Daniel 6: The Lion’s Den

Daniel 6: The Lion’s Den

• Setting
• The records of the Babylonians, Medes, and Persians all place the name of Daniel in their historical writings.
• The Medes and Persians were the Silver arms and chest of the statue which Nebuchadnezzar dreamed about.
• Daniel was around 85 years at this time.   It is believed that he remained faithful in his prayer, prayer for Israel to return back to its homeland as foretold by the prophet Jeremiah.   Jeremiah prophesied that Israel would be restored and no longer be held captive after 70 years.
• Babylon had been overtaken by the Medo/Persians and Darius was put in charge of the Kingdom of Babylon.  Cyrus was the ruler of the Medo/Persian Empire.
• Darius was around 62 years old when he took Babylon.  It is not sure how long he ruled, but he died within a few years and Cyrus ascended to the throne.
• Lion’s roamed freely in the forest of Mesopotamia and the people feared them and they also respected the lion’s power.   
• Some King’s hunted lions for sport.
• The Persians would capture lions and put them in large parks where they attended to them and fed them.
• Lions were also used for executing people.

• The Lion’s Den was a large pit divided by a moveable wall that could be pulled to allow the lions to go from one side to the other.   The keeper would put the food on the empty side and then lift up the wall so the lions could cross over to feed.   He would then lower the wall back down after the lions had finished eating.   The lions were fed a small amount of food to keep them hungry
• Overview
• Daniel had attracted the attention and earned the respect of King Darius as Daniel was one of the top officials to the King.   Daniel had worked more efficiently and capably than the others which resulted in Daniel making enemies because of his good work.   The officials became jealous and they could not find any charges in Daniel’s life to criticize him.
• Daniels’ work integrity set him apart from many of the others.   He was 1 of 3 administrators over the Kingdom of the Medes and Persians.
• The other officials were jealous of Daniel and conspired against him.
• In the Medo-Persian Empire, when a King’s word was put into law, not even the King could change his law.   By appealing to the King’s pride and vanity, the men talked Darius into making a law which would make the King a ‘god’ for 30 days.   No one in his kingdom could pray to any other ‘god’, otherwise they would be thrown into the Lion’s Den.
• Daniel continues to pray to the Living God of the Hebrews despite the order to only pray to King Darius for a 30 day period.
• Daniel knew of the Law but he still remained loyal to the Most High God and prayed 3 times a day.   Daniel did not hide the fact that he prayed in disobedience to King Darius’s Law.   Daniel knew where his true guidance in life came from.
• King Darius’s decree, which was formulated against his will, was an official law which could not be changed, which resulted in Daniel being placed in the lion’s den for breaking the King’s law.
• In the Medo-Persian Empire, the King was believed to be infallible and that they could make no mistake.
• Similar to King Nebuchadnezzar and the Fiery Furnace, King Darius could not sleep and he hoped that Daniel would still be alive in the morning.
• Because the 3 officials had conspired against Daniel, they and their families were thrown into the Lion’s Den only to be eaten.
• After the events that transpire, King Darius writes kind and appropriate words about the ‘God of Daniel’.
• Breakdown of the Verses
• Verses 1 - 4:      Honesty Versus Corruption.
• The King’s concern during his reign was to insure that his officials did their work faithfully and that they were not robbing him of his wealth.   It was hard for the King to keep his hands on everything in his empire so the King would hire 120 officials to rule over the provinces.   Daniel was 1 of 3 men who supervised these 120 officials.   He expected these men to be honest, trusted, and to insure their work was being done.
• Darius very likely heard about Daniel’s honesty and wisdom, making Daniel one of his top officials, even to the point where Daniel would eventually become the #1 administrator.   When the other officials heard of this appointment, they became envious.   They realized that they would be unable to run their office for their own profit and they needed to have Daniel removed.   They also had no respect for him as well since he was a foreigner, a Jewish exile.
• Verses 5 - 11:      Believing Versus Scheming.
• The 3 officials were unable to tempt Daniel into doing anything wrong.   Their intent was to make Daniel’s religious practices illegal, as Daniel prayed openly to the Most High God.   Daniel could be viewed from his window as he prayed openly as he faced towards Jerusalem.
• The 122 officials assembled before King Darius without Daniel being present.   These officials presented a plan to the King, in which they claimed all of the officials had approved of, deceptively including Daniel in his absence.   This gave the King the impression all of his leaders were united on this decision.   The officials also knew that Darius would want to unite his Kingdom as quickly as possible.   The plan would focus on the greatness of the King and make the King a ‘god’ and supreme ruler over his empire.
• Darius fell into flattery and the King acted in his haste.   (Psalm 5:9)
• The scheming officers lost no time in proclaiming the King’s decree.   They also knew Daniel prayed morning, noon, and evening.   (Psalm 55:16-17, I Kings 8:28-30, I Kings 8:38-39, I Kings 8:46-51, Jonah 2:4)
• This was not only an attack against Daniel, it was also a plot against the whole Jewish nation.
• Verses 12 - 13:      Daniel is Accused.
• The men who spied on Daniel hurried back to King Darius to inform him that his favorite official disobeyed the King’s Law and showed his disrespect as well.
• These same men showed no respect for Daniel who held a higher office.   The called him an ‘Exile from Judah’.   (Romans 3:13-18, 2 Timothy 3:12).
• Verses 14 - 18:      The King is Distressed.
• King Darius was distressed because Daniel was his friend and he was helpful in governing the Empire.   He also realized he had signed Daniel’s Death Warrant.   The King’s pride had gotten the best of him as he believed the lies of the leaders who had gotten Darius to sign the Law hastily.
• Did God allow these events to transpire?   (Ephesians 1:10-12)
• The King stated he wanted to save Daniel from execution, but once  he signed the law, nothing could change it.
• The leaders were eager to remind Darius that he had to enforce the Law as King.
• Darius prayed for Daniel before he was lowered into the pit.   He prayed that Daniel’s God may somehow rescue Daniel.   Daniel was lowered into the pit and the pit was covered and the rock was then sealed according to the King’s Law.
• King Darius slept a sleepless night and he even fasted.   The King could have been given diversions to entertain him, which was a common practice among Oriental Kings, but Darius refused this entertainment.
• Verses 19 - 23:   The LORD is Victorious.
• Darius awoke at the first light of dawn and he hurried to the Lion’s  Den.   Even before he arrived there and broke the seal on the stone, he called out to Daniel in anguish.   He confessed the God of Daniel was a living God, not a dead God and that Daniel’s God had the power to deliver Daniel.   Daniel’s faith remained strong while the King called out weakly, ‘Is your God able to deliver you?’.   Daniel answers, ‘Oh King live forever”.   Darius then knew his faithful friend had been delivered.   (Hebrews 11:32-34).
• Daniel was quick to give the glory to God.
• God could have rescued Daniel on his own, but he sent angels to control the hunger of the lions and to keep Daniel company.   (Psalm 34:7, Psalm 91:11, Mark 1:13, Luke 22:42-43)
• Daniel showed no wounds as he exited the Lion’s Den.
• God delivered Daniel because of his faith, because he was innocent of any wrongdoing, and to bring glory to the name of God.
• Faithful servants who had been saved by God - Hebrews 11:1-35.
• Faithful servants who were not saved by God - Hebrews 11:36-40
• Verse 24:      The Traitors are Judged.
• Darius had the 3 men who accused Daniel, and their families as well, thrown into the Lion’s Den.   (Proverbs 11:7-9, Proverbs 26:1-3).   
• Pharaoh ordering the Hebrew babies destroyed in Egypt.
• Haman trying to destroy the nation of Israel.   (Book of Esther)
• It was an official Persian Law to have conspirators and their families destroyed.   They did not any one of the remaining conspirators family remaining to further conspire against the King.
• ‘It is easier to bury a corpse then have a watchful eye for a potential conspirator’.
• Verses 25 - 27:   The LORD GOD is Glorified.
• Not only does Darius have the criminals executed, he also issues a decree to the whole empire commanding his subjects show fear and reverence to the God of Daniel.
• The first decree by King Darius, claimed himself to be a god, but his next decree is that the God of Daniel was the true and living God.
• The people of Israel had turned to idolatry and had become an idolatrous nation had defeated them and taken them captive.
• Verse 28:      God’s Servant Prospered.
• Daniel was respected by Darius and he would also be respected by the eventual new ruler, Cyrus.
• Daniel did live to hear the edict from Cyrus that the Jews could return back to Jerusalem.
• Daniel prayed constantly for the Jews return home.   (2 Chronicles 36:22-23, Ezra 1:1-4, Jeremiah 25:11-12)
• Conclusion
• Daniel prayed openly.  Without prayer there is little power, therefore make prayer a central part of life.
• Daniel did not compromise in this situation.
• He could have closed his windows.
• He could have left the city and prayed somewhere else.
• Daniel feared God and not man.   (Acts 5:28-30)
• DL Moody quoted - ‘Real faith is man’s weaknesses leaning on God’s strength.   (Hebrews 11:32-39)
• Daniel displayed 4 different qualities about his lifestyle.
• He had a consistent attitude.   He was positive and he had an excellent spirit.
• He was consistent in his performance.   He took his assignments seriously.
• He had a consistent purity.   None of the King’s officials could bring any charges against him.
• Daniel was a prayer warrior.
• Can you imagine the excitement in the city as the news of Daniel spread of Daniel spending a night in the Lion’s Den and he came out unhurt?
• God could have prevented Daniel from going into the Lion’s Den.
• Is your life filled with integrity and are you working to the best of your ability in your job?  Will others be able to accuse you of wrong?   (Daniel 6:4)
• Because of the events in the book of Daniel, the Jews were reminded that there God was a living God, even though they were surrounded by idols in Babylon.
• The Book of Daniel reminds the Jews also that if God could save 2 faithful mend form a fiery furnace and also save Daniel in the Lion’s Den, God could surely deliver his people back to Israel.
• We should remember we are in the LORD’s care and he will work out his divine purpose for his glory, regardless of the circumstances.   (I Peter 1:6-8, I Peter 4:12-19)
• What are the Lion’s Dens in our lives?
• Why does God let bad things happen?
• We are supporting actors in this drama of life, the real star of the story is God.
• Why do bad things happen to good people?
• So that God can be gloried   (James 1:12)
• Testing - to purify us and to glorify God.