Dave Burnette's Commentary

Daniel Chapter 6

Written By: God through Inspiration
Penned By: Daniel
Date Penned: BC 536 (Covering Events BC 605-536)
Overview: Daniel's Life (c 1-6)
Theme: Daniel is Counselor to King Nebuchadnezzar (c 1-6)
Message:Daniel in the Lions Den (v 1-28) 

Daniel: Chapter 6 Commentary 

  (6:1-3) Daniel is now over 80 years old and one of Darius's top three administrators. He was working with those who did not believe in his God, but he worked more efficiently and productive than anyone else. This good work gained the attention of the pagan king and earned a place of respect. Daniel shows the value of witnessing to others by simply working hard and allowing the Lord to touch his work.

(6:4-5) The jealous officials couldn't find anything about Daniel's Life to criticize so they attacked his religion. This attack continues today but do not get discouraged as the Lord fight your battles as you stand for Him

(6:8-9) In Babylon, the king's word was the law in the Medo Persion Empire, however, when a law was made even the king could not change it. Darius was an effective Government administrator, but had a fatal flaw of pride. By appealing to his vanity, the men talked him into signing a law that effectively made himself a god for 30 days. This law could not be broken, not even by Daniel. This is another example of the irrevocable nature of the laws of the Medes and Persians

(6:10) Although Daniel knew about the law against praying to anyone except the king he still prayed 3 times a day as he always had. Daniel had a disciplined prayer life. His life was blessed by His consistency in the priority of prayer. 

(6:16) Lions roamed the countryside and forests in Mesopotamia, and the people feared them and had great respect for their power. Some kings hunted lions for sport. The Persians captured lions. They would then keep them in large parks where they were fed and attended to. Lions were also used for executing people. But God has ways of delivering his people that are bigger than us. It is always premature to give up on God or yield to the pressure of others but as we see our Lord can do the impossible including shutting a lion's mouth. 

(6:24) In accordance with Persian custom, this cruel punishment was transferred to those who had conspired against by flattering him to do an unjust action. The King's Great anger resulted in the execution of these evil officials and their families. 

(6:25-27) Nebuchadnezzar believed that Israel;'s God was real because of the faithfulness of Daniel and his friends. Now Darius was also convinced of God's Power because Daniel was faithful and God delivered him. Although Daniel was captive in a strange land, his devotion to our God influenced kings and is a testimony to the power we have in simply being faithful to our Lord.

 


Dave Burnette's Life Application


The Lions Den

Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today we continue with the Book of Daniel with Chapter 6. In our text today we see the account of Daniel in the Lions den as the Lord protected him and not even a hair on his head was touched. In making application we see that our lives may put us in the lions den but with our Lord Jesus we have his protection when enemies rise against us. How about you? Are you facing a lions den experience in your life? Let us learn from our text today and the life of Daniel to see that the Lord protect us even when are placed in the lions den.

 

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Daniel 6

Daniel 6

 1It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;

 2And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.

 3Then this 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.

 4Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.

 5Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.

 6Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever.

 7All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, 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.

 8Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.

 9Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.

 10Now 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.

 11Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.

 12Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king's decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.

 13Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.

 14Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.

 15Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.

 16Then 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.

 17And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.

 18Then 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.

 19Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.

 20And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?

 21Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.

 22My 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.

 23Then was the king exceedingly 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.

 24And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.

 25Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.

 26I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.

 27He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.

 28So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.