Daniel 6:1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an
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.
1. The Decree of the King
A.
The Position of the Prophet
In the last chapter Daniel had been promoted to third
in the
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. 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.
B.
The Plot of the Princes
The princes wanted to govern by their own power
without anyone to report to. In fact
they probably wanted to dip their hands into the royal treasury but could not as they had to give report to Daniel. So they began to look for a flaw in Daniel, to get rid of him. But they could not find his flaw so they noticed his faithfulness to God and the princes thought they could trip Daniel up there.
I remember how they tried to find fault with Jesus. I
am sure had they tried hard enough they would have found fault in Daniel, me Bible
says all have sinned and come short of the glory of
God. But in Jesus, He was found, no matter how hard they looked, without sin.
Praise God
The princes are plotting to railroad Daniel. My
friend, the devil is looking to railroad you. You may not know it, but your
flesh is looking to railroad your saved soul. This old world is at enmity with
you as well. Let us not be ignorant of the devils devices.
6
Then these
presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him,
King
Darius, live for ever. 7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, 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.
C.
The Proclamation of the Palace
The princes come up with an idea to trip Daniel up. They go to king Darius and begin to flatter him. Read what the Bible says about flattery Prov 26:28, Prov 28:23 & Prov 29:5. These princes are buttering the king up. I can hear them now, “O king live forever. You are the greatest, most powerful, most influential man of all times. You are even like as unto a god. Anyone that asks a petition of any God or man besides you should be thrown into the lions den.”
The king loves to hear such admiration. He will do
anything they ask him to. Maybe he thought about a recent decision he has made
or law he has put into effect and maybe his princes knew something he did not
know and maybe this law would reinforce him as the powerful king of the Medes
and Persians. No matter what his thinking was, he signed the writing into law,
which can not be changed or altered
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
aforetime.
2. The Devotion of Daniel
A.
The Commitment of Daniel
Daniel knew that the law forbidding him to pray to his God was in place. He knew the penalty for breaking that law, yet he knew to be faithful to God. God has told us as Christians to obey the law of the land, but if that law supersedes service to God “We ought to obey God rather than man”. Daniel would not let circumstances or consequences dictate his decision to serve God.
Daniel threw open the window and prayed 3 times toward
the temple in Jerusalem. He also gave thanks to God. Daniel could have
compromised and prayed with the window shut, but he knew the scripture (I Kings
8:30, 48) and wanted to continue to pray as he had done before.
11 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel
praying and making supplication before his God.
12 Then they came near, and spake 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. 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.
B.
The Conspiracy of Deceitful Men
These evil princes were lying in wait to catch Daniel
praying to his God. They caught
him alright. If I were to be accused and caught of anything it would be wonderful to be caught and accused of praying to God!!
These princes come back to the king and recite the law
back to the king, to the which the king agrees and then tell the king they have
found a guilty party. It is “That Daniel”, the Jew. I tell you those princes
hated his integrity, his ancestry and his God.
Why even today we can no longer pray in school. We
can’t even begin the football game with prayer. It is considered illegal in
America. I am ashamed of America, only for its defiance and sin against the
living God. Otherwise, I am proud to be an American, I am thankful for our
freedom and our flag. It disgusts me to see people burn our flag and use our
freedom to put God and service to Him, in confinement.
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 laboured till
the going down of the sun to deliver him.
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. 16 Then the king commanded, and they brought
Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake
and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest
continually, he will deliver thee.
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.
C.
The Concern of Darius
King Darius felt he had been tricked. He felt his hand
had been forced against his friend Daniel. Now the king is displeased not only
with these men, but he is displeased with his own self. Darius labored to free
Daniel, but the law cannot be changed or altered and the king is powerless to
deliver Daniel. My friend, man cannot deliver or save you, only Jesus can save.
Daniel is cast into the lions den. The last thing
Darius saw was a hungry lion salivating over flesh coming his direction. The
last thing Darius heard was the growl of the lion ready to devour Daniel.
Darius exclaims “Daniel, thy God, whom thou servest
continually, he will deliver thee.” A stone was rolled over the lions den and
sealed with the kings ring and with the seal of the princes.
18 Then the
king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments
of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from
him.
3. The Deliverance of the
Lord
The king went back to his royal palace and could not
sleep. The royal kitchen tried to serve him a meal, but the king could not eat.
The royal musicians wanted to play and soothe the king, but the king stopped
all music. The king was up all night worried and concerned for his friend
Daniel. The king was miserable over how he had treated a friend.
But
while the king was restless, Daniel was in the lions den, and the king could do
nothing to change or alter the situation.
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 spake 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
for ever. 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. 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.
B.
The Miracle The King Saw
The king went out to the lions den early that next morning. With a pitiful voice the king cried out “O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?” The king listens intently and he hears an answer back. Daniel says “O king, live for ever. 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.” The king was exceeding glad.
You see my friend, God is able to deliver. While the
king had a restless night in the kingdom, Daniel probably had a good nights
sleep. The angel of the Lord shut the lions mouths and Daniel may have fluffed
up a lions mane and used it as a pillow. You can rest assured in the Lord and
His ability to deliver us. Ps 34:7 still says “The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them”
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 brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the
den. 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 stedfast for ever, 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.
C.
The Message The King Sent
The king was manipulated into sending Daniel to the lions den. Daniel was delivered by God. Now the king will send conspirators and their families to the lions den.
Some liberal theologians have said that the lions
Daniel was thrown to were not young, hungry and vicious lions but were old
toothless lions. But I see after the enemy was thrown into this same den the
lions had the mastery of them before they even hit the bottom of the lions den.
I want you to know that proves that these lions could’ve eaten Daniel, had the
angel of the Lord not showed up. Those lions knew their maker and He has power
over them. Ps 35:5 says “ Let them be as
chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them.”
You see Romans 12:19 says “Vengeance is
mine ; I will repay, saith the Lord.” If
you think you are getting away with sin, just wait, judgement
is coming
Darius sends another message, he wants the world to
know that God is the living God and His kingdom is forever. This God “delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth”. King
Darius wants the world to know this wonderful and powerful God rules and reigns
sovereignly.