“A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den. The king sealed the stone with his own royal seal and the seals of his nobles, so that no one could rescue Daniel. Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night fasting. He refused his usual entertainment and couldn’t sleep at all that night. Very early the next morning, the king got up and hurried out to the lions’ den. When he got there, he called out in anguish, “Daniel, servant of the living God! Was your God, whom you serve so faithfully, able to rescue you from the lions?” Daniel answered, “Long live the king! My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty.” The king was overjoyed and ordered that Daniel be lifted from the den. Not a scratch was found on him, for he had trusted in his God. Then the king gave orders to arrest the men who had maliciously accused Daniel. He had them thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. The lions leaped on them and tore them apart before they even hit the floor of the den. Then King Darius sent this message to the people of every race and nation and language throughout the world: “Peace and prosperity to you! “I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel. For he is the living God, and he will endure forever. His kingdom will never be destroyed, and his rule will never end. He rescues and saves his people; he performs miraculous signs and wonders in the heavens and on earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.” So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.”
Daniel 6:17-28 NLT
The relationship of Darius and Daniel is very different from that of Nebedchednezzar and Daniel. Whereas Daniel had to convince Nebedchednezzar of his appropriate rank and position in the kingdom, Darius wanted this for Daniel. He knew of Daniel’s God and hoped that Daniel’s God would be a higher authority than the trappings of his own law and politics. Whereas Nebuchadnezzar was eager to exact a vengeance upon Daniel’s friends for the shame they brought him in their defiance, Darius was a man of who wished for mercy. This whole spectrum of responses and reactions was elicited by Daniel and company’s unwavering faith and discipline. They remained true and stalwart throughout the exile and in doing so became an anchoring point for the various kings to know who God was. Not because of their faith, but because of his plan, God chose to spare their lives. Many he does not. In either case, because of their faith, he deems them righteous among the nations and lifts their stories into the annals of his kingdom. Whether lions, fire, cancer, crucifixion, a car accident or old age… whether in nazi germany, communist USSR or easy America, God’s story thrives. We can be a party to it , or an enemy. Those who partner are always blessed. Come what may, we need not fear what is in store. Somehow God is always telling his story, even in the hopeless grave of a lion’s den. And perhaps, on the other side is a man who is waiting to have a faith confirmed to the whole world. We should not fear.
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