Weekly Bible Commentary by Wes Woodard: Daniel 6 – “Daniel in the Lions’ Den”

 

Daniel distinguished himself among the 120 leaders of the nation of the Medes. Darius, the king, decided to appoint Daniel head over all the leaders. The other leaders became jealous of Daniel, so they had the king pass a law that no one could pray to any god, only King Darius, for 30 days. The penalty for breaking this law was to be cast into the den of lions.   The king did not realize that he had been tricked, but he passed the law because of his super ego. He did not realize that Daniel would break it.  Even after Daniel heard about the law he continued to go home, open a window toward Jerusalem, kneel down, and pray three times a day, giving thanks to his God.  This had been his habit. His enemies followed him home and caught him in the act of prayer.  As soon as they found him, they quickly returned to the palace and told King Darius that someone was breaking the law.  They immediately called for Daniel to be thrown into the den of lions.  This made the king very sad.  A stone was laid over the mouth of the den and sealed with the king’s signet ring.  The king went home and stayed awake and fasted all night. The next morning at dawn the king went to the lion’s den. He cried out in a troubled voice into the den.  “Daniel, servant of the living God, has the God you constantly serve been able to deliver you from the lions?”  Daniel replied, “O, king, live forever! My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths and they have not harmed me, inasmuch as I was found innocent before Him; and also toward you, O King…. Then the king was very happy and gave orders that Daniel be taken up out of the den.” They found that the lions had not harmed Daniel. “They king then gave orders and they brought the men who had maliciously accused Daniel, and they cast them and their children and their wives into the lions’ den; and they had not reached the bottom of the den before the lions overpowered them and crushed their bones.” Then the king issued a proclamation to his entire empire: “May your peace abound! I make a decree that in all the dominion of my kingdom men are to fear and tremble before the God of Daniel; for He is the living God and endures forever, and His Kingdom is one that will not be destroyed.” In verse 28 of chapter 6 we read, “So this Daniel enjoyed success in the reign of Darius (the Mede) and in the reign of Cyrus (the Persian).

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