DANIEL — LESSON 7

The scriptures for this lesson are taken from Daniel 6.

At the end of chapter 5, Babylon had been taken by the Medes and the Persians and the new King is given as Darius the Mede. Darius the Mede is most likely the same person as Cyrus the Persian. We need to understand the relationship between the Median and Persian kingdoms. Cyrus was half Persian and half Median. His mother was the daughter of the King of the Medes who had ruled over the Persians. Cyrus rallied the Persians in rebellion against his grandfather, Astyages, the King of the Medes. The rebellion was successful and Cyrus became King of the Medes and the Persians.

[Daniel 6:1-3] (1) 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.

Daniel was made third ruler over the Babylon Kingdom. We are now into the Kingdom of the Medes and Persians. Daniel had been demoted from third ruler in the kingdom to one of three administrators who ruled over the 120 satraps or governors of the kingdom. This was still a very high position in the kingdom. Daniel had done such a good job that the king was going to promote him to ruler just under the king himself. Why would Daniel accept such a responsible position in this new government when he was near ninety years old? God had blesses Daniel and used him all the years he was in Babylon. Now the next kingdom had come to power and God was going to use him again. Many thousands of Hebrews were still in this kingdom and Daniel would be able to protect them.

[Daniel 6:4-5] (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.”

These two verses tell us a lot. Daniel was very good at his job. He was fair and honest and capable. Other men in the government were jealous and ambitious for his position. Daniel’s faithfulness to God carried over from his personal life to his work. These men who wanted rid of him were aware of his relationship to his God and there was nothing they could use against him unless it had something to do with his worship practices.

[Daniel 6:6-9] (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.

These enemies of Daniel are pretty clever. They appeal to the king’s pride and are suggesting a new law establishing a thirty-day worship festival were King Darius would be the god worshiped. The king had no idea that this was a ploy on their part to be rid of his favorite administrator. A law of the Medes and the Persians, once it was signed by the king could not be changed, not even by the king. We see this law again in the book of Esther when Haman plotted to have all the Jews killed.

[Daniel 6:10-12] (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.”

Daniel reacted to this new law by going to his room, bowing down toward Jerusalem and praying to God just as he always did three times a day. I believe he had absolute faith in God to protect him.

[Daniel 6:13-16] (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!”

Daniel is at peace placing his total faith in God. King Darius is in a panic. He probably realizes now that he has been used and he can’t do anything about it. He obviously depends on Daniel to take care of his kingdom having great respect for him. All he can do is hope that Daniel’s God will protect him.

[Daniel 6:17-24] (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.

While Daniel spent the night perfectly safe by God’s protection, King Darius was in a panic. He couldn’t eat, or sleep all night. At dawn he rushed to the lion’s den to see if Daniel was still alive. When he called to Daniel, Daniel answered “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.” Daniel went on to say he had never wronged the king in any way. When Daniel was lifted out of the den of lions, the king had the men who had accused Daniel along with their wives and children thrown in with the lions. They were devoured before they reached the den floor. Justice from a righteous God!

Why did they have a den of lions? That area years before was filled with lions. They killed them out for the safety of their people and flocks. The rulers kept some lions to be used in a ritual hunt as a reminder to the people that their rulers could protect them.

[Daniel 6:25-27] (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 the Persian.

King Darius sends out a proclamation throughout all his kingdom to all the provinces acknowledging the God of Daniel as the living God. Not a god of stone or wood, but the living God. He orders all the people in his kingdom to fear this God and have reverence for Him. Does this mean the Darius or Cyrus believed only in Jehovah God. Not likely. But he believed that God is real and powerful and can perform great miracles. What a witness this was and far reaching to many nations and peoples. It is amazing to see how God uses something bad like Daniel thrown to the lions into a great far-reaching witness to His power and majesty.

What can we learn from Daniel chapter 6?
1: We are never too old to be used by God. If He calls don’t be afraid to answer regardless of your age.
2: We should live the Christian life at home, at church, and at work. Wherever we are.
3: God will protect and provide if we only have the faith.
4: God is working in the world and in our lives.

Previous ↔ Next

Lesson 1 • Lesson 2 • Lesson 3 • Lesson 4 • Lesson 5 • Lesson 6 • Lesson 7 • Lesson 8 • Lesson 9 • Lesson 10 • Lesson 11 • Lesson 12 • Lesson 13 • Lesson 14 • Lesson 15 • Lesson 16 • Lesson 17