Throughout his life, Daniel had been known for his potential, dedication, wisdom, ability, and commitment. It was for that reason that when Darius came to power in Persia, seeing the need to delegate oversight of the kingdom to one hundred twenty princes who would serve under three presidents, it was Daniel whom he chose first. “Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm” (Daniel 6:3). His faithfulness characterized him as a leader among leaders of which so many became jealous. And his faith made him the target of what would prove to be both clever and deceitful.
Knowing they could not find legitimate fault in him concerning his leadership of the kingdom, Daniel’s opponents turned their attention to his observance of the law of God. “Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever. All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree” (Daniel 6:6-9). The plan began with a lie (not all presidents had been consulted because Daniel had not) and ended with an injustice. And stuck in the middle of it all was Daniel.
After Daniel heard of this decree, signed ignorantly by Darius, he, without hesitation, continued with his daily regiment of prayer and supplication to the Most High God. Upon his capture for such he, in accordance to the unchangeable law, was indeed cast forth into that den of lions, with full expectation by his captors that on the morrow he would be nothing more than lion’s dung. But the morning came, Darius sped to the den and cried out unto Daniel with wearisome hope, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?” (Daniel 6:20b). Without a moment’s pause the band of eerie silence was broken and in declaration of the power of Jehovah, Daniel’s voice rang out with life: “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; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt” (Daniel 6:22). How could Daniel (at this point in excess of 80 years old) have escaped such a formidable foe as those fierce beasts ? Only by the power of God.
The beasts inhabiting the den that afternoon would not have been well fed, tame creatures who enjoyed a visit from above occasionally. But rather they would have been fierce and hungry beasts who likely would not usually let their prey even hit the ground before ripping it to shreds. With these facts in mind, what is the likelihood that Daniel, without God’s aid, could have survived not just a few moments, but the entire night? It was practically impossible. But with God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26).
Occasionally life seems to get the best of us. For unjust and unstated reasons sometimes we become the target of attack. Through those periods of life it might feel as though we have been cast forth unto the lions who soon shall do nothing more than finish the job previously started of ruining and completing our lives. But in those times there is always One to whom we can turn and One in whom we can place our trust. Paul affirmed in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengeneth me.” Like Paul, we can confidently affirm that through Christ all things are possible.
Daniel’s extended visit into the den of lions was a giant test of faith. Would God truly deliver him as he hoped or allow him to perish at the hands of unruly and unjust heathens? Daniel, like Job, was tried and came forth as gold (Job 23:10). There are multiple times in life when our faith has been and will be tested. Will we lose our faith or allow those times to strengthen us (James 1:2-3) and reaffirm those things already trusted? Will we be tried and come forth as gold? His escape was attributed to that which shall be our only mode of deliverance, for it was said of Daniel that “no matter of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God” (Daniel 6:23b).