The first five chapters of the biblical book of Daniel deal with the empire of Babylon. Chapter 6 deals with Medo-Persia.

The Medes were completely unknown before this time—at least as far as a great nation is concerned. They originated from Madai (see Genesis 10:2).

Many years before, the Israelites from Samaria and the northern kingdom were taken to the cities of the Medes. “In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes” (2 Kings 17:6).

For about two centuries before the fall of Babylon, the Jews were mingled among the Medes.

In order for a kingdom to be strong, there must be a strong organization working harmoniously. So what did Darius do? “It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom” (Daniel 6:1).

By the time of Esther, Medo-Persia grew to 127 provinces. ‘Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus (this is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces)’ (Esther 1:1). Basically we see that each prince was responsible for his own province. Uriah Smith writes that “Darius set over the kingdom a hundred and twenty princes, there being, as is supposed, at that time a hundred and twenty provinces in the empire, each one having its prince, or governor. By the victories of Cambyses and Darius Hystaspes, it was afterward enlarged to a hundred and twenty-seven provinces.”1

In order to organize things even better, Darius appointed three presidents over those princes. “And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage” (Daniel 6:2).Why the three presidents? There was accounting to be done (to levy taxes). Why was Daniel the first president? “Then 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” (verse 3, emphasis added).

How could it be that a former slave in one kingdom (recently made the third ruler, directly under the two kings) had come into such a high position in a conquering kingdom and in such a short time?

It happens when we please the Lord. “When a man’s ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him” (Proverbs 16:7).Daniel was obviously diligent in his business affairs. “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before [obscure] men” (Proverbs 22:29, margin).

Since Daniel also had an excellent spirit (Daniel 5:12), he was known for his wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. “The king’s favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame” (Proverbs 14:35).

So again, why was this Daniel’s experience? “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper” (Psalm 1:1–3).

Daniel was “not slothful in business; [but] fervent in spirit; serving the Lord” (Romans 12:11).

Daniel was not bound to any political parties or governments. He did the business affairs of each kingdom wholeheartedly as unto the Lord.

As King Darius saw the qualities in this man of God, he set him in charge of all the princes in his realm. Why? “And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.”

“The king, then, was in danger; not in danger of losing his life, but these officials were scheming politicians who were robbing the government in every possible way. If they had taxes to gather, they turned a large percent to their own account.”2 There was bribery, cheating, and other evil doings. What great danger was the kingdom to face if these evil ways continued? “The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it” (Proverbs 29:4).

Could Daniel, as a servant of the Most High, be bribed? God’s Word commands: “Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous” (Deuteronomy 16:19).

Daniel obeyed God’s Word; therefore he was exactly the man for such a position!

Because Daniel was upright and guarded the interests of the king, what could he expect? “The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth” (Psalm 37:12).

Why? “They hate him that rebuketh in the gate, and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly” (Amos 5:10).

What is their nature? These are those “that make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of nought” (Isaiah 29:21).

What plans did the wicked have for this man of God who could not be bribed? “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” (Daniel 6:4).

They could not find one error or fault in him concerning the kingdom.

“The king thought to set [Daniel] over the whole realm. Then was the envy of the other rulers raised against him, and they set about to destroy him. But Daniel’s conduct was perfect so far as related to the kingdom. He was faithful and true. They could find no ground for complaint against him on that score. Then they said they could find now occasion to accuse him, except as concerning the law of his God. So let it be with us. A person can have no better recommendation.”3

These jealous men were bent on mischief. Where did they look to find fault? “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” (Daniel 6:5).

But even then they dared not make an open accusation against Daniel. They presented their case to the king: “Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever. All 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. Now, 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. Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree” (verses 6–9).

“They came together to the king—came tumultuously, says the margin. They came as though some urgent matter had suddenly sprung up, and they had come unanimously to present it before him. They claimed that all were agreed.”4

They began with a lie: “All the presidents”—but Daniel was not there!

The king had utmost confidence in Daniel, so if he recommended something, the king would have accepted it without any further investigation.

“Mark the subtlety of these men—the length to which people will go to accomplish the ruin of the good. If they had made the decree read that no petition should be asked of the God of the Hebrews, which was the real design of the matter, the king would at once have divined their object, and the decree would not have been signed. So they gave it a general application, and were willing to ignore and heap insult upon their whole system of religion, and all the multitude of their gods, for the sake of ruining the object of their hatred.”5

But these princes were now stepping on dangerous ground. They were not just bothering Daniel. “For thus saith the Lord of hosts: . . . he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye” (Zechariah 2:8).

How closely is God connected with His people? “For the Lord’s portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance” (Deuteronomy 32:9).

Since Daniel was obedient to his God, what promise could he claim? “The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide” (Psalm 37:31).

Daniel did nothing unusual in his daily activities. “Now 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” (Daniel 6:10). What divinely inspired teaching was he practicing? “As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me. Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice” (Psalm 55:16, 17).

How would Daniel react to being deprived of prayer? “To sever the intercourse with God would be as painful to Daniel as to deprive him of natural life.”6

“Daniel foresaw the conspiracy going on against him, but took no means to thwart it. He simply committed himself to God, and left the issue to His providence. He did not leave the empire on pretended business, or perform his devotions with more than ordinary secrecy; but when he knew the writing was signed, just as aforetime, with his face turned toward his beloved Jerusalem, he kneeled down in his chamber three times a day, and poured out his prayers and supplications to God.”7 If our trials are great, let’s open the windows toward heaven to be filled with His strength.

Of course the spies were there. “Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king’s decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every many 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. Then 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” (Daniel 6:11–13).

Notice: “That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah.”

For the first time the king knew the real reason of the decree. “Then 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” (verse 14).

He spent the rest of the day trying to release Daniel. But what did he meet with when he presented his objections? “Then 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” (verse 15). So he was forced to go along with the plan.

But when the hands of people are tied, then it is time for God to work. “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. And 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” (verses 16, 17).

Notice how much faith in God the king already had at this time.

Upon what promise could Daniel meditate? “And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely” (Hosea 2:18).

Who was there with this man of God? “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them” (Psalm 34:7).

Darius did not wait in idle expectancy. “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” (Daniel 6:18).

Then the wonderful experience came early the next morning: “Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. And 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? Then said Daniel unto the king, O 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, O 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 19–23).

Why was there no hurt? Because of his innocence and his faith in his God.

“At earliest dawn [Darius] repaired to the den where his prime minister had passed the night in company with hungry and ravenous beasts. Daniel’s response to his first salutation was no word of reproach for the king’s course in yielding to his persecutors, but a term of respect and honor, ‘O king, live forever.’ He afterward, however, reminds the king, in a manner which he must have keenly felt, but to which he could take no exception, that before him he had done no hurt. And on account of his innocency, God, whom he served continually, not at intervals, nor by fits and starts, had sent his angel, and shut the lions’ mouths.”8

Thus the faith of Daniel’s accusers was tested. “And 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” (verse 24).

Why were they thrown into the den of lions? “The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead” (Proverbs 11:8).

How did Darius react to all of this? “Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; peace be multiplied unto you. I 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. He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions” (Daniel 6:25–27).

Daniel was God’s agent in proclaiming the message of salvation throughout the then-known world.

What happened with Daniel as a result? “So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian” (verse 28).

“The result of Daniel’s deliverance was that another proclamation went out through the empire in favor of the true God, the God of Israel. All men were to fear and tremble before him. What Daniel’s enemies designed to prove his ruin, resulted only in his advancement. In this case, like in the case of the three Hebrews in the fiery furnace, the seal of God is set in favor of two great lines of duty: (1) . . . not to yield to any known sin; and (2) . . . not to omit any known duty. . . .

“The decree of the king sets forth the character of the true God in fine terms. (1) He is the living God; all others are dead. (2) He is steadfast forever; all others change. (3) He has a kingdom; for he made and governs all. (4) His kingdom shall not be destroyed; all others come to an end. (5) His dominion is without end; no human power can prevail against it. (6) He delivereth those who are in bondage. (7) He rescueth his servants from their enemies when they call upon him for help. (8) He worketh wonders in the heavens and signs upon the earth. (9) And to complete all, he hath delivereth Daniel, giving before our own eyes the fullest proof of his power and goodness in rescuing his servant from the power of the lions.”9

If we are God’s children, what can we expect in the trials that come our way? “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).Some may be called to a martyr’s death, but let’s not forget to be faithful unto death. Our Lord bids us: “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” (Revelation 2:10).