Daniel

Daniel Chapter 6

Daniel 6:1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom a hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;
2 And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.
3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.

Darius the Mede took over the kingdom of Babylon. It was now the kingdom of the Medes and Persians. Darius divided the kingdom of Persia and set governors over each. More were added because of the conquests of Cyrus, Cambyses and Darius Hystaspes.

The trend of setting up different ranks of those in authority, one above another is an old one. This is the way armies and navies are set up even today. It helps with order and makes things run more smoothly but it also can cause envy among those that desire a higher position. Here was set up 120 princes and three presidents over them. Daniel was set up as the first president. They had to give account of things going on to the king.

An honest person to whom heads of governments can place their trust is vital to the success of good government. Even evil rulers like to have someone they can trust around. They do not want to be surrounded by someone who would steal them blind or betray them. Daniel was a person who would tell the truth even if the truth would bring physical harm to him. The king respected and trusted him. That is why the reputation of those that claim to represent Jesus Christ is very important. If we do not have the fruits of honesty and integrity, who is going to listen to our message?

Matthew 7:16,17 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

Daniel was chosen above them all because of the excellent spirit within him. We know this is the Holy Spirit from God. They could trust Daniel to be honest and transparent.

Unfortunately if we are favored by kings and those in charge of governments, we will incur the jealousy and envy of others who desire the place we occupy. This was what happened in the case of Daniel as we shall see when we read further. Jealousy has been the cause of so much evil. We need to avoid it like the plague. Perfect trust in God will help us overcome that awful human trait that was the cause of the very first murder in which Cain out of envy killed his brother Abel.

Daniel 6:4 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.

While some of the unbelieving world will respect those that live righteous, others will hate them and will seek to find fault in everything they do. It is usually motivated by envy or fear of losing what they have. The Pharisees followed Jesus around, not to hear what good He had to say but to catch Him at His words in order to accuse Him.

This is where we have to be careful. I remember the words of Carter Conlon in one of His sermons when he warned us to have discernment but with the heart of God. I hope I never forget those words. We are to be careful not to believe all we hear or believe everyone that comes along claiming to have a word from God. We need to use discernment and to check everything out with God's word and also notice the fruit that follows the life of those claiming to be prophets or spokesmen from God. At the same time we need to be careful to avoid becoming a nitpicker and false accuser.

If we find ourselves wanting to discover every little detail about a person in order to discredit him or her, that may be a sign that we are not walking in love and in the fruit of the spirit. Sin, error and false doctrine should grieve us and send us to the prayer closet. Sometimes we have to speak out and warn others but it should be with reluctance and with humility, not with self righteous pride and an "I told you so," attitude. Have discernment but with the heart of God. Have compassion.

Daniel 6:5 Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.

Daniel lived perfect and if these men wanted to accuse him, they had to use his faithfulness to his God against him. They had to figure out a way to cause the law of Daniel's God to clash against the law of Darius the king.

Daniel 6:6 Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live forever.
7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counselors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.
8 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.
9 Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.

Here we see the weakness of this king. He wasn't a bad person but he gave into the temptation of being in the favor of these men and allowing himself to be exalted by their request. They were puffing him up and showing a false sense of loyalty and the king fell for it hook, line and sinker. Here is where it is good to remember the wisdom of Solomon who wrote for us:

Proverbs 27:6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

The words of the Psalmist:

Psalms 78:36 Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues.

It is one thing to say words to build people up in the faith and give them encouragement but it is quite another to just say flattering words to gain favor when the words are not sincere and truthful.

Psalms 5:9 For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulcher; they flatter with their tongue.

To be up front and open is rare in us humans unfortunately.

2Timothy 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

It is okay to receive an occasional complement but we should avoid desiring to be flattered all the time; for flattery can be a tool of the enemy to deceive us. There are people that go around always finding fault but there are also people that go around saying just the right things to make friends but will never warn their friends when they are about to make a mistake.

There are also those that are flatterers to one's face but behind their backs they are critical. I know it is a little hard to take sometimes but it is better to have a friend who tells the truth even if it is negative. Still even in this we must avoid those that are always tearing down someone in envy.

They tricked the king into make a stupid law by appealing to his ego and pretending to admire the king and want to make him feel like they were strong supporters. People like this will turn against the king himself if they thought they could get away with it and it would make them have a higher position. Anyone that would plot to bring someone down this way can never be trusted. I guess they figured 30 days would be enough to trap Daniel into breaking the new law.

Daniel 6:10 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 formerly.

Daniel didn't do this for a show but this is probably how he prayed at all times so why change? They must have known this was Daniel's routine or else they wouldn't have asked the king to sign such a foolish decree. Daniel learned of the decree but openly prayed as he did previously. He prayed toward Jerusalem where the temple of the true God Jehovah previously stood. References: 1 Kings 8:44. 2 Chronicles 6:34. Jonah 2:4 Psalms 138:2. Daniel 9:21.

Psalm 138:2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

King David observed prayer 3 times a day.

Psalm 55:17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

They were in captivity in this strange land and to face Jerusalem when one prayed was a sign of faith, knowing their land would one day be restored to them. Since Daniel was a prophet for the Lord, he also knew of the future time when God would set up His everlasting kingdom in Jerusalem. Chapter 2 of Daniel is an indication that he did know.

Daniel 6:11 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.
12 Then they came near, and spoke before the king concerning the king's decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.

These wicked men could not wait to tattle to the king for that was the purpose in doing all this in the first place. The book of Esther tells of another incident in which a king was tricked into making a law against the Jewish people.

Daniel 6:13 Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.
14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him.

Notice that this king was different than Nebuchadnezzar. When the Babylonian king found out that the three Hebrews did not bow down to his image, he was in a rage at the Hebrews, not at himself for making such a law. Darius on other hand was mad at himself for being so stupid as to sign this foolish decree. He was a wise enough to know he was tricked and saw through those evil men. He liked and respected Daniel and labored to save him.

Daniel 6:15 Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.

Darius allowed this because he was under pressure and could not change the law.

Daniel 6:16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spoke and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.

Darius hoped that this was to be so as he stated. What kind of faith he really had is unknown seeing that he couldn't sleep until he knew for certain that Daniel was safe.

Daniel 6:17 And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.
18 Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of music brought before him: and his sleep went from him.
19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.
20 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spoke and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?
21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live forever.

Those words were like music to the king's ear. As God revealed himself to Nebuchadnezzar, he revealed Himself to Darius and through the faithfulness of just one child of God, an unbelieving king became a believer.

Daniel 6:22 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.

There are many times when there are martyrs who die for the cause of the truth but in this case, God wanted to reveal to a king that He was God who rules over the earth. Hebrews 11:33 refers to God shutting the mouths of lions.

Hebrews 11:33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

How relieved King Darius must have felt at this moment.

Daniel 6:23 Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.
24 And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and broke all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.

I don't know why he included the wives and children in this, but in the days of these kingdoms, they did things in that way. Perhaps there would have been no way to care for the wives and children if the husband was dead. I'm glad that we live in a different time where we all are accountable for only our own sins. Perhaps too, the wives and children encouraged and agreed with their husbands in this evil deed. At any rate, God did not take away their power to make their own decisions so the fact that this king put to death wives and children does not necessarily mean it was condoned by God or Daniel.

Daniel 6:25 Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
26 I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and steadfast forever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.
27 He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.
28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

I have mixed feelings on making the worship of God mandatory at least in this day and age for this reason: We are saved now by the grace and mercy of God when we truly repent of sin and allow Jesus to cleanse us from sin. If we made a decree that all people were to become Christians and fear God, we would have many people just changing their religion and they would not truly have repented of sin but were just going along with the crowd. The church would grow very big but not many would be genuinely saved. We would have a large mega church structure but when it came time to die, no one would be saved because their sins would be within them.

If we do not repent of sin and turn away from sin, we will die in sin and be separated from God for eternity. That is the sole reason Jesus died for sin so that we could get rid of the thing that separates us from a holy God. Any religion that does not teach that faith in Jesus changes the inner soul of that person, will only have an outward form of religion but no genuine born again believers.

-DC

Daniel Chapter 7

Daniel Index