Year 9, Day 340: Daniel 6

Theological Commentary: Click Here

The Persians take over when Babylon falls to them.  Daniel, however, doesn’t fall.  His reputation goes before him and soon he finds himself in a powerful position among the Persian empire.  Darius seems to have some wisdom about him.  It is always useful to have a cadre of wisdom seekers around you.

Unfortunately, with fame often comes jealousy and competition.  It is tough to be the top dog without recognizing the envious stares from the pack of lower status.  Daniel’s competition seeks to depose him.  A decree that Daniel cannot keep is given.  His faithfulness to the Lord causes him to break the decree.  He ends up on the wrong side of an irrevocable decree and is stuffed into the lion’s den.

This is one of the reasons that Daniel is so respected.  He is not only wise, but he is faithful and loyal.  He would rather violate an unrighteous rule and die from such violation than live according to the unjust.  He is resolute.  His heart is set upon the Lord and His ways.

The Lord spares Daniel.  He conquers the lions because He is lord over them.  Daniel survives the ordeal and comes out unscathed.

Darius’ reaction to the ordeal is intriguing.  He fasts the whole time that Daniel is in the lion’s den.  He knows he cannot break his own rule.  At the same time, he realizes how he was played by the unrighteous satraps.  He does what little he can by fasting.  As soon as he is allowed, he returns to the lion’s den.

It is difficult to be trapped in our own words by others.  Yet, Darius shows his mettle by abiding by them.  As ridiculous as it seems to kill Daniel, he has to keep his word.  He trusts that Daniel’s God can save him.

Those who tried to trap Daniel are then judged.  Clearly, since Daniel was spared, he wasn’t guilty.  Therefore, those who looked enviously upon Daniel are judged in his place.  They are consumed and broken by the lions before they can even settle among the lions.  God sees no reason to spare them.  The unrighteous occasionally appear to win, but they are defeated in the end.  God always wins in the end.

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