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Commentary on Daniel 6 verses 11–17
Here is 1. Proof made of Daniel's praying to his God, notwithstanding the late edict to the contrary (Dan 6:11): These men assembled; the came tumultuously together, so the word is, the same that was used Dan 6:6, borrowed from Psa 2:1, Why do the heathen rage? They came together to visit Daniel, perhaps under pretence of business, at that time which they knew to be his usual hour of devotion; and, if they had not found him so engaged, they would have upbraided him with his faint-heartedness and distrust of his God, but (which they rather wished to do) they found him on his knees praying and making supplication before his God. For his love they are his adversaries; but, like his father David, he gives himself unto prayer, Psa 109:4. 2. Complaint made of it to the king. When they had found occasion against Daniel concerning the law of his God they lost no time, but applied to the king (Dan 6:12), and having appealed to his whether there was not such a law made, and gained from him a recognition of it, and that it was so ratified that it might not be altered, they proceeded to accuse Daniel, Dan 6:13. They so describe him, in the information they give, as to exasperate the king and incense him the more against him: "He is of the children of the captivity of Judah; he is of Judah, that despicable people, and now a captive in a despicable state, that can call nothing his own but what he has by the king's favour, and yet he regards not thee, O king! nor the decree that thou hast signed." Note, It is no new thing for that which is done faithfully, in the conscience towards God, to be misrepresented as done obstinately and in contempt of the civil powers, that is, for the best saints to be reproached as the worst men. Daniel regarded God, and therefore prayed, and we have reason to think prayed for the king and his government, yet this is construed as not regarding the king. That excellent spirit which Daniel was endued with, and that established reputation which he had gained, could not protect him from these poisonous darts. They do not say, He makes his petition to his God, lest Darius should take notice of that to his praise, but only, He makes his petition, which is the thing the law forbids. 3. The great concern the king was in hereupon. He now perceived that, whatever they pretended, it was not to honour him, but in spite to Daniel, that they had proposed that law, and now he is sorely displeased with himself for gratifying them in it, Dan 6:14. Note, When men indulge a proud vain-glorious humour, and please themselves with that which feeds it, they know not what vexations they are preparing for themselves; their flatterers may prove their tormentors, and are but spreading a net for their feet. Now, the king sets his heart to deliver Daniel; both by argument and by authority he labours till the going down of the sun to deliver him, that is, to persuade his accusers not to insist upon his prosecution. Note, We often do that, through inconsideration, which afterwards we see cause a thousand times to wish undone again, which is a good reason why we should ponder the path of our feet, for then all our ways will be established. 4. The violence with which the prosecutors demanded judgment, Dan 6:15. We are not told what Daniel said; the king himself is his advocate, he needs not plead his own cause, but silently commits himself and it to him that judges righteously. But the prosecutors insist upon it that the law must have its course; it is a fundamental maxim in the constitution of the government of the Medes and Persians, which had now become the universal monarchy, that no decree or statute which the king establishes may be changed. The same we find Est 1:19; Est 8:8. The Chaldeans magnified the will of their king, by giving him a power to make and unmake laws at his pleasure, to slay and keep alive whom he would. The Persians magnified the wisdom of their king, by supposing that whatever law he solemnly ratified it was so well made that there could be no occasion to alter it, or dispense with it, as if any human foresight could, in framing a law, guard against all inconveniences. But, if this maxim be duly applied to Daniel's case (as I am apt to think it is not, but perverted), while it honours the king's legislative power it hampers his executive power, and incapacitates him to show that mercy which upholds the throne, and to pass acts of indemnity, which are the glories of a reign. Those who allow not the sovereign's power to dispense with a disabling statute, yet never question his power to pardon an offence against a penal statute. But Darius is denied this power. See what need we have to pray for princes that God would give them wisdom, for they are often embarrassed with great difficulties, even the wisest and best are. 5. The executing of the law upon Daniel. The king himself, with the utmost reluctance, and against his conscience, signs the warrant for his execution; and Daniel, that venerable grave man, who carried such a mixture of majesty and sweetness in his countenance, who had so often looked great upon the bench, and at the council-board, and greater upon his knees, who had power with God and man, and had prevailed, is brought, purely for worshipping his God, as if he had been one of the vilest of malefactors, and thrown into the den of lions, to be devoured by them, Dan 6:16. One cannot think of it without the utmost compassion to the gracious sufferer and the utmost indignation at the malicious prosecutors. To make sure work, the stone laid upon the mouth of the den is sealed, and the king (an over-easy man) is persuaded to seal it with his own signet (Dan 6:17), that unhappy signet with which he had confirmed the law that Daniel falls by. But his lords cannot trust him, unless they add their signets too. Thus, when Christ was buried, his adversaries sealed the stone that was rolled to the door of his sepulchre. 6. The encouragement which Darius gave to Daniel to trust in God: Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee, Dan 6:16. Here (1.) He justifies Daniel from guilt, owning all his crime to be serving his God continually, and continuing to do so even when it was made a crime. (2.) He leaves it to God to free him from punishment, since he could not prevail to do it: He will deliver thee. He is sure that his God can deliver him, for he believes him to be an almighty God, and he has reason to think he will do it, having heard of his delivering Daniel's companions in a like case from the fiery furnace, and concluding him to be always faithful to those who approve themselves faithful to him. Note, Those who serve God continually he will continually preserve, and will bear them out in his service.
Verse 14. "And when the king heard this statement, he became quite grieved and applied himself on Daniel's behalf that he might deliver him." He realized that he had been tripped up by his own reply to their question, and also that envy was the motive of their plot. And so to avoid the appearance of acting against his own law, he wanted to deliver Daniel from danger by ingenuity and strategy rather than by exerting his royal authority. And so earnestly did he labor and strive that he would not accept any food, absolute monarch though he was, even until sunset. And as for the plotters, so firmly did they persist in their evil purpose that no consideration of the king's personal desire or of the damage he would sustain had any effect upon them.
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SUMMARY
Daniel 6:14 vividly portrays King Darius's profound distress and moral conflict upon discovering the inescapable trap set for his esteemed servant, Daniel. Despite wielding immense royal authority, the king found himself utterly constrained by the immutable laws of his own kingdom. This realization spurred him to dedicate every ounce of his effort, from dawn until dusk, in a desperate and ultimately futile attempt to deliver Daniel from the decreed punishment of the lions' den. The verse powerfully encapsulates the king's personal anguish, his deep respect for Daniel, and the unyielding nature of Medo-Persian law, thereby setting the dramatic stage for divine intervention.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The verse employs several potent literary devices that deepen its impact. Irony is powerfully evident in the king's predicament: despite being the supreme ruler of a vast empire, he finds himself utterly powerless to overturn a law he himself enacted, highlighting the unyielding nature of Medo-Persian decrees and, by extension, the inherent limitations of even the highest human authority. The phrase "laboured till the going down of the sun" functions as both hyperbole and synecdoche, emphasizing the king's exhaustive and continuous effort throughout the entire day, using the setting sun to symbolize the full duration and intensity of his desperate struggle. The king's profound internal struggle, being "sore displeased with himself," demonstrates pathos, effectively evoking sympathy for his moral dilemma and the immense burden of his office, trapped by his own decree.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Daniel 6:14 profoundly illustrates the tension between human decree and divine sovereignty. King Darius, the most powerful man in his empire, finds himself utterly constrained by the very laws he enacted, demonstrating the inherent limitations of human authority, especially when it stands in opposition to God's will. His desperate, all-day labor to deliver Daniel underscores the reality that even the sincerest and most powerful human efforts are ultimately insufficient to thwart God's purposes or to save those whom God intends to deliver. Ultimately, this verse sets the stage for God's miraculous intervention, showcasing His power to work through, or in spite of, human systems to protect His faithful servants and glorify His name. It foreshadows the ultimate truth that true deliverance comes not from human might or legal maneuvering, but from the sovereign hand of God alone.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
King Darius's anguish and tireless efforts in Daniel 6:14 serve as a powerful mirror for us, reflecting the weighty impact of our own decisions and the profound consequences they can have on others. It reminds us that even those in positions of immense power are not immune to regret or the unforeseen repercussions of their actions, especially when they act without careful wisdom or discernment. For believers, this verse challenges us to consider the depth of our own convictions: like Daniel, are we willing to stand firm in our faith, even when it incurs the displeasure of earthly authorities or places us in personal peril? The king's desperate attempts to save Daniel also highlight the enduring value of a life lived with integrity and unwavering faithfulness; Daniel's exemplary character had earned him such profound respect that even a pagan king would labor tirelessly for his salvation. Ultimately, while human efforts may be sincere and well-intentioned, this narrative points us to the greater truth that our ultimate deliverance and hope rest not in the power of kings or the rigidity of laws, but in the sovereign, delivering hand of God.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why was King Darius so "sore displeased with himself" and not with Daniel or the conspirators?
Answer: King Darius's displeasure was primarily directed at himself because he recognized his own culpability and foolishness in the situation. He had been manipulated by the envious satraps and presidents into signing an irreversible decree (Daniel 6:8) without fully grasping its malicious intent or its potential devastating impact on Daniel, whom he highly esteemed. His profound regret stemmed from his own lack of discernment in being outmaneuvered and the agonizing realization that his royal authority was now bound by the very law he had enacted. While he undoubtedly felt anger towards the conspirators, the immediate and overwhelming emotion described was self-reproach, highlighting the immense burden of his leadership and the tragic consequences of his unwise decision.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Daniel 6:14, with King Darius's desperate and ultimately futile efforts to deliver Daniel, powerfully foreshadows the greater truth of humanity's inherent inability to deliver itself from the condemnation of sin. Just as Darius, despite his immense power, was bound by an unchangeable law and could not save Daniel from its demands, so too is humanity bound by the immutable law of God's perfect justice, utterly unable to save itself from the penalty of sin through its own "labors" or good works (Romans 3:20). The king's deep anguish and sincere desire to deliver Daniel point to the ultimate, divine "heart" that was set on delivering humanity from its far greater predicament. This ultimate deliverance came not through a king's tireless but limited efforts, but through the perfect, unblemished sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the true King of kings, who willingly laid down His life to fulfill the righteous demands of God's law and set us free (Romans 5:8; Galatians 3:13). Christ's work on the cross was not a "labor till the going down of the sun" but a complete, once-for-all, and eternally sufficient act of redemption, securing eternal deliverance for all who believe (Hebrews 9:12). Thus, Darius's human struggle highlights the glorious, sovereign, and all-sufficient salvation offered through Christ alone.