John Burnett:
6 [a]It seemed good to Darius to
appoint 120 satraps over the kingdom, that they would be in charge of the whole
kingdom, 2 and
over them three commissioners (of whom Daniel was one), that these satraps
might be accountable to them, and that the king might not suffer loss.3 Then this Daniel began
distinguishing himself [b]among the commissioners and satraps
because [c]he possessed an extraordinary
spirit, and the king planned to appoint him over the entire kingdom.4 Then the commissioners and
satraps began trying to find a ground of accusation against Daniel in
regard to [d]government affairs; but they could
find no ground of accusation or evidence of corruption,
inasmuch as he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption was to be found
in him. 5 Then
these men said, “We will not find any ground of accusation against this Daniel
unless we find it against him with regard to the law of
his God.”
6 Then
these commissioners and satraps came [e]by agreement to the king and spoke to
him as follows: “King Darius, live forever! 7 All the commissioners of the
kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the high officials and the governors
have consulted together that the king should establish a statute and
enforce an injunction that anyone who makes a petition to any god or man
besides you, O king, for thirty days, shall be cast into the lions’ [f]den. 8 Now, O king, establish the
injunction and sign the document so that it may not be changed, according to
the law of the Medes and Persians, which [g]may not be revoked.” 9 Therefore King Darius signed
the document, that is, the injunction. There will always people who make
laws that are not supportive of Christianity. Again, God has allowed
Daniel to face another trial and Daniel remains faithful and thankful for all
that God has given him.
10 Now
when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he entered his house (now in his
roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he
continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving
thanks before his God, [h]as he had been doing previously. 11 Then these men came [i]by agreement and found Daniel making
petition and supplication before his God. 12 Then they approached
and spoke before the king about the king’s injunction, “Did you not sign
an injunction that any man who makes a petition to any god or man besides you,
O king, for thirty days, is to be cast into the lions’ den?” The king replied,
“The statement is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians,
which [j]may not be revoked.” 13 Then they answered and spoke
before the king, “Daniel, who is one of the[k]exiles from Judah, pays no
attention to you, O king, or to the injunction which you signed, but keeps
making his petition three times a day.”
14 Then,
as soon as the king heard this statement, he was deeply distressed and
set his mind on delivering Daniel; and even until sunset he
kept exerting himself to rescue him. 15 Then these men came [l]by agreement to the king and said to
the king, “Recognize, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians
that no injunction or statute which the king establishes may be changed.”
Darius
was blinded by his pride and did not think about the ramifications of his
decree. This happens to us all at some time in our lives and that is why
it is so important to stay humble and faithful to the God who provides
everything for us.
Daniel in the Lions’ Den
16 Then
the king gave orders, and Daniel was brought in and cast into the lions’
den. The king spoke and said to Daniel, “[m]Your God whom you constantly serve
will Himself deliver you.” 17 A stone
was brought and laid over the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his
own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing would
be changed in regard to Daniel. 18 Then
the king went off to his palace and spent the night fasting, and no
entertainment was brought before him; and his sleep fled from him.
19 Then
the king arose at dawn, at the break of day, and went in haste to the lions’
den. 20 When
he had come near the den to Daniel, he cried out with a troubled voice. The
king spoke and said to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God,
has your God, whom you constantly serve, been able to deliver you
from the lions?” The king declared that God was going to deliver Daniel
but he didn’t really believe it because he was sleepless all night and ran to
the den to check on Daniel, afraid that Daniel was dead.
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Krista Cook: 10 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published,
he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem.
Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his
God, just as he had done before.
-
Nothing was going to come between Daniel and God!
11 Then
these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. 12 So
they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: “Did you not
publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god
or human being except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the lions’
den?”
The
king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the law of the Medes and
Persians, which cannot be repealed.”
13 Then
they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no
attention to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still
prays three times a day.” 14 When the king heard this, he was
greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort
until sundown to save him.
- The
king knew who Daniel was, Who he stood for, and had a great respect for him.
He did
not want to have to punish him.
15 Then
the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, “Remember, Your
Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict
that the king issues can be changed.”
16 So the
king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den.
The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue
you!”
- The
king was offering encouraging words to Daniel -much like a prayer.
17 A
stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it
with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s
situation might not be changed. 18 Then the king returned to
his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment
being brought to him. And he could not sleep.
19 At the
first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. 20 When
he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel,
servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able
to rescue you from the lions?”
- The
king had a good idea of what he would find bc he had seen Daniel's God at work
before.
This
is one of my favorite lessons to teach to kids.
️
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Allen Michaels: 10 Now when Daniel learned that the decree
had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened
toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving
thanks to his God, just as he had done before. Daniel
stood alone. Although he knew about the law against praying to anyone except
the king, he continued to pray three times a day as he always had. Daniel had a
well-disciplined prayer life. Our prayers are usually interrupted not by
threats, but simply by the pressure of our schedules. Don't let threats or pressures
cut into your prayer time. Pray regularly, no matter what, for prayer is your
lifeline to God. Daniel had a habit and place of prayer. He allowed
nothing to interfere with this practice. He was a man who utterly
depended on God for his needs. Guidance and thanksgiving were part of his
prayer life. 11 Then these men went as a group
and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. 12 So they
went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: “Did you not publish
a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human
being except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the lions’ den?”
The king
answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the law of the Medes and
Persians, which cannot be repealed.”
13 Then they said to
the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to
you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three
times a day.” 14 When the king heard this, he was greatly
distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until
sundown to save him.
15 Then the men went
as a group to King Darius and said to him, “Remember, Your Majesty, that
according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king
issues can be changed.”
16 So the king gave
the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king
said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!” In addition to sport, the Persians also used lions for
executing people. But God has ways of delivering his people (6-22) that none of
us can imagine. It is always premature to give up and give in to the pressure
of unbelievers, because God has power they know nothing about. Go can even shut
the lions mouths.
17 A stone was brought
and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own
signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might
not be changed. 18 Then the king returned to his palace and
spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to
him. And he could not sleep.
19 At the first light
of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. 20 When
he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel,
servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able
to rescue you from the lions?” Darius recognized
that Daniel served God “continually”. He did not stop serving God when
things got rough. Some people serve God for success. Daniel served
God in success and disappointment. Fellowship with the Lord was more real
to him than any scenario of success. No honor or status symbol deflected
him from his highest priority. Even unbelievers witnessed to Daniel's
consistency. By his continual service, Daniel had demonstrated his faithful
devotion to God. What can unbelievers determine about our lives?
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Tomorrow’s reading for Daniel 6:21-28
23 The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
24 At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.
25 Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language in all the earth:
“May you prosper greatly!
26 “I issue a
decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God
of Daniel.
“For he is
the living God
and he endures forever;
his kingdom will not be destroyed,
his dominion will never end.
27 He rescues and he saves;
he performs signs and wonders
in the heavens and on the earth.
He has rescued Daniel
from the power of the lions.”
and he endures forever;
his kingdom will not be destroyed,
his dominion will never end.
27 He rescues and he saves;
he performs signs and wonders
in the heavens and on the earth.
He has rescued Daniel
from the power of the lions.”
28 So Daniel
prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus[b] the Persian.
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