Refusing to Compromise

4 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.

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.

7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counselors, 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.

10 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.

16 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.

22 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.

26 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 steadfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.

Golden Text: 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.

2. Explain why Daniel could not pray with the window closed, and compare that with situations in which Christians must take their faith public in spite of opposition.

“Thank you for applying at Dream Job, Inc. I’m sure you’ve read our literature and are familiar with our six-figure salary and deluxe benefits package. Having reviewed your application, we believe you are the one best qualified for this job. There are only a few minor wrinkles to iron out.

“In your application you expressed a strong desire not to work on Sundays. Unfortunately that is one of our busiest and most profitable days, so we’ve put you down to work Sunday every other week. You also expressed a desire to be home on Wednesdays by 7:00 pm to attend Bible study. Typically we knock off work by 5:30 pm, so that should not be a problem—but your desire does raise a red flag for us. We want to be sure you are not one of those people who hang crosses in the office, give Bibles to coworkers, and starts prayer groups over lunch.

“Now don’t get us wrong, we have no problem with people who are Christians privately; we simply ask all our workers to check their faiths at the door. You can worship whomever you wish before and after work, but in our facilities we do not say words like Jesus, church, grace, and salvation. I am sure you understand. Did I mention we provide free child care?”

Should a Christian accept an offer like this? Is it appropriate to suspend one’s faith temporarily for “the greater good” of one’s family or country? The familiar story of Daniel and the lions’ den can help form answers to such questions.

In Daniel 5 we learn that there has been a regime change. The Babylonian Empire, which carried many Jews into exile, has come to an end. The famous handwriting on the wall of Daniel 5:25–28 predicted that collapse. The year was about 539 bc.

With this change in regime came a new foreign policy. The Persians believed in sending exiled people home and helping them reestablish their old ways of life. That included religious practices and local governance. As long as those being resettled maintained the peace and paid regular tribute to the Persians, they could govern themselves somewhat independently.

Not all Jews accepted this invitation to go home. Daniel apparently was among these. In fact, Daniel seemed to be prospering even more under Persian rule. We learn in Daniel 6:1–3 that Daniel proved superior to all others as Darius the Mede began appointing local rulers. Daniel was on the verge of becoming second-in-command.

Daniel’s status as an exile from a distant land probably strengthened his position. As the new regime settled in, the leaders probably wanted to avoid having Babylonian sympathizers occupying positions of power that could be used as a launching pad for revolt. Perhaps Darius sought to appoint Daniel over such rulers because Daniel could be trusted to keep them in line and would not be swayed by bribes. In any case, the local rulers felt threatened by the prospect of Daniel’s promotion (Daniel 6:1–3). So they sought to do away with him.

4. 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.

Daniel’s rise to power means less power for everyone else. An uncorrupt boss also means less chance of getting away with graft. So whether due to racism, jealousy, greed, or expectation of “entitlement,” the local rulers are determined to eliminate Daniel. Their obstacle is Daniel’s impeccable character. He is a man above reproach.

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.

What a compliment! These men know that Daniel will not compromise when it comes to faith. His weak spot (to their way of thinking) is not pride, power, or prosperity, but devotion to God’s laws. This chapter offers a picture of laws at battle. Whose law is final, God’s or Persia’s?

An important question for us to ask is how Daniel earned such a reputation to this point. What personal practices send such a clear message about his priorities? What patterns of speech communicate his single-minded commitment? Could people say the same thing about us that Daniel’s enemies say about him? If not, why not?

Notice that these men do not appoint a representative to advocate their case before the king. Instead, they join together to flex their numerical muscle. They begin their act of deceit by complimenting the king and promoting his well-being by wishing him long life. There is nothing out of the ordinary about such an address in royal settings (1 Kings 1:31; Nehemiah 2:3; Daniel 2:4; 3:9; 6:21), so the king’s suspicions are not raised.

7. All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counselors, 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.

Now these men falsely claim that all rulers have endorsed their idea for a decree that is to state that no one may ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king. It is obvious that Daniel—who is one of those rulers—has neither seen nor approved it. Thus the idea for such a decree is set before the king with great cunning: it appeals to the king’s ego while being a threat only to those whose faith will force them to violate it.

Notice that the proposed decree does not ask the citizens to deny their faith outright or to change their way of life permanently. It merely will instruct people to modify temporarily one practice—that of making requests—and to do this only for a brief period of time. Even so, it will be a symbolic reminder that whatever human or divine being the king’s subjects normally petition for daily sustenance, the king is their ultimate source of well-being. This one-month hiatus is designed to affirm the priority of the king over all other benefactors. [See question #1, page 296.]

It is also important to note the nature of royal decrees in Persia. The Persians pride themselves on ruling humanely. They do not go about torturing subjects to keep them in line, but generously provide for their well-being. The famous Cyrus Cylinder, made of baked clay, sets forth religious tolerance, abolition of slavery, and freedom of choice as hallmarks of Persian rule.

Yet the Persians still need to maintain order and respect. So they establish a strict legal system. All royal decrees are firm and cannot be broken—not even by the king. This policy not only deters potential law-breakers but also limits corruption among the officials. Since the king himself keeps these laws, the officials may not bend them for selfish gain. Esther 3 records a Persian edict for the destruction of the Jews. That order could not be rescinded, even by the king himself. But the king could issue a separate decree to allow the Jews to defend themselves.

10. 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 can protect himself in various ways. One possible strategy is secrecy. He can shut his windows and pray privately. Or he can leave his windows open but alter his posture so others will not be able to tell he is praying (example: praying silently in bed at night).

A third potential strategy is simple abstinence from prayer for the 30 days. Daniel can merely acknowledge Darius’s divine appointment as governor and submit to his authority (compare Romans 13:1–7). After all, Daniel is not being asked to deny God out-and-out. The Law of Moses does not require Jews to pray three times a day. So Daniel can take the month off and make up for it next month. As wise as Daniel is, he easily can find some kind of “faith loophole” to keep the king’s decree without technically violating God’s decrees. [See question #2, page 296.]

Yet another potential strategy is political change. Daniel can use his favor with Darius to expose the agenda of the officials and undermine the law (as in Esther 8:5–8) they have forced into effect. Daniel resists this temptation as well. Instead of viewing persecution as an ill to be avoided, he sees it as an opportunity for witness. How will the Persian world ever learn that there is a God in Heaven worth serving wholeheartedly if His followers do not publicly live out His claim on their lives?

So Daniel goes home and kneels by his open window. We may be tempted to fault Daniel here in light of Jesus’ teaching that people should not pray publicly in order to be seen (Matthew 6:5, 6), but that would be a mistake. The kind of public prayer Jesus is condemning is one that is self-serving and hypocritical. Daniel is neither of those. He is displaying his faith publicly with right motives (compare Matthew 5:14–16).

The practice of praying three times daily is not commanded in Scripture, although it is reflected in Psalm 55:17. The practice likely develops independently as a method for Jews in exile to remind themselves of their identity. Facing Jerusalem while praying in captivity was a practice predicted by Solomon centuries before (see 1 Kings 8:46–53). Solomon asked God to answer the prayers of His people should they ever be in that situation. This is the best context for understanding Daniel’s prayer.

Human endeavors have sets of rules by which they operate. These rules contribute (or should contribute) to the betterment of society. For example, neighborhood associations have their CC&Rs—covenants, conditions, and restrictions —to protect property values.

Each sport naturally has its own set of rules as well. One unusual rule was established by a Houston-area amateur softball league: a player who hits a home run is out. The reason for the rule was that just past the outfield fence were some expensive houses that were getting their windows broken by home runs. Most of the players agreed that the rule was necessary.

But it seems that where there is a rule there is also a “rules lawyer” who will try to find a way around the rule through a technicality. Sadly, there are rules lawyers in Christianity too. They think, “Here’s a loophole; I can still do this and be a Christian.” That was not Daniel’s approach. He simply asked himself, “What is the best way to act to demonstrate faithfulness to God?” —C. R. B.

16. 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 6:11–15 (not in today’s text) shows us the conspirators going to the king to tattle on Daniel. After doing all he can do to spare Daniel’s life, Darius’s commitment to his decree requires him to throw Daniel to the lions.

It is interesting to note that the means for capital punishment have changed since the incident involving the fiery furnace in Daniel 3. This may reflect a different religious practice. By this time the Babylonian empire of Nebuchadnezzar has fallen to the Persians. According to Zoroastrianism, the official religion of Persia, fire is sacred. That being the case, it may be inappropriate to use it for executions.

Note also the king’s address to Daniel. First, he acknowledges that Daniel serves his God continually. In other words, the king knows that Daniel is unwilling to put his faith on hold temporarily. If God is a God worth praying to, then He is a God worth praying to without ceasing (compare 1 Thessalonians 5:17).

Second, the king holds out the possibility that Daniel’s God may come to Daniel’s rescue. Perhaps he has heard about Daniel’s miracle diet (chapter 1), the fiery furnace involving Daniel’s friends (chapter 3), and/or Daniel’s ability to interpret revelations from God (chapters 4 and 5). It is also possible to take these words sarcastically: the king may be mocking Daniel for foolishly thinking his God can save him. But the king’s sympathy toward Daniel throughout this chapter makes this unlikely. [See question #3, page 296.]

After a night of sleeplessness and fasting (v. 18, not in today’s text), the king heads straight to the lions’ den to see how Daniel has fared. This seems to indicate a certain level of faith on Darius’s part. He does not send a cleanup crew to deal with Daniel’s remains; rather, he has a glimmer of hope that Daniel has survived.

Daniel’s first words in this narrative are remarkable. Like Darius’s officials in verse 6, he wishes the king long life. Despite the fact that it was the king who had thrown him to his anticipated death, Daniel pays him respect. In disobeying the king’s decree, Daniel does not wish the king ill. Rather, Daniel rightly believes that the best way to honor the king is to show him that God alone is to be feared. Daniel rejects the lie that says that the best way to honor the king is to follow him blindly wherever he leads.

Likewise, the best way for Christians today to honor our rulers is by disallowing them to compromise our faith for some supposed “common good.” We realize that we are to obey our governing authorities (Romans 13:1–7). But we also realize that obedience has its limits (Acts 4:19; 5:29). Christians realize that they ought not give governing authorities a “blank check” to rule as they please, and we rightly critique unbridled patriotism. But it is also wrong to swing in the complete opposite direction and become antiauthority or anticountry. Daniel teaches us to give proper respect within limits. He exemplifies 1 Peter 2:17: “Fear God. Honor the king.”

22. 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.

Once again God is the source of deliverance. Previously, God had sent an angel to protect Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Daniel 3:25). Now we see that God also sent an angel to protect Daniel by shutting the lions’ mouths (compare Psalm 91:9–13; Hebrews 1:14). In so doing, God affirms Daniel’s innocence. And in his innocence, Daniel can truly claim to have done the king no harm.

It can never be said of God’s people that they are doing what is wrong toward others when they remain faithful to Him. Others may perceive it as wrong, and we may suffer because we refuse to defy God. But it is always in the long-term interest of all parties for God’s people to remain faithful to Him. This does not mean that the innocent will always survive. According to Hebrews 11:32–40, Israel’s hall of fame includes both those who escaped death at the hands of enemies and others who died courageously. [See question #4, page 296.]

It is said that history repeats itself. Sometimes it does, sometimes it only comes close. An example of the latter happened at the municipal zoo in Kiev, Ukraine, on June 5, 2006. While visitors swarmed the zoo, a man lowered himself by rope into the lion enclosure. He took off his shoes and shouted to the crowd, “God will save me, if He exists.” Then he walked toward the lions. A lioness knocked him down and killed him.

There are significant differences between the man in the Kiev zoo and Daniel in Darius’s den of lions. For one thing, Daniel was not there because he decided to be; the same cannot be said for the man in Kiev. Also, Daniel was not mentally unbalanced; the man in Kiev may have been.

The most important difference, however, was motive. Daniel had no doubts about God’s existence. Daniel knew God would do what was right regardless of the consequences for him personally. Daniel was not challenging God to prove His existence. Is Daniel’s faithfulness ours as well? —C. R. B.

25, 26a. Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel.

God uses Daniel’s witness to make a believer out of Darius. Thus Darius sets forth a new decree, this one legislating fear of Daniel’s God.

26b. For he is the living God, and steadfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.

On the one hand, the king’s decree is an incredible statement about Israel’s God. God has proven His existence and power by intervening on Daniel’s behalf. He has proven that He is steadfast by defending His people despite the fact that their land was conquered and they remain under foreign control. Since this heavenly king does not depend upon the well-being of His people in their land for His power, His dominion can never end.

Of course, this decree does not necessarily reveal an understanding by Darius that every earthly ruler is subject to Israel’s God. Also, Darius seems to be ignorant of the fact that faith cannot be legislated. A decree cannot change a person’s innermost beliefs. Earthly kings may come close to understanding God’s ways, but often they don’t quite get it! [See question #5, page 296.]

Christianity once met with widespread appreciation in the Western world. That time, however, is over. Christians are being asked daily to choose between their faith and their jobs, social standing, etc. We began this lesson by asking whether Daniel could teach us anything about whether it is ever appropriate to suspend our faith temporarily. To put faith on hold at the king’s request is to fear the king more than God.

However, while thinking about how to honor Christ in the secular workplace, we should recall that Daniel went home before he offered his prayer for all to see. Daniel didn’t take some kind of “in your face” stance while at work in the king’s palace. Your boss has the right to tell you, “Please take that picture of Jesus off your cubicle wall.” The boss has the right to say what can and cannot happen on company property, within the bounds of law and decency. Few, if any, companies have a policy against bowing one’s head in prayer over a meal eaten in the company cafeteria! Openly witnessing for Christ is still possible in many situations in Western democracies.

Living God, thank You for giving us Your laws and showing us abundant life through Christ. Thank You for making us a people whose spiritual prosperity does not depend on the ebbs and flows of the nations among which You have scattered us. Make us, like Daniel, a people who never hide our faith nor justify retreat with clever arguments. Instead, may we shine like stars in the universe. In Jesus’ name, amen.