Lord’s Day, Vol. 9 No. 4

The Lion’s Den

Daniel 6:16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.

The words highlighted in bold spoken by the  Persian king were not empty words but words that came from observing how God was with Daniel in his daily life as the king’s trusted adviser. Daniel lived a life of faith experiencing God’s power, pardon, provision and protection daily, principles found in the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-15). Daniel was a man of prayer. He prayed three times a day – he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime (Daniel 6:10b). For that, he was thrown into the lion’s den. His life was put in imminent danger rejecting all others to the worship of the God of Israel. He did not change his allegiance but was steadfast in his faith, trusting his Lord.

Life with God is not always smooth sailing, many trials may come our way, but we can be assured, as the Apostle Paul testified, “out of them all, the Lord delivered me.” While he knew the time of his departure was at hand, God’s enemy was about to incarcerate him, he concluded his life with these words, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7) The child of God lives by his confidence in God. Although the trials can at times be overwhelming but God’s power is greater than them all. 

Jesus gave this impetus to steadfastness for His disciples in Luke 12:4-5 (KJV) And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body. and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. Do not be intimidated by the temporal suffering even unto death rather be fearful of God’s eternal judgment when we reject Him.

Daniel understood how he needed God’s help along life’s pathways and so he prayed three times a day, morning, noon and evening. He had a vibrant prayer life. In our day, he made time, took time to pray. 

The heart of Daniel on the night when he was, as it were hopelessly thrown into the lions’ den, was rested in his God. John Calvin described well when he said this of the Christian’s hope – “The word hope I take for faith; and indeed hope is nothing else than the constancy of faith.” The constancy of Daniel’s faith gave confidence to the king to declare that indeed, Daniel’s God will deliver him. What gave Daniel that constancy? It was Daniel’s devotional life, he prayed 3 times a day, he was very much in touch with his God. 

As the psalmist testified of God’s faithfulness to His own, “Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.” (Psalm 50:15). Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God” (Psalm 42:11).  “Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear.” (Psalm 10:17).

This chapter began with the account of Daniel’s promotion to second only to the king himself. The king chose him over the rest “because an excellent spirit was in him.” What is this “excellent spirit” that is in Daniel described in verse 3? Excellent is the adjective that means surpassing, pre-eminent. What distinguished Daniel? We saw that his surpassing wisdom from the time he was brought to Babylon as a captive because he kept himself pure from idolatry in chapter 1. We also see how he was able to receive revelation from heaven that distinguished him from the rest of the king’s wise men in chapter 2. We can see how he was truthful to king Nebuchadnezzar in chapter 4 and how he was not after filthy lucre in his service in chapter 5. He remained a trusted adviser even after the old regime was gone and a new regime took over. He served with a servant’s attitude for he “would do the king no damage” (v2).

Daniel must have served the king like he was serving his Lord. As Paul would put it concerning how a servant ought to serve his master.

Colossians 3:22-24 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: 23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

The king had the opportunity to observe and test Daniel. His promotion caused much envy and jealousy amongst the princes of the king. They conspired to harm him. Our Lord Jesus Himself was tried and pronounced guilty by the jealous religious leaders of His time for no crime that He committed. Jesus was tried and crucified. Probably, as he was found in office appointed by Belshazzar, he continued with Darius, and as a result of his tried integrity he was in due time exalted to the premiership. “And the king thought to set him over the whole realm.” 

Daniel had a blameless testimony – “they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him” (v4). He conducted himself righteously, he could not be faulted. He dealt fairly and justly with others. Daniel was not a young man, now in Daniel 6, he is probably in his late 80s! What a testimony!

The only way to cause Daniel to fall is to find fault

with his devotion with his God – “5 Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find itagainst him concerning the law of his God.” The conspiracy was made and the plot was hatched that was specifically designed to trap Daniel. The king was tricked into issuing an evil decree that targeted Daniel – “that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.” (v7)

Daniel came to know of the plot. What do you think went on in Daniel’s heart when he found out of this evil trap to kill him? What was his response? “10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.” Daniel adopted David’s daily prayer pattern to kneel and pray 3 times a day – Psalm 55:16-19 “As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me. Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice. He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me. God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.”

Under severe trial, threat to his life, Daniel did not compromise his communion with God because he knew this is his lifeline. Even the king himself could not reverse his decree. Indeed, if God has not be on Daniel’s side, he would have perished. The king was so anxious that he could not eat or sleep after he casts Daniel into the lion’s den. But God was with Daniel. God shut the lion’s mouth as the book of Hebrews described – Daniel “by faith…stopped the mouth of lions.” (Hebrews 11:33) “22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.” What a testimony of God’s saving power. May God grant His people steadfastness of faith even in the face of imminent persecution. Amen.

Yours lovingly,

Pastor Lek Aik Wee