Daniel: A Man of Prayer and ActionSample

In Daniel 6, we find King Darius, the Mede, who took over the kingdom of Babylon. He kept Daniel in the position of the third-highest leader. Once again, God’s favor was upon Daniel, and the work of his hands did not go unnoticed by the new king. In fact, Darius had a mind to put Daniel in charge of the entire kingdom. Of course, this mightily ticked off the Medes who had been in the service of the king much longer.

They knew of Daniel’s loyalties, yet could find no way to exploit Daniel's character or work ethic to bring him down. As the word of God said: “They could find no corruption in him because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent“ (Daniel 6:4).

They realized that the only way to bring Daniel‘s esteem down in the King’s eye was to set Daniel up against the King by a charge against Daniel that “had to do with the law of God.”

Their nasty idea was to get the king to decree that: “Anyone who prays to any other than to you (Darius) should be thrown immediately into the lions' den for 30 days.” They encouraged King Darius to immediately put this law in writing. They knew that once it was written into law, it couldn’t be appealed, even by the King himself!

When Daniel learns of the decree, he went home and got down on his knees, giving thanks to His God, just as he had done before. So Daniel learns of their heresy and understands the position he is now in, and does NOTHING DIFFERENT.

Nothing about their worldly decrees and laws encouraged him or scared him into changing his worshipful ways. The satraps and prefects that had set him up knew that this would be his custom and his claim, so they laid the trap and went directly to find Daniel praying and asking God to help him.

They went straight to the king, demanding that Daniel be thrown into the lions' den.

Since the decree could not be stopped or repealed, Daniel was thrown into the lions' den. The king’s parting words to his second-in-command were: “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!” (Daniel 6:16).

The stone was placed over the den, the king's signet ring was used to seal it, and King Darius retreated to his palace where he spent a night without food or entertainment. The very next morning at the break of dawn, the king hurried to the lions' den. He called out to Daniel, asking: “Has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions? (Daniel 6:20). Daniel answered, “Oh king, live forever! My God sent his angel and shut the mouths of the lions. They did not hurt me because I was found innocent in your sight and have never done any wrong before you, king.”

King Darius was overjoyed and ordered Daniel to be removed from the lions' den. In retaliation the King then ordered that the men who set the trap, along with their wives and children, be thrown in the den, and “the lions overpowered them and crushed their bones.” This brutal ending is not usually included in the children’s version, but it is the truth of this historical circumstance and is in accordance with the ways that kings in pagan nations governed during this time.

King Darius then wrote to all people, nations, and men: ”I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom, people must fear and revere the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, and He endures forever.” Once again, through the faithfulness of one of God’s servants, a king recognized the sovereignty of God. Daniel 6 closes with the notation that Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and during the reign of Cyrus of Persia.

Daniel faithfully served in a pagan nation under several kings and over several decades. Removed from his people and away from the sensitivities of his given faith, Daniel never faltered in his praise and worship of the one true God. In doing so, he brought truth to a pagan world and truth to king and after king.

The take-away for each of us is that no matter where you serve, whether in corporate life, in the public school system, in the government, or in your own home, and no matter the trappings and the belief system that currently reigns in your world, you serve a God who is sovereign. He sees all and knows all. And He can bring about true and big change and prosperity for those who humbly serve him.

Amen and Amen.