Obedience and Trust

Now, King Darius the Great of Persia appointed 120 men to be satraps--provincial governors to rule throughout the kingdom. Those satraps were accountable to three administrators who reported directly to the king. One of  these administrators was Daniel, an Israelite exile from Judah.

Very soon after his appointment, the extraordinary work and spirit of Daniel distinguished him from the other administrators and the satraps. And the king planned to set Daniel over the whole kingdom. But when the satraps and other administrators learned this, they agreed to get rid of Daniel. They looked for corruption in the way Daniel carried out his official duties. But they could find none, because Daniel was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was found him. Finally they agreed, "We'll never charge Daniel with anything unless it has to do with the law of his God." In other words, they were going to use Daniel's obedience to God against him.

So, the other administrators and the satraps went to King Darius. They presented him with a document, and they praised him, saying, "O King Darius, may you live forever! All the royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers, and governors agree that you should make a law that for thirty days anyone who prays to any god or any person but you, O king, will be thrown into the den of lions. This praise won over the king. And so, he signed the document into law that could not be changed, in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which could not be repealed.

Now, Daniel learned that the king had made the law. But Daniel was not dissuaded. He went to his home, where the windows of his upper room opened toward, Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to God, just as he had done before the new law. Well, all the officials went together to Daniel's home. And when they found Daniel praying to God as before, they went to the king and asked him about the new law. "Didn't you establish a law that for thirty days anyone who prays to any god or any person but you, O king, would be thrown into the den of lions?"

The king affirmed, "According to the Medes and Persians the law stands, and it cannot be repealed."

Then they said, “But Daniel, one of the exiles from Judah, shows no regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed. He still prays three times a day to his God.”

When the king heard this, he realized what he had done to Daniel. And in his anguish, he racked his brain until sundown, trying to think of a way to save Daniel.

But then the men returned and said to the King Darius, “Remember, O king, that by the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or ordinance established by the king can be changed.”

So, the king gave the order, and Daniel was taken and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver 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 nothing concerning Daniel could be changed.

Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night fasting. No entertainment was brought to him, and he could not sleep.

At the first light of dawn, the king arose and hurried to the den of lions. When he reached the den, he cried out in anguish, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to save you from the lions?”

Then Daniel replied, “O king, may you live forever! My God sent His angel and shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, for I was found innocent in His sight, and I have done no wrong against you, O king.”

The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den, and when Daniel was lifted out of the den, no wounds whatsoever were found on him, because Daniel had trusted in his God.

Then, at the command of the king, all who had falsely accused Daniel were brought and thrown into the den of lions—they and their families. And before they had reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.

Then, King Darius wrote to all peoples throughout his kingdom, to every nationality and in every language: "May your prosperity abound. I hereby decree that throughout my kingdom, all are to fear the God of Daniel:

For He is the living God,
and He endures forever;
His kingdom will never be destroyed,
and His dominion will never end.
He delivers and rescues;
He performs signs and wonders
in the heavens and on the earth,
for He has rescued Daniel
from the power of the lions.”

So, Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
(See Daniel 6:1-28)

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