Courage Over Controversy

Daniel 6:1–22 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. 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. 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.” 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.”

Following God faithfully may be costly

He is Lord over all and is able to deliver his people

Joel Belz a Christian publisher has said about this chapter “Daniel … set the standard for Christians who would hold public office. He was serious about the work of statecraft, but he was even more serious about being known as a servant of God, determined to follow God’s precepts no matter the cost.… Our society could use a few more political leaders like Daniel. (“Dare to Be a Daniel”)

The top officials in the new Persian government plotted Daniel’s downfall. Remember that the Medes and Persians had just conquered the Babylonian Empire. After the fall of Babylon, one of the first things the new ruler had to do was to organize a new government. When Darius named Daniel to the highest position in the new government, trouble began to brew for the prophet, for other officials became jealous of him. The drama began to unfold as Daniel’s enemies secretly plotted to have him executed.

Faithful Servant

Daniel 6:1–5 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. 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.”

Daniel had been given the title “satrap”, a governor or official placed over provinces in the newly formed Persian government after they captured the Babylonian empire. This official represented the authority of the king in both civil and military matters, and supplied the means for maintaining the king’s sovereignty over the whole empire.

He was one of 120 officials, and if we remember back to the beginning of this book, we find Daniel was one of the Hebrew boys that was taken in by the king, fed, educated, and rose in the ranks, climbing through the ranks to one of three high officials who ruled over all the satraps. One of three high rulers. In a newly formed Babylon. As a Hebrew. It makes me wonder if part of the jealousy we see is because he was not “one of them”? Can you imagine, looking at this “outsider” who has come in, made a name for him, and now you have to answer to him???

From the beginning of Daniel’s story, it becomes apparent his main goal is to please God. Because of his faith, God blessed him, and the king realized there was something different about Daniel. There was a respect that was earned, and it remained throughout his service to Darius. Scripture says, because of Daniels obedience and God’s blessings, he “became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps”. It was the king’s plan to put Daniel over the whole kingdom. As a Hebrew. An outsider. He didn’t deserve it.

The other leaders looked for something Daniel was doing wrong. Something that they could hold against him, and use as leverage to the king. Because of Daniels integrity, they found nothing. Why? Because he was faithful to God. This drove his opposers to look deeply at Daniel, and realize the only way they could find anything against him would be to trick him and use his God against him.

One thing we must remember, as believers, we are to stay true to the commands of God. With that, we will find favor in His sight. However, it does not mean that those around us will find that same favor in us. We will struggle with those of this world. There will be those who will call us unworthy. There will be others that intentionally try to trip us up. There may even be those who try to use our beliefs against us.

Plotting the Fall

Daniel 6:6–9 ESV

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.

Notice how the other officials come to the King. “O King Darius, live forever!” Well, when you can’t find something wrong with the one you are accusing, butter up the King so you can stroke his ego. Plainly put, Satan is using these other officials to come against Daniel and ultimately God and His goodness towards Daniel. This was full blown persecution of God’s man in God’s place doing God’s will.

How they planned to get revenge on Daniel was to use his faith in God against him. They plotted to get the king to establish a law and sign it - place it in the official records. By law, once a Medo-Persian law had been put into effect, it could not be changed…even by the king. We see this reference of a binding law in Esther 8:8:

Esther 8:8 ESV

8 But you may write as you please with regard to the Jews, in the name of the king, and seal it with the king’s ring, for an edict written in the name of the king and sealed with the king’s ring cannot be revoked.”

They knew the law well enough to know once they buttered up the king, he would be willing to listen to anything. Then, playing on his pride again, they asked him to consider one small, itsy bitsy, one tiny insignificant law that would bring the king in the spotlight. King, make a law that will focus on you, and “whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions.” King, you are so great and wonderful, so mighty and true, so smart and deserving…make a law where everyone must worship you for the next 30 days. Oh, and if they don’t…then you can punish them just a little, by throwing them in a den of lions.

It worked. The king signed the law, placing it in a binding state for anyone who would break this command. They knew Daniel would never worship anyone other than his God. They knew Daniel would not change his ways. And they used it to their advantage. They would be rid of Daniel, their foreign nuisance, once and for all.

Don’t think we are exempt from attacks on us because we hold strong to our faith.

John 16:33 ESV

33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

But we too can take comfort like Daniel, if we remain true to God, He will see us through the tough times we face in life. Daniel’s life should show us just how God can reward a faithful servant.

Faithful Servant

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.”

What was the first thing Daniel did when he heard of the new law? He went to pray to God. Notice, the other leaders did not tell the king that Daniel could not worship his God. No doubt, Daniel had told the king about God, about how his worship impacted his ability to discern and be faithful to the king. No doubt, the king would be unwilling to make worship of Daniel’s God a crime. But they hid that small, insignificant detail from the king when he signed this proclamation into law. The leaders knew this, and conspired to have someone conveniently close to Daniel when he went to pray. Same place as always, facing the same direction as always, and and the same time as always. Daniel did not compromise his worship and prayer to God, even knowing he would violate the kings law. Three times a day, and at the same time each day, Daniel prayed to God.

Then, the officials came running to the king. Little snitches. Oh KIIIIIINNNNNGGGG! You remember that little bit of business we conducted with you, you know, the one where we encouraged you to enact a 30 day prayer to you and you alone? And that, if anyone prayed to anyone else but you, that they would be thrown into the lions den? I can see the king now, uh huh…and??? Well, your boy Daniel done did a “thaaaaang”…“Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or the law you signed into effect, but makes his petition three times a day to HIS God.”

I can imagine the things going through the kings mind. These tattle tails…snitches…why have they come to bother me on something so insignificant. They know Daniel prays to his God every day…uh oh, I’m going to be sick. For the rest of the day, he tried to find a way to right his wrong. He was duped! He was tricked into this. But it didn’t matter. He was the king. He had signed a law. It could not be rescinded. Even by himself. When the evening drew near, the other officials dropped by just to “remind” him of the penalty of breaking the law.

“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.”

He had no choice. Though it was tearing him apart on the inside, he knew he had no other option.

Conclusion

Daniel 6:16–22 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.”

Daniel’s faith was tested. He passed the heavenly test. Everyone else thought he was about to lose the earthly test. The king called for Daniel to be thrown into the lions den. Now, these weren’t the well fed, highly trained lions one may find at a Barnum and Bailey Circus. These were wild, rank, hungry, and ill tempered lions. They were kept in these dens, in some cases empty cisterns or caves where these wild animals were kept. From the sound of this, I think the entrance was above, and Daniel was cast down into the den. (If not, how would they keep the lions in and limit what they were fed?) If was not something the king wanted to do, but knew he had no choice. In the effort to exalt himself, he had forsaken God and Daniel. He knew this, and he said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” There was hope, and I could imagine skepticism, in these words. Darius did acknowledge the God of Daniel, and that there was something different. He knew Daniel served his God during the good, the bad, and on a regular schedule. Anyone who would worship their God this faithfully, must be onto something. Daniel, may your God deliver you. In other words, may he keep you safe, may he protect you from this pride of hungry, ill tempered lions we are about to feed you to. I can imagine the pain and doubt coming from the unbelieving king. He wanted to believe in the God of Daniel, but the king didn’t have the same faith. You see, Darius had faith in what he hoped might happen by a God worshiped by someone else. Daniel placed his faith in the God he knew and worshiped personally.

A stone was rolled over the opening of the den, and sealed by the king. Church, we are getting ready to see another one of these God things… Daniel should not have survived. Daniel should have been a quick and easy snack for these lions. The rock and seal was there so that there could be no tampering of the evidence. Yet, there was to be a miraculous delivery of God’s man. We see an innocent man delivered from certain death, and given a new life! Isn’t this a powerful symbol! We see hundreds of years later an innocent man who encountered death, was placed in a tomb where a rock was rolled over the entrance and sealed by the king so there could be no tampering of the evidence. But notice the difference… Daniel was delivered from certain death, Christ was delivered into eternal life!

All night, the king wrestled with what he knew should have been a death sentence. I can imagine he was holding out hope, but didn’t have the faith to believe in the power of Jehovah Jireh. In his mind, I don’t think he believed God could provide deliverance to Daniel…but there was enough faith that he left his home at sunrise, the beginning of a new day (which was important, if he had gone before the new day, he would have broken his law) and cried out in a loud voice “Daniel! Servant of the living God (notice his description here), Has your God delivered you from the lions?” I believe the king was beginning to not only believe, but have faith in the power of the God of Daniel!

You see, God had changed from Jehovah Jireh, God Provides, to Jehovah Mephalti, God Our Deliverer. Darius called out asking, has God DELIVERED you, OH DANIEL!!! And then he listened. I can imagine the seconds that we waited to hear something seemed like an eternity. Can you imagine the relief when he heard “O king, live forever!” Daniel knew that his close friend had worried himself sick the night before. He knew every one of his accusers probably went to bed and slept like a log. But, he acknowledged the earthly power of the king. Then he described how his God delivered him. “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.” King, I’m fine. An angel, sent by my God, came down and clamped the lions mouths shut. They couldn’t have gotten a taste of me, even if they wanted to! You see, God found me blameless before Him, and I am delivered blameless to you.

I imagine as each sinner approaches danger in their lives, God spends time waiting on us to be delivered the same as Daniel. You see, as a lost person, someone who has not accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, we face certain and imminent death, the same as Daniel. We walk in a lions den daily! 1 Peter 5:8 tells us

1 Peter 5:8 ESV

8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Each day we reject Christ, means one more day He spends a sleepless night waiting on your deliverance. I can imagine the excitement as we accept Christ as our Savior, how He too cries out “the roaring lion can no longer cause you any harm”! He’ll never have a taste of you, because you have been DELIVERED!

If you have never been delivered from your sins, never accepted Christ as Savior, the altar is open, don’t wait. Come forward so that you, too, can be found blameless before God.