Daniel, chapter 6

I apologize for not updating the last few days. I got a sudden 3-day job at the last minute and had to take it, but I didn’t have much access to a computer. What I like about getting back into today’s chapter is that it is one of everyone’s favorite childhood Bible stories. Today we are talking about Daniel in the Lion’s Den.

By this point, Darius was the new king of Babylon. He had elevated Daniel to a high status like his predecessor’s, but there were some jealousies from that satraps and prefects that Daniel passed over. These people wanted to see Daniel eliminated. By now, Daniel was not a young man either. My personal study Bible estimates his age to be around 90 at this point. He was hardly a threat to overthrow the king, but nevertheless, the jealousy was there. The satraps planned a trap to snare Daniel and give the king a reason to put Daniel in the Lion’s Den.

¹⁵ Then the men went as a group to the king and said to him, "Remember, O king, 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!"

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, "O 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, O king."

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. – Daniel 6:15-23

This move only glorified God. Daniel could easily have been martyred for his faith, but it provided a more powerful message to have him live. This left little question as to who God was. Although the king didn’t get rid of the other gods he believed in, he did recognize that Daniel’s God was incredibly powerful and immortal. This is also a lesson for us that God can rescue us from any trouble.