READ: Dan. 6:1-9: … King Darius signed the written decree …
Exile is a dark time. God’s people are without regular temple worship. They live in a pagan, godless world, where the worship of idols is enforced and the king considers himself a god.
But in the actions of Daniel and his friends, we see how the LORD in His faithfulness keeps His church standing even in a lawless and ruthless world.
Under the third king in a row, Daniel is once again called to a high secular office. Darius, king of the Medes, initiates a governmental reform, appointing new administrators. Even the very elderly Daniel, after 65 years of service, is reappointed and becomes one of the three high officials.
This king also sees that Daniel has an excellent spirit (v. 4). Daniel stands out for his practical wisdom and administrative insight. He is also reliable and loyal to the king placed over him by the Lord.
Darius even plans to set him over the whole kingdom. But then jealousy arises among the other officials. Will this Jew be placed above them? His integrity could cause them trouble.
They devise a plot to get rid of him. Their attack on Daniel’s religion is a means to that end. They become tools in Satan’s hands, because Daniel is above all a faithful servant of the Most High God. Ezekiel 14 mentions Daniel alongside Noah and Job as a righteous man – a believer who obeys God’s will, walks straight paths, and places his trust in the Lord.
The officials now want to trap him in his faithfulness to God. They hatch a cunning plan: for 30 days, no one may pray to any god except to Darius, under penalty of being thrown into the lions’ den. The king agrees. With that, the law of the Medes and Persians becomes unchangeable.
Daniel knows about this. What will he do?
Do we truly have religious freedom today?
Sing: Ps. 17:3