If you grew up in church like I did, you remember those flannelgraph stories of Bible characters. Not every story could be pictured through flannelgraph, but one of the easiest stories to show and tell was Daniel in the lion’s den.
Daniel 6 is an amazing story of God’s sovereign protection of His servant and a favorite Sunday school story of how God stopped the mouths of lions. Daniel never aimed to be a spectacular hero of the faith, just aspired to be faithful and dependable. Daniel had been faithfully serving the Lord in pagan Babylon for nearly seventy years. He was now about eighty—three to eighty-five years old. He never preached a revival like Jonah, or turned the nation around like Josiah, but he just plodded on, reading the Scriptures, praying and serving.
“The iniquity of world rulers during the ‘times of the Gentiles’ has not yet been examined to the last detail. These monarchs have sponsored idolatry in the past, and they will again in the prophetic future. They became deranged by their senseless, overbearing pride in the past, and they will again in the predicted future. They were blatantly impious in their desecration of holy things in the past, and they will be again in the foretold future. … But that is not all; there is yet a final touch. Man will finally seek to displace God altogether” (Feinberg, Daniel: The Kingdom of the Lord, p. 73).
Verse 31 of Daniel 5 marks an historic transition. On October 12, 539 B. C., Belshazzar reigned as king of Babylon. On October 13, Darius the Mede took over at the age of sixty-two. Bible scholars have disagreed over whether Darius and Cyrus were the same person (maybe a name like Julius Caesar) or whether Darius was the general who reigned for a short period of time in Babylon before Cyrus took over.
Daniel himself was around 85 at this time. In his life, the words of Psalm 92:14 concerning righteous men had been fulfilled, “They will still bear fruit in old age, they full of sap and green.”
What we observe in Daniel 6 is that certain leaders under King Darius conspire to accuse Daniel (vv. 1-5). They convince the king to sign a thirty-day ordinance that prayer be made only to him and that those who refuse be cast into a den of lions (vv. 6-9). Daniel, however, maintains his practice of prayer to God (v. 10), and, thus, Darius orders him to be thrown into the den (vv. 10-17). The next morning Darius learns that God has saved Daniel from the lions (vv. 18-22) and then he orders that Daniel be removed from the den and the accusers and their families be thrown into it instead (vv. 23-24). A new decree orders everyone to tremble and fear before Daniel’s God (vv. 25-27). (Expository Commentary) Amazing story, isn’t it? And like all the stories in God’s Word, it truly happened.
As with most of the book of Daniel, each chapter is written in the form of a chiasm, a literary device in which the beginning and ending statements match, as well as others throughout the chapter.
The narrative begins and ends with Daniel experiencing favor under the reign of Darius (1 and 1’). Between these descriptions of Daniel prospering are two occasions of Darius issuing a command, or decree. Darius signs a document stating that everyone must pray only to him for thirty days (2), but later he decrees that people are to tremble before Daniel’s God (2’). Conspirators go to Darius to accuse Daniel of violating the law about prayer (3), but in an ironic and fitting twist to the story, the accusers themselves are thrown into the lions’ den (3’).
King Darius cannot renege on his ordinance to punish anyone who prays to someone other than him, so he is greatly distressed when the conspirators accuse Daniel (4). The king’s distress turns to great relief and gladness, however, when he learns that Daniel has been spared from death (4′). Even though Darius had reluctantly ordered Daniel’s death (5), God had sent an angel to close the mouths of the lions and thus deliver Daniel (5′).
The center of the chiasm is Darius’s sleepless night and hasty return to the den the next morning (6). These verses (vv. 18-20) may have been placed at the center of the chapter because they indicate the king’s hope that Daniel would survive: “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” (v. 20). The previous events in chapter 6 lead up to that suspenseful and hopeful question, and everything that happens afterward proves that the power of God has indeed delivered his servant. (Expository Commentary)
Chapter 6 is the first narrative in the book that takes place under the Medo-Persian Empire. The events of chapters 1-5 were under Babylonian kings; now the Medo-Persians rule.
This chapter marks the end of the historical portion of the book. The remaining chapters concern prophetic revelation unfulfilled during Daniel’s lifetime.
Chapter 6 is also part of the book’s Aramaic chiasm (chs. 2-7), strategically matching chapter 3, where another divine deliverance took place, Daniel’s three friends from the fiery furnace.
Darius Shows Favor to Daniel (6:1-3)
In vv. 1-3 the new king, Darius, shows favor to Daniel.
According to Daniel 5:31, Darius the Mede was sixty-two when he conquered Babylon (in 539 B.C.). This conqueror was the ruler of the Medo-Persian empire, located in modern-day Iran, which means “the land of the Aryans.” These Aryan-speaking people settled on the highland around 1500 B.C.
This means that Darius was born around the same time that Daniel had been taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar!
The two Aryan tribes that attained the greatest importance were the Medes and the Persians. The Medes dominated the Persians until Cyrus the Great conquered the Medes around 559 B.C. He gave the Medes and the Persians equal power so that foreigners spoke of either the Persians and the Medes (Esther 1:19) or “the Medes and Persians” (Daniel 5:28). We know from history that Cyrus the Great conquered Babylon in 539 B.C.
This is the second kingdom (the chest and arms of silver) represented in Nebuchadnezzar’s vision in Daniel 2 and the ram with two horns in Daniel 8. See also Daniel 7.
Daniel 6 begins with these words:
1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps, to be throughout the whole kingdom; 2 and over them three high officials, of whom Daniel was one,
It is likely that Darius established the structure of Medo-Persian government in the first year of his reign. It was his responsibility to appoint administrators over the whole territory recently won from the Babylonians. Since Darius’ rule over Babylon was relatively short-lived, this governmental reorganization occurred soon after the fall of Babylon to Medo-Persia.
Why did it “please” Darius to make Daniel one of the three “presidents” of Babylon? Leon Wood suggests, “Perhaps Darius recognize the honor which Belshazzar had bestowed on Daniel that last night before the fall of Babylon. It may be, too, that the king had learned of Daniel’s remarkable prediction of that fall and believed that such a man could make a valuable contribution to his new government” (A Commentary on Daniel, p. 156). Obviously Daniel was a capable administrator. That has been proven throughout the book. As we have noted (chapter 4), he likely played a major role in helping Nebuchadnezzar’s administration stay intact during the seven years of Nebuchadnezzar’s insanity.
Part of this governmental structure involved 120 satraps “to be throughout the whole kingdom.” In charge of these 120 satraps were “three high officials, of whom Daniel was one.” Daniel’s humility and unwillingness to compromise to gain a promotion in chapter 5 now results in an unsought promotion because of divine favor.
Thus, Daniel was appointed a “leader of leaders.” He was now the top banana, the head honcho, court guy numero uno. And that would get under the skin of others who thought themselves worthy of that honor.
The remainder of verse 2 highlights Daniel’s role in this new government. Notice that all the satraps would now report to Daniel:
to whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss.
Officers of any king were supposed to serve to the benefit of the kingdom, and Darius made his appointments accordingly. An important function of government was the collection and administration of taxes within the king’s realm (see Ezra 4:13). This, however, provided ample opportunity for graft and embezzlement as monies funneled through the levels of government.
It appears that the king suspected that some officials were participating in graft and bribery and the revenue stream was being compromised. Convinced of Daniel’s integrity, he may have sought to use him to expose and stem this financial loss. If true, this would only fuel more fury and opposition by Daniel’s peers who feared exposure of their own graft and bribery.
It is possible that Darius also somehow knew of Daniel’s trustworthy service to king Nebuchadnezzar. He believed that in Daniel’s hands his kingdom would not experience political intrigue or financial loss. There would be no skimming with Daniel in charge. In addition, he believed that in Daniel’s hands his kingdom would prosper. Again, Darius is attempting to solidify the organizational structure of his new kingdom.
Furthermore, if he learned of Daniel’s prediction regarding Belshazzar’s downfall, he presumably would have trusted Daniel even more. It would seem like, at least to him, that Daniel was “in his corner.”
We don’t know how long Daniel served in this role, possibly just a couple of years. But then, Darius planned to promote Daniel even further.
When a kingdom changes, everything is new and no one knows the former administration. Would one really expect, then, to read verse 3?
3 Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.
Daniel apparently had some time in office under Darius to “distinguish” himself “above all the other high officials and satraps.” The Aramaic uses a participle here to indicate continuing action, he was “regularly distinguishing himself over the other two presidents, as well as the 120 satraps” (Leon Wood, A Commentary on Daniel, p. 157). So it may have been a few months, but probably not much longer, before Darius decided to make this decision to promote Daniel even higher.
Daniel would have distinguished himself in his competency in the job, in his integrity in doing his job in a way that never took advantage of the king but always did what would benefit the king, and even in his early eighties, Daniel was a man with remarkable capacity. This was on small task the king was giving him, administrating a large land mass roughly half the size of the United States—in a day before cell phones, email or fax machines!
Again we notice the “excellent spirit” that stood out and caused others to take notice (cf. 5:12).. Daniel’s “excellent spirit” was manifested by the quality of his work and provided a natural testimony that was evident to others. “Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before obscure men” (Prov. 22:29).
Now in his eighties, Daniel still stood out from others, just as he had as a teenager (1:17-20). Daniel understood his position within the pagan government was by God’s providential design. He served under successive pagan kings with the same diligence as if serving God directly.
Paul tells Christian slaves in Colossians 3:22-24: “Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for me, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”
This “excellent spirit” likely refers to the integrity and skill by which he accomplished his work for the king. Just as the excellency of God expresses the brilliance of His perfections (all His attributes as they work together), so Daniel’s “excellency” was a reflection of that “glory” of God. But “excellent spirit” could also refer to the attitude with which Daniel did his work. He always did it diligently, faithfully and joyfully.
The Aramaic word yatar carries the idea of pre-eminence. Here was someone whose spirit was pre-eminent over the flesh. He was a man who walked in the spirit. When your spirit joined with the Spirit of God takes the leadership role over the flesh you have an excellent spirit. It will not be so much a trait that you see in yourself but that others notice in you.
Believers make their maximum testimony in organizations by showing their spiritual stability; doing a good job, yes, but the one thing that should characterize a believer is that he is reliable, that when given a job to do he does the best that he can do with what he’s got. He may not have as much skill as the man next door; he may not be as high IQ as the next person, you don’t have to worry about that, God doesn’t expect you to do something with things that you don’t have but God does expect you to do everything you can with what you’ve got. And the result is an impact for Jesus Christ. You do your job as unto the Lord; Colossians 3 gives some New Testament counterpart instructions on this; do your job as unto the Lord, not as unto man [Col. 3:23] (Clough, Lessons in Daniel, 20:271).
Darius was so impressed with Daniel that he planned to promote him to his highest rank yet: a position “over the whole kingdom.” Only Darius would be of higher rank. This plan, however, was about to be sabotaged by some jealous co-workers. Every had any of those? Someone has said that jealousy is the tribute mediocrity pays to genius. Jealousy is what motivated Joseph’s brothers to sell him into slavery (Acts 7) and what drove the religious leaders to crucify Christ (Matt. 27:18).
The greatest tribute to Daniel was the fact that those fellows who worked with him knew what he was and tried in every way to get rid of him, but they could not.
Alexander McClaren expresses the wonder of Daniel’s character in the midst of the culture he lived in:
“It’s remarkable that a character of such beauty and consecration as Daniel’s could be rooted and grow out of the court where Daniel was. For this court was half shambles and half pigsty. It was filled with luxury and sensuality and lust and self-seeking and idolatry and ruthless cruelty. And in the middle of this there grow up that fair flower of character, pure and stainless by the acknowledgement of his enemies” (David Jeremiah, The Handwriting on the Wall, p. 115-116).
The promotion of Daniel by Darius also says much about the leadership of Darius as king. It is a rare thing and a blessing when a king or other high-level leader recognizes and advances truly-qualified individuals, not promoting them in return for bribery or political favors or prejudices.
Daniel was a righteous person, but this did not shield him from persecution, just as Jesus and Paul warned their disciples. Once again, things were about to get hairy, literally.
Things are looking good, but the Enemy is about to attack.
Grace Still Amazes 