Daniel 6
The Book of Daniel • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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is the last of the “stories” of Daniel interactions with the foreign court. Daniel is still in Babylon, but the Babylonian Empire has been replaced with the Medes and the Persians. Darius the Mede is in control. Darius is not named as a king of the Medes and the Persians, but he was likely someone who was ruling Babylon. There is much debate about who Darius the Mede is as a historical figure, but none of the debate affects our interpretation of the passage.
Once again, Daniel will find himself in a situation where we are left thinking, “how is God going to get Daniel out of this one?” Remember the theme of Daniel, “God is in control, despite present appearances.
1. The plot against Daniel ()
1. The plot against Daniel ()
Cyrus is the king of Persia, but there is an effort to decentralize the government through the appointment of a satrap system.
A. Daniel is one of three direct reports to Darius and 120 satraps are under the three administrators. ()
A. Daniel is one of three direct reports to Darius and 120 satraps are under the three administrators. ()
1 Darius decided to appoint 120 satraps over the kingdom, stationed throughout the realm,
2 and over them three administrators, including Daniel. These satraps would be accountable to them so that the king would not be defrauded.
B. Daniel distinguished himself from the others and the plan is to promote him. ()
B. Daniel distinguished himself from the others and the plan is to promote him. ()
3 Daniel distinguished himself above the administrators and satraps because he had an extraordinary spirit, so the king planned to set him over the whole realm.
We already know that Daniel is the best of the best and the wisest of the wise. Darius intends to promote him to lead the others.
We already know that Daniel is the best of the best and the wisest of the wise. Darius intends to promote him to lead the others.
C. Daniel’s character is above reproach. ()
C. Daniel’s character is above reproach. ()
4 The administrators and satraps, therefore, kept trying to find a charge against Daniel regarding the kingdom. But they could find no charge or corruption, for he was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was found in him.
5 Then these men said, “We will never find any charge against this Daniel unless we find something against him concerning the law of his God.”
The others wanted to find something against him. They were jealous of him and didn’t want to see him rise to the top tier of leadership, but they could find nothing. This was the original cancel culture.
D. The other officials come up with a plan to trap Daniel ()
D. The other officials come up with a plan to trap Daniel ()
6 So the administrators and satraps went together to the king and said to him, “May King Darius live forever.
7 All the administrators of the kingdom, the prefects, satraps, advisers, and governors have agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an edict that for thirty days, anyone who petitions any god or man except you, the king, will be thrown into the lions’ den.
8 Therefore, Your Majesty, establish the edict and sign the document so that, as a law of the Medes and Persians, it is irrevocable and cannot be changed.”
9 So King Darius signed the written edict.
They knew that Daniel would never betray God. They conspired and made the proposal. Notice their lie. “All have agreed”. If everyone is in agreement, then what could be the problem, right? Of course, Daniel did not know about it because he wouldn’t have agreed to it. The proposal appeals to Darius’ vanity and make him the only person to be able to represent the people to god for the stated period of time. The laws of the Medes and the Persians could not be changed. Once signed, that is the law.
2. Daniel in the Lion’s Den ()
2. Daniel in the Lion’s Den ()
A. Daniel prayed to God, as he had always done. ()
A. Daniel prayed to God, as he had always done. ()
10 When Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house. The windows in its upstairs room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before.
Daniel heard of the edict and he did what he had always done before. He went into his house, opened his window toward Jerusalem, and prayed. He did this three times a day. He doesn’t debate in his mind. He doesn’t doubt. He doesn’t worry. He prays. Why toward Jerusalem? Daniel was hoping and longing for a future when the Temple would be restored and God would once again dwell with his people. It was his regular habit. It was not rebellion or flaunting. It was business as usual.
B. Daniel is exposed and Darius is confronted. ()
B. Daniel is exposed and Darius is confronted. ()
11 Then these men went as a group and found Daniel petitioning and imploring his God.
12 So they approached the king and asked about his edict: “Didn’t you sign an edict that for thirty days any person who petitions any god or man except you, the king, will be thrown into the lions’ den?” The king answered, “As a law of the Medes and Persians, the order stands and is irrevocable.”
13 Then they replied to the king, “Daniel, one of the Judean exiles, has ignored you, the king, and the edict you signed, for he prays three times a day.”
They knew what Daniel would do and he didn’t disappoint them.
C. Darius is heartbroken. ()
C. Darius is heartbroken. ()
14 As soon as the king heard this, he was very displeased; he set his mind on rescuing Daniel and made every effort until sundown to deliver him.
Notice the contrast between how Nebuchadnezzar responded and how Darius responded. Nebuchadnezzar was furious at the 3 friends. Darius was was dismayed and tried to figure out a way to get him out of the situation, but he is trapped by his own commands.
D. Daris, reluctantly, gave the order to have Daniel thrown into the lion’s den. ()
D. Daris, reluctantly, gave the order to have Daniel thrown into the lion’s den. ()
15 Then these men went together to the king and said to him, “You know, Your Majesty, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no edict or ordinance the king establishes can be changed.”
16 So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you continually serve, rescue you!”
17 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den. The king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing in regard to Daniel could be changed.
18 Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting. No diversions were brought to him, and he could not sleep.
Darius doesn’t want to carry out the actions, but he had to do it. The commands could not be changed. Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den. Darius desired for God to rescue Daniel from the lion’s den. The stone would block the way out and the seal would ensure no one tampered with it. Darius’ concern for Daniel is obvious. He fasted and he could not eat or sleep. This is the cliff hanger. What is going to happen?
3. Daniel’s release ()
3. Daniel’s release ()
A. Darius rushed to the lion’s den to find out what happened. ()
A. Darius rushed to the lion’s den to find out what happened. ()
19 At the first light of dawn the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den.
20 When he reached the den, he cried out in anguish to Daniel. “Daniel, servant of the living God,” the king said, “has your God, whom you continually serve, been able to rescue you from the lions?”
He must have had a glimmer of hope for Daniel’s survival. He had commended Daniel to God’s protection. Would God be strong enough to deliver Daniel? Would God intervene? An interesting thing is that the lion’s den is treated as a trial of ordeal. In other words, it wasn’t an execution. It would more like, if the person is guilty, the lions will kill you. If not, the lions would not. The idea is that the gods would not allow a guilty person to go free and would rescue the innocent.
B. Daniel’s response to the king ()
B. Daniel’s response to the king ()
21 Then Daniel spoke with the king: “May the king live forever.
22 My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths; and they haven’t harmed me, for I was found innocent before him. And also before you, Your Majesty, I have not done harm.”
23 The king was overjoyed and gave orders to take Daniel out of the den. When Daniel was brought up from the den, he was found to be unharmed, for he trusted in his God.
Daniel attests to God’s involvement in the ordeal. God sent his messenger to shut the mouth of the lions and no harm had come to Daniel. Daniel didn’t have a scratch on his body. God had judged Daniel innocent of wrongdoing.
C. The accusers are judged. ()
C. The accusers are judged. ()
24 The king then gave the command, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and thrown into the lions’ den—they, their children, and their wives. They had not reached the bottom of the den before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.
The accusers are not found innocent. This is a severe punishment as it included their wives and children. I can’t figure out how this is treated like a children’s story. It is commonly understood that rulers didn’t leave survivors because they didn’t want the children and wives to be able to take revenge.
4. Darius’ decree ()
4. Darius’ decree ()
The chapter begins with a decree to direct prayers toward Darius and end with a proclamation of the power of Yahweh. Darius recognized the supremacy of Yahweh and that Yahweh is in control of all things. This is the end of the first half of Daniel.