Chapter 6:10-15 (ESV) - When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and plea before his God. Then they came near and said before the king, concerning the injunction, “O king! Did you not sign an injunction, that anyone who makes petition to any god or man within thirty days except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The thing stands fast, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked.” Then they answered and said before the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or the injunction you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.”
Then the king, when he heard these words, was much distressed and set his mind to deliver Daniel. And he labored till the sun went down to rescue him. Then these men came by agreement to the king and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or ordinance that the king establishes can be changed.”
Question to consider: Why do you think Daniel prayed in front of an open window rather than in secret?
At the beginning of our study, I pointed out that the group of exiles in which Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were a part had received the following letter from Jeremiah, “Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” (Jeremiah 29:4-7)
Throughout his time in Babylon, Daniel had sought the welfare of the king and the nation, and the LORD blessed him for it. Despite the fact that there was a new king, Daniel continued to trust in this promise and was highly favored by the king for his faithfulness and honesty. Even in openly defying the king’s orders in today’s passage, Daniel had the welfare of the empire in mind, for the LORD is the only one worthy of our worship, and He will not share His glory with another.
Daniel could have still faced Jerusalem and prayed in secret, and nobody would have been able to prove he had violated the king’s edict. As one of the three high officials, Daniel knew the moment the document was signed and what the consequences would be for violating the law. When something was declared a law of the Medes and Persians, it was irrevocable. The idea was that it should be for something vital to the welfare of the empire which would keep the king from being compromised through blackmail or ransom. Say an enemy kidnapped the king’s son in order to get him to violate his decree. The king would not have the power to do this so there would be no point to the kidnapping.
Darius was foolish for allowing himself to be convinced to make this particular decree a law of the Medes and Persians. Like the satraps, he should have known Daniel would never go for it. Darius tried to walk it back, but it was impossible to do so. Like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, Daniel understood that the LORD was able to deliver him from the den of lions, but even if He chose not to do so, Daniel would worship Him alone.
Our Father in heaven who rules over all things, please help us to know with our whole being that You are able to deliver us from the evils of this world. If we are to suffer for the name of Christ, please help us to rejoice in the knowledge that it is not in vain but will result in Your praise, glory, and honor. Amen.