The Lions’ Den. —Daniel 6
THE chapter that now lies open before us is the last in the series of historical chapters.
But we have already seen that there is more than mere history in this first portion of the book (1-6).
Rationalism assumes that the writer of the book, whoever he may have been, “is dealing, not with the real, but with the ideal.” According to Dean Farrar, “The problem of the writer was to manage (!) his ‘Haggada’in such a way as to make private prayer an act of treason; and the difficulty is met―not, indeed, without violent improbability (!), for which, however, Jewish Haggadists cared little, but with as much skill as the circumstances permitted (!).” Nothing is certain here except that the Spirit of God had nothing to do with the inspiration of this portion of the Scriptures.
We turn away in pity and disgust from this deceitful handling of the Word of God, and yet not without the sorrowful conviction that all such tampering with the faith of others is hurrying on the apostasy of Christendom’s last days, and bringing about that very state of things outlined for us in these prophetic histories, and entered into in far greater detail in the after part of the book.
In chapter 5. we have seen the downfall of Babylon, typical no doubt of that which bears the same name in Revelation 17. The judgment of literal Babylon is described in Daniel, Isaiah, and Jeremiah, of symbolic and spiritual Babylon in the Apocalypse. Earthly glory and idolatry are the distinguishing features of both systems. “It is the land of graven images, and they are mad upon their idols” (Jer. 1:38), is said of “Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees’ excellency” (Isa. 13:1919And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. (Isaiah 13:19)), and of that vast religious system now in rapid formation, soon to be manifested in terrible distinctness, of her it is said that she “was arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold and precious stones, and pearls... and upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, TILE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH” (Rev. 17:4, 54And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: 5And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. (Revelation 17:4‑5)).
But in Daniel 6. the historic circumstances connected with Darius are made use of by the Spirit of God to set forth in type one other form of evil which will characterize the Gentile power at the close, and will bring down upon it the righteous judgment of God. It may, to some of our readers, seem far-fetched to speak of this portion of the book as being typical, and yet we are persuaded that interesting as the history may be, there is more than mere history. Without doubt we need to exercise caution, and to keep imagination from leading us astray in thus explaining this or any other portion of God’s Word; and yet, who can question that much of Scripture most distinctly bears this character? Certain it is that prophecy has abundantly foretold that at the close a man will arise who will exalt himself, and put himself in the place of God. We are far from saying that Darius equaled in wickedness what the Antichrist will be. But what through foolish vanity the Persian monarch was ensnared into by others, the Antichrist will exercise all the power of Satan in forcing upon men by-and-by. He will set himself in the temple of God, and pretend that he is God. In our further progress through the book we shall learn much in reference to this terrible character who will play so prominent a part in the future history of the world.
But there are others as well, who, though possessing some features in common, should nevertheless not be confounded. The Beast of Revelation 13. and 17. is not the Antichrist, though resembling him in some respects; one of which is this very one, that he will become an object of self-exaltation and worship. “They worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the Beast, and they worshipped the Beast, saying, Who is like unto the Beast?” (Rev. 13:44And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? (Revelation 13:4)). We would not affirm that one of these two, Antichrist or the Beast, to the exclusion of the other, is typified in Daniel 6. but it is evident to us that that character of wickedness, man exalting himself and putting himself in the place of God, is purposely brought before us in the history, and from other parts of Scripture we learn that this it is which will meet with the judgment of God wherever found. Both the Beast and the False Prophet, who doubtless represent the future chief of the Roman Empire, and the Antichrist, will possess this feature in a special and awful degree, and their judgment will be none the less severe when, with all His saints, Christ shall appear in glory as “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” They both shall be cast alive into the lake of fire (Rev. 19:1111And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. (Revelation 19:11) to end).
But it must not be forgotten that there will be saints upon the earth in those days. The Church will have been taken to heaven at the coming of the Lord into the air (1 Thess. 4), the heavenly saints will have been caught up, but earthly saints, the Jewish remnant for instance, converted after the removal of the Church, will be upon the earth during the awful period of the Beast’s activity. These are typified by Daniel himself in this chapter. They will cleave to their God in the face of terrible persecution. Some will be martyred (Rev. 13:1515And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. (Revelation 13:15)), others will be delivered. But the tribulation of those days will be so great that “except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved (or delivered), but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened” (Matt. 24:2222And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. (Matthew 24:22)). What they will need in a special degree is the spirit of endurance, “He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved” (Matt. 24:1313But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. (Matthew 24:13)). This verse does not refer to the salvation of the soul, but to the deliverance of the person from man’s fiery persecution.
But Daniel’s faithfulness in his day, typical of that of the Jewish remnant in the last days, may well inspire the saints of God in every dispensation to tread their earthly path with firmer step and more implicit obedience to God and His Word, regardless of all consequences.
How it was that Daniel came to occupy the exalted position under Darius in which he is found in the opening verses of our chapter we are not told. God, for the accomplishing of His own purposes, had brought him into favor with the king, and he thus became the object of envy and jealousy amongst the presidents and princes of the kingdom. Eagerly did they watch him, and seek occasions against him, but they found none. In all matters concerning the kingdom “he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.”
But not only was Daniel faithful to his earthly master, he yielded implicit obedience to his God. This his enemies knew right well, and here lay their only chance of ridding themselves of one whose uprightness and integrity was a constant witness against themselves. “We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.” Accordingly these wicked men plot and plan, and consult together, and actually succeed in persuading Darius to sign the blasphemous decree prohibiting all prayer except to the king himself on pain of being cast alive into the den of lions.
Here was a test to Daniel’s faith and obedience. But without a moment’s hesitation, “when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house... he kneeled down upon his knees... and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.” A captive in an enemy’s land, and far away from the city of Jehovah’s choice, and the house that had been built for His name, yet in faith he avails himself of that provision of divine grace so marvelously recorded at the dedication of Solomon’s temple amidst scenes of joy and glory (1 Kings 8). The times had changed, the people had changed, but God remained the same. Oh! what lessons may the Church of God not learn, in this the day of her ruin and failure, from this deeply interesting episode in the life of Daniel the prophet!
For the moment Daniel’s enemies seem to triumph. “Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.” Did Daniel not know that the king’s decree had been signed? Did he not know that the law of the Medes and Persians “altereth not”? Did he not know that the den of lions awaited him? Yes, he knew all this; but like his three companions of an earlier day (ch. 3) he trusted in the living God, and like them is found enrolled in that noble company “who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of the fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong” (Heb. 11:33, 3433Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. (Hebrews 11:33‑34)).
With eager haste “these men,” Daniel’s cruel persecutors, come near before the king. “That Daniel,” they say, “which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee.” To a certain extent this accusation had a semblance of truth about it, for here was a case where God must come first, cost what it might. If Daniel was faithful in all that concerned the affairs of his earthly master, he was also, according to the king’s own confession, the “servant of the living God,” and he proved that that God was as able to deliver him from the lions as he had delivered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the burning fiery furnace. The lions’ mouths were shut, the faithful captive was delivered, but what of his oppressors? “The heathen are sunk clown in the pit that they made; in the net which they hid is their own foot taken” (Psa. 9:1313Have mercy upon me, O Lord; consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death: (Psalm 9:13)).
Even so will it be when the Lord shall appear on Mount Zion for the deliverance of His oppressed and persecuted earthly people. Then shall He be “known by the judgment which He executeth”; then shall the wicked be “snared in the work of his own hands.”
There are two ways in which the Lord may be known, now in grace, or then in judgment; the first is salvation, the second will be perdition.
The “arm-chair” rationalist and “higher critic” may see in these inspired histories nothing but improbable fiction; the devout believer finds therein instructive types of what from other parts of Scripture he knows will take place in a future, and possibly not far distant day. Without doubt, we may add that those faithful saints whose lot will be cast in those times will derive therefrom the very encouragement and comfort which they will then stand to much in need of. Of this we may be sure, that this, with every other part of “all scripture, is given by inspiration of God” 2 Timothy 3:1616All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2 Timothy 3:16)).