For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: Daniel 6:1-9

1 It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, 2 with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss. 3 Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. 4 At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. 5 Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.”

6 So these administrators and satraps went as a group to the king and said: “May King Darius live forever! 7 The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den. 8 Now, Your Majesty, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” 9 So King Darius put the decree in writing.

A. Find Out:

1. What job was Daniel given by the new king? v.2
2. Why did the king plan to put him over all others? v.3
3. What was the response of the other leaders? v.4
4. What couldn’t they find in Daniel? v.4b
5. What was the only thing that might work? v.5
6. So what edict did they get the king to write? v.7

B. Think:

1. What sort of man is Daniel seen to be?
2. What was it that motivated the other leaders to plot against Daniel?
3. What sort of man is the king shown to be?

C. Comment:

First of all we note that there is now a different king ruling since the events of the last chapter. Darius is the third king that Daniel has seen since he has been in the court in Babylon.

Second, we see the king ordering his kingdom and again Daniel rises to the top by his qualities of sheer goodness in all that he is and does. What an example for US to follow!

Third, we see the reaction of the other leaders who see Daniel’s success: they are jealous, and so start plotting to find some way to pull him down, but to no avail. They look to see if there is some weak point in what Daniel does, but he was “neither corrupt nor negligent”, and as such stood out from all the others around him. May we have that same sort of testimony in our work.

The only thing they can think of that might trap Daniel, is to set up laws contrary to the Law of God that Daniel will refuse to follow as a God-fearing Jew, which would then bring him into conflict with the king. It is then that we see the foolishness of this king who signs the edict without any thought of its consequences. Trouble is on the way, for Daniel and for this silly king!

D. Application:

1. As Christians we must seek to be an example but we must also expect opposition when we are successful.
2. Do we stand out in our work as those who are neither dishonest nor careless? Think about it

Passage: Daniel 6:10-14

10 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. 11 Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. 12 So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the lions’ den?”

The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”

13 Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.” 14 When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.

A. Find Out:    

1. Where did Daniel go when he heard the decree? v.10a
2. What did he do there? v.10b
3. What two things did he pray? v.10c & 11
4. Who told the king? v.11, 12
5. How did the king feel when he was told? v.14a
6. What did he determine to do? v.14b

B. Think:

1. What do you think Daniel knew when he went home to pray?
2. What does the fact that he carried on praising God tell us about him?
3. What does the king’s attitude tell us about Daniel

C. Comment:

First of all we see Daniel’s response when he hears about the decree: he goes straight to the place where he daily meets with his Lord and starts praying. Royal decree or not, he is going to put the Lord first. Daniel realises that this is his life-line and he is not going to have that severed.

There we see that first of all he praises God. It is good to be able to praise the Lord for it reminds us that He is still the great Almighty and Sovereign God of Creation. Look up 1 Thessalonians 5:18 You can only do this if you know that HE is Lord, and that He is in sovereign control and will guard you.

Next we are told that Daniel went on to ask God for help. He was very mindful of his situation and knew it was a case of his God versus these unrighteous men and that his own life was at stake. He is also quite aware of the consequences of his action.

Finally we see the other leaders telling on Daniel and the king’s distress as he realises what his foolishness has done. His concern for Daniel says how highly he regards him, but he has to live with the consequences of his rash actions.

D. Application:

1. Do we realise that godly lives incur persecution from the ungodly world? 2 Timothy 3:12
2. Ask the Lord for grace and boldness to cope with opposition  that comes.

Passage: Daniel 6:15-23

15 Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, “Remember, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.”

16 So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!”

17 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. 18 Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.

19 At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. 20 When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”

21 Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! 22 My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”

23 The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.

A. Find Out:

1. How did the men force the king to act? v.15
2. What did the king hope as Daniel was put into the lions’ den? v.16
3. How did the king spend the night? v.18
4. When did he return to the lions’ den? v.19
5. How did he call out to Daniel? v.20
6. How did the king feel when he heard Daniel? v.23

B. Think:

1. How would you summarise all that the king has been feeling?
2. How was Daniel saved?
3. Why was he saved?

C. Comment:

The actions of the king are almost more amazing than the actual miracle of God saving Daniel from the lions. This foolish king clearly regrets ever having been duped into signing the silly edict, and every step of the way through this story he is seen to be in anguish on Daniel’s behalf. This speaks volumes about Daniel’s life and the high esteem in which the king holds him. This man of God has risked his life and reputation many times and God has honoured him for it.

We should note that the king doesn’t pray. He hasn’t got any faith but he hopes sincerely that Daniel’s faith is well founded. What a tragic picture this is, of people who have no faith. Very often people of no faith are willing to trust in your faith. How strange!

How this is contrasted with that of Daniel who appears calm and serene in the situation. He simply trusts in God as ever before and his faith is vindicated as the Lord protects and keeps him. How tremendous! Daniel is vindicated once more and God is glorified again. The problem with faith is that the great testimonies always involve putting your life on the line, and that is neither easy nor comfortable.

D. Application:

1. In the crisis will we be a Darius or a Daniel? In panic or in  peace?
2. Ask the Lord to so establish your faith NOW that it can stand in a crisis.

Passage: Daniel 6:24-28

24 At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.

25 Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language in all the earth:

“May you prosper greatly!

26 “I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.

“For he is the living God
    and he endures forever;
his kingdom will not be destroyed,
    his dominion will never end.
27 He rescues and he saves;
    he performs signs and wonders
    in the heavens and on the earth.
He has rescued Daniel
    from the power of the lions.”

28 So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

A. Find Out:

1. What happened to Daniel’s accusers? v.24
2. Who did the king write to? v.25
3. What did he issue? v.26
4. How does he describe who God is? v.26b
5. What does he say God does? v.27
6. So what happened to Daniel? v.28

B. Think:

1. How does the king try to make amends?
2. What has he learnt about God?
3. How would his decree help Daniel and the other Jews?

C. Comment:

First in this passage, we are shown that any ideas we may have had about sleepy lions were not warranted. The lions immediately destroy Daniel’s accusers who are thrown into their den. The protection provided for Daniel is not there for them!

As we come to the end of the historical section of the book of Daniel we see yet a third king having dealings with God. The extent of his faith is not clear or certain. As the king extols God he realises something of God’s greatness, that He goes on for ever, that His kingdom is everlasting. Somewhere in all that has happened, this revelation of God has come to him.

The final picture we have of Daniel is him prospering through this king’s reign and in the next king’s reign as well. Cyrus will be the king who will release the Jews to return from exile back to Jerusalem. Daniel’s presence and testimony there in this pagan court, in the reigns of these previous three kings probably prepared the way for Cyrus to hear from God and release God’s people. How wonderful that God’s grace enabled His man to stand and be seen throughout the exile, right in the midst of the ungodly subjugating kingdom.

D. Application:

1. Praise and worship the Lord who kept Daniel through the reign of four kings in ungodly Babylon.
2. Thank Him that His rule will never come to an end and that He will rule throughout your life.