1) Daniel set up over others in the government under the King- It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom; And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage. Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. Daniel 6:1-3
2) The men who were jealous of Daniel sought a way to get rid of him-and since they couldn't based upon his job performance-they decided to go after him based on his religion. Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. 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. Daniel 6:4,5
3) The plot - Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever. All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. Daniel 6:6,7 This was the same tactic used against the Jews in Persia during the days of Queen Esther If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered,.. Esther 1:19 The conflict that was set up was between the laws of man and the Law of God.
4) The royal decree could not be altered among Medo-Persian kings - Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree. Daniel 6:8,9 ...for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse. Esther 8:8
5) Daniel prays as was his usual routine - Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. Daniel 6:10 As the Psalmist says Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice. Psalms 55:17
6) The jealous men went looking to catch Daniel- Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. Daniel 6:11
7) They tell the king- Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king's decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day. Daniel 6:12,13 Notice they refer to Daniel as one of the "children of the captivity of Judah". They played to their ethnic dislike of Daniel.
8) The king searched for a technicality to save Daniel- Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him. Daniel 6:14
9) They pressure the king to implement the punishment- Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed. Daniel 6:15
10) The king gives the order but shows a faith in Daniel's God- Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee. Daniel 6:16
11) The deed is done- And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel. Daniel 6:17
12) The king couldn't sleep- Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of music brought before him: and his sleep went from him. Daniel 6:18
13) The king goes to check the lions den in the morning- Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? Daniel 6:19,20
14) The enemies of Daniel had the mouth of the den shut to kill Daniel but his God shut the mouth of the lions- Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt. Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God. Daniel 6:21-23
15) The jealous plotters recieve their punishment- And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den. Daniel 6:24
16) The king praises the God of Daniel- I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end. He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. Daniel 6:26,27
The first conflict recorded in scripture between humans was over WORSHIP And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. Genesis 4:4,5,8 And so will be the last controversy on earth over WORSHIP And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,.. Revelation 14:9 And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof. Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Ezekiel 9:4,6
Summary of Daniel 6: "In all cases where the king had a right to command, Daniel would obey; but niether the king nor his decree could make him swerve from allegiance to the King of Kings." Patriarchs & Prophets p.542
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