Daniel’s enemies had put their plan to rid themselves of Daniel in place, now they just had to spring the trap.
Daniel 6: 11 The men who had spoken to the king watched Daniel and saw him praying to his God for help. 12 They went back to the king and said, “Didn’t you make a law that forbids anyone to pray to any god or human except you for the next thirty days? And doesn’t the law say that everyone who disobeys it will be thrown into a pit of lions?”
“Yes, that’s the law I made,” the king agreed. “And just like all written laws of the Medes and Persians, it cannot be changed.”
13 The men then told the king, “That Jew named Daniel, who was brought here as a captive, refuses to obey you or the law that you ordered to be written. And he still prays to his god three times a day.” 14 The king was really upset to hear about this, and for the rest of the day he tried to think how he could save Daniel.[1]
Daniel continues to pray as he always has. I think any attempt on his part to evade the issue by stopping or praying in secret would have shown fear and distrust of God. Daniel’s accusers had to intrude into Daniel’s private space to observe him praying. This kind of thing still happens in our world, usually under the guise of political necessity.
When the men go to the king with their accusation against Daniel, the king realizes that he has been duped. He had been manipulated into doing something he didn’t realize would happen. Daniel was probably his best employee and now he would have to kill him. The king spends the rest of the day trying to find a loophole in order to save Daniel.
How about you? Have you ever gotten duped and forced into a situation you didn’t want to be in? Our enemy, the devil, is a thief and takes any opportunity to battle against believers. Jesus tells us in John 10: 10 A thief comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. I came so that everyone would have life, and have it in its fullest.[2] Daniel looked to God for instruction and protection. The king relied on himself and was duped. Jesus wishes to give you life to the full, but our enemy wants to steal it and will be underhanded in his methods. Look to God for the wisdom to make good decisions.
To hear more about the story of Daniel, listen here: https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/series/daniel-a-man-of-character/daniel-in-the-lions-den
[1,2] Contemporary English Version (CEV) Copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society