Daniel’s enemies had plotted to kill him by forcing a law which would impinge on Daniel’s prayers. They knew Daniel always prayed and that if they forbid it, he would continue to pray even if the consequence was death. The king was duped into writing this decree and then forced to enforce it by throwing Daniel to the lions. God saved Daniel and then the king threw his enemies to the lions. But not only that, the king openly proclaimed what God had done.
Daniel 6: 25 King Darius then sent this message to all people of every nation and race in the world:
“Greetings to all of you! 26 I command everyone in my kingdom to worship and honor the God of Daniel. He is the living God, the one who lives forever. His power and his kingdom will never end. 27 He rescues people and sets them free by working great miracles. Daniel’s God has rescued him from the power of the lions.”[1]
The king did not confess Daniel’s God to be the only true God, but he did elevate Him to a level above all Gods. Faith cannot be legislated; it must be done willingly from the heart. Darius didn’t understand that and used the means he knew to urge people to believe. He understood that the living God and His kingdom will go on forever.
The first part of Psalm 99 describes this well:
1Our Lord, you are King! You rule from your throne above the winged creatures, as people tremble and the earth shakes.
2 You are praised in Zion, and you control all nations.
3 Only you are God! And your power alone, so great and fearsome, is worthy of praise.
4 You are our mighty King, a lover of fairness, who sees that justice is done everywhere in Israel.
5 Our Lord and our God, we praise you and kneel down to worship you, the God of holiness![2]
Through the battle of good vs. evil that happened in the story of Daniel and the lion’s den, God is praised at the end. Justice is met and God’s name is proclaimed throughout the empire. Where are you fighting an unfair battle? Invite God to rescue, protect, and bring justice. Then it will be God who gets the glory.
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