Daniel 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. 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.
Under Darius the Median, Daniel was made first of three presidents over 120 princes, and because an excellent spirit was in him the king intended to set him over the whole realm. His rivals were jealous of that honor, and after searching his life they found no error or fault because he was faithful, so they concluded they could find no occasion against him except by turning his obedience to the law of his God into an accusation. They could find nothing against his moral character, integrity, work, or management of duties, but only against his loyalty and worship, even making his practice of praying to God three times a day the sole charge. As a statesman among worldlings he faithfully performed his public duties without compromise, steadfastly refusing anything against God and putting God first and last and best in everything. His humble, unwavering trust while snared for his life teaches steadfastness under reproach, with the soul riveted to the eternal Rock, and God placed him there so that his faithfulness would bring the knowledge of God to kings and make him a standard for young men to copy.
Setting and Conspiracy
The setting is the reign of Darius the Median after the fall of the Babylonian rulers, when Darius set 120 princes over the kingdom and three presidents over them with Daniel as first, and Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes because an excellent spirit was in him, so that the king planned to set him over the whole realm.
The leading men were jealous of the honors bestowed upon Daniel, and after they searched for complaint against him they found none because he was faithful with no error or fault in him. His blameless conduct only increased their jealousy and forced them to admit they could find no occasion against him except by making his obedience to God's law the ground of accusation. His conduct was so blameless that his jealous enemies could find no fault in his conduct and could accuse him only because he obeyed the law of his God. His faithfulness to God rather than any wrongdoing made him a target of envy and persecution, and they therefore sought to make his devotion to God the basis for his destruction.
The secret, underhanded plot to put an end to his life from jealousy was laid because he found favor with kings and nobles and was honored as the greatest man in Babylon. It was laid by the very Babylonian wise men whose lives Daniel had earlier saved by pleading that they should not be destroyed. This vengeful scheming stands in contrast to Daniel, who was imbued with the Spirit of Jesus Christ and had pleaded most earnestly for their lives instead of using their failure to have them destroyed. In that Medo-Persian realm his enemies could accuse him only by making his obedience to God's law a target, and trampling God's law brought divine judgment.
Blameless Faithfulness Under Scrutiny
His enemies searched his life for complaint and could find no fault in his moral character, conduct, integrity, work, management, or performance of duties, for he was faithful with no error or fault in him. His blameless conduct only increased their jealousy over the honors bestowed on him and forced them to admit they could find no occasion against him except by making his obedience to God's law the ground of accusation. His loyalty, faithfulness, and obedience to the law of his God, his religion and worship and devotion to God, became the sole ground on which they could try to bring him down and seek his destruction, so that his faithfulness rather than any wrongdoing made him a target of envy and persecution. The sole accusation they could bring against him was his practice of praying to God three times a day.
As a statesman in Babylon he faithfully performed his duties while steadfastly refusing any work against God, so no charge could be found in him except one concerning the law of his God. His public work did not compromise his religious faith or principles, showing that connection with outside parties need not harm a person's faith. He lived a pure and holy life putting God first, fearing God and remaining faithful under scrutiny.
He was true as steel to principle, one who would not fail or be discouraged, full of reverence and zeal for God and full of purpose, industry, and toil. Though as weak and helpless in himself as any worker now, he put his whole dependence in God and made God first and last and best in everything, and his wealth was mind and soul culture. His example in this shows that even those destitute of wisdom, knowledge, virtue, and power can learn from Christ the lessons it is their privilege to learn. He was a noble statesman who worked among worldlings and schemers in the wicked courts yet remained a bright light from heaven shining amid moral darkness.
God gave him grace to associate with them without letting the world influence him, and that same grace is given to others whose work requires them to associate with worldly people.
Example for Believers Today
God set Daniel and his companions among the great men of Babylon so that those rulers might become acquainted with the religion of the Hebrews and learn that God rules over all kingdoms. Daniel's conduct stirred discussion that drew the king's attention to his faith, and this opened the way for light to reach Nebuchadnezzar through what was foretold concerning Babylon and other kingdoms. That light came especially through the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream, which exalted Jehovah as mightier than earthly rulers. In this way God was honored through Daniel's faithfulness, just as publishing houses are to bear witness for Him.
Though surrounded by distrust and suspicion while his enemies laid a snare for his life over the law of his God, he met it with a humble spirit, never turning aside from principle. He kept a serene and cheerful trust in God amid the plotting against him. His course teaches steadfastness under reproach and provocation, with the soul fastened to the eternal Rock so that neither joy nor sorrow can move it from the right. It shows that meek endurance without retaliation is necessary in order to enter heaven.
He stands as a loyal and steadfast servant of the Lord of hosts, and young men should copy him by lifting their souls to his standard. They are to be made strong by the word of God abiding in them, so that in sober-mindedness they may overcome the wicked one. They should ponder well the path of their feet, remembering that they stand on holy ground with the angels of God about them.