DANIEL SIMPLIFIED

 

CHAPTER 6.23

Gleanings from the Book of Daniel:

A Weekly Verse-by-Verse Bible Study Series

 

DANIEL

Chapter Six

Daniel in the Lion’s Den

(The Miraculous Delivery of Daniel)

 

 

Introduction

In the last episode, King Darius found Daniel alive and well after spending a night in the lion’s den. A miracle had been wrought. Daniel survived because his God had sent an angel of the Lord to close the mouths of the lions so they would do Daniel no harm. By divine deliverance, God vindicated Daniel. As a result, Darius was elated. What transpires next is quite interesting.

 

 

5. The Protection of Daniel (Vv. 18-23) continued…

(Verse 23)

 

Then was the king exceeding (extremely) 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 (injury) was found upon him because he believed in his God.

 

The King’s Reaction

Daniel had no assurance of escaping the lion’s den alive than his 3 friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had of escaping the fiery furnace (cf. 3:23). Moreover, in both instances, their faith and trust in the Most High God and His sovereignty outweighed their deliverance.

 

After spending the night agonizing, King Darius was overjoyed by Daniel’s survival. And he immediately gave a command to have Daniel lifted up out of the pit.

 

So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt (injury) was found upon him, because he believed in his God

The Secret to Daniel’s Life

Following the King’s command, Daniel was lifted (taken) up out of the lion's den without any harm because of God’s direct intervention. Daniel’s belief and trust in his God thereby not only gained his deliverance but also honorable mention (although not specifically named) in the Faith Hall of Fame:

Hebrews 11:32g-33 – …and of the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.

 

 

6. The Proclamation of Darius (Vv. 24-27)

(Verse 24)

 

And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast (throw) them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.

 

The Fate of Daniel’s Accusers

The second command of Darius was immediate retribution against the enemies of Daniel who tricked him, in the first place, to issue the initial revengeful Lion’s Den Decree. Without a judicial hearing or trial, Darius ordered his court guards to arrest the satraps or governors, and presidents who conspired against Daniel to be brought before the King. Subsequently, the elite guards threw the accomplices, along with their wives and children into the pit of hungry lions.

 

*NOTE: Recall, there were 122 men in authority besides Daniel. Scripture does not say all 120 governors and 2 presidents were cast into the lion’s den along with their wives and children. Presumably, just the ones who conspired against Daniel would be a more logical explanation.

 

**NOTE: Under Persian law, the guilt of one would be shared by his family. Wives and children were included in the punishment. Their rationale was one day in the future, retaliation by the criminals’ families would be thwarted.

 

By comparison, Mosaic Law was quite the opposite, the wives and children were not made to suffer [read Deuteronomy 16-21]:

Deuteronomy 19:21 - And thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

 

And the lions had the mastery (power) of them, and brake all their bones in pieces [Literally: devoured the bones and flesh] or ever (before) they came at the bottom of the den

The Fury of the Lions

The lions were hungry enough when they were not restrained by the angel. Before they touched the ground underscored the miracle of Daniel’s deliverance. Their bodies were instantly torn apart and eaten by the lions and their bones were broken into pieces.

 

Applicable to this situation, Solomon prophesied well:

Proverbs 11:8 - The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead (place below).

 

 

(Verse 25)

 

Then King Darius wrote: To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you.

 

The Prologue to Darius’ Decree

Darius begins his public proclamation to the entire Medo-Persian Empire, which will be his testimony. Oddly, his opening statement is strongly Jewish: “Peace be multiplied to you.”

Compare translations:

1. “May you prosper greatly?” (NIV)

2. “May your prosperity abound.” (BSB)

3. “May your peace be great?” (NASB)

 

Note: For a Bible study group, look up these passages in the New Testament Letters to see how they compare: [Of Paul, 1 Corinthians 1:3; 2 Corinthians 1:2; Galatians 1:3; Ephesians 1:2; Philippians 1:2; Colossians 1:2; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:2; 1 Timothy 1:2; 2 Timothy 1:1; Titus 1:4. The writer of Hebrews, Hebrews 13:25. Of Peter, 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Peter 1:2. Of John, 3 John 1:14; Revelation 1:4, and of Jude, Jude 1:2].

 

 

 (Verse 26)

 

I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for He is the living God, and stedfast (firm, fixed, enduring, permanent) for ever (endure, permanent), and His Kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and His Dominion (realm, sovereignty) shall be even unto the end.

 

The Decree of Darius

Amazingly, the King delivered a national statement of faith after being touched by the power of Almighty God. Now, men must bow before the Living God. Understand Darius was polytheistic. He did not confess Daniel’s God to be the only God, but he elevated Him above all other gods.

 

There are seven points to consider in his proclamation:

1.  The God of Daniel: All men shall tremble before Him

2.  The God of Daniel: All men shall fear Him

3.  The God of Daniel is a living God

4.  The God of Daniel is steadfast

5.  The God of Daniel is eternal

6.  The God of Daniel: His Kingdom shall ne’er be destroyed

7.  The God of Daniel: His Dominion endures forever

 

The decree is quite similar to the fiery furnace ordeal when Nebuchadnezzar declared:

Daniel 3:29cf - …there is no other God that can deliver after this. sort.

 

 

(Verse 27)

 

He delivereth and rescueth, and He worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, Who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.

 

Deliverance

Verse 27 is a continuation of Darius’ decree. The remaining points include:

1.  The God of Daniel is a Deliverer

2.  The God of Daniel is a Rescuer

3.  The God of Daniel works signs in heaven

4.  The God of Daniel works signs on the earth

5.  The God of Daniel works wonders in heaven

6.  The God of Daniel works wonders on the earth

7.  The God of Daniel controls the power of lions

 

The Lion’s Den and the Fiery Furnace episodes illustrate God’s faithfulness in preserving Israel – a remnant of Israel will always survive on account of God’s covenants with them. So, consider contrasting the foreshadowing deliverance of His chosen people, the remnant of Israel, from the Great Tribulation (cf. Romans 11:25-28), and how God’s enemies will be cast into the eternal Lake of Fire (cf. Revelation 20:10, 14-15).

 

 

7. The Prosperity of Daniel (v. 28)

(Verse 28)

 

So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

 

Verse 28 brings the sixth chapter and historical section of the book of Daniel to a close. The record of Daniel’s political career prospered well into his 90’s. He had served five Gentile kings throughout the 70-year captivity. They included:

1.  Nebuchadnezzar

2.  Evil-Merodach

3.  Belshazzar

4.  Darius (or Gubaru)

5.  Cyrus

 

The text informs: Daniel was exalted to honour and prospered into the reign of Cyrus the Great of the Persian Empire. In his first year of authority, Cyrus, led by God, ended the Exile and allowed the Jewish people to return to their homeland, Jerusalem, and rebuild their Temple [about 537 B.C. (cf. Ezra 1:1-4)]. It was in the third year of Cyrus' reign Daniel received a great vision of the End Times [to be discussed later (cf. Daniel 10:1- 12:13).

      

Note: History is in a fog when it comes to Darius and Cyrus:

1. Some say Darius and Cyrus are the same people

2. Some say they were contemporaneous

We will leave it at that.  

 

Postscripts

1. The Contrast of the book of Daniel

a.  The first six chapters of Daniel are court tales.

b.  The final six chapters determine the future destinies of the Kingdoms of the world to the Kingdom of God.

 

2. The Comparisons of Daniel

a.  At the beginning of Chapter 1, there is a new regime.

b.  At the end of Chapter 6, there is a new religion.

 

       3. The Character of Daniel

a. At the beginning of Chapter 1, we see Daniel having a godly, uncompromising, righteous, and excellent spirit.

b. At the closing of Chapter 6, 70 years later, his character never waned from God – the secret of his success

 

QUESTIONS:

1.  What was the situation that led to verse 23?

2.  Why did Daniel remain unharmed in the lion’s den?

3.  What was the fate of Daniel’s accusers?

4.  Why were their families included?

5.  What are some of the highlights of Darius’ decree?

6.  How did God reward Daniel for his faith?

7.  What were some of Daniel’s character traits?

 

 

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