Daniel 6 - Selected Verses
“Although Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he continued to go to his house, which had windows in its upper room open towards Jerusalem, and to get down on his knees three times a day to pray to his God and praise him, just as he had done previously.” (6:10)
6:10 just as he had done previously. Daniel’s enemies attack him precisely at the point of his reliability—his prayer practice. Daniel’s prayer life is exemplified in a few brief phrases. It is private (in his house) yet public (with windows open). He prays in a room facing “toward Jerusalem” as Muslims today pray toward Mecca; and he does so several times a day. Though in exile and under watch, he includes “praise.” Most importantly, Daniel is steadfast in prayer, doing “as he had done previously.” Kneeling is also mentioned, yet is only one of many positions for prayer in the Bible. Other postures include spreading or raising one’s arms, bowing down, lying prostrate, standing, and sitting.
“Then they responded to the king, ‘Daniel, one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the interdict you have signed, but he is saying his prayers three times a day.’” (6:13)
6:13 he is saying his prayers three times a day. The Ninth Commandment (Exod 20:16, Deut 5:20) prohibits bearing “false witness.” More than telling a lie, the law is intended to protect the innocent from destructive testimony in courts of law. Daniel’s conspirators, however, shade the truth in order to ruin one who is blameless. Perhaps Jesus was thinking of Daniel when he said “Blessed are you when people… utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account… for in the same way they persecuted the prophets.” (Matt 5:11-12)
“A stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, so that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel.” (6:17)
6:17 sealed it with his own signet. This is reminiscent of Jesus’ burial (Matt 27:66) where the tomb was secured with an official seal. The lions’ den is as much a grave for Daniel as the tomb is for Jesus, and his emergence from it prefigures Christ’s resurrection.
6:18 Fasting—See Spiritual Disciplines Index
6:20 Service—See Spiritual Disciplines Index
6:22-23 The With-God Life—See Spiritual Disciplines Index
“Then the king was exceedingly glad and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.” (6:23)
6:23 because he had trusted in his God. Daniel is unscathed, ostensibly due to his trust in God. Jesus trusted God equally, but was bloodied and killed. Again we note that blamelessness alone does not save.
“‘He delivers and rescues, he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth; for he has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.’” (6:27)
6:27 [God] has saved Daniel from the power of the lions. As if to correct any perception that Daniel saved himself, this doxology rejoices over the One who “delivers and rescues.”
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