“Then 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. Then 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 6:4-5.
I read this chapter this morning as part of my daily Bible reading.
The Bible ever reveals to us that, as Solomon observed, “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun,” Ecclesiastes 1:9.
Thus we see repeated throughout time, the follies of sinful men who think and act without due regard to the omnipresence and omniscience of the Lord!
Medo-Persian Empire
The scheming of the presidents and princes of the kingdom of Darius, the Mede, was born of resentment of the position and favour that Daniel enjoyed. There were three presidents appointed to rule under Darius but, “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,” verse 3.
As is ever the case in politics and, sadly sometimes amongst God’s people, jealousy begat spiteful and wicked scheming!
Perhaps we should consider the fact that Daniel, a Jew and formerly a man who was highly esteemed in the Babylonian empire that Darius and his army had just conquered, would naturally have been resented by Gentile Median nobility because of the favour shown to him by Darius.
It has to be stated clearly that at no time did Daniel ever seek favour or advancement in either empire, first under the Babylonians or here, under the Medes and Persians.
He was favoured simply because of the grace of God that was displayed in his life. Like Paul, Daniel strove “to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men,” Acts 24:16.
For this reason he was despised and plotted against!
I could not but notice the familiar pattern of events that took place back then, some two and a half millennia ago.
1. The means employed to trap Daniel was the enactment of a new law!
“Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever. All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. Wherefore King Darius signed the writing and the decree,” Daniel 6:6-9.
The new law flattered Darius and it was this that persuaded him to sign.
How often does man’s desire to be considered superior to his fellowman result in folly. Darius was thus placed by this law above all others, even in a place of dominance over matters religious!
2. The law was endorsed by Darius in blindness and ignorance.
Not until it was too late did he realise the consequences of the ‘new law’! It condemned an innocent and godly man for doing nothing more than obeying the Lord!
“Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime,” Daniel 6:10.
Daniel “knew that the writing was signed” and that the new law was now in power. BUT it did not stop him from doing what he had ALWAYS done. “He kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.”
The new notions and innovations that come along and with which some are enamoured and feel that all should comply with, are no new thing. It has broken out amongst us in the Free Presbyterian Church. New views on fellowship, on hymnology, even on theology and the will of God for His people in this day, have surfaced amongst us.
Those of the ‘old paths’ find themselves targeted, ostracised, for being out of touch with the new views and notions!
In Daniel’s case, it was more than that. His death was desired. Of course, that is the ultimate development of this spirit. It was seen in history on many occasions during times of persecution. The ‘Martyr’s Stake’ had its beginnings in a spirit of jealousy and animosity toward the preaching of the Bible!
Deceived
The awakening of Darius to the fact that he had been deceived into formulating the new law and the dire consequences of his actions, brought him much grief and exposed his helplessness in doing anything to undo his folly.
“Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day. Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him. Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed. Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions,” Daniel 6:13-16.
The only hope there was for Daniel’s deliverance was an intervention by the Lord!
“Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee,” verse 16.
It is to be noted that the King was humbled and distraught by his foolish act. “Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him,” verse 18.
Is there not something to be learned by Free Presbyterians with regards recent developments within our church?
I think there is.
3. The innocence of Daniel was vindicated by the Lord.
“Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt,” Daniel 6:19-22.
The schemes of bad men against good men will not succeed! The Bible emphasises that truth.
But vindication of Daniel by the Lord resulted also in judgment upon the miscreants!
“And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den,” verse :24.
In this case they were ungodly men, but it happens also to saved men who, despite many warnings of their wrong, persist in pressing on in rebellion against the Lord.
“And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD,” 2 Chronicles 19:2.
Jehoshaphat was a godly man.
“And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim,” 2 Chronicles 17:3.
However, he persisted in a foolish alliance with ungodly Ahab and that brought God’s wrath upon him. Doubtless Jehoshaphat was sorry for his wrong-doing. But sadly, he repeated his sin.
“And after this did Jehoshaphat king of Judah join himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, who did very wickedly,” 2 Chronicles 20:35. It is hard to understand why men who know better still sin against the Lord!
Sorry or not, Jehoshaphat was not spared judgment.
It is said of his son: “Now Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. And Jehoram his son reigned in his stead. And he had brethren the sons of Jehoshaphat, Azariah, and Jehiel, and Zechariah, and Azariah, and Michael, and Shephatiah: all these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel. And their father gave them great gifts of silver, and of gold, and of precious things, with fenced cities in Judah: but the kingdom gave he to Jehoram; because he was the firstborn. Now when Jehoram was risen up to the kingdom of his father, he strengthened himself, and slew all his brethren with the sword, and divers also of the princes of Israel. Jehoram was thirty and two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, like as did the house of Ahab: for he had the daughter of Ahab to wife: and he wrought that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD,” 2 Chronicles 21:1-6.
This was the fruit of Jehoram’s dalliance with Ahab!
“Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners,” 1 Corinthians 15:33.
4. The whole event backfired on the wicked and brought glory to the Lord!
“Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. I 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. He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian,” Daniel 6:25-28.
We can say of the record given us in this chapter: ‘All’s well that ends well.’
So it will ever be in the grand purpose of God. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose,” Romans 8:28.
That is the result I am looking for in the present controversy I find myself involved in with our Presbytery as a result of seeking to do that which ‘I did aforetime’!