“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.”

Daniel 6:26 (KJV)

The story

The chapter opens with administration rather than drama. It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, and over these three presidents, of whom Daniel was first, so that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage. Daniel is an exile serving a pagan administration with evident competence, and the text is careful to say why he rises: this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him. Faithfulness here is not withdrawal from public life but excellence within it. Daniel 6:1-3

Envy follows promotion. The presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom, and their investigation returns nothing: they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. The verdict is delivered by hostile witnesses conducting an audit, which makes it worth more than a friendly testimonial. Their own conclusion is the sharpest praise in the chapter: We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God. Daniel 6:4-5

Unable to find a conflict, they manufacture one. They come to the king with a claim of unanimity that quietly excludes the kingdom's most senior official, and propose that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. The trap is built on two things: the king's appetite for honour, and a legal principle he cannot later escape. 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. Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree. Daniel 6:6-9

Daniel's response is the theological centre of the chapter, and its restraint is the point. 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. He does not increase his praying to make a statement, nor reduce it to survive. The phrase as he did aforetime rules out both defiance and compromise: the decree simply does not alter a practice that predates it. He also gave thanks, which is remarkable given what the signature has just cost him. Daniel 6:10-11

The accusers proceed with legal care, first securing the king's confirmation of the decree in the abstract, then naming Daniel and framing him as an ungrateful foreigner: that Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king. 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. His power is real and useless. Daniel is cast into the den; the king, of all people, preaches the sermon, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee; and a stone is sealed with the king's own signet, that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel. Daniel 6:12-17

The night is described from the palace, not the den. The king passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him. At dawn he goes in haste and cries with a lamentable voice, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? Daniel answers with composure and gives God the credit while stating his own case honestly: 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. He is taken up with no manner of hurt found upon him, because he believed in his God. Darius then writes to all people, nations, and languages, confessing the God of Daniel as the living God, and stedfast for ever, whose kingdom shall not be destroyed. Daniel 6:18-28

Quiz

1. What administrative reason is given for the three presidents?

   • To collect tribute
   • That the princes might give accounts, and the king should have no damage
   • To command the armies
   • To judge disputes among the people

2. What quality is named as the reason for Daniel's preferment?

   • An excellent spirit was in him
   • His noble birth
   • His age
   • His wealth

3. What did the investigation into Daniel's conduct produce?

   • Minor irregularities
   • Evidence of bribery
   • None occasion nor fault
   • A confession

4. What did the conspirators say was the only possible ground of accusation?

   • His foreign birth
   • The law of his God
   • His friendship with the king
   • His refusal to marry

5. On what two things does the trap depend?

   • The king's honour and a decree that cannot be altered
   • The lions and the darkness
   • Money and soldiers
   • A false witness and a forged letter

6. What phrase shows Daniel's practice was unchanged by the decree?

   • With a loud voice
   • In the sight of the princes
   • As he did aforetime
   • Seven times a day

7. What did Daniel do in addition to praying at his window?

   • He fasted
   • He gave thanks before his God
   • He wrote to the king
   • He summoned the presidents

8. How did the accusers characterise Daniel to the king?

   • As one of the captivity of Judah who regardeth not the king nor his decree
   • As a sorcerer
   • As a thief of the treasury
   • As an idle official

9. What was the king's response on hearing the accusation?

   • He rejoiced
   • He was sore displeased with himself and laboured till sundown to deliver Daniel
   • He signed a second decree
   • He imprisoned the accusers

10. Why was the stone sealed with the signets of the king and his lords?

    • To keep the lions in
    • To mark the hour
    • That the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel
    • To honour Daniel

11. What reason does Daniel give for the lions' mouths being shut?

    • The lions were old
    • Before God innocency was found in him
    • He had fed them
    • The angel frightened them

12. What does Darius confess about the God of Daniel in his decree?

    • That he is one god among many
    • That he is the god of Judah only
    • That he is the living God, stedfast for ever, whose kingdom shall not be destroyed
    • That he is unknowable

Reflection

1. A hostile audit by men motivated to destroy Daniel could find no error or fault in him. Consider what a similar investigation of your work, finances, and dealings would surface. Where would integrity hold, and where are you relying on nobody looking closely?
2. Daniel changed nothing when the decree was signed. Notice that his courage in the crisis was simply the continuation of a habit formed long before it. What practices are you establishing now, in conditions of safety, that would still be standing if obedience suddenly became costly?
3. Darius held absolute power and could not save the one man he wanted to save, because he had bound himself. Where have you accepted an arrangement, commitment, or identity that flattered you at the time and has since narrowed what you are free to do?
4. Daniel prayed with his windows open toward a ruined Jerusalem, staking his daily practice on a promise that circumstances appeared to have falsified. What promise of God are you tempted to treat as expired because the evidence currently runs against it?

Cross references

Hebrews 11:33

Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

1 Peter 5:8

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: