CONTENTS
DANIEL 6 - Faithfulness Is Its
Own Reward
DANIEL CHAPTER 6
It pleased Darius, the Mede, to set over the kingdom a hundred
and twenty provincial governors to administer the whole
kingdom,
2 and over them three presidents, of whom Daniel was one, so
that to them the governors might be responsible, and that the king
would suffer no loss.
3 Above all the other presidents and governors Daniel
distinguished himself, because of his surpassing spirit, so superior
that the king was planning to set him over the whole kingdom.
4 Then the presidents and governors sought some ground of
complaint against Daniel in the discharge of his official duties;
but they could find no ground of complaint, because he was
faithful, and no error or fault was found in him.
5 So these men said, “We shall not find no ground of complaint
against this Daniel, unless we find it in connection with service to
his god.”
6 Whereupon these presidents and governors rushed in jointly
to the king, and said to him, “O King Darius, live forever!
7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the chiefs and the
governors, the counselors and the rulers have agreed that the king
should establish an ordinance and enforce a strict 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, lay down the law, and sign it as a document,
which cannot be changed forever, according to the law of the
Medes and Persians, which cannot be changed.”
9 Therefore King Darius signed such a document in keeping
with this decree.
10 When Daniel learned that such a decree had been officially
signed and issued, he went to his house on the roof of which there
were chambers with windows opening toward Jerusalem, and
three times a day he kneeled and prayed and gave God thanks as
he was accustomed to do.
11 Then these accusers came in throngs, and found Daniel
praying and making humble petition before his God.
12 So they approached the king and reminded him of his
decree. They said, “O king! Did you not sign a decree to the
effect that any man who prays to any god or man within thirty
days, except to you, O king, should be cast into the den of lions?”
The king replied, “The thing stands fast according to the law of
the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked.”
13 Upon this they protested to the king, “That man Daniel, of
the exiles of Judah, neither heeds you, O king, nor regards the
decree which you have signed; for thrice a day he continues to
pray to his own god.”
14 When the king heard these words, he was greatly distressed
and set his mind to deliver Daniel. He struggled till sunset to
rescue him.
15 But these men together rushed to the king, and said, “Know,
O king, that a law of the Medes and Persians, in particular a
decree of royal authority, cannot be changed.
16 So the king gave the order and Daniel was brought and cast
into the den of lions, the king, voicing the hope, “May your God,
whom you worship so faithfully, deliver you.”
17 Then a great boulder was brought and laid upon the opening
of the den and the king sealed it with his own seal and also with
the seal of his rulers, to prevent any possible change of plan about
Daniel.
18 Then the king went to his palace, and spent the night in
meditation and fasting, instead of enjoying his usual diversions,
and his sleep fled from him.
19 In the morning, as soon as it was light, the king arose and
went in haste to the den of lions.
20 When he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried in
a tone of anguish and anxiety, “Daniel, servant of the living God,
has your God, whom you worship so regularly, been able to save
you from the lions?”
21 Daniel answered the king, “O king, live forever!
22 My God sent His angel, and shut the lions’ mouths, and they
have not hurt me; because He found me innocent, not having done
you any injury.”
23 Then the king was exceeding glad, and ordered that Daniel
be lifted out of the den. So Daniel was lifted out, and no kind of
hurt was found on him, because he had trusted in his God
DANIEL CHAPTER 6
Faithfulness Is Its Own Reward
This chapter contains the fascinating story of Daniel in the
lions’ den. As you read it just as the Bible tells it, you will
agree that it is one of the best stories ever told.
Moreover, it contains a great lesson, for it is a story of fidelity,
honor and uprightness. It highlights the fact that these virtues are
rewarded in life, though perhaps not without suffering and
hardship.
King Darius, recognizing Daniel’s extraordinary ability and
trustworthiness, had made him head over the nation, directly
under the king himself. Naturally other leaders in the country
became jealous. These men tried in every way to “get” Daniel.
But no fault could be found in him, even though they went over
his record and actions with a fine-tooth comb.
Then cunning enemies figured out a plan to unseat Daniel.
Knowing that Daniel worshiped the eternal God, they tricked the
king into establishing a decree that any man who worshiped a god
other than the king himself for 30 days would be thrown into the
lions’ den.
Once the king made an edict, it was unchangeable according to
the law of the Medes and the Persians, and even the king could
not set it aside.
Daniel, of course, faithfully prayed to the Lord. His enemies
then made this fact known to the king, who was angry with
himself for being tricked. But there was no way out of the
dilemma, so he gave orders that Daniel be thrown into the den of
lions. But he believed, or at least hoped, that Daniel would
survive.
The king’s own faith had been growing because of Daniel’s
influence, and he fasted and prayed all night. In the early morning
he went to the lions’ den and, to his joy, Daniel’s God had
indeed preserved His faithful servant.
The king realized that Daniel’s God rewards honor, goodness
and fidelity, and so he proceeded to decree that Daniel’s God be
the God of his kingdom.
This story is a direct refutation of the cynical notions that “you
never get anywhere trying to be good,” that “honesty doesn’t pay”
and that “it’s only the clever who get theirs.”
In fact, the story of Daniel is actually a series of affirmations:
First, in life, honorable and faithful though we may be, there will
come times of great testing. Second, there will be misunderstanding,
hostility, even enmity. But finally, if we are loyal and true to
God, He will see us through no matter what. That is the great
truth: even in our “den of lions,” if we keep the faith, we shall be
saved and life will be good.
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