Daniel 6:14

“Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.”

Context:The book of Daniel is divided into two main sections. The first section, consisting of chapters 1-6, focuses on historical accounts of Daniel and his friends during the Babylonian captivity. In chapter 6, we find the well-known story of Daniel in the lions’ den. Daniel, an upright and faithful servant of God, faced persecution due to his devotion to the Lord.

King Darius:The king mentioned in this verse is Darius the Mede, who ruled over Babylon after the fall of Babylonian King Belshazzar. Darius was impressed by Daniel’s abilities and had appointed him as one of the three administrators to oversee the kingdom.

Displeasure and Regret:In verse 14, we see that King Darius was deeply saddened when he realised that he had been deceived by his officials into issuing a decree that would lead to Daniel’s punishment. Darius had unwittingly signed the decree stating that anyone who prayed to any god or man except him for thirty days would be thrown into the lions’ den. The king regretted his decision and realised the trap set for Daniel.

Desire to Deliver:The verse states that King Darius “set his heart on Daniel to deliver him.” Despite his regret and sorrow, Darius desired to rescue Daniel from the dire consequence of the decree. The king recognised Daniel’s integrity and righteous character, and he worked tirelessly until sunset, hoping to find a way to save him.

Lessons from Daniel 6:14:

• The consequences of hasty decisions:This verse illustrates the importance of carefully considering the implications of our actions before making decisions. King Darius’ regret serves as a reminder to think through the potential consequences of our choices.
• Recognising and valuing integrity:Darius’ appreciation for Daniel’s character demonstrates the significance of integrity and righteousness. As believers, our conduct should be characterised by such qualities, which can have a profound impact on others.
• The power of intercession:Although the verse does not explicitly mention it, the following events show that Darius was unable to deliver Daniel from the lions’ den. However, we learn that prayer and intercession are powerful tools in seeking God’s intervention in difficult situations.