Daniel 6:18, commentary and pictures

After Daniel was cast into the lions' den for praying to God in defiance of the thirty-day decree, Darius spent the night in his palace fasting from food and music and unable to sleep from distress and anxiety over Daniel. Daniel had brought this crisis on himself by refusing to hide or change his custom of praying openly three times a day with his window open toward Jerusalem, choosing obedience to God over life itself. Through that fasting, sleepless night God did not forsake him but sent holy angels to be with him and shut the lions' mouths so they did him no harm. God permitted the wicked purpose to be carried out and the king to suffer that anguished night so His deliverance would be more marked, the enemies of truth more completely defeated, and the living God glorified before rulers and nations. That same care proves He will not forget His people in the trying hour when earthly powers abandon, imprison, and sentence them to death, for prison walls cannot cut off their communion with Christ.

Context of the Night

The night belongs to the time when Darius the Mede ruled Medo-Persia for two years after the fall of Babylon, with Daniel set first over the presidents and princes because an excellent spirit was in him, and it was the very night Daniel spent in the lions' den from which he came out unharmed. That deliverance led Darius to decree to all peoples, nations and languages that men should tremble and fear before the God of Daniel as the living and steadfast God whose kingdom shall not be destroyed and whose dominion is to the end, who delivers and rescues and works signs and wonders in heaven and earth. The event was part of God preparing the hearts of kings to show favor to His repentant people while those loyal in Babylon sought the Lord and studied the prophecies of their deliverance.

Daniel's blameless conduct had excited jealousy, and his enemies acknowledged they could find no fault in him and no occasion against him except concerning the law of his God. Envious of his favor, they secured a decree that for thirty days no petition should be asked of any God or man except King Darius, on pain of being cast into the lions' den. Daniel remained faithful, praying three times a day with his windows open toward Jerusalem just as he had done before and as his custom was, and for this he was cast in. His enemies had arranged the decree against his prayers, and God's angels were present with him where he was cast. The God whom he served continually delivered him out of the power of the lions, proving the value of communion with God.

Darius had come to see that jealousy against Daniel and not zeal for kingly honor had prompted the decree, and he was sore displeased with himself for his part in the evil. He labored till the going down of the sun to deliver his friend, but when the princes pressed him he was compelled to carry out the rash decree because the law of the Medes and Persians cannot be changed. He therefore reluctantly ordered Daniel cast in, declaring that the God whom Daniel serves continually would deliver him. He sealed the stone on the den mouth with his own signet and with the signet of his lords so that the purpose concerning Daniel might not be changed.

After Daniel was cast in, Darius went to his palace and passed the night fasting, with neither music nor entertainment brought before him, and his sleep went from him. He fasted through the night, refused music, and could not sleep because of deep distress and anxiety over Daniel's danger. The sleepless fasting night was the night Daniel spent in the den while the king fasted sleepless, and it proves God's tenderness and compassion toward the innocent imprisoned for righteousness. Jesus was personally with Daniel in the den, just as He was with the three Hebrews in the fiery furnace so the flames could not harm them, and angels come within prison walls to minister.

The king's distress through that night stands in contrast to Daniel's steady adherence to duty. His anxiety contrasts with Daniel's integrity and with God's care for him. It presents the king's fasting, musicless, sleepless anguish beside Daniel's steadfast loyalty to God, which persisted even under threat of death and helped spread knowledge of the true God throughout Babylon.

Daniel's Steadfast Faith

Daniel did not hide his purpose or lower his colors, but in the face of the king's thirty-day decree that no petition be asked of any God or man except Darius on pain of the lions' den, he sought his Lord in his chamber three times a day with his window open toward Jerusalem just as he had done before, as his custom was. He was there because envious enemies could find no fault in him except concerning the law of his God, and for this open faithfulness he was cast into the den, yet the outcome of steady adherence to duty was deliverance. His fearless prayer despite the decree drew the rulers' attention, and his preservation proved the value of communion with God.

He prayed morning and noon, and he continued praying even in the lions' den, where angels protected him. The den did not deter him from doing his duty, and the threat of the lions' den did not keep him from his daily prayers. This shows that firm religious principle remains faithful to God even when obedience brings danger or possible death.

His faithfulness through the smaller trials of daily life had strengthened his faith, courage, and firmness, enabling him to remain true to God even with the lions' den before him. He would not lower God's standard to meet the people or to suit convenience, nor accommodate himself to circumstances nor adapt his worship and principles for convenience even with a gaping lions' den open before him. He stood forth for the honor of God whatever the result with strict integrity, choosing to lose his life rather than dishonor the God of heaven.

He had purposed not to weaken his physical powers by eating at the king's table, and he prayed openly to God instead of praying in secret for convenience, repairing to his place to worship God. He kept the living God exalted as the One who gives wisdom and power and let no man come between him and his God, for which God let His blessing rest upon him in remarkable degree and honored him with wisdom and understanding above all the astrologers and magicians. He had the divine principles inwrought in the heart as if written with the finger of God, and he valued eternal life above his present life. Such a one will not deny and betray the truth for any amount of favor or worldly honors or for exalted position, for man's reputation is as nothingness; to live is to obey the word of Christ, and to die for the truth's sake is gain.

In the den through the fasting, sleepless night he remained the same Daniel who stood before the king enshrouded and encircled by the light of God. Amid trial and gloom, with afflicting and discouraging surroundings, his heart stayed upon God just as when his prospects were bright and God's light and favor seemed upon him and outward surroundings were all that he could desire. His steadfast integrity undaunted by circumstances, with a heart as true as steel, shows faith reaching to the unseen and grasping eternal things.

God's Deliverance in Den

God did not forsake or forget Daniel in the den but was a present helper and deliverer to one steadfast to principle, sending holy angels to minister to him, to be his companions, and to close and stop the lions' mouths so they did him no harm. He had been cast in because he prayed morning and noon, and the same protection that guarded him there is promised to husband and wife who unite together and pray morning and noon to prepare for what is coming upon the world. His enemies envious of his favor could find no occasion against him and no fault in his conduct except concerning the law of his God, so they secured a decree that for thirty days no petition be asked except of the king, yet he kept praying three times a day with his window open toward Jerusalem just as he had done before, as his custom. He continued praying even in the lions' den, where God's angels were present to guard him. The king witnessed his preservation and brought him out with honor, and the lesson is to cultivate integrity of character from youth.

Jesus Himself was personally with Daniel in the den, just as He was with the three Hebrews in the fiery furnace so the flames could not harm them. This proves God's tenderness and compassion toward the innocent imprisoned for righteousness, and that angels come within prison walls to minister. Condemnation and prison are therefore no evidence that God does not reign, and one guilty of no crime except seeking to make men kind and obedient, truthful and loyal can trust God and lift up holy hands without doubting.

God permitted evil angels and wicked men to carry out their purpose against Daniel, casting him into the den and leaving the king to spend the night fasting and sleepless, rather than preventing it. He allowed this so that His deliverance of His servant would be more marked and the defeat of the enemies of truth and righteousness would be more complete. The wrath of man against Daniel was thus made to praise God, and through Daniel's courage in choosing right rather than policy Satan was defeated and God's name was exalted and honored.

God brought His servant before a ruler so that the ruler and his people could receive the truth and recognize God's supremacy. Daniel's case drew the rulers' attention and gave him opportunity to testify that the God of heaven alone is the true God and deserves worship, when despite a decree forbidding prayer to any god but the king he continued his customary prayers. The God whom he served continually then delivered him out of the power of the lions, proving the value of communion with God and showing that the God he worshiped is the living God.

Witness to Rulers and Nations

Daniel's refusal to stop his customary prayers despite a decree forbidding petition to any god but the king drew the attention of the rulers and gave him opportunity to testify that the God of heaven alone is the true God and worthy of worship. His steadfast loyalty under threat of death helped spread knowledge of the true God throughout Babylon, standing in contrast to the king's deep distress, fasting, refusal of music, and sleepless anxiety after Daniel was cast in. His deliverance then proved that the God he worshiped is the living God.

Daniel continued praying even in the lions' den, and God sent His angel to be his companion, to stop the lions' mouths and protect him so that he came out unharmed. The king witnessed that preservation and brought him out with honor. Principle was at stake and all heaven watched to see if Daniel with integrity of purpose would remain faithful, and God did not forget him. The king then saw that the real object of the wise men was to rid Daniel of his power, was wroth, and destroyed the enemies of Daniel.

That night belonged to the two-year reign of Darius the Mede over Medo-Persia after the fall of Babylon, when Daniel stood first over the presidents and princes because an excellent spirit was in him. The fasting, sleepless night was the night Daniel spent in the den from which he came out unharmed, and that deliverance caused Darius to decree to all peoples, nations and languages that men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. He proclaimed Him as the living and steadfast God whose kingdom shall not be destroyed and whose dominion is to the end, who delivers and rescues and works signs and wonders in heaven and earth. The event shows God preparing the hearts of kings to show favor to His repentant people while those loyal in Babylon sought the Lord and studied the prophecies of their deliverance.

Firm loyalty to God can bring suffering and humiliation, yet God can bring triumph through His faithful servant and be glorified.

Pattern for God's People

Daniel's night under sentence of death in the den was still under God's watchful care, for condemnation and prison are no evidence that God does not reign. His unjust condemnation for faithfulness did not mean God had ceased to reign, and one guilty of no crime except seeking to make men kind and obedient, truthful and loyal can trust God and lift up holy hands without doubting. Jesus was personally with him there as He was with the three Hebrews in the furnace, and angels come within prison walls to minister to the innocent imprisoned for righteousness. The Lord will not forget His people in the trying hour when they are abandoned by earthly governments, driven to flee from cities and villages, cast into cruel bondage, shut in prison, bound in chains, left to starve in dark dungeons, and sentenced to be slain. As God remembered Daniel, Christ cannot forsake those who are as the apple of His eye, the purchase of His blood, and dungeon walls cannot cut off their communication with Christ. Angels will come to them in lonely cells bringing light and peace and providing food and water, making the prison as a palace, while judgments fall and the wicked die from hunger and thirst, and though the righteous endure privation and suffer for want of food they are not left to perish.

God protects those who remain faithful when duty brings them into trial, but those who willingly place themselves under temptation will sooner or later fall. Faithfulness to God may bring severe persecution, for Daniel was cast there because he would not give up his allegiance to God. His trust while facing the lions and the hostility of powerful enemies in high positions shows how faith in God's word endures and stands firm against human power, policy, and opposition used for evil. Valuing the favor of God above the favor and praise of princes and determining to honor God above every human power brings God's love, shield, and open honor before men. Daniel would not be tempted to turn aside from integrity or bow to any earthly mandate that took honor from God, but confessed faith in the Lord God of heaven in words, habits, and practices even in the court of the king, and God gave strength from heaven to confess allegiance and spread His power over heaven and earth to honor him.

Integrity of character is therefore to be cultivated from youth, binding to the throne of God by the golden chain of truth. True colors are to be displayed without shame and without false modesty or false prudence, confessing Christ by choice words and consistent action, propriety, and earnest piety, letting Christ occupy the throne in the soul temple, and laying talents without reserve at His feet for His service. Daniel in the den remained the same Daniel who stood before the king enshrouded and encircled by the light of God, his heart staying upon God amid trial and gloom with afflicting and discouraging surroundings just as when his prospects were bright and God's light and favor seemed upon him. His steadfast integrity undaunted by circumstances, with a heart as true as steel, shows faith reaching to the unseen and grasping eternal things, the pattern for under-shepherds following the Chief Shepherd. Daring to be a Daniel by daring to stand alone in Jesus Christ is open to all, by which men and women become vessels and channels through which God imparts His grace and ministering angels communicate heavenly treasures, reaching the highest stage of mental and moral development by co-operating with Jesus Christ, learning His methods, accepting His Holy Spirit, laboring together with Him, and enriching poverty-stricken souls starving for an example of righteousness.

Husband and wife are to unite together and pray morning and noon as Daniel did when he was cast into the den, and the angels of God will protect them as they protected him, to prepare for what is coming upon the world. The same history shows God will work for all who take the same position of refusing to lower God's standard to meet the people or to suit convenience. Daniel stood forth for the honor of God whatever the result with strict integrity, refusing to accommodate himself to circumstances even with a gaping lions' den open before him, choosing to lose his life rather than dishonor the God of heaven, purposing not to weaken his physical powers by eating at the king's table and praying openly instead of in secret for convenience, keeping the living God exalted as the One who gives wisdom and power and letting no man come between him and his God, for which God blessed him remarkably and honored him with wisdom above all the astrologers and magicians. 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, for a convenient faith manipulated according to convenience throws itself on the side of the enemy. Faithful witnessing for God takes place under great pressure from worldly solicitations, and such pressure is not pleasing to God; applied to the publishing work, solicitations for worldly or religious work that unsettle faith, introduce Satan and aid his sophistry, and give a wrong tendency to the minds of youth by causing doubt and unbelief must be reasoned from cause to effect and refused, for it is work God condemns.