Part 5: Recognizing the Lion is not King

Ok, let’s get into the next plot against Daniel. Now history tells us Daniel had just witnessed the murder and overthrow of Belshazzar on Oct 16, 539 B.C. And that King Cyrus (Darius the Mede) and his Medo-Persian army fully enter Babylon on Oct 26, 539 B.C. This puts Daniel under his third ruler, he’s been in captivity roughly 70 years. However, God has used his situation to elevate him amongst kings and the upper class of Babylon. Actually, if you really consider, Daniel is the most influential man even above the kings he served. So much so that Satan has to do something to try and get rid of him. In chapter 6 we find King Cyrus appointing “satraps” these are provincial administrators primarily tasked to assist in the vision/direction of the king. This could be things such as implementation of development projects and the delivery of the basic services in the province. They would also be in charge of the daily administrative and internal operations of the province they are assigned. To understand the scope of Cyrus’s domain he had 120 satraps. Daniel’s role became that of governor, one of three assisting the king as his vice-regents. This means they acted in place of the king when appointed to do so. This would be similar to a vice-president today.

What happens next is Daniel rises above the other two governors and all the satraps in the eye of the king. The king considered heavily making Daniel head of his entire kingdom. Now it’s important we don’t miss God is orchestrating this place of influence to assist in the Jews return to Judah. The bible and history note this return did occur between 539 – 537 B.C. while Cyrus is ruler. (For reference read Ezra chapters 1 and 6). This also does occur before the lion’s den incident. When we study this, we find that in the first year of king Cyrus he makes a proclamation to this fact. Thus, fulfilling the prophesy God had given Jeremiah, where in reading you will find Judah had rebelled. This was a result of the Kingdom of Israel (Samaria) becoming split into two kingdoms Judah being the other. They then followed in the same disobedient way as Israel. This angered God but he promised if they would repent, he would deliver them and one day restore them to Israel.

This now ties back to Daniel chapter 1 Nebuchadnezzar over takes Judah and destroys the temple and takes the articles and vessels etc. Cyrus through the afore mentioned proclamation starts to rebuild the temple and returns the contents to the temple as the process of restoration begins. As a note Cyrus doesn’t complete the temple as work is halted at one point for roughly 16 years. It resumed under King Darius of Persia using the proclamation originally issued by King Cyrus (Darius the Mede). Hopefully this eliminates any King Darius confusion if you read Ezra to learn more of the temple rebuild.

Well here we go, what you have all been waiting for! How does Daniel end up in the lion's den after all this and how does all this make sense? Obviously, the other governors and satraps were angered at the favor bestowed on Daniel by the king. So they set out to find dirt on him, just like politics is done today. Except Daniel was faithful and a just man so they couldn’t find a single thing. Just like it had happened years earlier to the fiery furnace boys, the enemies say “Hey king no one should worship anyone but you for 30 days.” “Decree it to be so if they worship another, into the lion’s den they go”. Now we learned prior that Daniel prays three times a day to God, so obviously they knew he wouldn’t last one second with this rule. Soon after they catch him praying they return to the king to spill their guts Daniel 6:4-13. When the king hears this he is unhappy, but not with Daniel with himself. So, he sets out to try and save Daniel from the consequences. However, the enemies were relentless and basically said to the king “Hey you can’t let this slide, your word is your word”. King Cyrus then sends Daniel to the lion’s den. Now most historians date Daniel’s life to have been from 620-538 B.C., which means Daniel was around 80 years old when this occurred. This is one of the most amazing writings in the word of God when you read Daniel 6:16-23. You see where most read this and see the end, God meant it for a beginning. Before entering that tomb Daniel clearly understood that the lion (Satan) was not King. This passage by design is to reflect the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ! As a matter of fact, this whole book really brings together the full picture of Jesus and His gift of salvation for us. I will break it out for you below.

The Temple: this relates from Daniel as Jesus metaphorically describes Himself as this Temple in the new testament. See Mark 14:58 when Jesus is before the council after being arrested in the garden and see John 2:19 when Jesus clears the temple with the money changers. Why use a temple metaphor? Well a temple is a sacred place you dwell and worship in, which is exactly what God wants us to do with him.

Restoration: Unlike the temple in the old testament that took much longer to rebuild. When you read the above reference scriptures about the Temple. Jesus clearly states He will rebuild the Temple not made with human hands (referring to Himself) in 3 days. Remember the stone from Daniel 2:45 that was a direct reference to Jesus being the Temple.

Death/Burial/Resurrection: The enemies thought the tomb of the lion’s den was the end of Daniel. So thought Satan that the death of Jesus on the cross was the end, but death could not hold Him. See Acts 2:24. Daniel was placed in a den (wild animal habitat) which was basically a tomb like structure and a stone rolled and sealed in front of it. This reflects Jesus being buried in a borrowed tomb with a stone rolled and sealed in front of it. See Matthew 27:57-66. Daniel’s one-night stay in the tomb was not a literal resurrection. However, it represents Jesus literally after death and burial rebuilding the Temple (Himself) and walking out of the tomb. It showed that He had conquered death and that He indeed is the risen Messiah that Daniel and all the prophets spoke of long ago. See Isaiah 53:1-12.

Repentance: Just like Israel and Judah in the days of old, God is calling us modern time folks to repentance today. See Acts 17:30

Salvation: King Cyrus (Darius the Mede) wanted to save Daniel, however he could not. The opportunity for eternal salvation from death which is the consequence of our sins can only come through Jesus Christ. This reiterates God’s promise to deliver and restore us unto Himself. See Acts 4:12 and 1 Timothy 2:5.