April 15, 2023
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Daniel? Here’s today’s reading:
Daniel 6 (NIV)
Daniel in the Den of Lions
1 It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, 2 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. 3 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.............Continue Reading
Steve M.
Darius the king of the Medes and Persia knows who Daniel is. He doesn`t take Daniel lightly. He knows how Daniel has interpreted visons and dreams because of his God. He has seen these dreams come through before he became king and during his reign. In latter chapters Daniel gives dreams in the reign of Belshazzar and then Darius and in the reign of Cyrus king of Persia. But Darius fears God but only refers to God as Daniel`s God. Not his own but after he was tricked by the princes and presidents he spent the night in fasting. The princes and presidents used his pride against him by having him sign a decree that only people could come to him for any petitions. This was also to trap Daniel for it was known that Daniel would pray to God three times a day with the window opened. Daniel was a faithful man and they knew it. He was one of the presidents but not included when the others went to the king. They thought that this would be the end of Daniel when he was put into the lions den. But God had other plans. He sent an angel to shut the mouths of the lions. He showed His mighty power and glorified Himself. Darius couldn`t sleep and rushed to the lion`s den and called out to Daniel hoping he was still alive. Also there was a turn about. For what they wanted done to Daniel it happened to them and their families through Darius order. [ Hand of God]. Kind of like what was to happen to the Jewish people during Queen Esther when they were spared and their enemies killed. Darius made a decree that everywhere in his kingdom that men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel for He is the Living God and His reign is for ever.
Daniel 6
To have faith and courage like Daniel
Daniel 6 I love what my commentary says “the person who trusts in God and obeys his will is untouchable until God takes him or her. To trust God is to have immeasurable peace”. Isn’t that the truth! Daniel stood strong in his faith and continued to pray even after Darius had set that decree that you could only pray to him for 30 days, so when he found out Daniel had been praying to his God he had to send him to the lions den and while Daniel was there an Angel came and shut the mouths of the lions and Daniel was protected because of his faithfulness. We could learn a thing or two from Daniel.
Amen, Cindy!
First thing is that this dream takes place in the first year of Belshazzar’s reign and he met his demise in the last chapter. So this chapter seems out of order. The four beasts of the vision align with the statue in Chapter 2. This time with the lion at the top followed by the bear and leopard then the frightening beast (Rome).
Most interesting, however, verse 13: “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming on the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.” Amazing, this at least 500 years before Jesus comes to earth as a man.
Apparently, “the saints of the Most High” will experience difficulty for “a time, times and half a time” (3 1/2 years?). In the end, however, the “saints of the Most High” will rule with him forever.
yes 3 1/2 years
Such faith and courage Daniel shows here! To not only continue to pray but to be sure he is doing so in front of an open window with no fear of the consequence of the lions den.
God protects him in the lions den and rewards that faith with his protection!
I love to read scriptures like this that point to the favor that a person of God has because of their character as well as the will of God. I pray that we too might have God’s favor on us and we would influence the settings we are in for the sake of God’s glory as well as have the character that reflects God’s influence in our lives as well. And if and when this happens, we shouldn’t be surprised that people don’t like it. Jealousy abounds in the world when people are confronted with people that are better than them (and what a sign of God’s hand and Daniel’s character that Daniel was better). We can be glad that through Christ we don’t have to be jealous as we live in the contentment that God allows. We also shouldn’t be surprised when people are conniving and manipulative as these competitors of Daniel are. We could also fault Darius for letting his pride get to him as they suggest this edict. How short sighted these men were though that their schemes turned on them (the very thing David often prays for his enemies). And yet how faithful Daniel is. He shines true in the things that people say about him and the things he does. That we would be courageous when the time comes to shine our faith forth even when danger is its consequence. It is almost unfortunate that we know the end of the story as we read the events. Just imagine the night the king spent hoping his friend was saved. And yet nothing is impossible for our great God. I just love what the king says about Daniel’s faithfulness…your God whom you serve continuously….and what he says about the God of the Jews…He rescues and saves and performs signs and miracles and whose kingdom will not be destroyed or end. Amen Darius!
It’s pretty amazing that the satraps couldn’t find anything wrong or incorrupt with Daniel. Usually if you look hard enough, something can be found that you can accuse someone of. When Daniel prayed, he gave thanks to God and he asked God for help. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him because he trusted in his God.
When we practice gratitude, ask for help and have faith in God, He answers our prayers. Philippians 4:6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
Daniel 6
““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.””
Daniel 6:26-27 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/dan.6.26-27.NIV
We see more and more admirable qualities in Daniel.
“Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him;…”
“…they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him.”
“Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.”
Because of Daniel’s character, Darius himself seeks to spare him of the consequences of his own foolish proclamation:
“And the king, when he heard these words, was greatly displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him”
God is faithful to Daniel in preserving him from the lions and executing judgment on those who sought to “frame” him.