Trusting God’s Everlasting Sovereignty

Daniel Series # 6

Daniel 6:1-13

It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred twenty satraps, stationed throughout the whole kingdom, ² and over them three administrators, one of whom was Daniel; to these the satraps gave account, so that the king might suffer no loss. ³ Soon, Daniel distinguished himself above the other administrators and satraps because an excellent spirit was in him, and the king planned to appoint him over the whole kingdom. ⁴ So the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for complaint against Daniel in connection with the kingdom. But they could find no grounds for complaint or any corruption, because he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption could be found in him. ⁵ The men said, “We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.”

⁶ So the administrators and satraps conspired and came to the king and said to him, “O King Darius, live forever! ⁷ All the administrators of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors, are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an interdict, that whoever prays to any god or human, for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into the den of lions. ⁸ Now, O king, establish the interdict and sign the document, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be revoked.” ⁹ Therefore, King Darius signed the document and interdict. ¹⁰ Although Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he continued to go to his house, which had windows in its upper room open toward 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. ¹¹ Then those men watched and found Daniel praying and seeking mercy before his God. ¹² Then they approached the king and said concerning the interdict, “O king! Did you not sign an order that anyone who prays to any god or human, within thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into the den of lions?” The king answered, “The thing stands fast, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked.” ¹³ 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.”

Introduction

Before we delve into chapter six, let’s review the last two verses of chapter 5 – “That very night, Belshazzar, the Chaldean king, was killed. And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old^” (Daniel 5:30-31). The book of Daniel covers an entire life. Daniel, despite being exiled to a foreign land as a child and serving under Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar, now serves under the Persian king Darius. He is now much older, around 70 years old, and has established a name for himself. First, within the kingdom of Babylon, and now he serves at the behest of Darius, King of Persia. He continues to stand out through his unwavering integrity and wisdom. He also continues to demonstrate steadfast faithfulness to God, even in a culture that only tolerated his worship and saw him as an outsider. All this has given Daniel a reputation that his new earthly king, Darius, found helpful, but his righteousness doesn’t go unnoticed; it sparks jealousy among his political rivals, leading them to craft a plot to destroy him. This sets the stage for a dramatic confrontation that highlights both the challenges of maintaining faith during difficult times and the ultimate sovereignty of God, which continues to impact religious matters to this very day.

I.              The Trap of the World: Authenticity Amid Envy (vv. 1–9)

Darius decides to restructure the kingdom. He places 120 Satraps (Governors) throughout the kingdom. These 120 governors report to 3 administrators, of whom Daniel is one. For reasons that were understood by his honesty, the satraps and other administrators decided to remove Daniel, because Darius was considering putting Daniel in charge of the entire kingdom. However, they cannot find any malfeasance in all of Daniel’s life. As we all know, that will not do for a politician.  The conspirators, recognizing Daniel’s unwavering devotion to the Lord, craft a scheme that weaponizes his prayer life against him. They convinced the king to make an indelible law that no one could worship anyone but the king for 30 days. A seemingly innocuous law that would disrupt only those who were devout to their God. In modern times, we recognize that genuine faithfulness can elicit not only opposition but also animosity from others and systems within society. This example underscores the cost of discipleship in a world that often values conformity over conviction. However, the king is duped by his satraps and administrators in Daniel’s absence, and the law is made.

II.                         The Test of Faith: Prayer and Perseverance (vv. 10–15)

Daniel’s faithful refusal to cease his prayers—even when faced with a royal decree—demonstrates the primacy of God’s sovereign law over human commands. Daniel understands that external pressures do not compel faithful obedience, but rather arise from a regenerate heart transformed by God’s grace alone. Daniel’s regular prayer, directed toward Jerusalem, is not an act of empty ritual but an expression of covenant faithfulness; he trusts in God's promises, knowing that true deliverance comes not by human power, but by the Lord’s sovereign will. His witness reminds us that, in all circumstances, believers are called to live Coram Deo—in the presence of God—confident that Christ is the true and better deliverer, and that steadfast faith flows from the assurance of God’s unchanging grace (Cady, 2019).

There is a parallel to Daniel 3 in this passage. Remember, Nebuchadnezzar passed a decree that everyone would worship his statue, but Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused and were thrown into the fiery furnace. It stands to reason that Daniel would have gained faith by watching his friends being saved by God.

Other parallels extend even through the New Testament. First, look at the Gospel writings. Jesus is tempted by Satan and shown all the kingdoms of the world and told that if he would bow down and worship him, that all the kingdoms would be his. Satan would turn over power and honor to Jesus. But Jesus is not fooled, or swayed, and answers, “Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him” (Matthew 4, Luke 4), summing up Deuteronomy 6 and the commandment to have no other god but God, and to worship Him only.  

The commandment against false idols and worship extends from Deuteronomy to the time of Daniel, through the New Testament, and even into the Book of Revelation. Revelation 13 mentions the famous beast saying, “…In amazement, the whole earth followed the beast. ⁴ They worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?” (Rev. 13:3b-4). Again, an idol, not God, is worshipped. It’s almost as if we humans never learn our lessons properly. Even at the end of the book, though, God never stops trying to reach us. In Revelation 14, we see, “Then I saw another angel flying in midheaven, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation and tribe and language and people. ⁷ He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, for the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water” (Rev. 14:6-7). God’s unwavering promise found in Christ is that He will continue to seek us no matter where we are, a fiery furnace, a lion's den, or even in Armageddon itself. God always seeks us first; just turn around (Metanoia—repent), and God is there. It is truly remarkable how thick humans are when it comes to learning this lesson that God has to keep teaching us.

III.          The Power of God’s Deliverance: The Lion’s Den (vv. 16–23)

Returning to our gripping narrative in Daniel 6, we witness the profound truth of God’s sovereign power as Daniel is cast into the den of lions, sealed within by the king’s signet ring. (This means that the entrance was sealed in wax, and the king’s signet marked the lock so that it could not be rolled away until the appointed time.) Darius, the king, tells Daniel, “May your God, whom you faithfully serve, deliver you!” (v.16b). He is reluctant to punish Daniel and so experiences a sleepless night. Despite the seemingly dire circumstances, God dispatches His angel to shut the mouths of the lions, thereby vindicating Daniel and glorifying Himself before the nations. Our human understanding does not limit God’s ability to save, and He alone is worthy of our unwavering trust and loyalty. This narrative, along with the parallels throughout the Bible, demonstrates that the trials of this world cannot thwart His plans and purposes.

IV.          The Witness of the Redeemed: God’s Name Exalted (vv. 24–28)

Ultimately, the profound judgment that befalls Daniel’s accusers illustrates the divine justice that prevails in Revelation, as Daniel's accusers, their spouses, and children are given the fate they hoped for Daniel. All Christians should take heed from this section of the story, as it applies to us. Sin, even the tiniest sin, affects you and those around you. This is a good theological argument for confession and reconciliation.

Following the remarkable deliverance of Daniel from the lions’ den, King Darius issues a resounding proclamation, extolling the God of Daniel as the “living God, whose kingdom is everlasting.” This pivotal moment serves as a reminder, among many, that faithfulness in the face of trial not only glorifies God among the nations but also advances His redemptive purposes throughout history. Through Daniel’s unwavering faith, we see how God’s power is magnified, leading to a greater recognition of His sovereignty and a call for all to honor Him.

V.            Conclusion: Call to Action

Let us heed the powerful example of Daniel, who exemplified unwavering devotion to God amidst persecution. In a world that often tempts us to rely on earthly comforts and the approval of rulers, we are called to place our trust in the steadfast faithfulness of our Sovereign Lord. There is no place you can go, nothing you have done, or can do, that God will not seek you. But you must be faithful, you must seek God as God seeks you. Just as Daniel cultivated a life of prayerful dependence, we too must commit ourselves to fervent prayer and reliance on God’s providence, knowing our strength is not our own but comes from His gracious hand. Our modern-day lion’s dens, fiery furnaces, idols, and temptations are just that: fear and temptation. God and God alone is worthy of our worship, our prayer, and our praise. The faithful in Daniel’s day did not have the luxury of having a Bible to read. They could not flip to the end to see who wins. Beloved, we do, and I have read it; We Win!

As you go forth today, resolve to trust and obey our God, confident that He is able to save us and that our steadfast witness will magnify His glory among all nations.

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Bibliography

Daniel / auth. Creasy Dr. Bill. - [s.l.] : Logos Bible Study, 2011. - Second Edition. - Audible Lecture.

NRSVue // Holy Bible w/ With Deuterocanonical/Apocryphal Books of the Old Testament.. - Wahington D.C. : Zondervan, 2021. - Vol. Updated Edition. - National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America.

The Harper Collins Study Bible, New Revised Standard Version with the Apocryphal and Deuterocanonical Books // NRSV Bible / ed. Meeks Wayne A. [et al.]. - New York : Harper Collins Publishers, 1993.

What Does It Mean to Live “Coram Deo”? [Online] / auth. Cady Nick // Theology for the People / prod. Cady Nick. - nickcady.org, January 24, 2019. - July 22, 2025. - https://nickcady.org/2019/01/24/what-does-it-mean-to-live-coram-deo/#:~:text=A%20famous%20book%20written%20in,order%20to%20pray%20without%20ceasing..