Daniel 6:23-28
Darius was overjoyed when Daniel answered and he immediately commanded that he be taken from the den. It was clear as Daniel emerged from among the lions that he had suffered not even a scratch. This was a great miracle of God, and clearly it was Daniel’s faith that had allowed God to preform it. We must make the application by saying that God wants to greatly use each of us, but he cannot if we do not life by faith. Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Seeking after God simply means obeying him and following His instructions to us. God cannot bless the unfaithful nor those who do not trust Him. How many miracles we could have seen in our lives had we been faithful, but were lost because we were not fully trusting the Lord.
God is a just God and He says that vengeance is His and that He will repay those who abuse and persecute believers. (Romans 12:19). Darius then commanded that these sinful men who had hatched the plot against Daniel and the king be taken, with their wives and children and cast in unto the lions. To show the magnitude of the miracle of being God delivering Daniel, as these people were throw to the lions, they were torn to pieces before they even reached the bottom. There could be no mistake that unless God had intervened Daniel too would have been devoured.
Darius then make a stunning decree: “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” (Dan. 6:26-27).
In this decree there is not doubt that Darius believed in God, in His power, and that He is our eternal God. This decree which magnified God was even stronger that Nebuchadnezzar’s decree of Daniel 3:29. In the Bible we hear no more of Darius although there are several others mentioned who bear this title. Darius appears to like Nebuchadnezzar to bowed himself in belief to God and it is possible both men were saved.
This event stands out in the Bible as one of the greatest acts of faith and of an example to us of the faithfulness of God to those who love and serve him.
