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Daniel 6:1–28 (Darius)

INTRODUCTION: Our message series is called Stories and Visions, and today we come to the last story in the main story section of Daniel, chapters 1–6. It looks like we’ve saved the best for last, because this final story is the most famous of them all. When you ask people, “What’s the first story that comes to mind when you think of Jonah in the Bible?” they will say, “Jonah and the whale.” When you ask, “What’s the first story that comes to mind when you think of Noah in the Bible?” they will say, “Noah and the ark.” But when you ask, “What’s the first story that comes to mind when you think of Daniel in the Bible?” they will invariably reply, “Daniel and the lion’s den.” There’s lots of other stories, but this is the one we immediately think of. And that’s the story we come to today. (Read Daniel 6:16 and pray.)

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What do you think of when you hear the word testimony? If you’re a lawyer, you probably think in terms of someone testifying in court. If you’re an advertiser, you think about someone giving their opinion about a product or service. If you’re a probate officer, you probably think in terms of supporting documents.

But the word testimony can also refer to a person’s life and how their life gives testimony to something else, especially when it comes to their faith in God. And that’s the sense in which we will use the word today.

Daniel’s whole life was a testimony for God, as demonstrated by our passage today. So, as we study this passage, I want you to be thinking in terms of your life and how it relates to God. In other words, what’s your testimony? Daniel’s life demonstrated the personal testimony of godly character, leading to his public testimony of faith in God, resulting in a powerful testimony of God’s deliverance.

I. Personal testimony of godly character (1–9)

First, let’s look at Daniel’s personal testimony of godly character.

   A. Daniel promoted (1–3)

We start here with Daniel’s promotion. Look at verses 1–3:

It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss. Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. (Dan. 6:1–3)

We ended Daniel 5 with Darius the Mede taking over the kingdom from Belshazzar, the king of Babylon. Now Darius begins to set up his own kingdom. He appoints 120 satraps, or provincial governors, to rule throughout the kingdom. He appoints Daniel as one of three administrators over them, mainly to watch over the finances of the kingdom. This is now the fourth time Daniel has been promoted (1:19; 2:48; 5:29; 6:1). Daniel does such a good job as administrator and displays such exceptional qualities that the king planned yet another promotion — this time to set Daniel over the whole kingdom.

   B. The search for dirt (4–5)

As you can imagine, that did not go over so well among the other leaders, and so begins the search for dirt. Look at verses 4–5 next:

At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.” (Dan. 6:4–5)

They basically run a background check on Daniel, looking for anything they can bring against him, but they find nothing. Daniel has conducted himself with the highest character and integrity. They find no instances of negligence or corruption in anything he has done. Daniel’s personal testimony of godly character is spotless.

Someone has remarked that this is the real miracle in the story — an honest politician! But seriously, how would you fare if someone did a deep dive into your life, combing through all your finances, movements, transactions, relationships, correspondence, web searches, and history?

I had a friend who applied to the F.B.I. They had an interesting approach. He had to tell them all the dirt in his life before they investigated. They told him if there was anything wrong in his life, they were going to find out anyway, so he might as well tell them now. And if they found anything he didn’t tell them about, he was out. He said that was not a very comfortable conversation.

These leaders try to find the dirt on Daniel, but there’s nothing there. They finally determine that if they are going to bring any charges, they will have to find something to do with Daniel’s relationship with God. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if people could say the same thing about us, that the only thing they could find about us was that we loved God and followed his commands.

   C. A plot against prayer (6–9)

So, they decide to attack Daniel at the point of his prayer life. Look at verses 6–9 next:

So the administrators and the satraps went as a group to the king and said: “O King Darius, live forever! The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or man during the next thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into the lions’ den. Now, O king, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” So King Darius put the decree in writing. (Dan. 6:6–9)

They go as a group to the king; there’s strength in numbers. They tell him the administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers, and governors “have all agreed.” That’s not true. Daniel is missing. They didn’t consult him.

They ask the king to issue an edict that no one pray to anyone except the king for the next thirty days — sort of like “King’s Appreciation Month,” only far worse. There’s some flattery involved here; they are working on the king’s ego. They even propose the punishment: anyone who defies the decree will be thrown into the lions’ den. And they ask for it in writing so it cannot be changed: “in accordance with the laws of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be repealed.”

The king agrees and puts the decree in writing. The plot against prayer has been put into motion, and the trap has now been set.

II. Public testimony of faith in God (10–18)

We now move from Daniel’s personal testimony of godly character to his public testimony of faith in God.

   A. Pray anyway (10–11)

When Daniel learned about the decree, what did he do? He prayed anyway. Look at verses 10–11:

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. Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. (Dan. 6:10–11)

When Daniel learned about the decree, he did what he always did. He went home to his upstairs room, where the windows opened toward Jerusalem (in accordance with King Solomon’s prayer of dedication in 1 Kings 8:46–51). There, in full sight, he got down on his knees and prayed three times daily, as was his regular custom. Notice he gave thanks first. He didn’t go straight to petition, which in this case would have been very tempting to do. He gave thanks first and then he asked for help.

What would you do in this situation? There were lots of options available. You weren’t required to pray to the king; you just couldn’t pray to anyone else. And it wasn’t a permanent decision; it was only for thirty days. You could always be sneaky about it. You could close the window and draw the curtains. Or you could go somewhere and pray in private when no one was looking. Why make waves? Or you could just keep doing what you always did, which is what Daniel chose to do.

Daniel is a wonderful example of prayer. His prayers are heartfelt, biblically based, regular, humble, dependent on God, and filled with thanksgiving and praise. In Daniel 9 we will find an example of confession in prayer. (Compare the A.C.T.S. model of prayer: adoration, confession, thanksgiving, supplication. Daniel did it all.)

When prayer is banned, what do you do? Pray anyway. Daniel maintained a public testimony of his faith in God.

   B. Informers (12–15)

This is the moment the other leaders have been waiting for. They confront Daniel as a group so they’ve got plenty of witnesses. Then they go to the king as informers. Look at verses 12–15 next:

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 man except to you, O king, would be thrown into the lions’ den?”

The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”

Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.” When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him. Then the men went as a group to the king and said to him, “Remember, O king, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.” (Dan. 6:12–15)

The informers are very sneaky about this. First, they go back to the king and get him to reaffirm what he wrote and that it cannot be repealed. They get the king on record, and then they drop the boom on Daniel. They call him “one of the exiles from Judah,” probably intended as a racial slur. They impugn his motives: “He pays no attention to you.” They accuse him of lawlessness in breaking the king’s decree.

This is not good news for the king, and he makes every effort to rescue Daniel from their plot. He keeps looking for a loophole. He doesn’t want to punish Daniel. He could probably issue a counter-edict, but not without losing respect. The men come back as a group again to confront the king and reinforce the pressure. They keep reminding him that, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.
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   C. Thrown to the lions (16–18)

The king is out of options, so he gives the order, and Daniel is thrown to the lions. Look at verses 16–18:

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!” 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. 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. (Dan. 6:16–18)

The king gives the order, and they throw Daniel into the lions’ den. It’s not clear who “they” are; it’s probably his guards, but it could be the group of informers. If so, I’m sure they were glad to do it.

The king wishes Daniel God’s protection. He affirms that Daniel serves this God continually, which is the whole reason he is being punished. They take no chances of human rescue or escape. A stone is put over the opening; the king seals it with his ring, and the nobles seal it with their rings as well. Now even the king can’t sneak him out. The king is so distressed by the situation that he spends a restless night in the palace without any entertainment, food, or sleep. No Netflix or midnight snacks for the king tonight.

III. Powerful testimony of God’s deliverance (19–28)

We now move from Daniel’s personal testimony of godly character and his public testimony of faith in God to his powerful testimony of God’s deliverance.

   A. Rescued by God (19–24)

Our God is the God who rescues and saves, and that’s what the king discovers in the morning. Look at verses 19–24 with me now:

At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. 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?”

Daniel answered, “O king, live forever! My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king.”

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. 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. (Dan. 6:19–24)

At the first light of dawn, that is, at the first possible moment, the king hurries to the den and calls out to Daniel. There is a mixture of faith and unbelief here. He is hoping against hope that Daniel will answer him. Notice he calls Daniel a servant of the living God, and he acknowledges a second time that Daniel serves this God continually. In the king’s eyes, Daniel always comes through for God. Has God come through for Daniel?

Daniel’s voice breaks the silence. This is the first and only time Daniel speaks in the entire chapter. He gives testimony to how God rescued him by sending his angel and shutting the mouths of the lions.

And why did God do this? Because he found Daniel innocent. Remember, Daniel’s name means “God is my judge.” The king’s law judged Daniel as guilty, but God judged him as innocent. God’s law trumps the law of the Medes and the Persians. God can repeal any law he wants.

The king is overjoyed and lets Daniel out. Similar to Daniel’s three friends in the fiery furnace, Daniel comes out of the lions’ den alive and well and completely unharmed because he trusted God. When your faith is in God, you are basically immortal until God is finished with you. And God was not finished with Daniel yet.

The men who had falsely accused Daniel don’t fare so well. At the king’s command they are thrown into the lions’ den along with their wives and children. Persian law was brutal. The law often punished whole families along with the accused. The lions overpower them and crush all their bones before they even reach the floor. This shows that the lions were indeed dangerous and hungry, and it confirms the miracle from the night before.

   B. Praise and prosperity (25–28)

Daniel has given testimony to God. Now the king gives testimony as well. Look at verses 25–27:

Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations and men of every language throughout the land: “May you prosper greatly! 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. 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.” (Dan. 6:25–27)

Darius writes a new decree, requiring everyone in the kingdom to fear and reverence Daniel’s God. He not only calls on others to reverence God; he praises God himself. He praises him as the living God as opposed to dead idols, as the eternal God who endures forever and whose kingdom will never end, as the delivering God who rescues and saves, as the miracle-working God who performs signs and wonders, and as the personal God who has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.

Daniel was not only rescued from harm, but he also prospered. We read in verse 28:

So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian. (Dan. 6:28)

Cyrus is the king of the Persian Empire. As we learned in a previous message, Darius was either a governor under Cyrus or, more likely, they were the same person. Just as Daniel had two names—a Hebrew name and a Babylonian name—so Cyrus could have had two names: Darius the Mede and Cyrus the Persian. (This verse can also be translated, “So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius, that is, the reign of Cyrus the Persian.”)

Daniel has survived the exile and the changing of the kingdoms, and now he continues to prosper as well. Notice he goes by his Hebrew name. No more calling him Belteshazzar. The Babylonian empire was finished. Daniel goes by his Hebrew name, and the exiles will soon go home.

Babylon was gone; one day the Persians would be gone too. Kingdoms come and kingdoms go, but God’s kingdom rules forever. This is one of the main themes of the whole book of Daniel.

CONCLUSION: Daniel’s whole life was a testimony for God, as demonstrated by this passage. Daniel’s life displayed the personal testimony of godly character, which led to his public testimony of faith in God, and ultimately resulted in a powerful testimony of God’s deliverance.

As Christians, we too should have a testimony for Christ before a watching world. What’s your testimony?
 

1. Do you have a personal testimony of godly character? If someone tried to dig up dirt on you, what would they find? Does your walk back up your talk?
    
2. Do you give public testimony of your faith in God? Do the people in your life know you’re a Christian? Do you speak of Christ and church and faith? Does your talk accompany your walk?
    
3. Do you have a powerful testimony of God’s deliverance? If you’re a Christian, then you most certainly do. Christ saved you from sin and death and hell. And you probably have other testimonies about when God has delivered you from trouble.

 
As you walk with God and talk for God, you will face many tests. You cannot spell testimony without first spelling test, and you can’t have a testimony without first going through a test. So, as you face each test in life, ask God to turn that test into a testimony. Ask God for his help; ask God for his strength; ask God for his deliverance. And then share what God has done for you with those around you. Your testimony can have a powerful impact on your family, your friends, your co-workers, and even those in power and authority over you.

Our God is the God who rescues and saves. And when you think about God rescuing Daniel in this story, you should also think about another man. Can you think of someone else who was innocent, falsely accused, brought before the ruling authorities, the ruler tried to save him but could not, was placed in a tomb with a stone rolled over and sealed with a signet ring, and then emerged victorious and alive, only to be exalted while his enemies were defeated?

Of course, we’re talking about Jesus. When you lay it all out, the parallels are unmistakable. Daniel’s story points us to Jesus’ story. God rescued Jesus, and God rescues all who are united to him by faith. When you put your faith in Christ, God will rescue you too. Of course, that leaves only one question: Are you trusting in Christ today?

© Ray Fowler

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By Ray Fowler. © Ray Fowler. Website: https://www.rayfowler.org

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