Introduction
Daniel 6:11–28: Today we finish the account of the plot against Daniel. King Darius’s administrators see Daniel praying at his window and report him to the king. Darius reluctantly upholds his order and has Daniel thrown into a pit of lions. When Daniel is found unharmed the next day, Darius rejoices, has the wicked administrators punished, and praises Daniel’s God.
Today’s Key Verse: Daniel 6:27 GNT
[King Darius said:] “He saves and rescues; he performs wonders and miracles in heaven and on earth. He saved Daniel from being killed by the lions.”
Read
11 When Daniel’s enemies observed him praying to God, 12 all of them went together to the king to accuse Daniel. They said, “Your Majesty, you signed an order that for the next thirty days anyone who requested anything from any god or from any human being except you, would be thrown into a pit filled with lions.”13 Then they said to the king, “Daniel, one of the exiles from Judah, does not respect Your Majesty or obey the order you issued. He prays regularly three times a day.”14 When the king heard this, he was upset and did his best to find some way to rescue Daniel. He kept trying until sunset. 15 Then Daniel’s enemies came back to the king and said to him, “Your Majesty knows that according to the laws of the Medes and Persians no order which the king issues can be changed.”16 So the king gave orders for Daniel to be taken and thrown into the pit filled with lions. He said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve so loyally, rescue you.” 17 A stone was put over the mouth of the pit, and the king placed his own royal seal and the seal of his noblemen on the stone, so that no one could rescue Daniel. 18 Then the king returned to the palace and spent a sleepless night, without food or any form of entertainment.19 At dawn the king got up and hurried to the pit. 20 When he got there, he called out anxiously, “Daniel, servant of the living God! Was the God you serve so loyally able to save you from the lions?”21 Daniel answered, “May Your Majesty live forever! 22 God sent his angel to shut the mouths of the lions so that they would not hurt me. He did this because he knew that I was innocent and because I have not wronged you, Your Majesty.”23 The king was overjoyed and gave orders for Daniel to be pulled up out of the pit. So they pulled him up and saw that he had not been hurt at all, for he trusted God. 24 Then the king gave orders to arrest all those who had accused Daniel, and he had them thrown, together with their wives and children, into the pit filled with lions. Before they even reached the bottom of the pit, the lions pounced on them and broke all their bones.25 Then King Darius wrote to the people of all nations, races, and languages on earth:“Greetings! 26 I command that throughout my empire everyone should fear and respect Daniel’s God.27 He saves and rescues;28 Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
Reflect
How does King Darius react to the accusation against Daniel (verses 14, 16, 18–19)? When Daniel survives and says that God saved him, what reason does he give (verse 22)? Daniel claims not to have wronged Darius; by remaining loyal to God, even when disobeying the king’s order, he does not think he has been disloyal to the king. Why is this the case? Is Darius’s praise of God surprising or consistent with his earlier attitude? Have you faced situations where loving a person meant challenging what they asked you to do?
Pray
Lord Jesus, our lives belong to you. You call us to walk in love as an offering and sacrifice; you deliver us from the pit when we have no other hope. We praise you for your glorious wonders. Give us strength to trust in you through every opposition, loving our neighbor by loving you. Amen.
Tomorrow’s Reading
Esther 2:1–23: Esther is brought to King Xerxes and made queen of Persia.
