Stop The Scandal

Daniel 6:6-28

So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: "King Darius, live forever! 7 All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. 8 Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter." 9 Therefore King Darius signed the written decree.

10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.

11 Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. 12 And they went before the king, and spoke concerning the king’s decree: "Have you not signed a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within thirty days, except you, 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 does not alter."

13 So they answered and said before the king, "That Daniel, who is one of the captives[a] from Judah, does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day."

14 And the king, when he heard these words, was greatly displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him. 15 Then these men approached the king, and said to the king, "Know, O king, that it is the law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statute which the king establishes may be changed."

16 So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, "Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you." 17 Then a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signets of his lords, that the purpose concerning Daniel might not be changed.

18 Now the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no musicians[b] were brought before him. Also his sleep went from him. 19 Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions. 20 And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?"

21 Then Daniel said to the king, "O king, live forever! 22 My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you."

23 Now the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God.

24 And the king gave the command, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions—them, their children, and their wives; and the lions overpowered them, and broke all their bones in pieces before they ever came to the bottom of the den.

25 Then King Darius wrote:

To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth:

Peace be multiplied to you.

26 I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel.

For He is the living God,
And steadfast forever;
His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed,
And His dominion shall endure to the end.
27 He delivers and rescues,
And He works signs and wonders
In heaven and on earth,
Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.

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




(Proverbs 16:18) " Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. We see it daily, pride, arrogance, self-righteousness, spirits that are moving upon us to keep us separated from God. The leaders in this chapter moved by it and took their wickedness to the King, who also wasn’t a follower of God and he embraced it at its best. (Psalms 5:9) "For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is destruction. Their throat is an open tomb; they flatter with their tongue." These are the things we do when we try to get our way, and the bible is not leading our lives. God says in Jeremiah 17, That our hearts are deceitful and wicked, who can know it? He tests our hearts and minds, to bless us accordingly. If we don’t choose whom we will serve, we’ve already chosen. It is only God and satan who runs this world. If we want peace, serenity, and righteous prosperity, we will choose God. However, if we want chaos, madness, and uncertainty, with a slow miserable death, we’ll choose satan. The pride in the King was so bound up, though, he said God would free Daniel, he still sent him to his death. God is a God of love, and if the King had been serving our magnificent God, this act would have never happened. Unnecessary sleep satan caused the King. He even came between a group of the supposed to be finest men in that nation. Then working evil at his best was still able to destroy the men, who he’d put up to do his crafty deed. God is an awesome, magnificent God, able to do all He says He will do. He delivers and rescues, and works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth. Stop the scandal.

Blessing to all who put an end to the scandal,

Vincent Young, Christian Analyst.