By Mary Fairchild
1581 Bunting Clover Leaf Map; Israel in the center.
DANIEL AND DARIUS: Daniel 6:1-9
As Darius organized his kingdom he appointed 120 princes over the provinces and three supervisory presidents, of which Daniel was first. Daniel was about 81at this time. Darius found Daniel to be trustworthy, honest, upright, submissive, and wise in his relationships and in his business. “The righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right” (Prov. 16:13). Influenced by Daniel, Darius later learned of the true God.
Daniel was set apart from the life style of the world. “And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…” (Romans 12:2).
The two other presidents and princes became jealous of Daniel. They scrutinized Daniel’s life but could not find anything about which to accuse him. He was faithful, accurate, and thorough. The planned to persuade Darius to sign a decree that no one should ask a request of anyone except the king for 30 days. In pride, Darius fell prey to the plot and signed it. This actually put him in the position of “playing god” for 30 days.
Daniel 6: 10-28
Daniel was faced with the same decision that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had faced years before. For Daniel, the end of this irrevocable decree was a lion’s den for him. Knowing the decree, he continued his daily habit of talking with his heavenly Father with his window open toward Jerusalem three times a day. Soon his accusers discovered him and reported him to the king. Darius was displeased with his own decree when he found out and he tried to think of ways to help Daniel. With no way out of the law of the Medes and the Persians, Darius demanded that Daniel be put into the den of lions. Darius said to Daniel, “Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee” (6:16). In agony that night, Darius had no food, no musicians, and no sleep, but Daniel rested that night in the power of God, for the Lord had sent an angel to shut the mouths of the lions. Early the next morning Darius rushed to the den to see if Daniel’s God had delivered him and sure enough Daniel was brought out of the den of lions unharmed.
His accusers were thrown into the den of lions and they were torn to pieces. Then Darius wrote a decree testifying to the power of the living God and sent it throughout his dominion.
WORKS CITED
- Revelation and Church History
- Church Age
- Old Testament Study
- KING JAMES BIBLE
- MATTHEW HENRY COMMENTARY
- A Beka Book High School Bible Series “United Kingdom: Kings of Israel A;” 1995 Pensacola Christian College; www.abeka.com