The Divine Promotion of Faithful Daniel(Daniel 6:1-3)
"Darius the Median" conquers Babylon (Daniel 5:31)
and sets up 120 princes over that kingdom who report to three presidents of whom Daniel is "first" (Daniel 6:1-2)
This Darius ("the Restrainer") is also known
as Ahasuerus ("the Mighty") of the Book of Esther (Esther 1:1 cf. Daniel 9:1) and as Artaxerxes ("Great King") of the Books of Ezra and
Nehemiah (Ezra 6:14; Nehemiah 2:1):Companion Bible (Appendix 57)
- The Genealogy of the Persian Kings
The 127 princes over the king's realm (Esther 1:1)
and the 120 princes over the king's realm (Daniel 6:1) is NOT a contradiction - the number 127 includes the initial seven
princes of Persia and Media which "saw the king's face" (Esther 1:13-14) to which were added to the 120 princes (Daniel 6:1) he set over the conquered kingdom of Babylon (Daniel 5:31)
Daniel's preference above ALL the king's presidents and
princes in being set over the king's entire realm (Daniel 6:3) paints him as a beautiful type of Messiah as "King of Kings"
and "Lord of Lords" (I Timothy 6:15 cf.Revelation 17:14; Revelation 19:16)
Joseph who was set over Pharaoh's kingdom is another type
of the Messianic Kingship (Genesis 41:39-40)
Mordecai as being "next unto king Ahasuerus"
(Esther 10:3) is also a type of the Messianic Kingship
The Satanic Plot of Daniel's Envious Enemies(Daniel 6:4-9)
In response to God's elevation of Daniel above ALL the
king's court due to the "excellent spirit" (Daniel 6:3) from above (Daniel 4:8-9,18 cf. Genesis 41:38) - the Adversary excites in his followers the SAME spirit of envy (Daniel 6:4), which occasioned his fall (Isaiah 14:12-14)
However, "they could find none occasion nor fault",
because "he was faithful" (Daniel 6:4)
It was the SAME spirit of envy, which caused the chief
priests to deliver up Christ to Pilate (Matthew 27:17-18; Mark 15:10-11)
It was the SAME spirit of envy, which caused the patriarchs
to sell Joseph into slavery in Egypt (Acts 7:9)
Envy is more evil than wrath or anger (Proverbs 27:4) for it spawns both these sinful attitudes as was the case with the Jews concerning Paul (Acts 13:44-45; Acts 17:4-5)
Since they could "not find any occasion against"
Daniel, they hatch a scheme to pit the "law of his God" against a "royal statute" decreed by
the king (Daniel 6:5-7)
This SAME evil oppositional tactic was employed by the
Babylonian nobles who were envious of the governmental position given to Daniel's three friends (Daniel 3:8-12)
This SAME evil oppositional tactic was used by the Pharisees
against Christ (Matthew 22:15-22)
This SAME evil oppositional tactic is used by the Adversary
today to direct believers away from their heavenly calling by being entangled in earthly pursuits (Philippians 3:17-20 cf. II Timothy 2:3-4) and, thereby, becoming oppositional to themselves and in need of correction through sound
instruction in the truth (II Timothy 2:24-26)
Having appealed to the vanity of the king by setting him
up as the only God to be petitioned (Daniel 6:7),
they ask for his endorsement of the decree "that it cannot be changed" (Daniel 6:8) - to which the king grants their request (Daniel 6:9)
The king is about to learn the painful lesson that "pride
goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall" (Proverbs 16:18 cf. Daniel 6:13-14)
Daniel's response to learning of the new royal decree
was to worship his God "as he did aforetime" (Daniel 6:10) and his worship was based upon the Word of his God:
He opened his chamber windows "toward Jerusalem"
(Daniel 6:10)
in accordance with Solomon's prayer at the dedication of the Temple (I Kings 8:20-24) in which he makes intercession for his erring and repentant outcast people (I Kings 8:28-30,35-36,38-39,42-45)
His heart was toward the City where the Lord chose to
place His Name (Jeremiah 3:17)
Indeed, it was because of Manasseh's defilement of the
place where the Lord chose to put His Name - that caused Israel's removal from that place (Jeremiah 15:4 cf. II Kings 21:1-4)
He prayed "three times a day" (Daniel 6:10) as prayer will sustain His oppressed ones in each part of the day - morning, afternoon, evening
(Psalms 55:16-17)
As the recipients of the "riches of His grace"
(Ephesians 1:7; Ephesians 2:7)
- it is "the will of God in Christ Jesus" that we "in every thing give thanks" (I Thessalonians 5:18)
for "in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us" (Romans 8:35-37)
The Greek word "charis" is the SAME word translated
"thanks" (II Corinthians 9:15)
and "grace" (II Timothy 2:1),
and so literally, thanks-giving = grace-receiving
The Forced Submission of a
Wavering King (Daniel 6:11-17)
Daniel's supplication before his God is witnessed by his
enemies (Daniel 6:11) and they immediately respond
by accusing Daniel of violating the king's unalterable decree (Daniel 6:12-13)
At this assembly of accusers before the king - Daniel
makes no defense on his behalf and is a beautiful type of "He opened not His mouth" (Isaiah 53:7)
Like his three friends - Daniel's trust is in his God
Who "is able to deliver" (Daniel 3:17)
The king learns too late of the subtle trap set for him
to cause him to deliver his most trusted servant to destruction and is displeased with himself for being so duped
and labors an entire day to find a way out for his most trusted servant (Daniel 6:14)
The king learns the sad truth that one who "flattereth
his neighbor spreadeth a net for his feet" (Proverbs 29:5)
Daniel's accusers assemble themselves a second time before
the king and drive home the "unalterable" decree signed by the king himself in order to assure no recourse
for the king nor escape for Daniel (Daniel 6:15)
Envy is a cruel taskmaster (Mark 15:9-11) as Pilate also sadly learned
when the Lord's enemies cried - "if thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend" (John 19:12)
The king is forced to yield and commends Daniel to his
God for his deliverance and then commands Daniel to be cast into the lions' den (Daniel 6:16)
Likewise, Pilate was made to yield and delivered the Lord
to be crucified (John 19:15-16)
Daniel is sealed shut in the lions' den with a "stone"
laid upon its mouth (Daniel 6:17)
In like manner, the Lord was sealed shut in the tomb with
a "great stone" rolled to the door of the sepulchre (Matthew 27:60)
The king spends a sleepless and lonely night of fasting
awaiting the outcome of his most trusted servant's trial (Daniel 6:18) - much like he spent a
similar sleepless night awaiting the revelation of his beloved queen's request (Esther 6:1 cf. Esther 5:3-4,6-8) for which she risked her
life going unannounced before the king (Esther 4:11,16)
It's interesting to note that in both cases, the king's
sleepless night was the result of his own making - either by his "firm decree" (Daniel 6:7-9) or by "his law" (Esther 4:11,16)
The king rises up early in the morning and went "in
haste" to inquire of his most trusted servant's welfare and his God's ability to deliver him (Daniel 6:19-20)
In like manner, the women who stood at the cross (Mark 15:40) also rose up early in the morning to visit the tomb to anoint the
Lord's body with spices (Mark 16:1-2; Luke 24:1)
The Peacefulness of Daniel's Overcoming Faith(Daniel 6:21-23)
Daniel calmly responds by honorably addressing the king
(Daniel 6:21) despite the king being
the instrument by which Daniel's trial was brought about (Daniel 6:15-16)
Daniel testifies of his God's deliverance of him from
the ferocious lions due to his being innocent (blameless) before all (including the king) - Daniel 6:22
Paul enjoyed a similar testimony in being delivered from
"the lion" (Nero) at his first trial for the sake of proclaiming God's message (II Timothy 4:16-17)
Daniel is taken "up out of the den" of lions
without a mark on him, "because he believed in his God" (Daniel 6:23) - just as his Lord was
risen out of the grave (Luke 24:5-9) and also as the faithful
tribulation remnant who will be raised out of their graves to reign with their King (Revelation 20:4-6 cf. Revelation 2:26-27)
The Divine Judgment of Daniel's Envious Enemies(Daniel 6:24)
The planned judgment of Daniel by his envious enemies
is now returned upon their own heads as they are thrown into the den of lions where judgment is Divinely swift
and complete (Daniel 6:24)
The envy of Daniel's enemies results not only in their
own destruction, but also in the destruction of their familes as well (Daniel 6:24)
Also in like manner, the oppressors of the faithful tribulation
remnant will become the provision for "the supper of the great God" (Revelation 19:17-18) at Messiah's return (Matthew 24:27-28)
Messiah returns as "the Lion of the tribe of Judah"
(Revelation 5:5)
The Divine Vindication of
Faithful Daniel(Daniel 6:25-28)
The king makes makes a universal decree in which he honors
Daniel by honoring his God, i.e. "the God of Daniel" (Daniel 6:25-26)
The king praises Daniel's God as the "Living God"
Who "delivereth and rescueth" and as the One Who "worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth"
(Daniel 6:26-27)
Darius' decree concerning Israel's God is the SAME as
that of Nebuchadnezzar before him (Daniel 3:29; Daniel 4:34)
The remnant of the nations that sought to destroy Israel
will be forced to come up annually to worship Israel's King, "the Lord of hosts" (Zechariah 14:16-19) and will also be made
to recognize Daniel's people (the Jews) as God's people (Zechariah 8:22-23)
God makes His faithful servant to prosper unto "the
reign of Cyrus the Persian" (Daniel 6:28 cf. Daniel 1:21) who was the son of "Darius
the Median" (Daniel 9:1 cf. Daniel 5:31)