Often when Believers are set in a place of authority, it is not long before the Enemy raises his ugly head, determined to target the faithful—and Daniel was no exception. Soon others in the court were plotting, “So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him. Then these men said, ‘We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God’” (Daniel 6:4–5).
The accusers could find no fault with Daniel; his life was exemplary, his record one of integrity and faithfulness. He was a target in good standing for the Fellowship of the Offended. The jealous men had to resort to subterfuge in order to trap their rival. Daniel was widely known for his custom of praying three times each day with his face pointed toward Jerusalem. The pattern had long been established, so his adversaries took advantage of Daniel’s prayer routine and approached the king, Darius, with a plan that prayers could only be offered to him rather than any other deity. The king was flattered by all this attention. Who wouldn’t want to be God for a while!
Obviously, Darius wanted all the accolades and adoration, so he succumbed to the temptation and signed the decree. He was swept away on a tide of egoism and pressed his signet ring into the wax on a document that would become law, one that could not be changed. The thing was done—bow to any God except Darius and become lion fodder. When Daniel heard of the new law that had been imposed, what do you suppose he did? Wring his hands and cry, “Why me, God?” Did he begin to look for a secret place to pray or fashion a plan of escape? Did he close all the windows and lock the doors? No! “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days” (Daniel 6:10).
Fear did not rule Daniel’s life. God had been faithful to him and to his friends. Daniel had no reason to doubt. He would either be protected in the lions’ den, or he would not. It made no difference; he was committed to doing the will of God. He refused to compromise his beliefs to gain the favor of the king.
There is no record that Daniel offered any argument to the king before he was led away to the lions’ den; only after God had vindicated him and saved him from the jaws of the ferocious beasts did he offer any defense. He knew he had been innocent of anything other than obedience to Jehovah-Shammah—the Lord who was Present in the lions’ den. Daniel had sought the kingdom of God and been rewarded. Daniel’s consecration had won him the favor of the king, but more importantly, it won him God’s continued favor.
