Matthew Henry Commentary Daniel 6
Matthew Henry Commentary
Daniel 6
Matthew Henry Commentary
Daniel 6
"It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom a hundred and twenty satraps, who should be throughout the whole kingdom; and over them three presidents, of whom Daniel was one; that these satraps might give account unto them, and that the king should have no damage. Then this Daniel was distinguished above the presidents and the satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. Then the presidents and the satraps sought to find occasion against Daniel as touching the kingdom; but they could find no occasion nor fault, forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God." — Daniel 6:1-5 (ASV)
We note, to the glory of God, that although Daniel was now very old, yet he was still capable in his responsibilities and had remained faithful to his religion. It is to the glory of God when those who profess religion conduct themselves so that their most watchful enemies can find no fault with them, except only in matters concerning their God, in which they walk according to their consciences.
"Then these presidents and satraps assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever. All the presidents of the kingdom, the deputies and the satraps, the counsellors and the governors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a strong interdict, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any god or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. Now, O king, establish the interdict, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the interdict. And when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house (now his windows were open in his chamber toward Jerusalem) and he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime." — Daniel 6:6-10 (ASV)
To forbid prayer for thirty days is, for so long, to rob God of all the tribute He has from humankind, and to rob humankind of all the comfort it has in God. Does not every person's heart direct them, when in need or distress, to call upon God? We could not live a day without God; and can people live thirty days without prayer? Yet it is to be feared that those who, without any decree forbidding them, present no hearty, serious petitions to God for more than thirty consecutive days, are far more numerous than those who serve Him continually with humble, thankful hearts.
Persecuting laws are always made on false pretenses; but it is not fitting for Christians to make bitter complaints or to indulge in reviling. It is good to have hours for prayer. Daniel prayed openly and avowedly; and though a man of great responsibilities, he did not think that would excuse him from daily exercises of devotion. How inexcusable are those who have little to do in the world, yet will not do this much for their souls!
In trying times we must take heed, lest, under the pretense of discretion, we are guilty of cowardice in the cause of God. All who throw away their souls, as those certainly do who live without prayer, even if it is to save their lives, will in the end be found to be fools. Nor did Daniel only pray and not give thanks, cutting off some part of the service to make the time of danger shorter; but he performed the whole. In a word, the duty of prayer is founded on the sufficiency of God as an almighty Creator and Redeemer, and on our needs as sinful creatures.
To Christ we must turn our eyes. To Him let the Christian look, to Him let them pray, in this land of their captivity.
"Then these men assembled together, and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his God. Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king`s interdict: Hast thou not signed an interdict, that every man that shall make petition unto any god or man within thirty days, save unto thee, 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 altereth not. Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, who is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the interdict that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day. Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to rescue him. Then these men assembled together unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians, that no interdict nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed. Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. [Now] the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee. And a stone was brought, and laid upon 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." — Daniel 6:11-17 (ASV)
It is nothing new for actions performed faithfully, out of conscience toward God, to be misrepresented as acts of obstinacy and contempt for civil authorities. Through lack of proper consideration, we often do things that, like Darius, we later find a thousand reasons to wish undone.
Daniel, that venerable man, is brought as the vilest of malefactors and thrown into the den of lions to be devoured, only for worshipping his God. No doubt the placing of the stone was ordered by the providence of God, so that the miracle of Daniel's deliverance might appear more clearly; and the king sealed it with his own signet, probably so that Daniel's enemies would not kill him.
Let us commit our lives and souls to God, in doing good. We cannot place full confidence even in those whom we faithfully serve; but believers may, in all cases, be sure of Divine favor and consolation.
"Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting; neither were instruments of music brought before him: and his sleep fled from him. Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. And when he came near unto the den to Daniel, he cried with a lamentable voice; the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions` mouths, and they have not hurt me; forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt. Then was the king exceeding glad, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he had trusted in his God. And the king commanded, and they brought those men that had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces, before they came to the bottom of the den." — Daniel 6:18-24 (ASV)
The best way to have a good night, is to keep a good conscience. We are sure of what the king doubted, that the servants of the living God have a Master well able to protect them. See the power of God over the fiercest creatures, and believe his power to restrain the roaring lion that goes about continually seeking to devour.
Daniel was kept perfectly safe, because he believed in his God. Those who boldly and cheerfully trust in God to protect them in the way of duty, shall always find him a present help. Thus the righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead. The short triumph of the wicked will end in their ruin.
"Then king Darius wrote unto all the peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied unto you. I make a decree, that in all the dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel; for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, And his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed; and his dominion shall be even unto the end. He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian." — Daniel 6:25-28 (ASV)
If we live in the fear of God, and walk according to that rule, peace shall be upon us. The kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever, are the Lord's; but many are employed in making known his wonderful works to others, who themselves remain strangers to his saving grace. May we be doers, as well as believers of his word, lest in the end we should be found to have deceived ourselves.
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