*Daniel 6:1-28
King Darius’s jealous advisors trick him into throwing Daniel into a lions’ den, but Daniel is miraculously saved because of his faith in God.
- Daniel’s High Position:
- The passage begins with King Darius appointing 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, with three administrators over them, one of whom is Daniel.
- Daniel distinguishes himself by his exceptional qualities, prompting the king to consider setting him over the entire kingdom.
- Conspiracy Against Daniel:
- The other administrators and satraps, out of jealousy, seek to find grounds for charges against Daniel concerning his conduct of government affairs but are unable to do so because he is trustworthy.
- They conspire to use Daniel’s faith against him, convincing King Darius to issue a decree that anyone who prays to any god or human other than the king during the next thirty days shall be thrown into the lions’ den.
- Daniel’s Faithfulness:
- Despite the decree, Daniel continues his practice of praying three times a day, giving thanks to God with his windows open toward Jerusalem.
- The conspirators catch Daniel in the act of praying and report it to the king, reminding him that the decree cannot be altered according to the law of the Medes and Persians.
- King Darius’ Dilemma:
- Distressed, King Darius tries to find a way to rescue Daniel, but the conspirators insist on enforcing the decree.
- Reluctantly, the king orders Daniel to be thrown into the lions’ den, expressing hope that Daniel’s God will deliver him.
- Daniel in the Lions’ Den:
- A stone is placed over the mouth of the den, and the king seals it with his own signet ring and those of his nobles, ensuring that Daniel’s situation cannot be changed.
- King Darius spends a restless night, unable to eat or sleep, deeply concerned for Daniel’s fate.
- Daniel’s Deliverance:
- At dawn, King Darius hurries to the lions’ den and calls out to Daniel, anxiously asking if his God has rescued him.
- Daniel responds that God sent His angel to shut the mouths of the lions because he was found innocent in God’s sight, and he has done no wrong before the king.
- King Darius’ Decree:
- Overjoyed, King Darius orders Daniel to be lifted out of the den, finding him unharmed because he had trusted in his God.
- The king commands that the men who falsely accused Daniel, along with their families, be thrown into the lions’ den, where they are immediately overpowered by the lions.
- Proclamation of God’s Power:
- King Darius issues a decree to all peoples, nations, and languages, declaring that Daniel’s God is the living God, enduring forever, and His kingdom will not be destroyed.
- He acknowledges God’s power to rescue and save, performing signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, as demonstrated by Daniel’s deliverance from the lions’ den.
Daniel 6:1-28 teaches us to stay faithful to God, no matter what. Daniel continued to pray to God even when it was illegal, and because of his faith, God protected him in the lion’s den. This reminds us that we should trust God and do what is right, even when it’s hard. Sometimes we may face challenges for our beliefs, but God is always with us. Like Daniel, we can be bold in our faith, knowing that God is our protector and will take care of us.
Daniel 6:1-28 (WEB)
6:1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred twenty local governors, who should be throughout the whole kingdom; 2 and over them three presidents, of whom Daniel was one, that these local governors might give account to them, and that the king should suffer no loss. 3 Then this Daniel was distinguished above the presidents and the local governors, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.4 Then the presidents and the local governors sought to find occasion against Daniel as touching the kingdom; but they could find no occasion or fault, because he was faithful. There wasn’t any error or fault found in him. 5 Then these men said, “We won’t find any occasion against this Daniel, unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.”6 Then these presidents and local governors assembled together to the king, and said this to him, “King Darius, live forever! 7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the deputies and the local governors, the counselors and the governors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a strong decree, that whoever asks a petition of any god or man for thirty days, except of you, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. 8 Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, that it not be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which doesn’t alter.” 9 Therefore King Darius signed the writing and the decree.10 When Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house (now his windows were open in his room toward Jerusalem) and he kneeled on his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did before. 11 Then these men assembled together, and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his God. 12 Then they came near, and spoke before the king concerning the king’s decree: “Haven’t you signed a decree that every man who makes a petition to any god or man within thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?”The king answered, “This thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which doesn’t alter.”13 Then they answered and said before the king, “That Daniel, who is of the children of the captivity of Judah, doesn’t respect you, O king, nor the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.” 14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was very displeased, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored until the going down of the sun to rescue him.15 Then these men assembled together to the king, and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians, that no decree nor statute which the king establishes may be changed.”16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. The king spoke and said to Daniel, “Your God whom you serve continually, he will deliver you.”17 A stone was brought, and laid on the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. 18 Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting. No musical instruments were brought before him; and his sleep fled from him.19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste to the den of lions. 20 When he came near to the den to Daniel, he cried with a troubled voice. The king spoke and said to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, is your God, whom you serve continually, able to deliver you from the lions?”21 Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! 22 My God has sent his angel, and has shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not hurt me, because innocence was found in me before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.”23 Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.24 The king commanded, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions—them, their children, and their wives; and the lions mauled them, and broke all their bones in pieces before they came to the bottom of the den.25 Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages who dwell in all the earth:“Peace be multiplied to you.26 “I make a decree that in all the dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel.“For he is the living God,and steadfast forever.His kingdom is that which will not be destroyed.His dominion will be even to the end.27 He delivers and rescues.He works signs and wonders in heaven and in earth,who has 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.