The Organization of the Kingdom and Daniel’s Distinction
King Darius divided the kingdom into 120 provinces and appointed a high official to govern each one of them. In addition, he selected Daniel and two other men as administrators to oversee the high officials and protect the king’s interests.
We can see that Daniel quickly stood out with superior ability compared to all the other managers and high officials. Due to the ability that Daniel demonstrated, King Darius considered placing him as leader over the entire kingdom. Daniel possessed extraordinary intelligence because of his “excellent spirit.”
Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm. (Daniel 6:3, NKJV)
Envy and the Conspiracy Against Daniel
Daniel’s success aroused envy among the other administrators and high officials. They began to seek possible faults in the way Daniel handled management issues, but they found nothing to criticize or condemn.
Daniel was known for his honesty, great responsibility, and unwavering reliability. The only reason they “managed to accuse him” was because of his close connection with God.
Then these men said, “We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.” (Daniel 6:5, NKJV)
The Crafted Decree and the Cunning Proposal
The administrators, officers, and high officials went to the king with the aim of setting a trap for Daniel. They presented the king with a proposal in which he should issue a decree that had to be strictly followed.
In this decree, for the next 30 days, any person who prayed to God or to anyone except the king should be thrown into the lions’ den.
All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. (Daniel 6:7, NKJV
The high officials and officers harbored deep envy toward Daniel, conspiring and plotting against his faithfulness to the law of his God. They all united to persuade the king to issue a decree, knowing that Daniel would not comply with it, and thus the king would be forced to order the death penalty. Daniel’s story teaches us to act with integrity, even in the most difficult situations, without compromising our biblical convictions, for that is how we honor God.
Daniel’s Faithfulness in the Face of Danger
When he learned that the law had been signed, Daniel was not intimidated. Instead, he went home and, as was his custom, knelt in his room with the windows open toward Jerusalem. He used to pray three times a day and express gratitude to his God. Despite the officials’ resistance, they went to Daniel’s house and found him seeking God.
Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. Then they came near and spoke before the king concerning the king’s decree: “Have you not signed a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.” Then they answered and said before the king, “That Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah, does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.” (Daniel 6:11-13, NKJV)
The king was deeply disturbed and sought a way to rescue Daniel. He spent the entire day pondering how to free him from this circumstance. Later that night, his advisors approached and reminded him: “Your Majesty, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, no decree signed by the king can be revoked.”
The Lions’ Den and the King’s Hope
The lions’ den was underground and had an opening at the top, covered by a large stone. This opening, sealed by the king, indicated that no one could access the den without his permission. Due to Daniel’s integrity and exceptional spirit, he was admired by the king, who also respected Daniel’s God. Thus, when the king rigorously applied his decree, he expressed hope that God would deliver Daniel from the lions’ den.
Then, the king ordered Daniel to be arrested and thrown into the lions’ den. He said to Daniel: “May your God, whom you serve so faithfully, rescue you.” Then a stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den. The king sealed the stone with his ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that no one could free Daniel.
It is interesting to note that the king seemed aware of the deliverance granted by God to Daniel’s three friends in the situation of the fiery furnace.
The king returns to the palace and spends the night fasting. His heart was so saddened that none of the usual entertainments cheered him, and he could not sleep. The next morning, the king hurries to the lions’ den.
And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! (Daniel 6:20-21, NKJV)
The Miracle and Daniel’s Response
And Daniel explains that God sent an angel who shut the lions’ mouths, protecting him from any harm, because Daniel was considered innocent in God’s eyes. The king is extremely happy and orders Daniel to be pulled from the den, finding him without a single scratch. This miracle happened due to Daniel’s complete trust in God.
Divine Justice and the New Decree
After Daniel was removed from the lions’ den, the king orders that those who falsely accused him be thrown into the den with their families. Then, the king issues a decree.
And the king gave the command, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions—them, their children, and their wives; and the lions overpowered them, and crushed all their bones before they ever came to the bottom of the den. Then King Darius wrote: To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, And steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, And His dominion shall endure to the end. He delivers and rescues, And He works signs and wonders In heaven and on earth, Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. (Daniel 6:24-27, NKJV)
According to the Word of God, Daniel prospered greatly in the kingdom of Darius and during the reign of Cyrus the Persian. Daniel teaches us to stand firm in God, trusting fully in the Lord, even in the face of envy and falsehood directed at us. It is essential to act with integrity and honesty in all the places we frequent, for God is greatly pleased with those who follow these principles. The Bible teaches us that our enemies will not succeed, as seen when the men who tried to harm Daniel were quickly overpowered by the lions.
No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord. (Isaiah 54:17, NKJV)
