Daniel: Far From HomeSample

At the end of chapter 5 we saw the great Babylonian kingdom defeated and replaced by the Persians. King Darius is the new superpower.

In Daniel 6:1–3, the focus is on Daniel’s position in the new kingdom. It appears in chapter 5 that during the reign of Belshazzar, Daniel had been marginalized. However, in these verses, we see Daniel in high office. There are 120 administrators, with three over them, one of whom is Daniel. But because of his exceptional abilities he is set to be prime minister (v. 3). 

Daniel’s rise to power isn’t welcomed by those he has been promoted above. They want him removed. Daniel’s personal morality, and his consistent godly living, is recognized by those jealous of him (vv. 4,5). Daniel has modelled the way the New Testament calls us to live (see 1 Pet. 2:11,12).

In verses 6 to 9 we see that the envious administrators come up with a plan that they think will lead to the removal of Daniel from office. They persuade King Darius to pass a law that prohibits anyone from praying to any god. People would only be able to pray to Darius himself. Any contravention to this law means certain death – being thrown in the lions’ den.

We can’t read chapter 6 without noticing the similarities to chapter 3. In the Aramaic section of the book (chapters 2 – 7) these chapters mirror each other (just as chapter 2 mirrors chapter 7, and chapter 4 mirrors chapter 5). They both open with the king issuing an arrogant law that sets the king up against God. In both chapters, failure to obey the king will lead to certain death (either a fiery furnace or a lions’ den). In both chapters, other administrators are opposed to God’s people.

These chapters together show us how the world the exiles live in wants the exiles to conform, to be just like it. In chapter 3, we saw the pressure on the exiles to do something God forbade (worship an idol). In chapter 6, we see the pressure on an exile not to do something God commands (pray to Him). Here are the twin pressures God’s people always face in the world. They are the sins of commission and omission.

Reflection

Not doing what God commands is as much worldliness as doing the things that He forbids. Think of ways in which you are under pressure not to do things which God commands you. What might be the consequences for you if you continue not to do the things God wants?