Daniel 6 (Bible Study) (The Lion’s Den)
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It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, 2 with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss. 3 Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. 4 At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. 5 Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.”
6 So these administrators and satraps went as a group to the king and said: “May King Darius live forever! 7 The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den. 8 Now, Your Majesty, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” 9 So King Darius put the decree in writing.
10 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. 11 Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. 12 So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the lions’ den?”
The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”
13 Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.” 14 When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.
15 Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, “Remember, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues 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 serve continually, rescue you!”
17 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. 18 Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.
19 At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. 20 When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”
21 Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! 22 My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”
23 The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
24 At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.
25 Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language in all the earth:
“May you prosper greatly!
26 “I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.
“For he is the living God
and he endures forever;
his kingdom will not be destroyed,
his dominion will never end.
27 He rescues and he saves;
he performs signs and wonders
in the heavens and on the earth.
He has rescued Daniel
from the power of the lions.”28 So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus[b] the Persian.
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Daniel 4
Introduction
The officials tried to find corruption in him to remove Daniel from power. They began by looking for corruption in his administration. They found out that he was not only honest but effective. They must have been surprised to discover that Daniel was “clean” (Dan 6:4b). Sin always distorts our view of reality. The corrupt officials sought to expose Daniel.
Backdrop
Daniel got the position of High Commissioner (one of three Commissioners) in Darius’s new kingdom which was divided into 120 provinces and Satraps were provincial governors responsible for collecting taxes, maintaining order, and overseeing their province. This infrastructure was, ‘that the king might not suffer loss.’ Being incorruptible, Daniels chief appointment implies that those in power could be corrupt. They could overcharge and overtax constituents for services and then underpay Darius, pocketing the difference. Daniel is honest and fearless, willing to tell the truth even when it is dangerous (Daniel Chapters 1-2, 4-5) – a man of integrity and different from the other officials.
‘I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom, people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. For he is the living God and he endures forever.’ (Dan 6:26).
1.Read Daniel 6:1-12. Daniel was again given a high position under the next king Darius.
Why were the officials so hostile to Daniel, even intent on ending his life (Daniel 6:1-12)?
Daniel was diligent, Dan 6:4 says he was “neither corrupt nor negligent.” Not “negligent” meant He was conscientious and worked hard and overlooked nothing. He had exceptional leadership gifts, it seems. It is possible to be disciplined but still ineffective. Dan 6:3 state, “through his exceptional qualities,” Daniel distinguished himself. The Hebrew word means “excelling” or “surpassing,” probably referring to leadership. His wisdom, ability, character, and vision were overwhelming; others sensed this and followed it, but the regional officials were hostile. Why?
The first possible answer is racial animosity. When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were accused by the officials before Nebuchadnezzar, racism was overt: “There are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon.” (3:12). In Daniel’s case, the jealousy and resentment are more personal. They refer to him as “one of the exiles from Judah,” (6:13) almost in passing. The official's hatred of Daniel was personal. They use politics to lead Darius to make a decree tailor-made to entrap him. Professional jealousy is the likely root cause.
Board Rooms are filled with ambitious people who are jealous of anyone who gets too much publicity, acclaim, and glory. That could be a factor in the hostility here.
Their hate points beyond this to a third answer - the exposure of their own hearts and lives. Even today, government officials can abuse the power of their office for corrupt motives, money, campaign donations or self-aggrandizement
Daniel is about to become the highest official in the land (Dan 6:1-3), and the officials’ way of life was threatened. Daniel would have stopped bribes and injustices of the old system. Daniel’s uprightness would also have exposed the mediocrity and dishonesty of their hearts. They are hostile to Dan’s pure goodness. Sin hates being shown its true colours.
Notice that the officials devised a decree that would catch Daniel out only because he was a man of integrity. Another person would have closed his windows and prayed privately for thirty days to avoid trouble. The decree was unenforceable but they knew Daniel was such a man of principle that he would not change his prayer practice at all—even under the threat of death. “The mystery of godliness,” sin hates exposure.
Notice further that Daniel opened his windows toward Jerusalem and prayed daily. Yes he was comitted to his role and was loyal in serving Babylon but his life’s testimony and devotion was to Zion not Babylon. For Daniel, salvation for all people comes only from God, who had chosen Zion as his dwelling place.
It is offensive to many that the idea of one religion, one revelation, one way and only way is indeed the truth. Daniel’s loyalty to Jerusalem showed that he did not believe all religions are equally valid. He could have closed his window, secure in a Jewish ghetto. Daniel’s standing in their culture, and his adherence to this exclusive religion, was repugnant.
Read Daniel 6:10-12. Focus on Daniel’s prayer life as a challenge and inspiration to us today.
IN the format of Lection Divina, read these three verses silently, pause, then read the verses aloud, then pause. Now share any words or phrases that stuck out or seemed prominent or bolder for you.
There is much more to learn from Daniel’s prayer life than set out here.
First, his prayer life was habitual; three times a day (“as his custom was,” v11). There is no place in the Bible that prescribes how often we should pray. But Daniel had developed a routine that worked for him. One advantage of a firm routine is that it helps you in times of trouble and crisis, as it did Daniel.
It is difficult to begin or even resume a regular prayer life when you are in the middle of trials of any sort. Regular habits of prayer, worship, and communion with God.
Second, Daniel’s prayer life was varied. He interceded and petitioned for himself, his people, and his city (6:11, “asking God for help”). He also engaged in adoration and thanksgiving (6:10, ‘giving thanks to his God’). The opening of his windows toward Jerusalem implies that he was thinking of the needs of his people in Jerusalem.
Daniel’s prayer is not a self-centred effort to get peace of mind. He is there to commune with and glorify God.
Third, his prayer life was humble. He got down on his knees (6:10). The Bible does not prescribe a posture for prayer. But in ancient times posture and position were important.
Fourth, his prayer life was probably “through the temple.” In Psalm 137, it was difficult for the Jews to imagine how they could worship God in a foreign land, away from the temple and the sacrificial system. How could they go before a holy God without atonement for their sins? It is possible that Daniel’s open window was his version of a solution. He looked toward Jerusalem and the temple.
Today, when we pray in Jesus’ name, we ‘open our window’ toward Jesus as it were. We come to God because of our Great High Priest, our sacrifice, our final temple.
What parallels do you see between Daniel’s betrayal (vv. 3-18)and triumph (vv. 19-28) and Jesus’?
Like several of the judges and kings of Israel before Daniel, he is a type of Christ. Comparing the narrative of his betrayal, entombing and triumph is startling.
Daniel’s betrayal
(1) Like Jesus, Daniel was hated “without cause” (Luke 23:22; John 15:25). He was hated simply because he was light and the darkness hates exposure (John 1:5).
(2) Like Jesus, Daniel was attacked by people in power, who are often the most offended by goodness and godliness. Jesus, a religious leader, was envied and resented by other religious leaders. Daniel, a civic leader, was hated by other civic leaders.
(3) Like Jesus, Daniel was condemned by law in a miscarriage of justice (John 19:7: “We have a law, and according to that law he must die”).
(4) Like Jesus, Daniel did not protest, accuse his accusers, or in anyway “raise a ruckus.”
Daniel’s Triumph
(1) Like Jesus, Daniel is sealed to his death with a stone rolled on top of him (v. 17).
(2) As with Jesus, his enemies thought that this would be the last of him!
(3) As with Jesus, the stone over Daniel’s “grave” is rolled away and he comes forth.
It is interesting to note that Daniel states, ‘My God sent his angel’ to close the lion’s mouth. We have seen that the Angel of the Lord is God himself, come to earth. Many believe that the “Angel” is the pre-incarnate Christ.
Imagine Our Lord Jesus coming down to effect an apparent death and resurrection, knowing one day he would experience a real one!
In Scripture, supernatural miracles are not divine displays of power; they teach us something about Eden before the fall and God’s salvation. What does the lion’s den teach us?
Sinclair Ferguson writes, “In the Old Testament, the destructive power of lions metaphorically expressed the disharmony and chaos of the universe” (see Ps. 91:13;57:4-6). In the promised age, the chaos of creation will be restored to order and harmony so that all creatures of nature will live together in peace (Isa. 11:6-7).
Thus Daniel’s deliverance . . . is a foretaste of that promised universal renovation.”
Just as the resurrection of Christ is a “first-fruits” (1 Cor. 15:20-24) of the coming restoration of the whole world, so is this taming of the lions. Daniel is temporarily granted the dominion over nature that Adam had and lost (Gen. 1:28, Gen. 3:17-19) through sin.
Nature will be put right again, no longer subject to decay, when we are put right as God’s children (Romans 8:18-25). God’s salvation is not just forgiveness of sin and paradise in the afterlife. God is going to “rehab” and restore the heavens and the earth, and all things will be put back as they should be. Daniel is a sign of all this.
In Daniel 6:25-28, Darius calls all peoples in all parts of his realm to believe in the Lord God of Israel. It never happened. It took a real resurrection by a greater Daniel to herald and invoke such a realm, the kingdom of God. The Saviour is the only one who can create a multi-racial and multi-cultural faith and people.
