause their deaths and the deaths of their families. What is done in secret God knows about and He will reveal it for all to see. “For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.” Luke 8:17
Verses 25-28 Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. 26 I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end. 27 He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. 28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian. (Daniel 6)
King Darius, a pagan king, understood more about the God Daniel served than most people understand today. He ordered his entire nation/empire to fear God. He knew that Daniel’s God was living and active in the lives of men and he understood that there was an everlasting Kingdom that could not be destroyed. He understood the power of God Almighty and as far as is known, he respected Daniel and his God for the remaining length of his reign over the Babylonian empire. What would the world look like today if pagan presidents, prime ministers, royal families, and other world leaders as least acknowledged the existence of God and supported His church? Think about it.