What does faith look like? Can you see it? Lots of people refer to themselves as Christians or adherents of other faiths, but how do you know if someone truly believes what they claim? Daniel gives an example of what true faith looks like to those peering in from the outside. Even centuries later, it's crystal clear.

Earlier, in Daniel chapter 2, we saw Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego being persecuted for not bowing down to the idol set up by king Nebuchadnezzar. In this chapter, we see Daniel persecuted for bowing down before the living God.

Daniel 6:1-2

It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps, which should rule throughout the whole kingdom;

And over these three presidents, of whom Daniel was first. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king should suffer no loss.

Who exactly is Darius? While some higher critics suggest that it is actually Cyrus, this is impossible if you believe Scripture. The 70-year requirement for the time of the exiles to be released from Babylon is still three years away, and God does not deal in approximations. When he says 70 years He means that precisely. The Holy Spirit goes out of his way to let us know that Darius was not Cyrus, even pointing out that Darius was a Mede and that Cyrus was a Persian.

This Darius (the term actually means "Royal One") is most likely Gubaru. Though he was technically called a governor in archeological records, it is also apparent that he was given powers equal to that of a king, so it's acceptable to have him referred to as king.

Darius was very creative organizationally. He understood the need to restructure the empire, and this act suggests that there was great civil disobedience following Belshazzar's rule.

Satraps are high-level civil administrators. These 120 were of lesser rank than a group of 20 mentioned by the historian Herodotus. Above those 20 were three commissioners of whom Daniel was one. It is likely that most of the others were either Medes or Persians.

Daniel 6:3-5

Then Daniel was preferred above the presidents and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king planned to set him over the whole realm.

Then the presidents and satraps looked for grounds against Daniel in his conduct over the kingdom, but they could find no occasion nor fault; because he was trustworthy, neither was there any negligence or corruption found in him.

Then these men said, We will not find any grounds for charges against this Daniel, unless we find something that has to do with the law of his God.

Obviously some additional time has passed for Daniel's reputation to be established with Darius.

Imagine being of such principled character that people can't even find a weakness that they might eventually be able to use against you! Daniel's character was above reproach in every way, without even a hint of anything that might give way in the future.

The NLT does what I consider to be the best translation of verse 5, pointing out that the only charges these men are likely to find has to do with "the requirements" of Daniel's faith. They will use that against him.

Daniel 6:6-7

Then these presidents and satraps assembled together before the king and said to him, "King Darius, live forever!

All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors and the satraps, advisors and captains have agreed together to establish a royal edict, and to make a firm decree, that whoever prays to any God or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions.

Obviously the entire body of 120 satraps didn't go see the king, but a contingent representing them and many of those under them. The group would have been large enough to be impressive.

Notice how they announce that this was unanimous, that the entire body of government had agreed to this course of action. This lie will prove to be their undoing later.

How many weeks of planning did it take to come up with this bold plan? It was meant to solve what was apparently a problem with civil unrest throughout the empire. Timing was critical, as they had to be certain that the king would not discuss this plan with Daniel. He may have been out of the country.

The lions' den was a pit in the ground, but not very deep, but its opening was not huge because a rock could be placed over it and a large rock would have been far too heavy. They did not use this for sport as the Romans would later. It was simply a utility for administering capital punishment. Lions may have been released into this pit from doors in the side of the pit that would be pulled up or lowered from above. Access was from above or from tunnels in the sides of the pit.

Daniel 6:8-9

Now, O king, issue the decree and sign the writing so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians."

So king Darius signed the writing and the decree.

Notice the pressure they put on the king to do this immediately. They could not take a chance that he would wait and discuss it with Daniel, who was being groomed for the position of Prime Minister and no doubt close to the king.

It is possible that Daniel was out of the country on official business, or at least in some other part of the empire. As it would take some time for this large group representing large portions of the empire -- Phoenicia, Palestine, Syria, Cypress -- to make the trip here and hold this conference, we have to assume that they knew Daniel would be unavailable to the king.

The Medes and the Persians (this was now the Persian empire) had long been very sensitive to political issues. It was the practice of Cyrus to appoint evenly balanced numbers of Medes and Persians into high positions to gain the support of both racial groups. It should not be assumed that the king's quick acceptance of this plan was a sign of weakness or gullibility. It quite likely followed a standard political procedure and took into account many cultural sensitivities.

next: Facing the Lions

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