DARIUS, THE MEDE received the kingdom of Babylon when it was conquered and taken over by the Medes and the Persians. This event occurred in the year 538 B.C. For two years Darius administered the affairs of state. Nothing is known for certain about the happenings of his time except the beginning of his reign.

"It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom a hundred and twenty satraps, who should be throughout the whole kingdom; 2 and over them three presidents, of whom Daniel was one; that these satraps might give account unto them, and that the king should have no damage. 3 Then this Daniel was distinguished above the presidents and the satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm" (Dan. 6:1-3).

One of Darius' first official acts seems to have been to appoint a satrap over each of the one hundred and twenty provinces into which the empire was divided. Over these officials he appointed a committee of three, who are called presidents. As the chairman of this supreme body, Daniel was chosen. Thus he was what might be termed in modem political language the prime minister. In this position he exercised the authority next to the king himself.

Men of intelligence and reason always select men who are qualified to fill the positions of trust and responsibility. We are told (6:3) that Daniel was chosen by Darius, because "an excellent spirit was in him." Volumes are wrapped up in that quotation. Daniel had the right outlook and the correct attitude toward God, the king, his immediate associates of the committee, and the satraps who were under him, and his colleagues. An excellent spirit is one that is cheerful and happy. It holds the highest ideals of righteousness and justice toward all and desires nothing but the best for everyone concerned.

In addition to possessing an excellent spirit, we may be sure that he was thoroughly qualified to perform the duties of the office to which the king appointed him. Those men today who are filling positions of honor and trust qualify, not only from an intellectual and experimental standpoint, but also from the spiritual aspect. The finer qualities of life are located in this realm. All things being equal, those possessing these characteristics are the ones who are always elevated to the higher callings of life.

"Then the presidents and the satraps sought to find occasion against Daniel as touching the kingdom; but they could find no occasion nor fault, forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. 5 Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God" (Dan. 6:4,5).

Satan hates God and all the people of God. He is ever on the alert to make a stroke at the Almighty, by whatever means he can. Furthermore, the closer one lives to the Lord, the more vehement is Satan's anger against him. To everyone who reads the book of Daniel, it becomes apparent that Daniel was a God-fearing man--one who worshiped his God, and who served his fellowman to the best of his ability. Such a person is an immediate target for Satan. He, therefore, stirred up the hearts of Daniel's immediate colleagues and their subordinate satraps to manufacture a complaint against him. His walk was so very straight, his dealings so very just, and his life so very free from sin that they could not conjure up a case against him in any wise. Being determined, however, to accomplish his downfall, his enemies conspired against him and influenced the king to issue a strong interdict forbidding one's calling upon any god for a period of thirty days or making a request of anyone except the king.

"Then these presidents and satraps assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him. King, Darius, live forever, 7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the deputies and the satraps, the counsellors and the governors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a strong interdict, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any god or man for thirty days, save of thee, 0 king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. 8 Now, 0 king, establish the interdict, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. 9 Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the interdict" (Dan. 6:6-9).

When this decree had been drawn up, the king unwittingly signed it. With the Medes and Persians the laws never altered. Thus a grave situation confronted Daniel.

And when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; (now his windows were open in his chamber toward Jerusalem;) and he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. 11 Then these men assembled together, and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his God" (Dan. 6:10,11).

In this great crisis Daniel, according to his custom, continued to worship God. From verse 10 we see that it was his custom to pray at his open window looking toward Jerusalem, as Solomon (I Kings 8) had designated. In this connection keep in mind that that royal decree forbade anyone's praying to his god or making any request of anyone except of the king. The question for Daniel to decide was whether or not he would be true to his God or yield to the unrighteous and unreasonable interdict. Daniel, knowing God and walking with Him, believed that He does hear the cries of His people. Hence he continued his prayer-life as he had always done. He went to his accustomed place, worshiped, and thanked God--offering his petitions three times a day as he was accustomed to do.

"Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king's interdict: Hast thou not signed an interdict, that every man that shall make petition unto any god or man within thirty days, save unto thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. 13 Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, who is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the interdict that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day" (Dan. 6:12,13).

This situation was exactly what his enemies had desired. Hence, upon seeing him praying, they immediately went to the king and brought an indictment against him for having disregarded the imperial decree. Daniel enjoyed the king's favor. Since the laws of the Medes and Persians neither varied nor altered, the monarch was in a most embarrassing position. His heart was grieved because his friend and favorite officer had been ensnared in this trap, which the devil had set for him.

"Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to rescue him. 15 Then these men assembled together unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians, that no interdict nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed. 16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee. 17 And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. 18 Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting; neither were instruments of music brought before him: and his sleep fled from him" (Dan. 6:14-18).

The penalty according to the interdict was that Daniel should be cast into the den of the lions to be torn limb from limb by them. Although Darius wished to deliver Daniel from such a horrible experience, he was unable to do so. Nevertheless he hoped that God in some miraculous way would preserve him. His words to this faithful man of God before he was cast into the den of lions were, "Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee." Evidently Daniel had lived an exemplary life before Darius. God had answered his prayers in such a way as to impress the heart of the king that God does hear and answer prayer. Hence Darius thus spoke. It is not to be inferred that he believed in the true God, for he was a heathen. Without doubt his respect for Daniel's God was very great.

Since the laws of the realm could not be altered, a stone was brought and laid over the mouth of the den and the king's signet was placed upon it and that of his lords in order that no one would make any attempt to deliver Daniel. When this was done, the king returned to his palace, passing the night in fasting. His heart was burdened and distressed; hence he would not have any instruments of music brought before him. That night he could not sleep. It probably was one of the most restless nights that he ever spent.

"Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. 20 And when he came near unto the den to Daniel, he cried with a lamentable voice; the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? 21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. 22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, and 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. 23 Then was the king exceeding glad, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he had trusted in his God" (Dan. 6:19-23).

Early the next morning the king hastened to the lion's den. Upon arrival he cried with a lamentable voice, "0 Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?" This statement shows that, though he did have faith in Daniel's God, he did not understand the Almighty's purpose. Daniel's immediate reply was, "0 king, live forever. 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, 0 king, have I done no hurt." He had no resentment in his heart because of what had been done to him. This is a most excellent example for us to follow.

This great man of God understood that his preservation was due to a miracle--the Lord sent His angel who shut the mouths of the lions. On account of the erroneous teaching in the world today concerning the ministry of angels, many of us refrain from calling attention to the service which they render to the people of God. The writer of Hebrews (1:14) declares that they are ministering spirits sent forth to do service for them that shall inherit salvation. The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear the Lord and delivereth them. Our lives would have been snuffed out many a time if it had not been for the service rendered by these ministering angels.

The Lord is looking after every one of His children. He always plans that which will bring the greatest amount of good to each one. In fact He has a plan and purpose for each of them. If they yield to Him, He will use them in the highest and noblest manner. On the other hand, if they will not yield, He will use them in a less honorable plan. Nevertheless He will use them.

Man's extremity is God's opportunity. Daniel was in a helpless condition. He called upon his God and looked to Him for deliverance. The Lord never disappoints one when he is absolutely trusting.

The king was delighted that the Lord had preserved the life of His faithful servant. Daniel was immediately taken from the lions' den and restored, evidently, to his former position.

"And the king commanded, and they brought those men that had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces, before they came to the bottom of the den" (Dan. 6:24).

Man reaps what he sows. This is a law which is unchangeable and is operative in both the physical and spiritual realms. The king, realizing that Daniel's enemies had through jealousy ensnared him into issuing the decree and seeing that God delivered His faithful servant, immediately commanded that they, together with their families, should be thrown into the lions' den. This edict was carried out and the lions immediately crushed their bodies. Sooner or later in God's good time He will bring retribution upon men for all their wickedness.

"Then king Darius wrote unto all the peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied unto you. 26 I make a decree, that in all the dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel; for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, And his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed; and his dominion shall be even unto the end. 27 He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions" (Dan. 6:25-27).

Darius, seeing that which had been done immediately issued a decree which was to be effective throughout his dominion. According to it, men should fear the God of Daniel, who, he declared, was the living God and whose dominion shall be unto the end. Following this declaration he proclaimed the fact that God, who rescued Daniel, can and does perform miracles. When it is necessary, the Lord will break through the natural order and rescue his faithful servants.