PHIL HARRIS | Seeker of Truth
Introduction
Although the prophet Daniel lived long before the time of the New Testament, he would have understood the following passage because that is how he lived his life:
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. — (Romans 8:35-39)
Daniel was a Jew; therefore, he certainly rested on the Sabbath day. However he would not have been a Seventh-day Adventist because he knew his salvation was centered on the power of God instead upon anything he could do himself.
Prologue: (Dan. 6:1-4)
It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps, to be throughout the whole kingdom; and over them three high officials, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss. Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. Then the high officials and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him. — (Daniel 6:1-4 ESV)
During the rule of Darius, the administrative role of satraps was to govern the 120 provinces of the Medo-Persian kingdom. These satraps, in turn, reported to the three highest officials of the kingdom in such a way that Darius would suffer no loss. Installing Daniel as one of the three high officials, therefore, would provide checks and balances with the other two so that there would be accountability among them. Much is revealed in the phrase; “so that the king might suffer no loss”, implying that corruption was a problem Darius was concerned about.
Daniel distinguished himself above all the satraps, and the other two high officials. Therefore, Darius’ plan was to set Daniel over the whole kingdom. Through obvious political jealousy or possible outright corruption, the satraps and the other two high officials were alarmed about Daniel’s being raised in rule over them.
Whatever the case ,Darius was very impressed with Daniel as being the one and only experienced person who could honestly, faithfully, and loyally administer the rule of the kingdom for him.
As for satraps and other high officials, they conspired against Daniel but could not find nothing they use against him. Daniel’s life illustrated these words from Proverbs:
Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.A wise man scales the city of the mighty and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.“Scoffer” is the name of the arrogant, haughty man who acts with arrogant pride.The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor.All day long he craves and craves, but the righteous gives and does not hold back.The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; how much more when he brings it with evil intent.A false witness will perish, but the word of a man who hears will endure.A wicked man puts on a bold face, but the upright gives thought to his ways.No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the LORD.The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD. —(Proverbs 21:21-31)
The Plot against Daniel: (Daniel 6:5–9)
Then these men said, “We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.” Then these high officials and satraps came by agreement to the king and said to him, “O King Darius, live forever! All the high officials of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an injunction, that whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be revoked.” Therefore King Darius signed the document and injunction. — (Daniel 6:5-9 ESV)
The satraps and other high officials realized that the only way bring down and remove Daniel was to attack his allegiance to the “law of his God”. Therefore, they went before the king and first appealed to his ego by saying, “Oh King Darius, live forever”. Deceptively they lied by claiming all the satraps and high officials were in agreement that the king should issue a proclamation that for thirty days none in the kingdom were to petition any man or god other than Darius. The penalty for violating this proclamation was to be cast into a den of lions.
Having been falsely told that all his officials were in favor of this proclamation, Darius signed it into law. Once signed by the king, the law of the Medes and the Persians could not be voided.
Once again, Proverbs provides insight, this time into the machinations of these corrupt officials:
A worthless person, a wicked man, goes about with crooked speech,winks with his eyes, signals with his feet, points with his finger,with perverted heart devises evil, continually sowing discord;therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly; in a moment he will be broken beyond healing. —(Proverbs 6:12-15)
Daniel’s Reaction: (Daniel 6:10-13)
When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and plea before his God. Then they came near and said before the king, concerning the injunction, “O king! Did you not sign an injunction, that anyone who makes petition to any god or man within thirty days except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The thing stands fast, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked.” Then they answered and said before the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or the injunction you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.” — (Daniel 6:10-13 ESV)
When Daniel learned of this proclamation, he went home, went upstairs to his special place of prayer, and calmly got down on his knees looking out in the direction of Jerusalem and prayed to God three times a day as he always had been doing.
The evil men who wished Daniel killed spied on him and returned to the king with news of what Daniel was doing. But first they reminded Darius that such law could not be ignored or changed. Darius agreed it must “stand fast” according to the law of the Medes and the Persians.
Jesus pronounced the fact of these connivers’ utter corruption at their deepest level:
You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. —(Matthew 12:34)
Darius Is Distressed: (Dan. 6:14-15)
Then the king, when he heard these words, was much distressed and set his mind to deliver Daniel. And he labored till the sun went down to rescue him. Then these men came by agreement to the king and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or ordinance that the king establishes can be changed.” — (Daniel 6:14-15 ESV)
When informed of Daniel’s action, Darius is distressed because he obviously liked and trusted Daniel over all his other officials. He labored until the end of the day but could find no way to prevent Daniel from being cast into the den of lions.
What these corrupt men didn’t understand is what Daniel’s God could and would do.
Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. —(Galatians 6:7)
Daniel Is Cast Into the Den of Lions: (Daniel 6:16–18)
Having no other choice, the king commands that Daniel be brought and cast into the den of lions:
Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” And a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him. —(Daniel 6:16-18)
Darius then seals the lions den shut and says; “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!”, returns to the palace ,and spends the night not sleeping or eating. It appears Darius knew Daniel’s God could save him.
As for Daniel, he lived by the same faith as his friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego:
If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. —(Daniel 3:17)
Daniel, The Servant of the Living God: (Daniel 6:19–23)
Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions. As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.” Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. (Dan. 6:19-23)
Darius is so concerned he got up and hurried in haste to the den of lions. In the obvious fear of the worst he cries out; “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” The king knew that Daniel’s God could do.
Daniel’s reply of “O king, live forever” is an honest greeting of respect, and it informs Darius that all is well because God sent His angel to protect him from the lions.
Darius orders that Daniel be taken of the den, and he found that he was without harm of any kind because Daniel had trusted in his God.
The Fate of the Malicious: (Daniel 6:24)
The demand of the proclamation having been fulfilled, the king was now free to issue this command:
And the king commanded, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and cast into the den of lions—they, their children, and their wives. And before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces. — (Daniel 6:24 ESV)
Psalms illumines this shocking turn of events:
Behold, the wicked man conceives evil and is pregnant with mischief and gives birth to lies. He makes a pit, digging it out, and falls into the hole that he has made.His mischief returns upon his own head, and on his own skull his violence descends. —(Psalm 7:14-16)
The King’s Decree:
Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: “Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end. He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.” —(Daniel 6:25-27)
Epilogue: (Daniel 6:28)
So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian. —(Daniel 6:28)
This closing verse simply states that Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius the Mede and Cyrus the Persian. In other words, Daniel was held in high esteem by both these kings.
Secular history indicates that Daniel lived in the city of Babylon from the time of his captivity up to the time of his death and was first buried there. Later, it is said that his body was moved to a tomb in Susa, the capital of Persia on orders of Cyrus the Great. Today the “Tomb of Daniel” still exists in the modern city of Shush, Iran.
Afterword
Is a biblical prophet of God, such a Daniel, in God’s kingdom? Even and Adventist would probably say yes; however, within Seventh-day Adventism, there is a doctrine that is often referred to as the “investigative judgment” in which a person cannot know if they are saved and in the kingdom of God until they are resurrected to stand before God and learn if their name is recorded in the Book of Life.
In the New Testament book of Hebrews, there is a list of the saints beginning with Abel who through their faith in the promises of God know they are saved and in the kingdom of God. One cannot have this faith in the promises of God and not know one is in the kingdom of God—including anyone who is a true biblical prophet:
And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, —(Hebrews 11:32-33)
Daniel was a prophet of God, and his life is an example of how an angel of God stopped the mouths of lions. Obviously Daniel is in the kingdom of God. Also obvious is that all other saints, alive or now asleep with Jesus, are in the kingdom of God:
…knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you —(1 Peter 1:18-20)
He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Col. 1:13-14)
All people, including prophets or those claiming to be prophets, are either in Satan’s kingdom of darkness or in the kingdom of God. In the present day, Christians are to know they have been transferred into God’s kingdom because they have accepted in faith the gospel message of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection for the eternal forgiveness of all their sins. †
All biblical quotes from the ESV
- Daniel 8: Abomination of Desolation - December 5, 2024
- Daniel 7:15–28 • Everlasting Kingdom of the Most High - October 10, 2024
- Daniel 7:1–14: The Ancient of Days - August 15, 2024