354
Prophets and Kings
man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den
of lions?”
“The thing is true,” the king answered, “according to the law of
the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.”
Exultantly they now informed Darius of the conduct of his most
trusted adviser. “That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity
of Judah,” they exclaimed, “regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree
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that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.”
When the monarch heard these words, he saw at once the snare
that had been set for his faithful servant. He saw that it was not zeal
for kingly glory and honor, but jealousy against Daniel, that had led to
the proposal for a royal decree. “Sore displeased with himself” for his
part in the evil that had been wrought, he “labored till the going down
of the sun” to deliver his friend. The princes, anticipating this effort
on the part of the king, came to him with the 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.” The decree, though
rashly made, was unalterable and must be carried into effect.
“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.” A stone was
laid on the mouth of the den, and the king himself “sealed it with his
own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not
be changed concerning Daniel. Then the king went to his palace, and
passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of music brought
before him: and his sleep went from him.”
God did not prevent Daniel’s enemies from casting him into the
lions’ den; He permitted evil angels and wicked men thus far to ac-
complish their purpose; but it was that He might make the deliverance
of His servant more marked, and the defeat of the enemies of truth and
righteousness more complete. “Surely the wrath of man shall praise
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Thee” (
Psalm 76:10
), the psalmist has testified. Through the courage
of this one man who chose to follow right rather than policy, Satan was
to be defeated, and the name of God was to be exalted and honored.
Early the next morning King Darius hastened to the den and “cried
with a lamentable voice,” “O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy
God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the
lions?”