Daniel in the Lion’s Den
Dan. 6:1-28
Introduction
Daniel‘s deliverance from the lion‘s den, is one of the most popular and well-known Bible stories, it is also one of the best loved.
Here in chapter 6, Daniel ‘s life is in danger, and he will experience God ‘s deliverance. Daniel 1 reveals what set Daniel apart from the rest of his Jewish peers and brought him to a position of prominence and power in king Nebuchadnezzar ‘s administration.
But chapter 6 identifies what sustained Daniel over the many years of his ministry and enabled him to survive the crises of his life.
While Daniel is the center stage of our text, much can be learned from King Darius and even Daniel ‘s peers, who seek to arrange his downfall and destruction.
Once again in the Book of Daniel, we are reminded that God is able to deliver His people, even in a distant land. The inspired and inspiring words of our text have much to teach us.
Historical Background:
Jeremiah 50:9 predicts that the Medes and Persians will defeat the Neo-Babylonian Empire.
Jeremiah 50 and 51 describe the actual fall of Babylon.
Cyrus:
175 years before the “Fall of Babylon” it was already written in the book of Isaiah.
Cyrus was not even born during that time.
The prophecy is found in Isa. 44:28 – Isa. 45:1-4.
Isaiah 44:28 That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.
Isaiah 45:1 Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut;
Isaiah 45:2 I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:
Isaiah 45:3 And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.
Isaiah 45:4 For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known
The last sentence may mean that Cyrus was not a believer in God when he besieged the city of Babylon, and was not aware that he was chosen of God as His agent in the downfall of the city.
From this Scripture we see that Cyrus was foreordained, over one hundred years before he was born, to do two things.
First, to besiege and take Babylon.
Secondly, to issue an Edict, two years later, when the term (70 years) of the Babylonian Captivity had expired (B.C. 536), for the return of the Jews to Jerusalem.
Daniel 6 occurred during the two-year reign of Darius the Mede. The two arms of Nebuchadnezzar’s image were the two kingdoms of Media and Persia.
I. New Kingdom (Dan. 6:1-9)
A. The New Government (vs. 1,2)- The Babylonian absolute monarchy (Dan. 5:19) was replaced with the Medo-Persian oligarchy- a kind of “democratic monarchy”. Silver is inferior to gold.
B. A new King (vs. 1-9) – a title rather a name was a Mede (Dan. 5:31). He was the uncle of Cyrus the Persian. Mede was the older (though weaker) of the two-nation kingdom, Darius was assigned the rule over Babylon and its old realms.
C. A new Prime Minister (vs. 2,3)- The events of Daniel 6 occur shortly after the fall of Babylon. Daniel was by now around 90 years of age.
1. He could have retired long ago but he never quit serving.
2. Even in the midst of persecution, he never quit.
3. There is a great lesson on how to get on in the world – God’s way. …”an excellent spirit was with him… (Dan. 5:12).
4. Daniel was well known for his wisdom- Ezek. 28:3
D. Darius placed Daniel over his entire kingdom because of his outstanding administrative abilities. God promotes prepared people. He was a man of the Word. He looked at the world through the eyes of God. That is why God revealed to him divine truth. Daniel’s excellent spirit was due to his knowledge of the Word of God (5:12). We see this in his study of Jeremiah
E. Daniel, now in his nineties, appointed 120 satraps to administer the kingdom. A satrap is a guardian, a watcher. These people watched over Babylon administratively. Daniel put three governors over the 120 satraps of whom he was one.
F. A New threat (v. 4) – the more democratic a government is, the more susceptible it is to corruption. Daniel’s high position was an obstacle to the other rulers who sought to take advantage of their power- his testimony was like light and salt to their evil ambitions. (Mt. 5:13,14; Jn. 3:20).
Note: Daniel’s profession was matched by his practice. What a statement from those who sought to bring him down! May this be said of us also specially those of us in position of leadership and ministry! (1 Tim. 3:7a; Acts 6:3)
G. A New Law (vs. 5-9) note the approach of the conspirators:
1. They lied to the King (v. 7a) they implied that their recommendation was unanimous- but Daniel (the chief) was not with them.
2. They flattered the King (v. 7b)- they appealed to the king’s pride. This is always the design of flattery. (Ps. 12:1-4; 78:35-37; Prov. 7:5, 21).
H. The text indicates that these rulers must have surged in upon the king with great excitement, thus forcing a nasty decision (Prov. 25:8)
I. The law of the Medes and Persians is inferior in that even the king is subject to the law. (Esther 1:19; 8:8). The only such a law could be avoided was to make another law which would negate the effects of the first (Esther 8:11).
II. The Old Saint (Dan. 6:10 -12)
A. A. Daniel’s realization (vs. 10-11) – Daniel knew full well what this decree meant and to whom it was aimed. It did not change him at all- and his enemies are counting on it! His faith was in the “God of the Fiery Furnace” (2 Pet. 2:9)
B. Daniel’s Supplication – A busy Daniel was not too busy to pray. If we are too busy to pray- we are too busy. A consistent prayer life was the secret to Daniel’s consistency of purpose
C. Notice that Daniel had:
1. A set place – his chamber. He had a prayer closet
2. A set Method – toward Jerusalem (1 kings 8:46-49 and 2 Chron. 6:36-39 give God’s promise to his people in captivity. We direct out prayers to the heavenly city and the throne of God (Heb. 12:22; 4:16)
3. A set time – three times daily. Since prayer is spiritual warfare, a regular habit is most helpful (Ps. 5:3; 55:17). We are instructed to pray without ceasing. (1 Thess. 5:17) yet for most Christians three a day is “too much”.
4. A set habit – as he did a foretime – This indicates that prayer is a natural act for Daniel. Worldly counsel would advise Daniel to take a “time out”- after all, it was only for 30 days! In these circumstances, prayer was all the more needful.
5. A set position – “on his knees”. Daniel might have at least prayed “under cover”. But he had nothing to lose.
Illustration/Application:
1. How important prayer is to you? Is it an opportunity or obligation? Privilege or a burden? There are three prayer activities a Christian should engaged in:
a. Personal Prayer- Mt. 6:6, Dan. 9:3.
b. Partnership Prayer- Mt. 18:19,20; Acts 3:1.
c. Public Prayer – Acts 4:24-31;12:5
2. We are not instructed to pray in any particular position, although position represents a heart attitude toward God. In the bible there are examples of people praying in:
a. Prostrate position – Gen. 17:3, Jos. 5:14, Lk. 5:12.
b. Kneeling – 1 Kings 8:54, 2 Chron. 6:13, Lk. 22:41.
c. Standing – Mk. 11:25
d. Sitting – Neh. 1:4, Acts 16:13
e. In bed – 1 Cor, 14:16
f. Inaudibly – 1 Sam. 1:12, 13
III. New Punishment (Dan. 6:13-17)
A. The Den of Lions – The Babylonian form of capital punishment was death by fire. Medes and the Persians (who worship fire) used the den of lions.
B. The Accusation (v. 13)- these men had counted on Daniel remaining true to his convictions – Acts 5:29.
C. The helpless (vs. 14, 15). In this we observe:
1. How the realization of sin and error brings great sorrow to the heart. (2 Cor. 7:9, 10).
2. What a wonderful, sweet-spirited man Daniel must have been for this heathen monarch to defend him.
3. The deterioration of government
D. Daniel Cast into the Den of Lion (v. 16)- what was Daniel’s testimony? “Thy God whom thou servest continually…”
E. The Den is sealed (v. 17) Our Lord’s body was laid in a sepulchre and sealed –Mt. 27:65-66. There is no natural way out for Daniel but with God. (Mt. 19:26, Lk. M1:37)
Historical Record:
Critics long pointed out for lack of evidence for this method of execution. Excavator Dieulafoy who fell into a well discovered that it was a pit used as an open cage for wild animals. Upon the curb was found an inscription “The place of execution where men who angered the king died torn by wild beasts”.
In the excavation of the palace of Shushan, an ancient record was uncovered giving a list of 484 men of high degree who thus died in a den of lions. The name of Daniel was not found among them. Solid evidence that Daniel escaped alive from that place of execution.
IV. An Old Deliverer (Dan. 6:18-22)
A. The King’s Lamentations (v. 18)- Darius spent the night awake, Daniel may have spent the night asleep (Ps. 4:8, Isa. 26:3, Isa. 57:21). Elderly people doesn’t sleep long nowadays.
B. The King’s Expectations (vs. 19-20)- it appears in some way that the king knew Daniel would be protected, and that Daniel’s God was indeed the true and living God because of Daniel’s testimony
C. The Angel’s preservation (vs. 21-22) The book of Daniel has much to say about the identity and ministry of angels. Here, Daniel’s deliverance was a divine miracle accomplished through an angel. Every child of God has a guardian angel- Heb. 1:14. Ps. 91:11, Acts 12:15. God cares for his own – 1 Pet. 5:7.
D. The Saints attestations (v.23) The last 6 words of these verse sum up the matter- (Heb. 11:33). “Because he believed in his God”.
V. New Religion (Dan. 6:24-)
A. The King’s Retribution (v. 24)- The Persian custom was that a man’s family would share his punishments (Esther 7:10). This practice was forbidden by the law of Moses (Deut. 24:16). This is also an example of the law of sowing and reaping.
B. The kingdom’s extent (v. 25) Like Nebuchadnezzar (Dan. 4:1), Darius was at the helm of a great world empire.
C. The king’s Decree (v. 26) – While this shows the possible salvation of Darius, it also reveals the thinking of a state religion. Man’s relationship to God cannot be decreed or enforced-it must be a voluntary heart acceptance. This decree brought religious toleration to the Jews, paving the way for subsequent events recorded in the books of Esther, Ezra, and Nehemiah.
D. The King’s Lesson (v.27) – Darius learned that although there had been a change of government, the sovereign Lord God does not change. (Jas. 1:17, Mal. 3:6) Man may change, but Jesus never changes- Heb. 13:8. Once more, because of Daniel’s faithfulness to God, a proud king has been brought to testify of the greatness of God.
E. Daniel’s Prosperity – After a short reign, Darius the Mede died. At about the same time, Cambyses the king of Persia also died. Cyrus was the son of Cambyses, and as a result of these deaths he became the sole monarch of the dual kingdom.
F. Noble Qualities of Daniel
A. He was a man…
1. With an excellent spirit – Dan. 6:3
2. Without fault in his business dealings – Dan. 6:4
3. Faithful to those over him – Dan. 6:4
4. Committed to prayer throughout his life – Dan. 6:10
5. Willing to obey God rather than man – Dan. 6:10
Putting it simply, he was a man who “believed in his God”! – Dan. 6:23
Prophetic Pictures in Dan. 6
The events recorded in this chapter foreshadow God’s miraculous deliverance of His people during the events on earth immediately following the rapture (Jer. 30:7).
VI. Conclusion:
The enemies of Daniel can’t find any fault against him so they deceitfully tricked the king to sign a decree that is pointed against Daniel. Their treachery worked and Daniel was thrown in the lion’s den even king Darius tries to save him. The Lord however, saved Daniel by sending an angel to shut the lion’s mouths. In the end all those people who plotted against Daniel were the ones thrown in the lion’s den together with their families. King Darius also signed a decree that all the people in his kingdom to only worship the true and living God. The God of Daniel, the God of the Jews. Will you worship Christ the Lord? Will you be faithful to Him like Daniel?
