DANIEL CHAPTER 6 CONTINUES THAT PART OF THE BOOK THAT WAS WRITTEN IN ARAMAIC. SO WE FIND THAT THE FOCUS IS STILL ON JUDAH IN CAPTIVITY, AND THEIR CAPTORS HAVE NOW TRANSITIONED FROM THE BABYLONIANS TO THE MEDO-PERSIAN EMPIRE (FROM THE HEAD OF GOLD TO THE CHEST AND ARMS OF SILVER), AS PREDICTED BY NEBUCHADNEZZAR’S DREAM-STATUE MADE OF 4 DIFFERENT METALS.
KING DARIUS HAD A GREAT DEAL OF REIGNING POWER, BUT IN THE END HE WAS STILL UNDER, AND BEHOLDEN TO CYRUS.
DARIUS IS THE KING HERE IN DANIEL.6.
D A N I E L . 6
1Darius thought it would be a good idea to choose 120 Governors to rule throughout his Kingdom. 2Then he chose three men to rule over the 120 Governors. Daniel was one of these three Rulers. The King put these men in this position to keep anyone from cheating him and causing him to suffer a loss. 3Daniel proved himself to be a better supervising Ruler than any of the others, because of his good character,
WHEN YOU FIND YOURSELF NUMBER ONE IN ANY POSITION—YOU ARE THE ONE WHO WILL BE WATCHED JEALOUSLY BY THOSE WHO RESENT YOUR STATUS, GIFTS AND RELATIONSHIP WITH YAHUSHA !!
THE JEALOUSY OF THESE GOVERNORS WAS AMPLIFIED BY A DISLIKE FOR RIGHTEOUS BEHAVIOR AND A VIEW THAT DANIEL WAS AN INAPPROPRIATE CANDIDATE (A FOREIGNER + OLD) FOR SUCH AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE NEWLY-ESTABLISHED REIGN. DANIEL WAS NOT SINLESS, BUT BY MAN’S STANDARDS AND IN REGARD TO HIS OFFICIAL DUTY,
5So finally, they said, “We will never find any reason to accuse Daniel of doing something wrong. So we must find something to complain about that is connected to the Law of his Alahim.” (THE LAW OF MOSES)
"WOE TO THOSE WHO CALL EVIL GOOD AND GOOD EVIL - WHO TRADE DARKNESS FOR LIGHT, AND WHO PUT BITTER FOR SWEET" (ISA 5:20)
6So the two other supervisors and the Governors went as a group to the King.
... because the laws of the Medes and Persians cannot be canceled or changed.” 9So King Darius made the law and signed it.
WHEN THESE RULERS WANT THE KING TO SIGN HIS NAME TO THE DECREE, IT IS BECAUSE ACCORDING TO MEDO-PERSIAN LAW, WHEN THE KING SIGNED A DECREE (AS OPPOSED TO MERELY ORALLY DECLARING IT) THE LAW BECAME IRREVOCABLE, LIKE WRITTEN IN STONE. (Under Babylonian rule, capital punishment was by fire, but here, under Medo-Persian rule, criminals were to be devoured by lions).
great ability and the excellent Spirit that was in him. Infact the King was so impressed with Daniel that he planned to make him the Chief-Ruler over the whole Kingdom.
DANIEL’S “EXCELLENT SPIRIT”
(HEBREW: EXCEPTIONAL, OUT-STANDING, EXTRAORDINARY, PRE-EMINENT, MIGHTY, BRIGHT SPIRIT) WAS SHOWN THROUGH THE QUALITY OF HIS WORK WHICH WAS NATURALLY WITNESSED BY OTHERS. “DO YOU SEE A MAN WHO EXCELS IN HIS WORK? HE WILL STAND BEFORE KINGS - HE WILL NOT STAND BEFORE UNKNOWN MEN.” (PROVERBS 22:29)
4But when the other supervisors and the leaders heard about this, they were very jealous, and tried to find reasons to accuse Daniel. So they watched what Daniel did as he went about doing the business of the government. But they couldn't accuse him of doing anything wrong, for there was no negligence or corruption in him. People trusted Daniel for he didn't cheat the King and he worked very hard.
HIS BEHAVIOR WAS BEYOND REPROACH (SIMILAR TO JOB). SCRIPTURE SPEAKS OF DANIEL’S RIGHTEOUS BEHAVIOR BY INCLUDING HIM (ALONG WITH NOAH AND JOB) AS A RIGHTEOUS MAN WHO YAHUAH RESPONDS TO WITH FAVOR:
“SON OF MAN, WHEN A LAND SINS AGAINST ME BY CONSTANT DISOBEDIENCE, I WILL STRETCH OUT MY HAND AGAINST THEM - I WILL CUT OFF THEIR SUPPLY OF BREAD, SEND FAMINE ON THEM, AND CUT OFF MAN AND BEAST FROM THEM. EVEN IF THESE THREE MEN, NOAH, DANIEL, AND JOB, WERE IN THIS SITUATION, THEY WOULD DELIVER NEITHER SON NOR DAUGHTER - ONLY THEMSELVES BY THEIR RIGHTEOUSNESS,’ SAYS YAHUAH ALAHIM”. (EZEKIEL 14:13-14)
They said, “King Darius, live forever! 7The supervisors, prefects, advisors, and governors have all agreed on something. We think that the King should make this law and that everyone must obey it: For the next 30 days, whoever prays to any deity or man except you, our King, will be thrown into the lions’ den. 8Now, King, make the law and sign the paper it's written on so that it cannot be changed,
IN NEBUCHADNEZZAR’S BABYLON THE KING REIGNED SUPREME, BUT IN MEDO-PERSIA THE KING WAS SUBJECT TO PREVIOUSLY-ESTABLISHED LAWS AND COULD NOT OVERTURN IT. THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS THIS NEXT EMPIRE IS CONSIDERED SILVER, NOT GOLD.
10Daniel always prayed to Alahim three times every day. So even though he'd heard about the new law, he still went to the upper room of his house and opened the windows that faced toward Jerusalem. Then Daniel bowed down on his knees and prayed just as he'd always done.
DANIEL CHOSE YAHUAH OVER EXCUSES - HE COULD HAVE PRAYED PRIVATELY, PERHAPS IN THE NIGHT, WHEN NO ONE COULD SEE HIM AT HIS WINDOW, BUT TO RATIONALISE SUCH COMPROMISES TO
PRESERVE HIS ROLE IN GOVERNMENT WOULD HAVE BEEN EASY. DANIEL WOULD NOT COMPROMISE, AND ANY ALTERATION IN HIS HABITS OR BEHAVIOUR IN WORSHIPPING YAHUAH WOULD SHOW THAT HE PLEASED MEN RATHER THAN YAHUAH.
DANIEL FACED TOWARD JERUSALEM AS AN ACT OF BELIEF, AND IN RESPONSE TO THE PRAYERS OF SOLOMON AT THE DEDICATION OF THE TEMPLE (NOW IN RUINS) ... BUT WHAT ABOUT US TODAY?
WHO'S LAWS SHOULD WE OBEY ?
THE TEMPLE IS NOW US!
11Then the supervisors and leaders went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking Alahim for help. 12So they went to the King and talked to him about the law he'd made. They said, “King Darius, you signed a law that says, for the next 30 days anyone who prays to any Alahim or man except you, O' King, would be thrown into the lions’ den. You did sign that law, didn’t you?”
The King answered, “Yes, I signed that law, and the laws of the Medes and Persians cannot be canceled or changed.” 13Then they said to the King, “That man Daniel is not paying any attention to you. He's one of the captives from Judah, and he's not obeying the law you signed. Daniel still prays to his Alahim three times every day.”
14The King became very sad and upset when he heard this. He decided to save Daniel. He worked until sunset trying to think of a way to deliver him from the death penalty.15Then the men went as a group to the King and said to him, “Remember, O'King, that the law of the Medes and Persians says that no law or command signed by the King can ever be cancelled or changed.”
He didn't want anyone to come and entertain him either, and he couldn't sleep all night.
SO WE SEE DANIEL AND WE SEE DARIUS. TWO MEN, ONE WITH THE WORD AND ONE WITHOUT THE WORD. DARIUS IS IN A PALACE WITH WEALTH, POWER, AND ALL THE MEANS FOR HUMAN ENJOYMENT. DARIUS HAS EVERYTHING THAT MOST PEOPLE COULD WANT. DANIEL IS IN A DIRTY DEN, A DEN OF LIONS, FULL OF MANURE, DEAD BODIES THAT HAVE BEEN THROWN DOWN THERE, THE FLIES ARE EATING THE SKIN OFF THE PEOPLE THAT HAD BEEN THROWN DOWN THERE BEFORE ... LET'S GET THE PICTURE OF IT:
21Daniel calmly answered, “King, live forever! 22My Alahim sent His Angel to deliver me and close the lions’ mouths, so they haven't hurt me, because my Alahim knows I'm innocent. I never did anything wrong to you, O'King.”
16So King Darius gave the order and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The King said to Daniel, “May the Alahim you serve deliver you!” 17A big rock was brought and put over the opening of the lions’ den. Then the King used his ring and put his seal on the rock, showing that no one could move the rock and bring Daniel out. 18Then King Darius went back to his house and refused to eat that night.
-IT’S NOT THE SWEET LITTLE DEN WE SEE IN PICTURE BOOKS WHICH DON'T SHOW ALL THE BLOOD AND GORE. BUT DESPITE ALL THIS, DANIEL PROBABLY HAD A BETTER NIGHT SLEEP THAN THE KING!!
19The next morning, King Darius got up just as it was getting light and ran to the lions’ den. 20He was very worried. When he got to the lions’ den, he called to Daniel. He said, “Daniel, servant of the living Alahim, has the Alahim you serve delivered you from the lions?
23King Darius was very happy. He told his servants to lift Daniel out of the lions’ den. And when Daniel was lifted out of the den, they did not find any injury on his body. The lions did not hurt Daniel because he trusted in his Alahim.
DANIEL’S MIRACULOUS DELIVERANCE FROM THE LIONS DEN SHOWS YAHUAH'S POWER AND ABILITY TO RESTORE THE PEACEFUL RELATIONSHIP THAT FIRST EXISTED BETWEEN MAN AND BEAST.
THE PRESERVATION OF DANIEL AMIDST THE LIONS (BEASTS) IS A SHADOW OF HOW YAHUSHA WILL PRESERVE HIS BRIDE DURING THE REIGN OF THE BEAST-SYSTEM, WORLD-RULERS AND THE GREAT TRIBULATION HERE TODAY IN THESE LAST DAYS.
TRUST AND BELIEF LOOKS AWAY FROM EARTHLY CIRCUMSTANCE TO AN OMNIPOTENT - ALL POWERFUL ALAHIM!
"BUT THE DELIVERANCE OF THE RIGHTEOUS IS FROM YAHUAH - HE IS THEIR STRENGTH IN THE TIME OF TROUBLE. AND YAHUAH SHALL HELP THEM AND DELIVER THEM - HE SHALL DELIVER THEM FROM THE WICKED, AND DELIVER THEM, BECAUSE THEY TRUST IN HIM". PSALM 37
24Then the King gave a command to bring the Leaders who had accused Daniel to the lions’ den. Then those men, their wives and children were thrown into the lions’ den. And the lions ravaged them before they even hit the floor, devouring their bodies and chewing on their bones.
THEY WERE KILLED FOR INTENTIONALLY MISLEADING THE KING WITH FALSE INTENTIONS (NOT TO MENTION ATTEMPTED MANSLAUGHTER).
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KINGS LIKE NEBUCHADNEZZAR AND DARIUS WERE SOVEREIGN IN IMPOSING THE DEATH PENALTY. DANIEL’S ACCUSERS NOW REAPED WHAT THEY HAD SOWN.
25Then King Darius wrote this letter to all the people from other nations and languages around the world: "Greetings: 26I'm making a new law for people in every part of my Kingdom. All of you must fear and respect the Alahim of Daniel, for He is the living Alahim and steadfast forever. His Kingdom will never be destroyed and His rule will never end!"
27Alahim helps and delivers people. He does amazing miracles in Heaven and on earth. He delivered Daniel from the lions' den". 28So Daniel was successful during the time Darius was King and also when Cyrus the Persian was King.
THIS ENDS THE OFFICIAL ACCOUNT OF DANIEL, WHO LIVED BEYOND THE RULE OF DARIUS, AT LEAST UNTIL THE THIRD YEAR OF CYRUS. AND YAHUAH USED DANIEL AS A SIGNIFICANT INFLUENCE IN THE LIFE OF CYRUS, LEADING TO THE DECREE OF CYRUS IN 536B.C, ENDING THE CAPTIVITY OF THE JEWS IN BABYLON AND ALLOWING THEM TO RETURN TO JERUSALEM.
IT SHOULD BE NOTICED THAT WHILE THERE WERE MOMENTS OF GREAT DANGER, EVEN IMMINENT DEATH IN DANIEL’S LIFE (IN BABYLON), IT SEEMS THAT MOST OF THE TIME HE DID QUITE WELL FOR HIMSELF AND ENJOYED A MEANINGFUL AND ABUNDANT LIFESTYLE. THE LOYALTY, TRUTHFULNESS AND COURAGE SEEN IN THE LIVES AND SERVICE OF THESE JEWS TO THEIR MASTERS HAD MUCH TO DO WITH THE GENERALLY DECENT WAY THAT THE EXILES OF JUDAH WERE TREATED DURING THOSE 70 YEARS IN BABYLON.
SO MUCH SO, THAT WHEN CYRUS CALLED FOR THE JEWS TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMELAND OF JUDAH, AND EVEN COMMITTED PERSIAN GOVERNMENT-MONEY TO HELP REBUILD THE JERUSALEM TEMPLE, RELATIVELY FEW JEWS TOOK ADVANTAGE OF IT. THE MAJORITY HAD CREATED GOOD LIVES FOR THEMSELVES IN BABYLON, ESTABLISHED FAMILY AND COMMUNITY TIES, AND PREFERRED TO STAY `IN SLAVERY'..... SUCH IS THE WORLD TODAY!
YAHUSHA IS STEADFAST FOREVER:
( H E B R E W U N D E R S T A N D I N G ) :
"ENDURING, ABIDING - PERTAINING TO EXIST
AND SO REMAIN IN A (SURE) STATE.”
YAHUSHA IS STEADFAST, NOT CAPRICIOUS, FICKLE OR GIVEN
TO SUDDEN AND UNACCOUNTABLE CHANGES
OF MOOD OR BEHAVIOUR!
( S C R I P T U R E U N D E R S T A N D I N G ) :
"FOR I AM YAHUAH, I DON'T CHANGE, THEREFORE YOU ARE NOT CONSUMED, O' SONS OF JACOB!"
MALACHI 3:6
"SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF YAHUAH AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, THEN ALL THESE OTHER THINGS WILL BE ADDED TO YOU!"
MATT 6:33
YAHUSHA'S KINGDOM IS THE ONE WHICH WILL NEVER BE DESTROYED, AND HIS DOMINION WILL ENDURE TO THE END. YAHUSHA WORKS SIGNS AND WONDERS IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH. IN DANIEL’S LIFETIME, WE FIND THE MIRACULOUS PRESERVATION OF SHADRACH, MESHACH AND ABEDNEGO IN THE FIERY FURNACE AND ALSO DANIEL IN THE LIONS' DEN. WE ALSO SAW KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR TRANSFORMED INTO A BEAST FOR SEVEN YEARS AND THEN RESTORED BACK TO HIS REIGN AGAIN.
YAHUSHA IS COMPLETELY SUPERNATURAL IN HIS WORKINGS AND DEALINGS WITH US IN OUR DAILY REALITY OF LIFE !! SO IF WE SEEK HIM WITH ALL OF OUR HEART HE WILL NOT ONLY PROTECT US BUT GIVE US THE DAILY DESIRES OF OUR HEART ... BUT WE MUST PUT HIM FIRST ALWAYS !
BEING STEADFAST MEANS TO STAND AND ENDURE EVERYTHING THIS LIFE PRESENTS, AND STILL REMAIN CONSCIOUS AND EXIST (TO SERVE) IN THE MOMENT (NOT DWELLING ON THE PAST OR THE FUTURE) ... BUT MOVING ASIDE WITHIN OURSELVES TO ALLOW THE LOVE OF YAHUSHA TO FLOW THROUGH OUR VESSELS TO ANOTHER. IT IS THE ONLY GOAL AND PURPOSE OF HIM DYING AND EMPOWERING US .... LOVE!
NO MATTER WHAT LIONS, WOLVES OR BEASTS LAY IN WAIT TO ATTACK US - YAHUSHA'S ANGELS WILL SHUT THEIR MOUTHS - RENDERING THEM USELESS AGAINST HIS POWER!
Are there things in the way, stopping you from surrendering, being steadfast and giving your whole life over to Yahusha's Way? These things must be sacrificed on the altar and thrown in the fire, releasing you into the life He requires from you!
