Thrown to the Lions for God

Daniel 6:1-17 

1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom; 2 and over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them, so that the king would suffer no loss. 3 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. 4 So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him. 5 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."

6 So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: "King Darius, live forever! 7 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. 8 Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter." 9 Therefore King Darius signed the written decree.

10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.

11 Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. 12 And they went before the king, and spoke 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."

13 So 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."

14 And the king, when he heard these words, was greatly displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him. 15 Then these men approached the king, and said to the king, "Know, O king, that it is the law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statute which the king establishes may be changed."

16 So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, "Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you." 17 Then a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signets of his lords, that the purpose concerning Daniel might not be changed.

Daniel was above board, excellent of spirit and righteous in all his dealings, and so was promoted to a high position and considered for one above all others but the king as Joseph was.  But here the other leaders grew exceedingly jealous and could find no dirt to dredge up on Daniel, so they found a way to trap him in his faith’s practice.  They drew up a law much as our own judicial system and had it signed by the ruler who did not fully consider the ramifications for those of faith like Daniel.  This law demanded worship of another god who was the king himself, much as the later Caesar enacted and enforced to a point.  Here the force of this blasphemous legislation was to be cast into a den of lions, which they also were members who wrote and pushed through this law with evil intent against those who worship God in heaven and which was written to target Daniel specifically to take the power from him to rule in his place over others.  This law was not breakable according to the laws of that nation of the Medes and Persians, and so even king Darius would not be able to nullify it after it had been passed by him, knowingly or unwittingly.  The trap was cunningly set to throw the godly man to the lions.  Daniel’s commitment to daily devotion times of prayer were not stopped even when he heard this decree and knew the consequences; he continued to pray three times a day.  He opened the window and looked towards the holy Jerusalem where God met with man for confession and atoning sacrifices of worship and where he and his people had been taken from into captivity.  He did not forget or compromise his LORD, no matter the law or plot to attack and sentence him to death for worshiping Him alone.  Daniel trusted God’s sovereign authority and providence over the laws of the land and did not fight the decrees of evil men.  Instead, he looked out his window and prayed as always even when he knew the enemy would be looking to catch and accuse and sentence him to death.  That is our example of faith.  We are not to overthrow our leaders to gain our ends while godly people suffer, but entrust our souls to our Lord’s sovereign will (1 Peter 4:19) and trust in His goodness and mercy because He is faithful.  Even king Darius knew when he had been deceived into writing this law and the sentence put Daniel into the lion’s den, even then he committing the man of God into His hands by faith to deliver him saying, "Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you."  Our God will deliver us at times in this world from evil men who draw up laws to persecute those who worship Him and refuse to bow to their idols, but even if He does not, we have been and will be delivered from so great a death (2 Corinthians 1:9-10), eternal in the den of burning fire.  The roaring lion who is our enemy because of Christ Jesus seeks to trap us in that den with him by keeping us from knowing the Lord through the gospel and serving Him in worship once we are Christ’s.  We trust and worship no matter what laws that lion works against us and continue to worship all day long because we trust Him who delivers from the lion’s den of iniquity when we are thrown to the lions for God.  The weapons of our warfare are not worldly legal wrangling or violent protests, but absolute entrusting of our souls to God in doing good.  May all those who name the name of Christ live in faith like this (2 Timothy 2:19).  Amen.