"The Lions' Den" And Its Lessons.

From: Tidings of Life and Peace: 1909

IN the reign of Darius the Persian, Daniel, a captive Jew, was raised to be the first of three presidents. He was preferred before all the other satraps because of his excellent spirit. These sought in their jealousy to find occasion against him concerning the kingdom, but completely failed. He was a faithful man, and neither error nor fault could be found in him. But determined not to be baffled, they next sought to find occasion against him concerning the law of his God (Dan. 6:1-5¹It 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. (Daniel 6:1‑5)). To this end they induced the King to sign a decree, unalterable according to the law of the Medes and Persians, that if any man made a petition to any other god or man than the King during thirty days, he should be cast into the den of lions (v. 6-9).

Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he prayed in accordance with the words of Solomon (2 Chron. 6:38, 39³⁸If they return to thee with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, whither they have carried them captives, and pray toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, and toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for thy name: ³⁹Then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling place, their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause, and forgive thy people which have sinned against thee. (2 Chronicles 6:38‑39)), at his open window three times a day, looking towards Jerusalem. And the satraps, having assembled to behold him, came and witnessed against him before the King (v. 12, 13). Immediately the King was sorely displeased that he had allowed himself to be thus ensnared, and labored hard to deliver him. But Daniel’s wicked and wily foes insisted on the unalterable character of the law, and the King, greatly against his desire, was obliged to consign him to the lions’ den, saying as he did so, “Thy God whom thou servest continually, He will deliver thee” (vv. 14-16). And a stone was brought and laid upon the den, and sealed, that the purpose concerning him might not be changed.

We find in all this a striking figure of Christ and that which befell Him when He came into this world of sin. Jesus, God’s Son, was a perfect, holy Man, of excellent spirit, surrounded with jealous foes seeking His destruction, but utterly failing to find error or fault in the faithful and true Witness. He was the Lamb of God without blemish and without spot. Not only so, but the holy law of God was within His heart, and the utmost that His enemies could witness against Him was His faithfulness and devotedness to God. Bent upon His destruction, they succeeded in delivering Him over to death. But beyond all this there was the unalterable and inscrutable counsel of God. Hence we read, “Who being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken and by wicked hands have crucified and slain” (Acts 2:23²³Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: (Acts 2:23)). Man is responsible for the death of Christ, and has filled his cup of iniquity to the brim thereby in God’s sight. But over it all is the infallible purpose of God, overruling man’s consummate wickedness, and making Christ’s death the basis for the display of His grace and lovingkindness towards man.

Now, after a sleepless night, Darius came to the mouth of the den and said, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God whom thou servest continually able to deliver thee from the lions?” “O King,” replied Daniel, “live forever. My God has sent His angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths... forasmuch as innocency was found in me,” etc. (v. 18-22). Then was the King exceeding glad, and had him taken out. But his accusers and their families were consigned to the den and destroyed instantly by the lions (v. 23, 24).

All the power of the roaring lion, Satan, was brought to bear against Jesus, a greater than Daniel, at the cross. But when the Son of God went voluntarily into death and the grave for the glory of God, He met and overcame him who had the power of death. Declared innocent by His judge, He suffered and died in love to the guilty and the lost. It was not possible that God’s Holy One should see corruption. Divine power raised Him from death and the grave. He was raised from among the dead ones by “the glory, of the Father” (Rom. 6:4⁴Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:4)). The mouth of the lion, Satan the great accuser, was stopped. Jesus had supplicated Him that was able to save Him out of death, and “He was heard in that He feared” (or “for His piety”) (Heb. 5:7⁷Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; (Hebrews 5:7)).

When Daniel was delivered from the den King Darius wrote unto all nations, “Peace be multiplied unto you.” And he made a decree, that all men should tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for, said he, “He is the living God, and steadfast forever, and His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and His dominion shall be even unto the end. He delivereth and rescueth, and He worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who delivereth Daniel from the power of the lions” (Dan. 6:26, 27²⁶I 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. 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. (Daniel 6:26‑27)).

And now that Jesus is raised and glorified, God, having made peace by the blood of His cross, proclaims peace to all men far and wide. It is multiplied towards us on the ground of the death and resurrection of Christ. “To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His Name, whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins” (Acts 10:43⁴³To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. (Acts 10:43)). And again, to all such who believe on God, He assures us that Christ “was delivered for our offenses, and raised again for our justification. Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 4:25; 5:1²⁵Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:25)
¹Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Romans 5:1)). Moreover, by Him we have “access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Rom. 5:2²By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:2)). Dear reader, are you one of this happy company?

It was not possible that Christ should be holden of death. When the stone and the seal were there (Matt. 27:66⁶⁶So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch. (Matthew 27:66)) the Son of God rose. A mighty angel rolled the stone away, that His own might see that He was risen. He sits today in glory, and prospers at God’s right hand, soon coming forth to rule over all. Daniel prospered in two reigns of earthly kings (vs. 28). Jesus shall reign and prosper over all the realms of this world, seated upon His heavenly throne, till time is no more. Do you believe on Him? Is He your Saviour? Has He rescued and delivered you? “By Him all that believe are justified from all things” (Acts 13:39³⁹And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:39)).

E.H.C.

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