Daniel in the lion’s den! Many people know the story of Daniel in the lion’s den (Daniel 6:1-28). He was top of his game as one of the leading civil servants, and was in line for promotion. Was he too honest while others were lining their own pockets? Was that the reason why they didn’t want him promoted to be over them too? Whatever the reason, they conspired to have him killed. They convinced the king to pass a law to outlaw praying to God or any other idol (or god) for a month, or face death, knowing that Daniel would still pray to his God. When he did, the king reluctantly had no option by law but to put him to death, into the lion’s den. But the next morning he emerged alive, because God stopped the lions from harming him. His salvation showed that he was innocent (while it was not intended to be a trial by ordeal, his survival turned it into a vindication along those lines). The king put the conspirators into the lion’s den to their deaths instead. Be fearless like Daniel? A lesson that is often taken from this story is that when Christians are faced with terrible circumstances, we should act like Daniel. In the face of adversity, we should have complete, unwavering, faith in God, to rescue us from whatever we face. Such moralism sounds very spiritual. But the problem is that ordinary believers generally don’t have the kind of faith that can withstand such an ordeal. Being told to be like Daniel, is like telling sinners not to sin, to be perfect and everything will be alright. While there is a sense in which we ought to trust in God in such circumstances, this is not an encouraging passage for most people, if that is what we are to learn. Beware the judgment of the conspirators? Another application of this passage is that we should not rebel against God, without having to face the consequences, in the same way that the conspirators against Daniel faced the death that they had prepared for him. Again, it is a valid application. But does that give us hope? There is a saviour in Daniel’s story! However, if we were to consider the story in terms of how it would originally have been understood by the exiles in captivity, we can get a very different understanding or its message. The average exile was under exactly the same threat as Daniel – if you pray you will be executed. But the godly exiles wanted to serve God, and not give in to such a threat. Many would have been filled with fear, insecurity, probably aware of the weakness of their faith, like many believers today would feel if under persecution. But what happens? Daniel prays publicly, knowing that he will be arrested for doing so. He is tried and condemned to death. But he is vindicated before God and freed, and the restriction of the unjust law is lifted, and the average exile is saved from the threat they were under. Daniel is a type of Christ In this respect, Daniel is a type of Christ. He foreshadows the salvation that Jesus secured centuries later. In fact, the parallels are so striking, that it is reasonable to describe the salvation that Daniel secures here as a preview of the gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ much later. Here are the major parallels: Daniel is without fault, yet is opposed for his godliness by people who didn’t want him to rule over them. They can’t find fault in him, so they change the legal system to make what he already does illegal. Jesus was tried by a legal system that could not find fault with him, but was threatened with the death penalty anyway Daniel is tried by a ruler who is more concerned about himself than doing what is right (Darius’ pride comes to the fore when making the law). Pilate’s desire to not upset Rome prevents him from doing what is right and just in Jesus’ trial. The king wants to release Daniel instead of send him to the lion’s den, but who eventually condemns to death. Pilate doesn’t want to be part of the Pharisees’ charade, and initially sends Jesus to Herod for trial, and even tries to get Jesus off the hook by releasing him, but the crowd wanted Barabbas instead. There is no way out of this outcome since the law of Medes and Persians is unbreakable. The Father’s will was not changed for Jesus going to the cross – he had to go through that to save people. Daniel is not recorded as having said anything in his defence. Jesus was similarly silent before his accusers in terms of putting up a defence. A stone was brought to seal the lion’s den (which was most likely more like a cave or tomb than a lion’s enclosure in modern zoos). Jesus was similarly placed in a tomb with a stone which was put across the entrance. God rescues and exalts Daniel because he was innocent. Jesus was vindicated by the resurrection, because he had not sinned. When the stone was removed, Daniel came out of the entrance to the cave, being metaphorically brought back from the dead. When the stone was removed, Jesus came out of the tomb, being literally brought back from the dead. The king punishing those who opposed Daniel. In time, there is a judgment day when those who have opposed Jesus publicly and have not asked for forgiveness will be punished. King Darius knows that Daniel’s God is special, and could possibly save him (otherwise he would not have had the hope that Daniel would be alive the next morning). Pilate acknowledged that Jesus was special, putting the heading ‘King of the Jews’ on his cross. Daniel was found blameless before God, just like Jesus was blameless. Daniel was saved by faith. Jesus saves by faith those who trust in him. Daniel’s ordeal resulted in salvation for God’s people who were exiled in a foreign land. Jesus’ ordeal of his crucifixion, death and resurrection has resulted in the salvation of God’s people who are exiles on this earth, looking forward to going home to be with the Lord. Daniel and the lion’s den teaches us not so much that we ought to have great faith when facing ultimate trials. Instead, it tells us that there is a Saviour who rescues those who trust in him from ultimately perishing. ‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.’ (John 3:16, ESV) The gospel in the Old Testament Some people might think that the Old Testament was judgment, while the New Testament is salvation and grace. This story in Daniel 6:1-28 shows us in a remarkable way that the message of a Saviour was clearly taught in the Old Testament. And what’s more, the king of the superpower empire of the world at that time, king Darius, sent out a proclamation to the whole world that Daniel’s God saves! Amazingly, the gospel message of salvation was proclaimed across the whole world: Then King Darius sent this message to the people of every race and nation and language throughout the world: “Peace and prosperity to you! “I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel. For he is the living God, and he will endure forever. His kingdom will never be destroyed, and his rule will never end. He rescues and saves his people; he performs miraculous signs and wonders in the heavens and on earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.” (Daniel 6:25–27, NLT)