Daniel And The Lions Den
August 31, 2021
Commentary
While the Babylonians were in a drunken stupor, Cyrus devised a plan for diverting the Euphrates river, that ran under the wall and through the city, from its old course to a new channel. Then the Mede and Persian Army, marched into the city by way of the almost dry riverbed and suddenly captured Babylon. Darius the Mede who was apparently the commanding general of Cyrus was appointed to be the governor of Babylon. Darius divided the kingdom into one hundred twenty provinces, over each of which he set a prince (v. 1). Then he placed three presidents over the princes. The first of these presidents chosen was Daniel (v. 2). He must have been around eighty years of age at this time.Envy and jealousy of the king’s favorable treatment of Daniel caused the other members of the king’s cabinet to hate him and to plot to kill him (vv. 3-4). Because they could find no fault in his leadership they decided to trap him with a law which was contrary to the law of God (v. 5). The law was that all prayer was to be addressed to the king and the penalty for not doing this was death by being thrown into a den of lions (vv. 6-8). The king without thinking the matter through, signed their law (v. 9). He didn’t see through the plot to trap Daniel until it was too late. Only after the decree was signed did Daniel learn about it. However, he simply followed his usual custom of praying thee times daily with his face toward the holy city (v. 10). When the king found out about it he was forced to cast Daniel into the lion’s den (vv. 11-17).
Application
Have I ever found myself becoming envious and jealous of someone who was given special treatment that I thought I should have received. If this happens I need to read Philippians 2:3 which says “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself."
Daniel 6:1– 17 (NET)
1 It seemed like a good idea to Darius to appoint over the kingdom 120 satraps who would be in charge of the entire kingdom. 2 Over them would be three supervisors, one of whom was Daniel. These satraps were accountable to them, so that the king’s interests might not incur damage. 3 Now this Daniel was distinguishing himself above the other supervisors and the satraps, for he had an extraordinary spirit. In fact, the king intended to appoint him over the entire kingdom. 4 Consequently the supervisors and satraps were trying to find some pretext against Daniel in connection with administrative matters. But they were unable to find any such damaging evidence, because he was trustworthy and guilty of no negligence or corruption. 5 So these men concluded, “We won’t find any pretext against this man Daniel unless it is in connection with the law of his God.”
6 So these supervisors and satraps came by collusion to the king and said to him, “O King Darius, live forever! 7 To all the supervisors of the kingdom, the prefects, satraps, counselors, and governors it seemed like a good idea for a royal edict to be issued and an interdict to be enforced. For the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human other than you, O king, should be thrown into a den of lions. 8 Now let the king issue a written interdict so that it cannot be altered, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be changed.” 9 So King Darius issued the written interdict.
10 When Daniel realized that a written decree had been issued, he entered his home, where the windows in his upper room opened toward Jerusalem. Three times daily he was kneeling and offering prayers and thanks to his God just as he had been accustomed to do previously. 11 Then those officials who had gone to the king came by collusion and found Daniel praying and asking for help before his God. 12 So they approached the king and said to him, “Did you not issue an edict to the effect that for the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human other than to you, O king, would be thrown into a den of lions?” The king replied, “That is correct, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be changed.” 13 Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the edict that you issued. Three times daily he offers his prayer.”
14 When the king heard this, he was very upset and began thinking about how he might rescue Daniel. Until late afternoon he was struggling to find a way to rescue him. 15 Then those men came by collusion to the king and said to him, “Recall, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no edict or decree that the king issues can be changed.” 16 So the king gave the order, and Daniel was brought and thrown into a den of lions. The king consoled Daniel by saying, “Your God whom you continually serve will rescue you!” 17 Then a stone was brought and placed over the opening to the den. The king sealed it with his signet ring and with those of his nobles so that nothing could be changed with regard to Daniel.
Illustration: Andrew Bonar Envy is My Hurt
The godly Scottish preacher Andrew Bonar penned a diary entry. He wrote, “This day 20 years ago I preached for the first time as an ordained minister. It is amazing that the Lord has spared me and used me at all. I have no reason to wonder that He used others far more than He does me. Yet envy is my hurt, and today I have been seeking grace to rejoice exceedingly over the usefulness of others, even where it cast me into the shade. Lord, take away this envy from me!” (Source unknown, Lou Nicholes – Missionary/Author).