Daniel And The Den Of Lions

Faithful Remnant Under Gentile Rule, God’s Deliverance, And Right Division Clarity

The Record In Daniel 6

Daniel 6 sets forth a faithful man of Israel living under Gentile dominion. A decree places one hundred and twenty princes under three presidents, and Daniel is preferred because an excellent spirit is in him. Envy moves the presidents and princes to seek occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom. They find none, forasmuch as he is faithful. Knowing that Daniel will not abandon his devotion to the God of Israel, they craft a law that for thirty days no petition may be made to any god or man, save to the king. Read Daniel 6 verses 1 through 9. Daniel knows the writing is signed, yet he goes into his house, his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, and he kneels upon his knees three times a day, and prays, and gives thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. Read Daniel 6 verse 10. The conspirators report him, the king is trapped by his own law, and Daniel is cast into the den of lions with the royal word, thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee. Read Daniel 6 verses 11 through 17. At daybreak Darius cries with a lamentable voice, and Daniel answers, My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me. Read Daniel 6 verses 18 through 23. The accusers are then judged, and the king issues a decree that in all his dominion men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, and steadfast for ever, and his kingdom shall not be destroyed. Read Daniel 6 verses 24 through 27.

What Daniel 6 Teaches In Israel’s Prophetic Program

Daniel is a picture of the faithful remnant of Israel preserved under Gentile powers until God sets up the kingdom promised by the prophets. The entire book of Daniel marks Gentile times and the rise and fall of empires, while God preserves His people and reveals the certainty of His counsel. Daniel’s steadfast prayer toward Jerusalem aligns with Solomon’s prayer and promise that Israel in captivity would pray toward the house and city and be heard. Compare Daniel 6 verse 10 with First Kings 8 verses 44 through 50. The deliverance from the den of lions confirms what Israel’s Scriptures repeatedly declare, namely that God is able to deliver His faithful ones from the fiercest danger and to vindicate His name before kings and nations. See Psalm 34 verse 7 and verse 19, Isaiah 43 verses 1 through 3. The decree of Darius magnifies the God of Israel among the nations and anticipates the day when earth’s rulers will acknowledge the King of kings and Lord of lords. Compare Daniel 6 verses 26 through 27 with Psalm 67 and Revelation 11 verse 15.

Why This Account Is Not Doctrine For The Body Of Christ

Daniel sits inside prophecy, not mystery. The focus is Israel, Jerusalem, a Gentile monarch, and God’s testimony through an Israelite under the law. The Body of Christ was a secret not yet revealed to men. Paul later explains that the revelation of the mystery was hid in God and made known to him for this present dispensation. Read Ephesians 3 verses 1 through 9 and Colossians 1 verses 24 through 27. Therefore Daniel 6 does not instruct the Body of Christ to pray toward Jerusalem, nor does it place us under Israel’s covenants. It stands as a true record of God’s faithfulness to Israel and a witness to His power, while our doctrine for practice comes from Paul’s epistles.

Right Division Connections And Distinctions

There are right and profitable parallels that do not merge the programs. Daniel prayed continually. Paul tells members of the Body of Christ, pray without ceasing, and be careful for nothing, but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Read First Thessalonians 5 verse 17 and Philippians 4 verses 6 through 7. Daniel purposed in his heart to obey God rather than men. Paul writes that all who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution, yet the Lord shall deliver. Read Second Timothy 3 verse 12 and Second Timothy 4 verses 17 through 18, where Paul even says, I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. Daniel’s vindication before a Gentile throne prefigures Israel’s prophetic vindication before the nations. Our vindication is in heavenly places, for we are blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ and are made to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Read Ephesians 1 verse 3 and Ephesians 2 verse 6. Keep the parallels where Scripture keeps them. Keep the destinies distinct.

Lessons In Faithfulness And Conscience

Daniel’s pattern is simple and strong. He practiced holy habits before the crisis. When the crisis came he did not perform a new religious display. He continued as he did aforetime. He prayed with thanksgiving. He obeyed God without the heat of public anger. He accepted the cost. He rested the outcome with God. This is consistent with the wisdom of Proverbs, the integrity urged by the Psalms, and the fortitude the apostles commend to Israel’s remnant in their future trial. See Proverbs 28 verse 1, Psalm 55 verses 16 through 17, James 5 verse 16. For the Body of Christ today Paul gives matching counsel for a different calling. Continue in prayer. Abound in thanksgiving. Approve things that are excellent. Hold forth the word of life. Read Colossians 4 verses 2 through 4 and Philippians 1 verses 9 through 11 and Philippians 2 verses 14 through 16.

God’s Sovereignty Over Kings And Lions

Daniel 6 puts two powers before the reader, an irrevocable human law and the untamable beasts. Both are overruled by God. The law that cannot be altered is turned by the king’s own hand into a testimony of the living God. The lions that kill at once are made harmless in the presence of God’s angel. Scripture is clear that the Lord ruleth in the kingdom of men. See Daniel 4 verse 17. He shuts mouths and opens doors at His pleasure. Paul’s testimony confirms this truth in the present dispensation. The Lord stood with me, and strengthened me, that by me the preaching might be fully known. Read Second Timothy 4 verses 17 through 18. Whether He delivers from death or through death, He preserves His purpose and keeps His servants.

A Word About Prayer Direction And Practice

Daniel prayed toward Jerusalem because that was the revealed instruction for Israel in captivity. See First Kings 8 verses 44 through 50 and Psalm 5 verse 7. The Body of Christ is not bound to a place, a temple, or a day. We have access by one Spirit unto the Father through Christ. Read Ephesians 2 verse 18. We pray in alignment with Pauline truth. We give thanks in every thing. We make our requests known with confidence in the sufficiency of grace. Read First Thessalonians 5 verses 16 through 18 and Second Corinthians 12 verses 9 through 10. This honors Daniel’s faith without importing Israel’s ordinances into our walk.

Gospel Clarity For Today

Daniel’s deliverance on earth points to God’s power to save, but the saving message for sinners in this dispensation is the gospel of the grace of God revealed to Paul. Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures. Read First Corinthians 15 verses 3 through 4. We are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, through faith in His blood. Read Romans 3 verses 24 through 26. Believe the shed blood and resurrection of Christ alone, without works, and God saves you and places you into the Body of Christ with a heavenly hope. Read Ephesians 2 verses 8 through 9 and Titus 3 verses 4 through 7.

Summary Points To Keep

Daniel 6 is Israel’s prophet in Gentile captivity, faithful in prayer, uncompromising in conscience, delivered by God, and used as a witness to kings. It teaches that God preserves His remnant, overrules ungodly decrees, and vindicates His name. It belongs to the prophetic program and anticipates Israel’s future vindication on earth. The Body of Christ learns from the example but follows Pauline doctrine for practice and hope in heavenly places. The same God who shut the lions’ mouths preserves His purpose today as the gospel of Christ’s blood and resurrection saves sinners and builds the Body unto the fulness of Christ.

Key passages to revisit

Daniel 6 verses 1 through 28, First Kings 8 verses 44 through 50, Psalm 34 verse 7 and verse 19, Isaiah 43 verses 1 through 3, Daniel 4 verse 17, Philippians 4 verses 6 through 7, First Thessalonians 5 verses 16 through 18, Second Timothy 4 verses 17 through 18, Ephesians 1 verse 3, Ephesians 2 verse 6, Romans 3 verses 24 through 26, First Corinthians 15 verses 3 through 4.