When Darius took possession of the throne of Babylon, he at once proceeded
to reorganize the government. He "set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty
princes . . . ; and over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first"
(Dan. 6:1, 2). And "Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes,
because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him
over the whole realm" (verse 3). The honors bestowed upon Daniel excited
the jealousy of the leading men of the kingdom. The presidents and princes
sought to find occasion for complaint against him. "But they could find
none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there
any error or fault found in him" (verse 4).
What a lesson is here presented for all Christians. The keen eyes of
jealousy were fixed upon Daniel day after day; their watchings were sharpened
by hatred; yet not a word or act of his life could they make appear wrong.
And still he made no claim to sanctification, but he did that which was
infinitely better--he lived a life of faithfulness and consecration.
The more blameless the conduct of Daniel, the greater was the hatred
excited against him by his enemies. They were filled with madness, because
they could find nothing in his moral character or in the discharge of his
duties upon which to base a complaint against him. "Then said these men,
We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against
him concerning the law of his God" (verse 5). Three times a day Daniel
prayed to the God of heaven. This was the only accusation that could be
brought against him.
A scheme was now devised to accomplish his destruction. His enemies
assembled at the palace and besought the king to pass a decree that no
person in the whole realm should ask anything of either God or man, except
of Darius the king, for the space of thirty days, and that any violation
of this edict should be punished by casting the offender into the den of
lions. The king knew nothing of the hatred of these men toward Daniel,
and did not suspect that the decree would in any way injure him. Through
flattery they made the monarch believe it would be greatly to his honor
to pass such an edict. With a smile of satanic triumph upon their faces,
they come forth from the presence of the king, and rejoice together over
the snare which they have laid for the servant of God.
An Example of Boldness and Fidelity
The decree goes forth from the king. Daniel is acquainted with the purpose
of his enemies to ruin him. But he does not change his course in a single
particular. With calmness he performs his accustomed duties, and at the
hour of prayer he goes to his chamber, and with his windows open toward
Jerusalem, he offers his petitions to the God of heaven. By his course
of action he fearlessly declares that no earthly power has the right to
come between him and his God and tell him to whom he should or should not
pray. Noble man of principle! he stands before the world today a praiseworthy
example of Christian boldness and fidelity. He turns to God with all his
heart, although he knows that death is the penalty for his devotion.
His adversaries watch him an entire day. Three times he has repaired
to his chamber, and three times the voice of earnest intercession has been
heard. The next morning the complaint is made to the king that Daniel,
one of the captives of Judah, has set at defiance his decree. When the
monarch heard these words, his eyes were at once opened to see the snare
that had been set. He was sorely displeased with himself for having passed
such a decree, and labored till the going down of the sun to devise a plan
by which Daniel might be delivered. But the prophet's enemies had anticipated
this, and they came before the king with these words: "Know, O king, that
the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which
the king establisheth may be changed.
"Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into
the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom
thou servest continually, he will deliver thee" (verses 15, 16). A stone
was laid upon the mouth of the den, and sealed with the royal seal. "Then
the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were
instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him"
(verse 18).
"My God Hath Sent His Angel"
Early in the morning the monarch hastened to the den of lions, and cried,
"Daniel, Oh Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest
continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?" (verse 20). The voice
of the prophet was heard in reply, "Oh king, live for ever. My God hath
sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt
me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before
thee, Oh king, have I done no hurt.
"Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should
take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and
no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God" (verses
22, 23). Thus was the servant of God delivered. And the snare which his
enemies had laid for his destruction proved to be their own ruin. At the
command of the king they were cast into the den, and instantly devoured
by the wild beasts.
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