12 “And they went before the king, and spoke concerning the king’s decree: “Have you not signed a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.” 13 So they answered and said before the king, “That Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah, does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.” 14 And the king, when he heard these words, was greatly displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him. 15 Then these men approached the king, and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is the law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statute which the king establishes may be changed.” 16 “So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.” 17 Then a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signets of his lords, that the purpose concerning Daniel might not be changed. 18 Now the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no musicians were brought before him. Also his sleep went from him.”
6:12
And they went before the king, and spoke concerning the king’s decree: “Have you not signed a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.”
Daniel’s accusers went before the king and reminded him of his “decree”. Even the king himself could not alter his decree.
6:13
So they answered and said before the king, “That Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah, does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.”
The enemies of Daniel remind the king that Daniel was a captive from Judah. They charged Daniel with two violations against the king:
1. Daniel does not show respect to the king himself.
2. Daniel does not respect national law.
6:14
And the king, when he heard these words, was greatly displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him.
Darius was “greatly displeased with himself” for allowing himself to be ensnared by those who plotted against Daniel. Darius tried to find some way to deliver Daniel but found none. Hindsight is always 20/20.
6:15
Then these men approached the king, and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is the law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statute which the king establishes may be changed.”
The plotters manipulated the king into killing Daniel.
6:16
So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.”
Darius expressed a desire that God spare Daniel. He also noted that Daniel served God “continually.” Daniel had a clear testimony before Darius.
6:17
Then a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signets of his lords, that the purpose concerning Daniel might not be changed.
They sealed the mouth of the den of lions with a royal seal so that no one could tamper with the king’s decree.
6:18
Now the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no musicians were brought before him. Also his sleep went from him.
King Darius went into fasting and sleeplessness over the situation with Daniel. He canceled entertainment from the musicians for the evening. The king could not sleep, but Daniel probably used one of the lions for a pillow and slept like a cub!
PRINCIPLE:
Attitudinal sins produce instability.
APPLICATION:
If we yield to approbatory lust, we distort our soul. At one moment, we relish in personal attention, and at the next, we enter despair. We make a royal mess of our lives when we live by highs and lows like this.
