Daniel 6

Daniel gives Belshazzar the interpretation of the handwriting on the wall, he was clothed in purple, a gold chain put around his neck, and he was proclaimed the third ruler in the kingdom. That night, the Medes attacked and Belshazzar was killed. Darius received the kingdom when he was around 62 years old. And now, one of the most recognized stories in the Bible is told.

Rise In Kingdom

Daniel 6:1–4 ESV

1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps, to be throughout the whole kingdom; 2 and over them three high officials, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss. 3 Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. 4 Then the high officials and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him.

God saw fit for Darius, the Mede, to put Daniel in another place of authority.

*side note* The Archaeology Study Bible states “The identity of Darius the Mede is a historical problem that awaits resolution. No ruler by that name is known outside the Bible and related works, though several have suggested connections to known figures from history. Many who date the writing of Daniel to several centuries after the book’s events suggest that the author mistakenly assigned the events of Ch. 6 to Darius I (or Darius the Great), who ruled Persia at its peak (522-486 BC). This would be too late for Ch. 6, which describes events that took palce c. 539 BC. Others suggest “Darius the Mede” was the general who led the conquest of the city and ruled the region afterward. If correct, Darius would be an alternate name, as the general is galled “Gubaru” or “Ugbaru” in the Babylonian Chronicles and “Gobrias” by the Greek historian Xenophon. Still others posit that “Darius the Mede” is an alternatename for Cyrus the Great, king of Persia. The text in 6:28 may explain just that if the connective “and” in “Darius and Cyrus” is translated “Darius, that is Cyrus” instead, as in 1 Chronicles 5:26

1 Chronicles 5:26 CSB

26 So the God of Israel roused the spirit of King Pul (that is, Tiglath-pileser) of Assyria, and he took the Reubenites, Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh into exile. He took them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and Gozan’s river, where they are until today.

Satraps were governors over provinces in the Persian Empire, think of mayors over towns/cities. The overseers were on the lines of Governors, overseeing 40 of these satraps. Now, the king recognizes Daniel’s leadership abilities, the fact no one could find any fault against him, and planned to put him over all the empire.

The Trap Is Set

Daniel 6:5–9 ESV

5 Then these men said, “We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.” 6 Then these high officials and satraps came by agreement to the king and said to him, “O King Darius, live forever! 7 All the high officials of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an injunction, that whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. 8 Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be revoked.” 9 Therefore King Darius signed the document and injunction.

Wouldn’t it be awesome if we were known as someone who no ground of complaint could be said against, unless it was connected with God? Instead, we should expect to be targeted for being a follower of Jesus, the same way Daniel is being targeted here. Genesis 3:15 tells us of continued turmoil and conflict between God’s people and satan.

Genesis 3:15 ESV

15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

Jesus warned his disciples about persecution. Before he went to the cross—where the ultimate persecution took place, where the serpent struck the heel of the Seed—Jesus said the world will hate his followers and persecute us.

Daniel’s enemies were frustrated at being unable to find any act of corruption or negligence in his service to the king. He was a man of absolute integrity (cf. 1 Tim 3:1–2). His track record was spotless. However, there might be one area of his life where they could trap him: his faith and devotion to his God (v. 5). If it comes down to honoring the law of his God or the “law of the Medes and Persians” (v. 8), we know what he will choose!

So these political rivals laid aside their own differences, closed ranks, hatched a plan, and went for the jugular of the man of God. They planned to set him up. (The foreshadowing of Herod and Pilate in executing our Savior is too obvious to miss.) The conspirators came to Darius and presented a united front, beginning with the usual words of royal exaggeration, “May King Darius live forever.” Of course, only one King will live forever, and his name is not Darius.

They persuaded the king to sign their declaration into law “so that, as a law of the Medes and Persians, it is irrevocable and cannot be changed” (v. 8). Playing on the arrogance and pride of Darius worked, as it so often does with sinful men and women. Vanity is a vice that will make you act like a fool, and Darius played the fool. Verse 9 is simple and straightforward: “So King Darius signed the written edict.” Flattering the king and stroking his ego worked. The trap was set.

Trap Door Sprung

Daniel 6:10–15 ESV

10 When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. 11 Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and plea before his God. 12 Then they came near and said before the king, concerning the injunction, “O king! Did you not sign an injunction, that anyone who makes 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 and said, “The thing stands fast, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked.” 13 Then they answered and said before the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or the injunction you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.” 14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was much distressed and set his mind to deliver Daniel. And he labored till the sun went down to rescue him. 15 Then these men came by agreement to the king and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or ordinance that the king establishes can be changed.”

Daniel, even knowing the document had been signed, would not be kept from worshiping God in his upper window, facing Jerusalem. Notice how this is described, and I think we should pay close attention, “He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously”. The REASON his enemies knew they could trap him is BECAUSE of his faithful track record to specifically stop what he was doing and pray to God.

Dr. Danny Akin states “Christian character is not forged in the moment of adversity. Christian character is revealed in the moment of adversity”. John Piper calls this “daring, defiant, disciplined prayer,” noting that Daniel’s public praying was not for prideful show but for public testimony. It was “a public statement about the glory of God over the glory of Darius”.

No doubt, Daniel knew his enemies would be watching and waiting. As soon as they saw Daniel praying, they immediately brought it to the king. The king, was not happy (recognizing he had been tricked) and tried to find a way to work around the law to protect someone he admired and trusted. Knowing once this document had been signed, it had to be enforced, the enemies used this to their advantage.

God Delivers Daniel

Daniel 6:16–24 ESV

16 Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” 17 And 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 spent the night fasting; no diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him. 19 Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions. 20 As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” 21 Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! 22 My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.” 23 Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken 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 And the king commanded, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and cast into the den of lions—they, their children, and their wives. And before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces.

We have no reason to doubt that Daniel knew about Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah and their experience with the fiery furnace of chapter 3. We now have no doubt that Daniel is of the same constitution and conviction as they were.

Much to his regret Darius commanded that Daniel be thrown “into the lions’ den” (v. 16). The den was probably a pit with an opening at the top. As Daniel was about to be thrown into the pit, his friend, the king, spoke to Daniel: “May your God, whom you continually serve, rescue you!”

Daniel was cast into the lion’s den, and “a stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den”. I guess this was to be sure the eighty-year-old man would not jump out! The king also sealed Daniel’s tomb “with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing in regard to Daniel could be changed.”

Darius did not share in their delight. Verse 18 informs us, “Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting.

Darius went “at the first light of dawn” to the tomb holding what might remain of Daniel’s body. As he approached the den of lions, “he cried out in anguish, … ‘Daniel, servant of the living God, … has your God, whom you continually serve, been able to rescue you from the lions?’ ”. The doubt in his voice is unmistakable. He did not expect to hear a thing other than the satisfied purring of lions following their supper.

Suddenly, and no doubt to his joyful surprise, Daniel speaks! This is the only time Daniel’s words are recorded in the entire chapter.

“O king, live forever! My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.”

Daniel is removed, and others took his place. Those who “maliciously accused Daniel,” along with their families, were thrown into the lions’ den and killed even before they “reached the bottom of the den.”

Daniel Prospers

Daniel 6:25–28 ESV

25 Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: “Peace be multiplied to you. 26 I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end. 27 He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.” 28 So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

Darius has clearly been impacted by God’s miraculous deliverance of Daniel. We see similar words coming from Nebuchadnezzar.

The decree or letter begins with words of blessing, “May your prosperity abound.” The king then quickly follows with a command or warning, “that in all [his] royal dominion, people must tremble in fear before the God of Daniel”. The declaration accomplishes at least two important purposes. First, it recognizes the greatness, even the superiority, of Israel’s God over all would-be rivals. And second, it cancels out the irrevocable edict of 6:6–9.

Once again God honors his faithful servant. Just as he blessed and honored Daniel under the Babylonians, Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar, he does so again under the Medo-Persians and Darius

Akin, Daniel L. 2017. Exalting Jesus in Daniel. Nashville, TN: Holman Reference.