Summary of Daniel 6:19-28
God saved Daniel from the lions. King Darius then punished the men who had tricked him and falsely accused Daniel by throwing them and their families into the lions’ den. King Darius then issued a decree that the people must fear and revere God.
Daniel prospered during Darius’ and Cyrus’ reigns.
BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 5, Day 5: Daniel 6:19-28
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 5, Day 5: Daniel 6:19-28
I love this story. Such a classic story of how faith prevails above all else and how God is in charge of everything (as always). We can always trust God in our lives, even if we cannot fully understand His ways.
End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 5, Day 5: Daniel 6:19-28
Daniel did not break the king’s laws.
Daniel’s example of faith is mentioned in Hebrews 11:33 as one of the premier examples of a faithful life.
The tradition of the Persians was to eradicate the whole family as punishment.
No one wants to be tricked, so the punishment of the satraps was more than just, especially for those times.
Darius most likely would have punished the men if Daniel had died, too.
The fact that the men were eaten but Daniel was not proves that there was divine intervention. And, Daniel’s survival was taken by the Persians to mean he was innocent of the charges against him.
Darius then declares God’s greatness. This is a similar pattern we see in the Book of Daniel:
- God’s people stand firm with God
- God honors and protects them
- The faithfulness of God’s people is a testimony of God’s work
- This shows the ungodly the greatness of God.
God always provides a witness to His presence and power.
Some believe that Darius was Cyrus since he is mentioned here.
END NOTES SUMMARIZED
Daniel 6:19-28 describes the miraculous deliverance of Daniel from the lions’ den, the just punishment of his accusers, and the subsequent glorification of God throughout the Persian empire.
The interpretation of its key elements is as follows:
- The Miraculous Deliverance: Daniel’s survival is an unambiguous demonstration of God’s absolute power over nature and death. An angel is sent to shut the mouths of the lions, and the text explicitly states Daniel was unharmed “because he had trusted in his God.” The miracle is a direct response to and a vindication of Daniel’s unwavering faith.
- The Reversal of Justice: The story shows a profound and just reversal. The conspirators who used the law to trap an innocent man are subjected to the very fate they intended for Daniel. The speed and ferocity of the lions with the accusers serve to highlight the supernatural nature of Daniel’s rescue, proving that divine justice prevails.
- The King’s Proclamation: The climax is not just Daniel’s safety, but King Darius’s resulting decree. The miracle compels the powerful pagan king to issue a global proclamation, commanding all his subjects to “fear and reverence the God of Daniel.” He testifies that Daniel’s God is the living, eternal, and sovereign God who rescues and saves.
In essence, this passage reveals that God powerfully vindicates the radical trust of His faithful servants, turns the evil plots of the wicked back upon themselves, and uses these events to reveal His supreme power and glory to the nations.
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