Daniel 6:25, commentary and pictures

This greeting belongs to the reign of Darius the Mede, the Median, who took the throne formerly occupied by the Babylonian rulers after the fall of Babylon, early in the establishment of the Medo-Persian empire, during his two-year reign over Medo-Persia. At once he reorganized the government, setting 120 princes over the kingdom and three presidents over them, of whom Daniel was first because an excellent spirit was in him, and the king intended to set him over the whole realm. The honors bestowed on Daniel excited the jealousy of the leading men of the kingdom, and when they sought occasion for complaint against him they could find none, for he was faithful and neither error nor fault was found in him.

It comes after Daniel came unharmed from the lions' den, in an account showing that one whose heart is fixed on God remains faithful in trial just as in prosperity, with faith reaching beyond what is seen to eternal realities. The verse is the opening greeting of Darius's worldwide proclamation, written to all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth, wishing them multiplied peace. The greeting introduces a decree that in every dominion of his kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, exalting Him as the true, living God, steadfast forever, the eternal ruler whose kingdom shall not be destroyed with dominion even unto the end, who delivers and rescues and works signs and wonders in heaven and in earth in delivering Daniel from the power of the lions.

As a heathen monarch proclaiming the supremacy of the God worshiped by the Hebrew exiles, the proclamation made Daniel's faithful service a means of representing God through whom a heathen king acknowledged God's power and kingdom, so his people could receive the light. It shows God preparing the hearts of kings to show favor to His repentant people while those loyal to God were seeking the Lord and studying the prophecies foretelling their deliverance, with Darius himself favored of heaven.