Daniel 6:23, commentary and pictures

Daniel was lifted from the lions' den unharmed because he believed in and trusted his God, to the exceeding joy and relief of the king who had ordered him taken up. His preservation came by heaven's intervention, for God sent holy angels and Christ Himself was present with him in the den to shut the lions' mouths and keep him safe. He had been cast there under a thirty-day decree secured by jealous rulers after he refused to stop praying openly three times a day, and when he came out safe his enemies were destroyed by their own trap. His deliverance proved that God is the living God who delivers and rescues, moving a heathen king to proclaim His everlasting dominion and making His power known above all earthly rulers. His unhurt coming up shows the value of steadfast trust and daily prayer, for his courage in danger had grown by faithfulness in smaller daily trials and by choosing what was right rather than policy.

Historical Setting and Background

The deliverance belongs to the reign of Darius the Median, who took the throne formerly held by the Babylonian rulers after the fall of Babylon, early in the Medo-Persian empire. He reorganized the government with one hundred and twenty princes and three presidents over them, with Daniel made first president. Daniel was preferred because an excellent spirit was in him, and the king meant to set him over the whole realm. Those honors stirred the jealousy of the leading men, so they sought occasion of complaint against him but could find no error or fault because he was faithful. His close connection with God gave him wisdom and understanding, and since no fault could be found in his conduct his enemies devised a law against his prayers.

The plot took the form of a decree signed by Darius that for thirty days no one could ask a petition of any God or man except the king, on pain of being cast into the lions' den. Although he knew of the decree, Daniel still prayed three times a day with his windows open toward Jerusalem as he had done before, openly and without change despite the threat of death. When he was lifted out safe the king was exceeding glad and greatly relieved for him. The king recognized that his officials had sought to remove Daniel from power and to rid him of his place, turned against them in wrath, and Daniel's enemies were destroyed by the trap they had set.

This occurred during the two-year reign of Darius the Mede, when Darius was favored of heaven and had been confirmed and strengthened by Gabriel in his first year.

Miraculous Deliverance from Lions

Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in and trusted his God. His steady obedience to duty and open worship continued despite the king's decree and the threat of death, and God delivered him unharmed. His faith and steadfastness in danger were the same as in prosperity, with his heart fixed on God and faith reaching beyond what could be seen to eternal realities. The king was exceeding glad and greatly relieved for him at his deliverance, while Daniel's enemies were destroyed by the trap they had set for him. His being brought out unharmed demonstrated that God was able and willing to save those who trusted Him, made God's power known above earthly rulers, and helped lead a heathen king to proclaim the supremacy of the God worshiped by the Hebrew captives.

The means of preservation was heaven's intervention, for God sent holy angels to minister to Daniel in the emergency and shut the lions' mouths so he was kept unhurt. Jesus Himself was with Daniel in the den, sending an angel to stop their mouths, and Daniel was cast there because he prayed yet was protected even as he continued to pray inside. Because Daniel held firmly to principle cultivated from youth and believed in his God, God did not forsake him when cast in for breaking the thirty-day decree by praying three times a day with windows open toward Jerusalem, proving God a present helper and deliverer to all steadfast in perplexity, opposition, and persecution. His close connection with God had given him wisdom and understanding so his enemies could find no fault in his conduct and devised a law against his prayers, but God did not forget him and angels were with him and stopped the lions' mouths. The king witnessed his preservation and brought him out with honor, recognizing that his officials had sought to remove Daniel from power and turning against them, and the prayer of faith thus prevailed against Satan. Husbands and wives who unite to pray morning and noon as Daniel did will have the same angelic protection in emergency, and this prepares them for what is coming upon the world.

Even in the den Daniel continued to pray, and the king witnessed his preservation and brought him out with honor. God permitted evil angels and wicked men to carry out their purpose to the point of casting Daniel to become the lions' prey, so that his rescue would be unmistakable and his enemies' defeat complete. By that permission Daniel's courage in choosing what was right rather than policy defeated Satan and exalted God's name.

Believing Trust and Prayer

Daniel's faith and steadfastness in danger were exactly the same as in prosperity, for his heart stayed fixed on God and his faith reached past what could be seen to eternal realities. That courage and firmness had not appeared suddenly but had grown through remaining faithful in the smaller trials he faced each day, holding firmly to principle cultivated from youth. His coming up with no hurt because he believed in his God witnesses to trusting God's Word though in himself utterly helpless, withstanding human power and evil and the power and policy of the whole world in support of evil.

The verse proves the value of prayer, for Daniel kept communion with God in prayer and his close connection with God gave him wisdom and understanding. His trust went with steady obedience to duty and open worship, for despite the king's decree and the threat of death he did not abandon his purpose, principles, duty, or allegiance. He still prayed three times a day with his windows open toward Jerusalem as he had done before, continuing to pray openly and choosing what was right rather than policy.

His unwavering refusal to compromise honored God and showed that his strength, wisdom, and understanding came from God. Even when obedience meant risking his life, he kept God's honor and commandments above convenience, pressure, or fear, and God worked for him as He works for all who stand firm.

Vindication and Witness to Nations

Coming up unhurt because he believed in his God led a heathen king to proclaim the supremacy of the God worshiped by the Hebrew captives. The unharmed deliverance proved that Daniel's God is the living God, steadfast forever, whose kingdom shall not be destroyed and whose dominion is even to the end, who delivers and rescues and works signs and wonders in heaven and in earth. It came during the two-year reign of Darius the Mede after the fall of Babylon, early in the Medo-Persian empire, when Daniel was first of three presidents over one hundred twenty princes because an excellent spirit was in him and the king meant to set him over the whole realm.

The deliverance demonstrated that God was able and willing to save those who trusted Him, and it made God's power known above earthly rulers. Unjust imprisonment did not mean that God had ceased to reign, for He could preserve His faithful servant, and persecution for doing right could make God's power and truth more clearly seen.

His steadfastness helped spread knowledge of the true God through Babylon. God used the deliverance to move Darius, favored of heaven and confirmed and strengthened by Gabriel in his first year, to decree to all peoples, nations, and languages in every dominion that men tremble and fear before Daniel's God, and to prepare the hearts of kings to show favor to His repentant people while they were seeking the Lord and studying prophecy for restoration to Jerusalem.

Daniel was cast into the den because he would not give up his allegiance to God, showing that God's followers may be severely tried for their faith. He was cast in for firm adherence to principle and loyalty to God, yet he triumphed in the end, and God was glorified through him even though He permitted Daniel to be humbled. God thus vindicated Daniel's loyalty when he remained faithful despite the king's command and the threat of death.

Guidance for Faithful Living

Husbands and wives who join together to pray morning and noon as Daniel did will receive the same angelic protection in emergency, for he was cast into the lions' den because he prayed yet no hurt was found on him because angels guarded him, and this union in prayer prepares households for what is coming upon the world.
Daniel belongs to the world's true nobility and royal line in which the youth of today are called to take their places, for his coming up unhurt because he believed witnesses to the power of God's word in one utterly helpless in himself against human power and the policy of the whole world in support of evil.
His preservation shows how the golden chain of truth binds youth to the throne of God so they cannot be tempted aside from integrity, because he valued God's favor above the favor and praise of princes and with faithful integrity determined to honor God above every human power, so God loved him and spread His shield over him and signally honored him before men.
Even in the king's court in words, habits, and practices he was not ashamed to display his true colors and confess faith in the Lord God of heaven, refusing to bow to any earthly mandate that detracted from God's honor, and strength from heaven to confess allegiance calls youth to put on their colors and unfurl them to the gaze of men and angels, to confess Christ by choice words and consistent action, to enthrone Christ in the soul temple, and to lay talents without reserve at His feet.

Because he believed he was taken up with no hurt found upon him, he sets the pattern for all who will dare to be a Daniel and dare to stand alone in Jesus Christ.
Those who so believe become consecrated vessels and channels into which heavenly treasures are received and from which they flow in rich currents to poverty-stricken souls starving for an example of righteousness, with the treasure of God's love, the golden oil from the two olive trees, poured into the heart when self is forgotten in seeking to enrich others.
Those who impart heaven's grace are themselves enriched, ministering angels wait longing for such channels through which to communicate heavenly treasures, and only by cooperating with Christ, learning His methods, receiving His Spirit, laboring together with Him, and following the rugged path of self-denial and cross-bearing can men and women reach the highest stage of mental and moral development with a full complement of influence.
The verse shows God's tenderness and compassion to His faithful children in prison, for when Daniel was placed among lions Jesus was with him and kept him unhurt because he believed and trusted, proving God does not forget His own but sends His presence and angels within prison walls to minister.
It teaches those imprisoned though guilty of no crime except seeking to make men kind and obedient, truthful and loyal, to trust God and lift up holy hands without doubting.

God did not prevent the plotting of wicked men but caused it to work for good to those who stayed faithful and loyal through trial, bringing Daniel safely through, and his rescue assures God's people that Christ will not forsake or abandon them in their time of trial.
God will surely protect those who meet trial in the way of duty as Daniel did in the king's court and came from the den unhurt, while those who needlessly place themselves under temptation by choosing the company of Satan's servants will fall sooner or later.
His experience illustrates that one who knows the truth for himself and keeps pure, uncorrupted principles inwrought in the heart can remain faithful and firmly grounded when tested.
He chose worship of God rather than preserving his present life from conviction that eternal life is worth more than this life.

Coming out unhurt through trust means having divine principles inwrought in the heart as if written with the finger of God by reading, believing, and practicing Christ's sayings in Matthew 5.
Such faith counts man's reputation as nothingness and cannot be intimidated by the gaping den to deny and betray truth for any favor, worldly honors, or exalted position, holding that to live is to obey Christ's word and to die for truth's sake is gain, in the spirit shared by Paul and all enlisted under the blood-stained banner of Prince Emmanuel.
His witnessing under great pressure, holding to God's service rather than yielding, meets workers likewise tested when solicited to take worldly work and to receive literature that unsettles faith, breeds doubt and unbelief, misdirects youth, questions the Old Testament and Christ's nature, aids Satan's sophistry, dishonors the Redeemer, and wastes time, and they gain nothing by it.
Time taken to publish such matters does an evil work worse than wasted, sends forth an army of educated infidels, and God cannot prosper the work unless those at the head discern good from evil and righteousness from sin.
Integrity of character must be cultivated now, for Daniel held firmly to principle cultivated from youth, prayed three times a day with windows open toward Jerusalem despite the thirty-day decree, believed in his God, and was ministered to by holy angels who shut the lions' mouths so he was lifted out unhurt, proving God a present helper and deliverer to all steadfast in perplexity, opposition, and persecution, and God still has angels to help.
His refusal to compromise when obedience risked life honored God and showed his strength, wisdom, and understanding came from Him, teaching God's people to keep His honor, commandments, and integrity above convenience, pressure, or fear even when obedience risks life, for God can work for those who stand firm as He worked for Daniel.