The Life of Daniel (12)

What a test it was for Daniel’s faith when the law was made that forbade him to pray to his Lord and Master. Yet, we read that Daniel went into his house, his windows being open in his chamber towards Jerusalem, and he kneeled upon his knees three times a day. His enemies found Daniel “praying and making supplication before his God.” What they had hoped had happened. Daniel had disobeyed the law of the Medes and Persians. Immediately, they went to King Darius and told him what they had detected. In verse 13 we read, “That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.” The king was very displeased with himself and tried to deliver Daniel; however, Daniel’s enemies reminded him that the law of the Medes and Persians could not be changed. Daniel’s enemies rejoiced. They had their enemy, and he would certainly be destroyed by the hungry lions. Soon Daniel was cast into the lions’ den.

A troubled night

The king returned to his palace; how restless was his night. He must have condemned himself for signing the law that he had made; he must have called himself a fool, an unjust person for doing this to this faithful Daniel. He ate no supper; he passed the night in fasting because his heart was full of grief and fear. There was no music from the royal musicians as usual each night. He went to bed, but there was no rest for him until the morning of another day. Do we know such nights that our conscience accuses us and our sins rise up against us? This heathen king showed regret and remorse for what he had done to Daniel, but many silence their conscience, harden their heart, and continue in their evil way.

However, for Daniel it was entirely different. He felt much of the Lord’s presence in that dreadful den, which was for him a place where his enemies but also the lions would not touch him. God’s Church has a refuge, a hiding place, even in the most dangerous times and situations. It is evident that the judgments of the Lord are upon this world. Many live in great fear and try to escape what they fear. How blest are we when we may bow under God’s judgments and say with Micah, “I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against Him.” There is One for whom there was no hiding place, neither did He want to hide Himself from the wrath of God. He had promised to be a Surety for them, that is, for His inheritance given unto Him in the stillness of eternity. This is an inheritance which is precious in His sight; also Daniel is included in this. How blest are we if, when bowing under God and agreeing with His righteous punishment, we may hear from God that there is a Substitute, a Surety, a Saviour for us.

A wonderful deliverance

It is true that the king had said unto Daniel, “Thy God whom thou servest continually, He will deliver thee.” However, the night had passed in the palace in much anxiety and fear. As soon as the morning allowed, there he was. He went in haste unto the den of lions. When he came there, “he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel.” There is sorrow and grief in his heart but also some hope. This Daniel served a God who was mighty; the king believed that. The life of Daniel, the tender fear of God that he showed, must have made an impression upon this heathen king. What a testimony of Daniel the king gives when he says, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?” The heathen king does not say “my God” or “the God whom I also desire to know and serve.” The life of God’s Church, if they are living close to the Lord, sometimes makes deep impressions upon those who are strangers of it and even do not believe in God, but often it does not change their life.

Daniel may give a testimony honoring God about what He has done. Verse 22 tells us, “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.” No, Daniel did not reproach Darius or chide him for yielding so easily to the evil of his persecutors. He has but one desire, that is, to exalt the Lord. What a precious work it is if we may glorify the Lord and tell others who He has been for us. The Lord Jesus has said in Matthew 10:28, “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Daniel may be a herald of the majesty of his great King, the King of whom we read in Psalm 72: “He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.” Yes, the times are dark and full of dangers but His name shall endure forever; let the whole world be filled with His glory. He is a King who “delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders.”

Do we know the great Deliverer and Rescuer, the Lord Jesus, whose coming in the flesh we have commemorated? Did we already learn to know our need of Him? By our sins we have made ourselves subject to His righteous anger, and He will by no means clear the guilty ones. That becomes reality in the life of an uncovered sinner. He learns to agree with God’s righteous sentence. God has appointed a Deliverer, a Saviour. He is the King of Zion, and He will rule forever. He delivers sinners out of the horrible pit and miry clay and sets their feet upon a rock, and establishes their goings. Christ Himself descended into the pit, and He brings His people up out of the pit. If that may happen, then a new song will be put in our mouth, even praise unto our God. Daniel in his old age may still bring forth fruits at the heathen court where the Lord had placed His servant.

The proclamation of Darius

The testimony of Daniel made a deep impression upon Darius. The enemies of Daniel have been cast into the den of lions with their children and their wives, and for them there was no deliverance. The lions “brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.” This mighty and faithful God is proclaimed by the heathen king. He made a decree that everyone in his kingdom should tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. He delivers and rescues, and He “worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.” What a proclamation this is, and who is able to rightly express the greatness, the goodness, and the love of Him who still delivers sinners out of the power of hell and sin, from the prison which they have willingly brought themselves? He is able to save to the uttermost. No one shall pluck His people out of His mighty, faithful hands. Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus. According to Daniel 10:1, Daniel was still living in the third year of the reign of Cyrus. That means that he lived to see the proclamation that was made for the return of his countrymen to Canaan. How glad Daniel must have been for this great blessing so that thousands could return to the land promised to their fathers.

Nevertheless, Daniel himself did not return with them. The Lord had given him a place of great honor but also great opportunities to help his own people. It is evident that he had to remain there. Daniel was also a sinner although we do not read of any sin into which he fell. At a high age, he entered into the rest that the Lord has prepared for all those who fear Him. This rest is only by the righteousness of Him whom the prophet also prophesied in Daniel 9:24a, “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness.” The proclamation of Darius was impressive, but this proclamation is a great wonder. At the appointed time, He will come who will make reconciliation for iniquity and bring in everlasting righteousness to cover unrighteous sinners so that they, as pure virgins, may be brought to the King. Daniel may now perfectly worship Him who he served in the appointed place for himself. What a blessing if we may know this service and the faithfulness of this King. His yoke is easy, His burden is light. There is yet place; sinners are called to also bow, surrender, and flee to Him.

(To be continued)

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