King James Version, with Nii Okai's journal notes · 20 notes
1It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;
2And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.
3Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.
4Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.
5Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.
This should be the testimony of the sons of the bond women for all true believers and serious Christians.
6Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever.
7All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.
Where did such a decree come from? What would make a king accept such a decree concerning himself?
He was to be exalted above everything, and even GOD.
I'm sure the same excuse was to cement his absolute power, fish out anyone rebellious enough to raise his god over the authority of the king.
Anyone who does that carries rebellion in him and must be ousted out of the king👑dom.
It all made sense to the king, and he approved purely out of politics, not self-exaltation.
The things that happen in the corridors of power and the agenda accompanying them.
8Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
I'm sure they came up with some preposterous reason, like it would establish his throne, it will make him feared 😱.
I realize that it is in times of trial and setups that God uses to promote us, if we stand in faith for him no matter what.
9Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.
Wait oo... How did they know that Daniel would not exchange his prayers for anything, even death ☠?
How could they trust Daniel to play his part to his own death ☠?
10Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
Such disregard... I love that...
He did it with attitude. He was like... “Bring it on, devil 👿.”
They trusted in his consistency for their plan to work, and it did.
This was how disciplined Daniel was.
I can imagine the hatred and anger towards him each time he opened that window of his and prayed.
Daniel was a very regimented man and lived a very regimented life.
Praying three times a day.
What other parts of his life were non-negotiables and regimented?
This is wisdom into some of the possible reasons for his excellent results and unrivaled dedication to his work.
11Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.
12Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king’s decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of 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.
Politics smh 🤦♂️... Even as a king he had been cornered, and he knew it, but could do them no evil 😈 without destroying his own kingdom and authority.
But could not Daniel have stayed 30 days without prayer?? 🤦♂️.
It is equivalent to death ☠. Unless you are spiritual, you would not understand. And thus no wonder he was ready to die 🎲
13Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.
14Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.
15Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.
16Then 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.
He knew how much of a loss to his kingdom Daniel was going to be if he died.
There was going to be irreplaceable responsibility on his head in trying to replace Daniel, because there was none like him.
In Daniel the king had peace and did not need to bother his head about his realm. Now he was going to lose all that to these politicians.
They were so heartless and selfish, to the point that though they knew it would cost the kingdom, they did not care.
They just wanted Daniel out.
This was his own way of saying... My hands are clean, Daniel, I have no hand in this... This was not my intention.
Daniel 6:16 NLT
The king said to him, “May your GOD, whom you serve so faithfully, rescue you.”
And he did. He knew how faithfully Daniel served GOD, and that was the source of his loyalty to the throne... It was loyalty to GOD, and the king knew the fear of GOD is what accounted for Daniel's exceptional contribution to his kingdom.
17And 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 the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.
18Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.
19Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.
Even this action by the king 👑 was of faith, or at least hope, and hope does not disappoint.
20And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and 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?
Aw... 😢 😢... A king in lament; he had a heart, and power had not corrupted him.
21Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.
GLORYYYYYY, I can imagine the sigh of relief 😌 that ran down his spine.
Again, in trials and difficulties, when we stand for God, he uses it to redeem us.
Because God seeks opportunity for the righteous to shine like the stars ✨ forevermore.
And what other way was God going to rid such people from the kingdom justifiably and legally, except through something equally dramatic?
Oh, what a voice of relief to this weary soul of the king... I can only imagine the tears of the king as he lamented, and as his lament turned to tears of joy at the sound of Daniel.
He had gone through much suffering, not only because of his lack of sleep and the pain of losing his trusted leader, but also the pain of trying to keep everything under control as a king, and keeping his frame in one piece.
The king could not be seen to be weak. These courtiers had really gotten the king.
22My 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, O king, have I done no hurt.
23Then was the king exceeding 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 manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.
Oh yes, indeed, exceeding gladness.
24And the king commanded, and they brought those men which 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 or ever they came at the bottom of the den.
Why involve their wives and children 🧒...
I guess it was to prevent some form of revenge in the future 🔮
25Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
26I make a decree, That in every 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.
Twice Daniel had made the entire men in the entire realm tremble and acknowledge GOD as the one true GOD whose kingdom is forever.
And this statement coming from a king is itself a statement.
Every knee shall bow.
27He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.
28So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
For such a sacrifice Daniel prospered. He was rewarded mightily.
It was such tests that Saul failed but David passed.