Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary

DANIEL - CHAPTER 6

DANIEL’S HISTORY TO ASCENDANCY OF CYRUS

Verses 1-3:

Verse 1 explains that it pleased Darius (the Lord-King-ruler) a common title that referred to the ruler of Medo-Persia, as "Caesar" was used of the head Roman ruler and "Pharaoh" was so used in Egypt, to set up an administrative government with 120 princes, who were to govern his entire kingdom, Ezra 1:1.

Verse 2 adds that over these 120 general ruling princes he set up a presidential cabinet of three presidents, of whom Daniel, the aged Jew was first in power. They were set up as certified public accountants to see that the king should receive all tribute, suffer no business loss, that had been assessed to come to him, 1 Samuel 2:29-30.

Verse 3 relates that Daniel then came to be preferred above the other two presidents because an excellent spirit, attitude, or disposition was (existed) in him, as formerly stated by the queen mother, Daniel 5:12. And the king (Darius or Cyrus) thought or resolved to set Daniel over the material welfare of all his kingdom, as Pharaoh did Joseph, Genesis 41:38; Nehemiah 7:2; Daniel 5:12; Daniel 9:23.

THE FOOLISH DECREE OF DARIUS

Verses 4-9:

Verse 4 relates that very soon the two other presidents and 120 princes whom Darius had appointed (Gentiles, non-Jews), sought by collusion, by ulterior or shady means, to find fault with or against Daniel, in the manner of his handling the entrusted affairs of the kingdom. But regarding such it is certified that there was none occasion of fault. Because he was faithful, honest, fair, acted with righteous integrity, there was neither indictable error nor fault found in his conduct. He was the envy of those rulers under him, who like the Pharisees and Sadducees, could find no fault in Jesus, Ecclesiastes 4:4; Philippians 2:15; 1 Peter 2:12; 1 Peter 3:16; See also Mark 15:9-10; John 18:38; John 19:4; John 19:6; Isaiah 53:9; 1 Peter 2:22.

Verse 5 adds that then, when the motley colluding 120 princes and two Gentile presidents agreed that Daniel was clean in character and conduct of business affairs, they arrived at a corporate conclusion that the only way they might entrap him might be concerning the law of his God, the living Jehovah God who had sent judgment on the kings of Babylon, both Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar, before them. Thus they moved to elevate themselves through a scheme to destroy Daniel; See Acts 24:13-21; 1 Peter 4:12-16 on such matters.

Verse 6 unfolds a plot initiated by the 2 presidents under Daniel and the 120 princes. They entered collusion agreement that they would, rush tumultuously upon the king, with feigned love for him, and cry out, "O king Darius, live forever." Though they cared not if he died that day. They were out for the kill, to secure a means of publicly liquidating Daniel, Daniel 2:4; Nehemiah 2:3.

Verse 7 announces that this motley ruling gang rushed in before the king, vowing love and loyalty to him, and reporting that, "all the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, princes, counselors, and captains had consulted and collaborated together to establish a royal statute in his honor, and to make a firm decree that anyone who would dare ask a petition of, or pray to, any God or man for a period of the next 30 days, except to Darius the king only, would be cast into the den of lions. How honorable, and loyal by exaggeration, they made it sound! But how deceitful, scheming,. lying and devious was their intent! Psalms 2:1-4. how like the antichrist they acted, Revelation 13:15.

Verse 8 continues their direct plea to king Darius to establish the decree, (right then) and sign the writing, that it might not be altered, amended, or changed at all, according to or in harmony with the law of the Medes and the Persians.

Verse 9 relates that Darius the king was led to sign the writing and decree right then, without delay, on the spot, according to the devilish plot of the haters of Daniel, v. 4, 5; See also Psalms 62:9-10; Psalms 118:9; Psalms 146:3; Isaiah 2:22.

THE STEADFASTNESS OF DANIEL UNDER STRESS

Verse 10-15:

Verse 10 relates that when Daniel came to know that the writing was signed, the statute and decree had been sealed by the king, he went directly to the privacy of his residence, Acts 20:22-24. He then, with his residence windows open toward or facing Jerusalem, Matthew 10:32, kneeled upon his knees repeatedly, three times a day (at morning, noon, and night) and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime, as his custom was, Jonah 2:4. In matters of acts of worship toward God, obedience to Him must always be given priority over any conflicting decree of man. Daniel learned and practiced such with profit in Israel, in Babylon, and in Persia, Acts 5:29; Matthew 6:33; See also Psalms 55:17; Psalms 95:6; Acts 21:2; Acts 21:15; Acts 3:1; Acts 10:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:17.

Verse 11 relates how these conniving enemies of, and "peeping toms and spies" against Daniel, assembled and caught him in privacy of his home, praying to his God, Colossians 3:17; Luke 18:1.

Verse 12 recounts that then this murder-hearted band of would be assassins went directly to the king and asked him to state before the assembly of witnesses, who had peeped on Daniel praying in the privacy of his residency, with his eyes toward Jerusalem, whether or not he had signed a decree and statute according to the law of the Medes and Persians, that any found praying to or toward any god other than him, for 30 days, would be put to death. Publicly he affirmed that that was true, not knowing what they had done, that they had sought to deceive him, and entrap Daniel to put him to death, Daniel 3:8; For such deceit see also Matthew 14:9; Mark 6:26.

Verse 13 relates the death charges they then brought against Daniel; before the king. They charged that Daniel the Jew, first president of the kingdom, did not respect the king, showed contempt for him and the law he had signed before them all, by praying, as they had caught him, three times a day! What a crime! Daniel 1:6; Daniel 5:13; Ezra 3:8; Daniel 3:12; Acts 4:19; Acts 5:29; Acts 17:7.

Verse 14 states that when the king heard this charge he was sore displeased with himself, with his hasty and rash sighing of the law against praying to any but himself for 30 days, v. 8, 9; Daniel 3:13; Matthew 27:17-24; Mark 6:26; And the king labored hard, till sundown, to try to find some way to save Daniel’s life. For he realized that "for envy" they had entrapped both him as king, and Daniel his first president, of evident integrity, v. 4, 5.

Verse 15 recounts the persistent clamor of these enemies of Daniel against him before the king, reminding him repeatedly that no law or statute of the Medes and Persians might be changed, as if their makers were infallible.

DANIEL CAST INTO THE DEN OF LIONS

Verses 16, 17:

Verse 16 announces that king Darius then commanded that Daniel be brought to him, and before him, be cast into the den of lions, "no problem" for Daniel, whose God was with him, Psalms 34:7; Hebrews 3:5. Before Daniel was cast into the den of lions the king said directly to Daniel, "thy God whom thou servest continuously (unceasingly) will deliver, liberate, or set you free." He was a slave to "flatteries", yet sensed that the God of Daniel would protect and deliver Daniel, Matthew 27:43; Colossians 1:13; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 2 Peter 2:9; See also Isaiah 41:10; Isaiah 43:2; 2 Corinthians 1:10.

Verse 17 explains that a stone was brought and put over the entrance to the den, and the king them sealed it with his own signet and that of his lords. This meant death to any who would open the mouth of the den unauthorized. This was done in order that the integrity of the purpose of the new law of the Medes and Persians might not be changed, altered, or amended concerning Daniel, Lamentations 3:53. This was similar to the Roman seal put on our Lord’s tomb, Matthew 27:60; Matthew 27:66.

THE DELIVERING GOD Verse 18-24:

Verse 18 recounts a sad night at the distraught, conscience ­stricken house of the king. He passed the night fasting. No musical instruments were allowed to be brought near or before him that nite. And his sleep went from him, as his soul tormented him within, Ezra 6:1; Psalms 77:4; Daniel 2:1. Many are ill at ease in their own sins, but stick with them from the plaudit of the crowds, or flattery of those about them, Galatians 6:7-8.

Verse 19 explains that the king arose early in the morning, much earlier than usual, and went in haste, with rapid pace, to the den of lions, letting nothing stop him on the way, Daniel 3:17. He evidently believed that God would in some way save and deliver Daniel alive out of the den of lions. His grief overcame his fear of the nobles, for he knew that he had done wrong, as expressed Romans 2:14.

Verse 20 adds that when the king arrived at the den he cried with a lamentable or emotionally broken voice to Daniel, "O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, without compromise, whom you put first, able to deliver thee from the lions?" Daniel could have told him that the day before, if he had asked, for He is so different from dumb idols, blind, dead, lifeless, gods, Psalms 115:4-9.

Verse 21 recounts that Daniel respectfully responded, "O king, may you live for ever," not be suddenly judged by my God for your acts against me, Genesis 50:19-20.

Verse 22 continues Daniel’s testimony of witness to the king about his God, as he spoke, with lions all about him. His witness was "my God (living God) has commissioned his angels, and has­shut (locked) the lions’ mouths, in order that or so that they have not hurt me or done me any harm." He has done this because innocence was found in me and before you, he added, I have done no injury or hurt at all. Such was the commission between king Darius and his firs president of highest integrity, Daniel who had been envied and hated by his colleagues in government labors, Psalms 34:7; Psalms 91:11; Hebrews 11:33; 1 Peter 5:8. Obedience to God is compatible with loyalty to kings and civil governments, Matthew 12:21; 1 Peter 2:17; Acts 24:16.

Verse 23 relates that then, at that point, the king was exceedingly glad, exuberant, lifted out of his grief and remorse. He ordered that Daniel then be taken out of the den of lions. He was, and upon medical examination, no manner of hurt at all was found upon him. Because he trusted in his God, Proverbs 3:3-5; Hebrews 13:5.

Verse 24 recounts that then the king brought those accusing "prayer spies," and condemners of Daniel, before him. He then ordered each of them, their wives, and their children to be cast into the bottom of the den of lions. It is recorded that before they got to the bottom of the den, the lions had pounced upon them, had mastery over them, and broke all their bones in pieces, killed the last one of them, Numbers 32:23; Galatians 6:7. Vengeance belongs to the Lord and He does repay evil, Deuteronomy 19:19; Deuteronomy 24:16; Proverbs 11:8; Proverbs 19:5; 2 Kings 14:6; Romans 12:19.

DECREE OF DARIUS REGARDING DANIEL’S GOD

Verse 25-28:

Verse 25 states that Darius then wrote a letter of greeting to all people, nations, and languages, an open letter to all who dwelt on the earth, to all human beings. His opening was "may peace be multiplied to you all," Daniel 4:1; Luke 2:10-14; Romans 5:1.

Verse 26 adds that king Darius sent a decree that accompanied the greeting of peace. The essence of the decree was that in every jurisdiction area of his kingdom men should tremble and fear before the living God of Daniel, Daniel 3:29; Psalms 2:11; Psalms 99:1; Luke 12:5; Hebrews 12:29. He added that he was not only the living God (the only one), but he was also steadfast forever, and His kingdom was such quality that it would never to be destroyed, because His dominion would be unto the end of all time and things, Daniel 4:34; Hosea 1:10; Acts 17:25; 1 Thessalonians 1:9; Revelation 4:10-11; Daniel 2:28-29; Daniel 4:1-3; Daniel 4:34-35.

Verse 27 certifies that this living God delivers, liberates, rescues, and works supernatural signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, and had recently delivered Daniel out of the den of lions, Daniel 4:3; 1 Corinthians 10:13; Psalms 34:7.

Verse 28 concludes that God prospered Daniel in the reign of Darius and or even in the reign of Cyrus, the Persian, Daniel 1:21; Ezra 1:1-2. It was in the 3rd year of Cyrus that Daniel received his visions recounted Daniel chs. 10-12. He was prospered both materially and in the Divine service of his prophecies.