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Daniel in the Lions’ Den
241
He would not allow it even to appear to those plotting his ruin that
he had broken his connection with Heaven. In this way the prophet
boldly yet humbly declared that no earthly power has a right to come
between an individual and God. His determination to do right was a
bright light in the moral darkness of that heathen court.
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For an entire day the officials watched Daniel. Three times they
saw him go to his chamber and heard him lift his voice in prayer.
The next morning they laid their complaint before the king. Daniel
had defied the royal decree! “Have you not signed a decree,” they
reminded him, “that every man who petitions any god or man within
thirty days, except you, 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 does not alter.” In triumph they now
informed Darius, “That Daniel, who is of the captives from Judah,
does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you
have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.”
A Vain King’s Remorse
The monarch saw at once the snare that these men had set. It was
not zeal for kingly honor but jealousy against Daniel that had led to
the royal decree. “Greatly displeased with himself,” he “labored till
the going down of the sun” to deliver his friend. The officials came
to him with the words, “Know, O king, that it is the law of the Medes
and Persians that no decree or statute which the king establishes may
be changed.” The decree must be carried into effect.
Daniel Is Thrown in the Lions’ Den
“So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and
cast him into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel,
‘Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.’” A
stone was laid on the mouth of the den, and the king himself “sealed
it with his own signet ring. ... Now the king went to his palace and
spent the night fasting.”
God permitted evil angels and wicked men this far to accomplish
their purpose; but through the courage of this one man who chose