6:3 Then this Daniel b 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.
(b) This heathen king preferred Daniel a stranger to all his
nobles and those he was familiar with, because the
graces of God were more excellent in him than in others.
6:4 Then the presidents and princes c 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.
(c) Thus the wicked cannot abide the graces of God in
others, but seek by every occasion to deface them:
therefore against such assaults there is no better
remedy than to walk upright in the fear of God, and to
have a good conscience.
6:9 Wherefore king Darius d signed the writing and the decree.
(d) In this is condemned the wickedness of the king, who
would be set up as a god, and did not care what wicked
laws he approved for the maintenance of it.
6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went
into his house; and his e 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.
(e) Because he would not by his silence show that he
consented to this wicked decree, he set open his
windows toward Jerusalem when he prayed: both to stir
up himself with the remembrance of God's promises to
his people, when they should pray toward that temple,
and also that others might see that he would neither
consent in heart nor deed for these few days to
anything that was contrary to God's glory.
6:15 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 f changed.
(f) Thus the wicked maintain evil laws by constancy and
authority, which is often either weakness, or
stubbornness, and the innocent as a result perish by
them: and these governors neither ought to fear, nor be
ashamed to break such laws.
6:20 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, g able to deliver thee from the
lions?
(g) This declares that Darius was not touched with the true
knowledge of God, because he doubted of his power.
6:22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions'
mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him
h innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O
king, have I done i no hurt.
(h) My just cause and uprightness in this thing in which I
was charged, is approved by God.
(i) For he disobeyed the kings's wicked commandment in
order to obey God, and so he did no injury to the king,
who ought to command nothing by which God would be
dishonoured.
6:23 Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded
that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel
was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was
found upon him, because he k believed in his God.
(k) Because he committed himself wholly to God whose cause
he defended, he was assured that nothing but good could
come to him: and in this we see the power of faith, as
in (He 11:33).
6:24 And the king commanded, and they brought those men which
had accused Daniel, and they l 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.
(l) This is a terrible example against all the wicked who
do against their conscience make cruel laws to destroy
the children of God, and also admonishes princes how to
punish such when their wickedness is come to light:
though not in every point, or with similar
circumstances, but yet to execute true justice upon
them.
6:26 I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men
tremble and fear m before the God of Daniel: for he [is]
the n living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom
[that] which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion
[shall be even] unto the end.
(m) This does not prove that Darius worshipped God
properly, or was converted: for then he would have
destroyed all superstition and idolatry, and not only
given God the chief place, but also have set him up,
and caused him to be honoured according to his word.
But this was a specific confession of God's power, unto
which he was compelled by this wonderful miracle.
(n) Who not only has life in himself, but is the only
fountain of life, and quickens all things, so that
without him there is no life.
