Daniel 6:14, commentary and pictures

The king had been trapped by a thirty-day decree his jealous officers sought against Daniel, and when the charge was brought he saw the snare, blamed himself, and worked until sunset to free Daniel but could not undo the law. Daniel had been set first over the realm because of his excellent spirit, and since his enemies could find no fault in him except his loyalty to the law of his God they made prayer to anyone but the king punishable by the lions' den. With the den before him Daniel would not make faith convenient or hide his worship, but kept his custom of praying openly three times a day with his windows open toward Jerusalem rather than obey a human law that stood between him and God. He was cast to the lions for his faithfulness, but God did not forsake His servant and sent holy angels to shut the lions' mouths and deliver him, so that the heathen king was brought face to face with divine power and led to proclaim the supremacy of the true and living God. The verse shows God as a present helper and deliverer of those who meet opposition in integrity in the way of duty, and calls all to the same unbending integrity now, to dare to be a Daniel and stand alone, for the same test over God's commandments and honor is coming to all who would enter the city of God.

Setting and King's Distress

Daniel 6:14 takes place under Darius the Median after he took the throne formerly held by Babylonian rulers and reorganized the government with one hundred and twenty princes under three presidents, with Daniel made first because an excellent spirit was in him and with the king intending to set him over the whole realm. The honors given to Daniel excited jealousy in the leading men of the kingdom. They sought occasion of complaint against him, yet they could find no charge against his conduct because he was faithful and neither error nor fault was found in him except for his faithfulness to the law of his God.

Because they could find no fault in his conduct, his enemies arranged a trap by a thirty-day decree that no petition be asked of any God or man except the king on pain of being cast into the lions' den. The king rashly established the decree and consented to the measure aimed at Daniel's prayers. Envy and jealousy, not concern for the king's honor, prompted the decree.

When the king heard the charge against Daniel he recognized the decree had been a snare against him. He was sore displeased and deeply troubled with himself at his own role in the injustice, and he regretted his decree. He set his heart on Daniel to deliver him and labored until the going down of the sun to save him and find a way to deliver him. His effort could not overcome or undo the law his enemies invoked, for the law he had rashly established could not be changed.

Faithfulness Tested and Rewarded

Daniel's firm hold on principle in this crisis had been formed long before, cultivated from youth and learned through faithfulness in lesser daily trials. Because he had not yielded in the first test over the king's table, he did not yield in this second test over open prayer to God. His steadfastness therefore did not fail when envy trapped him by the thirty-day decree.

Though forbidden and with a gaping lions' den before him, he refused to make faith convenient or to accommodate to circumstances. He refused to let human law come between him and God, to pray in secret to save himself, or to submit to an earthly mandate that would surrender principle and dishonor God. He kept his custom of going to his chamber three times a day with windows open toward Jerusalem to pray openly to the God of heaven, placing himself to lose his life rather than dishonor the God of heaven. Even the threat of the lions' den could not keep him from his daily prayers, showing that threat and danger must not make God's people abandon principle or conceal worship.

Because of that faithfulness he was cast into the den of lions according to the king's decree. But God did not forsake the man who served Him continually, and sent holy angels to be with him, to minister to him, and to shut the lions' mouths so they did him no harm, and thus delivered him. As God's representative he kept the living God exalted as the giver of wisdom and power and showed all whence came his strength. His ordeal and deliverance brought a heathen ruler face to face with the power of God and gave opportunity to testify that the God of heaven is the true and living God. That steadfastness helped lead the king to proclaim God's supremacy and helped spread knowledge of the true God. Because of that strict integrity God let His blessing rest on him in remarkable degree, and honored and vindicated him before people with wisdom and understanding above all.

The verse means God is a present helper and deliverer to those steadfast to principle, so opposition and even persecution met in integrity will find help from the God served. Sure divine protection belongs to those brought into trial in the way of duty, as Daniel was brought into trial in the king's court, not to self-chosen association with temptation and the society of the servants of Satan, which removes fear of their master and ends in falling. The same strict integrity without lowering the standard to meet convenience is required now, for now is the time to cultivate integrity of character. The same test is coming to all who would enter the city of God, whether they will keep God's commandments and His honor before them or serve the powers that be, and God will work for them as He did for Daniel.

The verse shows Daniel daring to be a Daniel and daring to stand alone in Jesus Christ, a course open to all. Those who follow him become vessels and channels through which God imparts grace. When the mind is centered not on self but on enriching poverty-stricken souls, the treasure of God's love, the golden oil from the two olive trees, is poured into the heart. Those who impart heaven's riches are themselves enriched, ministering angels long to communicate heavenly treasures through them, and by cooperating with Jesus Christ they reach the highest stage of mental and moral development.