Chapter 6 – Infallible Decree against Daniel
This chapter shows us how the princes of Medo-Persia plotted against Daniel and more importantly how God’s people will be plotted against in the last days. There are very similar parallels between Daniel 3 and 6. Daniel 6 talks specifically about the closing days of earth’s history because Daniel has been sealed and is protected so that nothing is able to hurt him.
Chapter Outline
Daniel made first president (1-3)
Plot and decree against Daniel (4-15)
Daniel thrown in lion’s den (16-19)
God delivers (20-24)
Darius decree to acknowledge God (25-28)
Daniel made first president (1-3)
VERSE [1] It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom; [2] 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. [3] 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.
6:1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;
6:2 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 was greatly honored during kingdom of Medo-Persia. He was in very high position.
Application: When faithful in small area God will bless us with higher responsibilities. The Setting of Story: Jewish captive has a great part ruling in the kingdom.
6:3 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.
“excellent spirit” – appears repeatedly and refers to his character and demeanor. Uriah Smith brings up this point – Dan 3, Daniel was probably in Shushan. Because of Daniel’s dealings in that region, this is probably why the Medo-Persian empire was familiar with him. And they must have heard of all the other things he had done. What do you think others were thinking about the king about to make Daniel one of the greatest rulers? Jealousy
Plot and decree against Daniel (4-15)
VERSE [4] Then 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. [5] 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. [6] Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever. [7] All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the abored rs, 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. [8] 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. [9] Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree. [10] 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.
[11] Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.
[12] Then 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. [13] 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. [14]
Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he abored till the going down of the sun to deliver him. [15] 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.
6:4 Then 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.
“Sought to find occasion against Daniel” – When Darius took over the Babylon, he knew that he had to reorganize the government. Now the Daniel becomes the prime minister of the kingdom, sitting on the head of all the three presidents and all the 120 princes. Now, here is the captive in charge of all the rulers of the nation. We can see the reason why jealousy set forth. Daniel did not politic for the position. God directed him and gave him the position. God establishes and sets down.
Remember how God led these Hebrew boys in chapter 1 and 2. God exalts and humbles down.
Remember how God worked out with Nebuchadnezzar. It is the Lord that gives the glory and takes away. It was God who gave the glory to Daniel; it was God who put Daniel in that position.
Sometimes we as human beings, become jealous of other people. We are jealous because they may have been more favored more than you and I. Why can’t I do this and do that? Why can’t I do the Sabbath schoolteacher? Why can’t I be the RA? Why can’t I be the person to preach this week?
Jealousy is a wicked device. When a person is jealous, they have no reasoning factor. Their motivation and common sense is all gone. In that now jealousy runs like a passion. When you are filled with passion, you cannot think clear. You will do things that under normal circumstance with common reason that you would never do.
We should learn to be content what so ever state we are in. If God ask you to sweep the floor, if God ask you to empty the trash, if God ask you to cut the grass, whatever, I don’t care what it is, we got to learn to be content. Remember the lessons in Dan 1; those that are faithful in little things, are faithful in big things. God is not going to hand over to you great and big things until you’ve learned to master the responsibility of the little.
Ed 61 The lesson is for all. None can know what may be God’s purpose in His discipline; but all may be certain that faithfulness in little things is the evidence of fitness for greater responsibilities. Every act of life is a revelation of character, and he only who in small duties proves himself “a workman that needeth not to be ashamed” (2 Tim. 2:15) will be honored by God with weightier trusts.
It’s often the case that those who are jealous who make accusation against the innocent, the accusation is not even truth.
PP 714 When Satan controls the minds of men he will excite envy and suspicion which will misconstrue the very best intentions.
There are three presidents, two other than Daniel. And all of a sudden you got among the ranks now permeating envy, jealousy, backbiting, and you got confusion and division in the ranks. You got 122 fellows against one. That’s exactly how Satan did it.
PP 651 What untold mischief has this evil trait of character worked in our world! Envy is the
offspring of pride, and if it is entertained in the heart, it will lead to hatred, and eventually to revenge and murder. Satan displayed his own character in exciting the fury of Saul against him who had never done him harm.
Often we have the same trait of character. “Why didn’t they choose me to preach in that place? I am just as good preacher as he is!” And you have wrinkle going through the ranks; murmurs, complain, jealousy, backbite, character assassination. Let me tell you something. If God wanted you to be there, God would have chosen you. God may call you to go through Moses’ experience; 40 years.
Because you need to learn some things that God needs to teach you to do something later in your life. I want you to understand friends; God has all things worked out. And that if you will be learn to trust the Lord, learn to yield to Him, we will comment, “LORD, all things work together for good. I don’t understand why. I am in this situation. I don’t know why I am still here. Lord, there got to be a reason according to your plan. Help me to learn the lesson that I might be faithful in this that when You ask me some greater things in the future Lord, I may be able to carry it out according to Thy will.”
End result of jealousy, if you permeate and consistently keep in your heart, you are going to end up like these princes, you will end up like Saul, you will end like Judas, you will end up like Satan. You are going to be destroyed. It will kill you. When you hear something, or see something going on, ask Lord to give you wisdom and guidance, that you may do His will and not yours.
“concerning the kingdom” – In the last days God’s people will be scrutinized for what they do in regard to the law of the land, even in the little areas of life: Render unto Caesar’s what is Caesar’s – we ought to obey the laws of the land. There was not even one little thing that they could find against Daniel. This characteristic is similar to 144,00: Rev 14:5 – And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
“But they could find none occasion nor fault” – Connect with 144,000 who also have no fault.
Daniel did not have to play any politics to get to his position. There was no back room dealing, jostling. God had put Him there. What a powerful, powerful testimony! This testimony came from those who were jealous. This was the testimony of his enemy! That makes even more powerful. If it was a friend, it may be possible to make such a comment. But when it comes to an enemy who despise you and hate you, and who wants to persecute you and one who is jealous of you ends up with a testimony, “Man, he is perfect! Where we can find the thing wrong with that fellow!” That is a powerful testimony! And that’s exactly what came out of their mouth.
Daniel is an example for you and me of what it really means to live a holy life in the sight of God even in the midst of rebellion, in the midst of corruption, in the midst of apostate kingdom. Right there in Babylon and Mede-Persia, Daniel was a slave, but he determined in His heart that he would live by principle and that he would not allow the circumstances around him to sway his conviction of true that he would rather have the word of God determined and really dictate the circumstances of what he ever deal with.
3T 497 There are men who flatter themselves that they might do something great and good if they were only circumstanced differently, while they make no use of the faculties they already have by working in the positions where Providence has placed them. Man can make his circumstances, but circumstances should never make the man. Man should seize circumstances as his instruments with which to work. He should master circumstances, but should never allow circumstances to master him. Individual independence and individual power are the qualities now needed. Individual character need not be sacrificed, but it should be modulated, refined, elevated.
Against Daniel concerning the kingdom – this means they were trying to find anything against the state. Daniel was Prime Minister, so they looked at all his business transaction, they looked how he handled his affairs of the state, but they couldn’t find anything wrong.
The time is going to come when we will go to court, and they are going to scrutinize us up and down, all over around, not just in our religious beliefs, but how we obey the law of the land; little things in our life. If they had one thing they could get their hands on, they would use it. But they couldn’t find anything. I believe that when Jesus said render unto Caesars, He meant, “obey the laws of the land.” Now, when the laws of the land conflicts with the laws of God, it’s obvious you just don’t obey. That doesn’t mean you are rebellious. You are choosing who are you to obey; God or men. In reality you are royal and true, the One who is asking you to be royal and true doesn’t belong to them: they are the ones who are rebellious!
6:5 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.
“Except…concerning the law of his God” – There was one area that they could get Daniel on; it would be concerning the law of God. They chose that because they knew one thing about Daniel that Daniel was not a hypocrite, and that Daniel lived by conviction and principles that he would always obey the law of the Lord. They thought themselves, “Alright, we can’t find anything politically wrong with this man, therefore there is only one thing left. We know he is going to follow out the dictates of the law of God. We know that! Therefore, we are going to use this against him.” The other princes were spiritually jealous of Daniel. In the same way, the ungodly in the last days will be spiritually jealous of God’s people. These people will not be outsiders but other Christians not keeping God’s commandments. Persecution will come from within – those claiming to be God’s people. Only the “law of his God” will allow them to trap Daniel.
6:6 Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever.
“these presidents and princes” – What kind of picture is this? The kings of the earth will be gathered together to go against the people of God.
“assembled together” – Rev 17 says these have ONE MIND. For what reason? To destroy Daniel
6:7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the abored rs, 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.
Notice that “all” the leaders in the government consulted together. They go to the king and flatter him. Sure enough king Darius pride got hold him just like king Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 3. And he goes forth and makes the law. The law of Mede-Persian was unchangeable; once it’s set, not even the king could change it. Now they knew they got Daniel. They knew that Daniel would ask of God and obey the Lord. They knew it! Daniel’s enemies did not have a problem with his religion.
However, they used it to trap him. They knew that Daniel petitioned to God everyday, so they made a decree against something that they knew he would certainly disobey They lied to the king because they had not consulted everyone. Daniel, the most important person in the kingdom other than the king was not consulted. I wonder people know us in such a way that they know no matter what circumstances come around us, we are going to follow God. I wonder that would ever be said to us.
What a powerful testimony. This was flattering to the king. Making the king as if he is God, this is flattery.
Who are gathered together? All the presidents, governors, princes, etc. Who was not there? Daniel was not there so this was somehow an illegal act but the majority was getting the advantage and rule here so this was not a fair decree.
“decree” – a political law but a religious connotation because of prayer. What result of decree?
Death decree. Now let’s notice the progression, #1 – political decree, #2 – religious, #3 – death result. What are we seeing? The exact characteristic of mark of the beast. Political, religious, and death decree in the mark of the beast. What is the motive of this decree? To destroy Daniel. So the Mark of the Beast will be to destroy God’s people at the end of time.
“for thirty days” – Can you take a vacation from God for 30 days? No. They are trying to make it okay to worship God but just for 30 days only. They are making it in a way for Daniel to be easily give in. What kind of decree?
“firm decree … royal statute” – One that could not be changed.
“petition” – God’s people send up their petitions to God. It is a both a political and religious decree.
Interesting to see how the Sunday law will be established.
6:8 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.
“which altereth not” – Characteristic of Medo-Persia – infallible laws.
6:9 Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.
6:10 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.
“Windows being open…prayed, and gave thanks before his God” – Daniel was the prime minister. He knew full well what’s going on. There is a death decree on this law if he doesn’t obey.
“Windows being open…prayed, and gave thanks before his God” – Daniel was the prime minister. He knew full well what’s going on. There is a death decree on this law if he doesn’t obey.