It is in the sixth chapter of the book of Daniel where we find the well known story of Daniel in the lions' den. In Daniel 6:16 we read, "So the king [Darius] 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.'" I have chosen verse 16 as the key memory verse for I believe the whole story can be summarized using this one verse.
Verse 16 can be broken into four parts. The first being, "So the king [Darius] gave the command." Daniel had faithfully served under several different kings while living in captivity in Babylon. He had also received several promotions and was now one of three governors overseeing the Babylonian kingdom during the reign of King Darius. In Daniel 6:1-2 we read, "It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom; and over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them [the governors], so that the king would suffer no loss."
Daniel had several satraps who were accountable to him; probably 40 if they were divided equally. In verse 3 we learn the other governors and satraps were jealous of Daniel and in verse 4 we read that they sought to find fault with him. In Daniel 6:4 we read, "So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him." And in Daniel 6:5 we read, "Then these men said, 'We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.'"
Wow, what a witness. Daniel was found to be a true man of integrity. So much so that in verse 3 we read that King Darius was thinking about creating a position, which would set Daniel over the entire kingdom. The first section of verse 16 is important for only the king could issue the command to cast Daniel into the lions' den. The other governors and the satraps appealed to the king's ego and tricked him into signing a decree or law, which prohibited anyone from consulting or petitioning anyone except the king for the next 30 days. Violators of this decree would be cast into the den of lions.
Even after the decree had been signed Daniel did not compromise his stand or wavier from his routine of worship. In Daniel 6:10 we read, "Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days."
Daniel indeed had broken the new law, which the king had signed. In verse 13 we read, "So they answered and said before the king, 'That Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah, does not show due regard for you O king, or for the decree that you signed, but makes his petition three times a day.'" So the second part of verse 16 was fulfilled, "And they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions." I doubt Daniel's first reaction was to say, "Here kitty, kitty." Daniel; however, was truly a victim of religious persecution.
In the third part of verse 16 we read, "But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, 'Your God, whom you serve continually." What a powerful statement regarding Daniel's life and witness. The king knew that Daniel served the Lord, his God, continually. Daniel had a personal and intimate relationship with his God. It was not an on and off or sometimes if Daniel needed something relationship, but was one in which the king saw continuity. King Darius recognized that Daniel served his God continually. Oh, that men could only say the same of us today.
The fourth point I would like to make in verse 16 is the final statement made by King Darius to Daniel. The king said, "He [your God] will deliver you." King Darius knew that Daniel's God was the only one who could save Daniel now that he had been cast into the lions' den. In Daniel 6:14 we read, "And the king, when he heard these words, was greatly displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him." The king, who was top man in the kingdom, had done all he could to figure out a way to save Daniel, but he could not. It was now up to Daniel's God if he was to be delivered from the lions.
King Darius spent the night fasting while Daniel was in the lions' den and in verses 19-20 we read, "Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions. And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, 'Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?'" Daniel quickly replied and told the king that God had sent an angel to shut the mouths of the lions.
Granted most of us, thankfully, will never be cast into a den of lions. Yet, many of us will be faced with making decisions regarding our faith. Many Christians today are being persecuted for their faith. They like Daniel, despite threats of persecution, have chosen to serve the only true and living God regardless of the consequences. I pray that we would find strength to include Him in our daily routines so that we too may be found blameless before men and our God.
King Darius tried to save Daniel, yet he realized that even he was powerless in comparison to the God of Daniel. May we find comfort in the words of King Darius as they are recorded in Daniel 6:26-27. "He is the living God, and steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, and His dominion shall endure to the end. He delivers and rescues, and He works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions." Amen.
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Read -- Daniel 6:1-28