Daniel 6

Jason Martin

Daniel / Daniel 6

In Scripture, Daniel demonstrated a lifetime of faithfulness.

Daniel was taken captive into Babylon as a young man.

By the time we get to Daniel 6, he is around 80 years old and has faithfully served multiple kings.

Daniel’s circumstances keep changing, but his character does not.

But Daniel’s ultimate allegiance was to God - and everybody knew it

In fact, that’s what made him so trustworthy to these different kings

Daniel had a witness

not a one-time confession of faith, but a lifetime of faithfulness to God

Even in hard times, Daniel always trusted the LORD

A Lifetime of faithfulness

Daniel 6:1–5 ESV

1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps, to be throughout the whole kingdom; 2 and over them three high officials, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss. 3 Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. 4 Then the high officials and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him. 5 Then these 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.”

1. The satraps were 120 regional governors that reported to 3 high officials

2. Daniel was one of these 3 high officials and was distinguished above all of them because an excellent ‘spirit’ was in him.

• Don’t give people a reason to complain about you - unless it’s about your faithfulness to God

Luke 16:10 ESV

10 “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.

1 Corinthians 4:1–2 ESV

1 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.

Galatians 6:9 ESV

9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

The trap

Daniel 6:6–10 ESV

6 Then these high officials and satraps came by agreement to the king and said to him, “O King Darius, live forever! 7 All the high officials 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 injunction, that whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. 8 Now, O king, establish the injunction 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 injunction. 10 When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.

1. Just like when the jealous wise men in Daniel 6:12

Daniel 3:12 ESV

12 There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, pay no attention to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

2. Daniel knew the consequences and still stayed faithful and even thankful

Acts 5:29 ESV

29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.

Hebrews 10:23 ESV

23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.

The price

Daniel 6:11–17 ESV

11 Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and plea before his God. 12 Then they came near and said before the king, concerning the injunction, “O king! Did you not sign an injunction, that anyone who makes petition to any god or man within thirty days except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The thing stands fast, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked.” 13 Then they answered and said before the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or the injunction you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.” 14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was much distressed and set his mind to deliver Daniel. And he labored till the sun went down to rescue him. 15 Then these men came by agreement to the king and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or ordinance that the king establishes can be changed.” 16 Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” 17 And 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, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel.

They conspired against Daniel and even pretended to not know who he was

Not all unity is good. These people are unified in a plot against Daniel.

This is why we can’t separate unity from truth and love.

These are attributes of God that we don’t get to pick and choose from.

We see three different mindsets during this.

1. The jealous advisors plotting against Daniel

2. The king who anguished over how to get around keeping his word to save his friend

3. The faithful 80 year old that knew his life was ultimately in God’s hands - not the lions or advisors

Even if He doesn’t

Daniel 6:18–22 ESV

18 Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him. 19 Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions. 20 As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” 21 Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! 22 My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.”

• Daniel had faith that God would deliver him, but it wasn’t guaranteed

Daniel 3:17–18 ESV

17 If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

• Faithfulness will cost us something. It might be friends, or our pride, or persecution, or even our life.

Luke 9:23 ESV

23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

John 15:18–20 ESV

18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.

Revelation 2:10 ESV

10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.

• Daniel was willing to be faithful unto death, whether it came that day or a different day

Psalm 37:5 ESV

5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.

2 Timothy 2:13 ESV

13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.

Daniel 6:23–24 ESV

23 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. 24 And the king commanded, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and cast into the den of lions—they, their children, and their wives. And before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces.

• Righteous Daniel is saved, but the wicked are judged.

Daniel 6:25–27 ESV

25 Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: “Peace be multiplied to you. 26 I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end. 27 He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.”

God will be glorified. Whoever won’t do that will be removed.

He’ll remove Israel and use Nebuchadnezzar

He’ll remove Babylon and use Darius

Daniel 6:28 ESV

28 So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

Daniel provides an example of living a faithful life even under terrible circumstances.

2 Timothy 4:7–8 ESV

7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

• This does not guarantee that we will always be delivered

• The same God that delivered Daniel allowed others to be killed.

• God is sovereign and we all have an appointment with death that He alone knows and decides.

Hebrews 11:35–40 ESV

35 Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. 36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— 38 of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

Do we live a life of devotion to God?

Do we only follow and obey Jesus when it’s convenient?

Are we faithful when it costs us our pride or worse?

Hebrews 12:1–2 ESV

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Exported from Logos Bible Study, 7:06 AM October 19, 2026.