When Darius took possession of the throne of Babylon, he at once proceeded to reorganize the
government. He "set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes . . . ; and over these three
presidents; of whom Daniel was first" (Dan. 6:1, 2). And "Daniel was preferred above the presidents
and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole
realm" (verse 3). The honors bestowed upon Daniel excited the jealousy of the leading men of the
kingdom. The presidents and princes sought to find occasion for complaint against him. "But they could
find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in
him" (verse 4).
What a lesson is here presented for all Christians. The keen eyes of jealousy were fixed upon Daniel
day after day; their watchings were sharpened by hatred; yet not a word or act of his life could they
make appear wrong. And still he made no claim to sanctification, but he did that which was infinitely
better--he lived a life of faithfulness and consecration.
The more blameless the conduct of Daniel, the greater was the hatred excited against him by his
enemies. They were filled with madness, because they could find nothing in his moral character or in the
discharge of his duties upon which to base a complaint against him. "Then said these men, We shall not
find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God" (verse
5). Three times a day Daniel prayed to the God of heaven. This was the only accusation that could be
brought against him.
A scheme was now devised to accomplish his destruction. His enemies assembled at the palace and
besought the king to pass a decree that no person in the whole realm should ask anything of either God
or man, except of Darius the king, for the space of thirty days, and that any violation of this edict should
be punished by casting the offender into the den of lions. The king knew nothing of the hatred of these
men toward Daniel, and did not suspect that the decree would in any way injure him. Through flattery
they made the monarch believe it would be greatly to his honor to pass such an edict. With a smile of
satanic triumph upon their faces, they come forth from the presence of the king, and rejoice together
over the snare which they have laid for the servant of God.
An Example of Boldness and Fidelity
The decree goes forth from the king. Daniel is acquainted with the purpose of his enemies to ruin
him. But he does not change his course in a single particular.
With calmness he performs his accustomed duties, and at the hour of prayer he goes to his chamber,
and with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he offers his petitions to the God of heaven. By his
course of action he fearlessly declares that no earthly power has the right to come between him and his
God and tell him to whom he should or should not pray. Noble man of principle! he stands before the
world today a praiseworthy example of Christian boldness and fidelity. He turns to God with all his
heart, although he knows that death is the penalty for his devotion.
His adversaries watch him an entire day. Three times he has repaired to his chamber, and three times
the voice of earnest intercession has been heard. The next morning the complaint is made to the king
that Daniel, one of the captives of Judah, has set at defiance his decree. When the monarch heard these
words, his eyes were at once opened to see the snare that had been set. He was sorely displeased with
himself for having passed such a decree, and labored till the going down of the sun to devise a plan by
which Daniel might be delivered. But the prophet's enemies had anticipated this, and they came before
the king with these words: "Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree
nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.
"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" (verses
15, 16). A stone was laid upon the mouth of the den, and sealed
with the royal seal. "Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were
instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him" (verse 18).
"My God Hath Sent His Angel"
Early in the morning the monarch hastened to the den of lions, and cried, "Daniel, Oh Daniel,
servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?"
(verse 20). The voice of the prophet was heard in reply, "Oh king, live for ever. 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, Oh king, have I done no hurt.
"Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of
the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he
believed in his God" (verses 22, 23). Thus was the servant of God delivered. And the snare which his
enemies had laid for his destruction proved to be their own ruin. At the command of the king they were
cast into the den, and instantly devoured by the wild beasts.