STUDIES IN THE BOOK OF DANIEL.

October 27, 2021

Darius’s Decree—Daniel’s Disobedience and Consequent Exposure to the Lions—His Deliverance by God. Dan. 6:1-28.

God is God amid universal idolatry Is. 43:10-14, and he blesses those serving the true God 1Chro. 17:20-21, Ps. 144:15. “Darius recognized the greatness of God: that He is living and eternal, sovereign, all-powerful, and able to deliver His people…” HCSB Std Bib.

  1. “Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages… Peace be multiplied unto you.I make a decree, That… men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever… He delivereth and rescueth… So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.”
  2. King Darius wrote...Just as King Nebuchadnezzar before him, King Darius issued a decree to every people, nation, and language (cp. 4:2), declaring praise to the God of Daniel. ch. 4:1. Ezr. 1:1, 2. Es. 3:12; 8:9. Peace. Ezr. 4:17. 1Pe. 1:2. 2Pe. 1:2. Jude 2. “It is true that all the inhabitants of the earth are obliged to that which is here decreed…” M. Henry
  3. I make a decree. ch. 3:29, Ezr. 6:8–12; 7:12–13. Every man tremble and fear the God of Daniel. Ps. 2:11; 99:1–3; 119:120, Is. 66:2, Jer. 10:10, Lk. 12:5, Heb. 12:29 “Peace be multiplied unto you, for the only foundation of true and abundant peace is laid in the fear of God, for that is true wisdom. If we live in the fear of God, and walk according to that rule, peace shall be upon us, peace shall be multiplied to us… he would have commanded all men not only to tremble and fear before this God, but to love him and trust in him, to forsake the service of their idols, and to worship him only, and call upon him as Daniel did.” M. Henry
  4. for He is the living God. ch. 4:34, Deut. 5:26, 1Sam. 17:26–36, Hos. 1:10, Acts. 17:25, Ro. 9:26, 1Th. 1:9. Rev. 4:10; 5:14 and stedfast forever. Ps. 93:1–2; 146:10, Mal. 3:6. Heb. 6:17–18, Jas. 1:17. and his kingdom which shall not be destroyed... See on ch. 2:44; 4:3–34; 7:14–27, Ps. 29:10; 145:12, 13, Is. 9:7, Lk. 1:33, Rev. 11:15 “He is the living God, lives as a God, whereas the gods we worship are dead things… His government is incontestable. He has a kingdom…he not only lives, but reigns as an absolute sovereign. Both his being and his government are unchangeable… and with him is no shadow of turning.” M. Henry
  5. He delivereth and rescue. Job 36:15, Ps. 18:48, 50; 32:7, Lk. 1:74, 75, 2Cor. 1:8–10, 2Tim. 4:17, 18. and he worketh signs and wonders. ch. 4:2, 3, 34, Jer. 32:19–20, Mk. 16:17, 18, Act. 4:30.
  6. So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and … Cyrus. 2Ch. 36:22, 23, Ezr. 1:1, 2, Is. 44:28; 45:1. “now he prospered more than ever, was more in favour with his prince and in reputation with the people..Thus, out of the eater (and that was a lion too) comes forth meat, and out of the strong sweetness.” M. Henry