Daniel 6 Lions’ Mouths

Daniel is rising higher and higher in the ranks of government, and those under him do NOT like it. Their plots backfire and Daniel is delivered from the lions’ mouths.

This story is another that, even those who don’t believe in God, still know of. They may not know all the details, but they know the main point of the story; that God delivered Daniel from the mouths of the lions. It is a story that speaks plainly of God’s power and protection.

This story also speaks of God’s people encountering trouble even when they do NOTHING wrong. As I have told my children on MULTIPLE occasions; “Life’s not always fair, and whoever told you it was, lied to you.” Daniel did everything right and still wound up with a conspiracy against him. And, if not for God’s protection, it would have cost him his life. Let’s rejoin our story and see God’s hand in action.

♥ ♦ ♥

Morning breaks and the forces of Darius the Mede patrol the inner city of Babylon. Belshazzar lies dead at Darius’ feet. The people are abuzz with talk of Daniel’s prophecy. They have never seen a prophecy fulfilled so quickly with in their own sight.

Two days later and Darius is ready to set up his cabinet of ministers. He appoints 120 satraps from among the people of Babylon. Many have served under Belshazzar but they now swear allegiance to Darius. If not, they end their career through a quick but painful death. He also appoints three high officials. These three report directly to him, and the satraps report to them. This makes governing such a large region much simpler.

Darius is looking for worthy men to serve him. During his search, he keeps hearing the name “Daniel” mentioned. Some refer to this same man as Belteshazzar. It is the name Nebuchadnezzar gave this captive from the land of Judah. The stories about him are incredible, so Darius decides to see for himself.

“Bring Daniel of Judah before me” commands Darius.

It doesn’t take long for Daniel to appear before the king. He displays great respect as he bows and waits for the king to acknowledge him before rising. “Your name is Daniel” asks. “The one who was carried away into exile by Nebuchadnezzar and raised up in wisdom?”

“I am he, my king.”

“I have heard that you possess great wisdom and are able to discern good and evil, interpret dreams, and manage people.”

“I have done all this in my service to the kings of Babylon.”

“He is most humble” Darius thinks as Daniel does not brag on his accomplishments as others have done. “If I were to set you over many men, would you be loyal to me and serve me as well?”

“The Lord has raised you up to govern this people, and I am loyal to all whom He raises up.”

“Who is this ‘Lord’ you speak of” Darius asks.

“He is the Lord God of all creation. He is the God whom I serve with my whole heart. He is the God of the people of Israel, but they rebelled against Him and He delivered them into the hands of the Assyrians and to Nebuchadnezzar as judgment for their sins.”

“And He would allow you to serve me?”

“He has judged Nebuchadnezzar and the nation of Babylon and delivered them into your hands. This too He has ordained as judgment against those who have oppressed His people. For, He has not taken His eyes from His people. He is waiting for the right time to restore them to the land that He swore to their fathers to give them.”

“Until then, you would be faithful to honor me?”

“I will honor you with my life.”

“Then, I am putting you in the position of high official. You will be one of three such men. The satraps of all the provinces will report to these three high officials, and then they will report to me. You will bring any concerns you cannot address to my attention and I will address them.”

“It will be done exactly as you command, my king” answers Daniel with a bow.

Darius is very pleased with how smoothly things are running in the kingdom with the authority structure he has put into place. Daniel is the most efficient of all the high officials. Seldom does he have any concerns that he cannot handle on his own, and the people respond well to his leadership.

It has been more than a year since Darius took the throne and he is reassessing how things are going.  “I believe it is time I promoted Daniel. He will be my second in command of the throne” Darius decides.

Darius’ thoughts are not kept secret. He ponders out loud and asks some of his advisors to weigh in on his ideas. The king’s desire to promote Daniel above all those in Babylon does not sit well with them. Several of the satraps and the other officials come together to discuss this development.

“He is a captive and a slave, yet he rules over US! This is not right.”

“We must find a way to expose him to the king. Then he will be brought low to the place where he truly belongs. I don’t know how he came to this position in the first place.”

“Some oversight somewhere along the line” answers one of the straps.

“Observe him carefully, and as soon as he steps out of line, we will have his head.”

Three months go by with this secret group of leaders looking for some way to accuse Daniel. Frustration causes them to meet again in silence.

“We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God” (Daniel 6:5).

“Whatever trap we set; it must be one he cannot escape from. The king must make it a law that cannot be revoked.”

They work long into the night coming up with just the right edict for the king to set his name to. And they know Daniel’s habits well, as they have been observing his movements for some time. When morning breaks, the group is ready to set their plan before the king. Once they are in his presence they lay their trap.

Darius welcomes the group before him. “I understand you have a matter you wish to bring before me today.”

“We do, great king” answers one of the high officials. “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” (Daniel 6:6-8).

Darius is flattered by the proposal brought forth. He sees no harm in what they are asking for. In fact, he believes it will set the people to rights in looking only to him as their leader. “So it shall be. Prepare the document for me and I will sign it” answers Darius.

“It just so happens that we have one already prepared for your signature, great king.”

Darius in impressed with their preparedness and quickly signs the document and seals it with his signet. That matter completed; Darius goes about the rest of his day as he normally does.

Daniel hears of the signing of the document. He also sees the power that is contained within it. The power of life and death for all those whom the true writers seek to destroy. But it does not send Daniel into fear. Instead, it drives him to his knees before his God. The very God he is enjoined from seeking.

Daniel has never flaunted his faith in public. He serves the Lord with integrity, but he does not demand that others do. He does not call out in the square for the people to repent. Nor does he stand before them and offer his prayers to God to look good in their eyes. He goes into his own chambers every day, three times a day, and kneels before his window that faces Jerusalem. From there, he offers his petitions and praise to the Lord. He is not looking for others who might be looking in on him. This is his private place.

There are those who are watching. They KNOW Daniel’s daily habits and they are ready and waiting when he goes into his chambers and shuts the door. In their preparation to bring the king this injunction, they enlisted six guards.

“When you see Daniel go into his chambers, be ready. Have one man stationed where he can see into Daniels’ window. As soon as he opens it and kneels before it to pray, signal the others. They will rush in and arrest Daniel in the act of defying the king’s edict.”

This is exactly what happens when Daniel goes into his chambers at midday to pray. He barely begins to address the Lord when the door bursts open.

“Halt in the name of the king” demands the guard.

Daniel was expecting this. The Lord had prepared him in his spirit as soon as he knew the edict was signed. He offers no resistance to the guards as he his hauled from his room to a prison cell.

The group of men go to stand before Darius again. “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?” (Daniel 6:12a).

Darius is surprised that they would be bringing this back to his attention so soon. “What has changed” he wonders. To the men he says; “The thing stands fast, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked” (Daniel 12b).

Darius can feel the evil emanating off of the group as they move on with their accusation.  “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.”

Darius finally sees the intent behind the decree. “This is what they were fishing for all along. It had nothing to do with anyone else” he thinks to himself. “Leave me to consider the matter” he demands.

The group scurries from the throne room and Darius begins pacing. He tries with all his might to find a loophole in the law that will allow Daniel to go free. And he comes up empty, which empties out his spirit.

Just before the setting of the sun, the group returns to the king. Without preamble, they speak the words that seal Daniel’s fate. “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 6:15).

“Bring Daniel to the lion’s den” orders Darius.

Rather than staying in his palace and allowing Daniel to be thrown to the lions, Darius goes to the lion’s den himself. He will oversee the task that he was tricked into setting in motion.

Daniel walks between two guard. He does not struggle or cower in fear as they bind the rope around him to lower him into the lion’s den. Darius looks down and sees the lions moving about. He knows that these lions are fed sparingly so that they are always hungry. His heart aches as the men prepare to lower Daniel down. He looks Daniel straight on the eyes and speaks his heart to him.  “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” (Daniel 6:16).

Daniel bows his head in recognition of the king’s plea for his safety. Then Daniel is lowered down into the midst of the hungry loins. Daniel unties the rope from around himself and it is brought up.

The men who originated this plan stare down, wondering why the lions haven’t attacked Daniel yet. They are sure that it will happen soon, but just in case Daniel tries to get away, they have one more step in their plan. “The den needs to be made fast, great king. I would not want it said that Daniel escaped in the night.”

“Bring a stone and seal the mouth of the den. I will affix it with my signet. You will each do so as well, bearing witness to YOUR own work.”

As soon as the stone is in place and sealed, the king returns to the palace. He does not eat or sleep or ask for any diversions. He paces and prays to a God he does not know all night. “Pleas protect Your servant, Daniel. I was arrogant and foolish in issuing the injunction brought before me. Daniel has done no wrong. He does not deserve this fate. The men whose minds conceived this trap deserve to ‘reap the benefits’ of their own plot.”

While Darius is in his palace calling out to the God of Daniel, the men who accused him are in their homes celebrating. “Daniel will no longer trouble us! His days of favor have ended and ours have just begun.”

In the lion’s den, another voice is heard. It is Daniel. He is not trembling in fear, but praising the Lord and speaking softly to the lions who surround him. He reaches out his hand and strokes their manes. They curl around his feet and allow him to lean into them for warmth and comfort. Not a single paw is raised in aggression. The only sound they make is a low rumble of contentment as they spend this night together with the servant of the Living God and His angel. They have perfect peace in His presence.

Darius continues to pace and call out to the God of Daniel all night. As soon as the first rays of morning hit his window, Darius hurries to the lions’ den, bringing two soldiers with him. His heart is breaking as he approaches the den.

“Remove the stone at once” he demands.

The guards break the seal and roll the stone out of the way. Darius moves to the mouth of the den and calls out in anguish; “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” (Daniel 6:20).

Darius’ knees nearly buckle as he hears Daniel’s voice calling back to him.

“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” (Daniel 6:21b-22).

Darius turns to the guards. “Bring him up immediately!”

The guards quickly lower the rope and have Daniel tie it around himself. As soon as it is fastened, they begin to lift Daniel from the den. As Daniel’s body emerges from the den, Darius reaches out his hand and grasps Daniel’s hand. He helps Daniel to gain his footing on the edge of the den. Once Daniel is firmly on solid ground, the guards remove the rope and the king begins examining Daniel from head to toe, looking for any signs of damage. Seeing none, the king embraces Daniel. He weeps with joy at finding Daniel unharmed. After a moment, the embrace ends and Darius takes on a serious face.

“Have those men who maliciously accused Daniel brought here immediately. Bring their wives, and their children as well.”

Daniel does not plead for mercy for these men and their families. Nor did he ask the king to carry out this sentence. He knows to trust in the hand of the Lord for justice.

Those that were celebrating in the night stand gathered around the same den that they placed Daniel into lest that 24 hours ago. They see Daniel, whole and undamaged, standing beside the king. The men’s knees tremble at the sight. Their wives and children cling to one another as their protectors offer them nothing. All eyes are on Darius and Daniel.

“Throw them into the pit with the lions” commands Darius.

All eyes shift to the pit where the lions wait. They are prowling about and jumping towards the mouth of the pit, in hunger and anticipation. The guards are unwilling to get close enough to lower the ‘meal’ to them, for rear of being dragged down with them. Instead, those that are awaiting judgment are pushed from the ledge several at a time. Before they even hit the bottom of the pit, they are snatched in midair by the jaws of death. Screams emanate from the pit that are quickly silenced as the bodies are ripped apart. After the last person his hurled into the pit, all that remains is the sound of bones snapping and the lions ripping their prey to pieces.

Daniel’s heart hurts for the innocent children. It was their fathers’ who deserved this fate. But he leaves this in the hands of the Lord. The stone is replaced on the mouth of the cave and those who observed this justice return to their own lives.

Darius has one more task to complete. One that brings him great joy. He has a proclamation to write. This proclamation goes out to ALL the people in ALL the languages.

“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 6:25b-27).

The decree goes out that very day. The people of Judah rejoice, for they know the very God the king speaks of. They are calling out to Him for rescue themselves. Their hearts have softened and have repented from their sins against Him. And they too, await His deliverance.

Daniel continues to rise in power and recognition during the reign of Darius and Cyrus of Persia. He stands as an example of the Lord before them and as a loyal servant to those the Lord places in authority over His people.

(to be continued)

I would have LOVED to be in the lion’s den with Daniel and the angel of the Lord. NOT alone by myself though! What I find awe inspiring is that Daniel KNEW the cost of his regular daily prayers but refused to consider it of consequence. Like his three friends, he knew that his survival was not guaranteed, just because he knew the Lord. But he KNEW his eternal future was safe when he put his life in God’s hands. Whatever the cost, being faithful to the Lord was worth it.

I wonder what he thought as he looked the lions in the eyes. Did his mind go back to the fiery furnace? Did he consider himself a dead man? Or did he simply stand firm in the face of death and surrender to whatever God had for him?

We are not told that Daniel sung praises to the Lord in the lion’s den, but I don’t see how he couldn’t. To see all those lions moving about and showing him nothing but kindness must have brought it forth from the depths of his soul!

When we face our own ‘den of lions’, we are not assured of the outcome either. What we are assured of is, if we are His children, we are safe in his arms. It may not mean earthly ‘safety’ or survival. But our eternal survival and safety is assured. And THAT means more than ANYTHING this world has to offer.

We can also be certain that we will have struggles to overcome. Daniel did NOTHING wrong, yet he found himself facing the hungry lions. And Daniel did NOTHING to rescue himself. He had no power to change his circumstances. Only God could. And that is where he put ALL his trust. He couldn’t buy his way out. He couldn’t call out in ‘faith and claim the lions were not there’. He couldn’t close his eyes and pretend he was safe in his room. He had to wait and see what the Lord would do. “Be still and KNOW that I am God” (Psalm 46:10; emphasis added).

Father God, help me to “Be still” too when troubles come that I cannot change. I have had that experience lately in dealing with my husband’s health. Only YOU could have done what You have done! There is still a lot of symptoms that I have to manage now, but he is not being pulled from this earth. You answered my prayer! Please don’t hold me to the “10 more years” request though. I’ll take as many more after that as You will give me. Tired or not, I’ll go on walking with him until You call him home. Give him relief though Lord. I’ve seen a little, but I’m uncertain how long those ‘moments’ will last. Give me wisdom in meal prep Lord. That is my biggest area of uncertainty. You know my heart, Father God. Keep it always loving and willing to serve; even when I get frustrated. Shut the mouth of my ‘lions of frustration’.