Matthew Henry Commentary Daniel 6:11-17

"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.