Daniel was a young man, probably in his early teens, when the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar (634-562 B.C.), invaded his homeland (Dan. 1:1-4). This young man, possibly of the royal family (Dan. 1:3) was among the first group deported in 606 B.C. from his own home and forcibly taken to a strange and foreign land. He was never to see his own land again. However, because he trusted in the Lord and remained faithful to Him, he would continually experience God’s blessings throughout the remainder of his long, illustrious life.

Far from being just an ordinary citizen of the land of Judah, he was among the very best God’s people had to offer. Nebuchadnezzar was looking for the best so that he could imbue them with the teaching and the tongue of the Chaldeans (Dan. 1:3,4). Not only was Daniel of superior knowledge and learning than most others, he was also an exceptional moral example. Though Ezekiel was a contemporary of Daniel, he places Daniel between Noah and Job and distinguishes him for his righteousness (Ezek. 14:14,20). This was, perhaps, when he was in his forties or fifties, but very early on he had manifested his faith in God and a holiness of life.

Daniel had ample opportunity to demonstrate his righteousness when in Babylon. At the very beginning, when he was chosen to learn the tongue and teaching of the Chaldeans, Daniel and his three Hebrew companions were offered the king’s meat and his wine to be consumed for a period of three years while they learned the Chaldean way (Dan. 1:4,5). At the end of that period they were to be presented to the king (Dan. 1:5)

But the Bible says Daniel “purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself” with the king’s food. There are several reasons why partaking of this food might be considered a defilement, but the real lesson to be gleaned is that Daniel stood his ground on principle. While there were others captives, we are only told of Daniel and his three friends who refused to eat the king’s portion (Dan.1:6,10). Even under these dire circumstances, Daniel kept his integrity and obeyed His God. More of us need to have the heart of Daniel.

Daniel’s long career allowed him to see many changes. About a decade after the previous incident, Belshazzar came to the throne (Dan. 5). It was during his reign when could be seen the “handwriting on the wall (Dan. 5:5)” as the Babylonian Empire came to end when Darius the Mede took over the reigns of power. Darius saw Daniel’s value and placed him over the princes over the kingdom (Dan. 6:1-3).

There were certain men who were envious of Daniel’s success. But his character was so pure that they could find no occasion or fault, neither was there any error found in him (Dan. 6:4). The only way for these men to get at Daniel was through the Lord (Dan. 6:5). These connivers convinced Darius that he should decree an irrevocable decree that whoever asked a petition of any god or man for thirty days should be thrown into the lion’s den (Dan. 6:7). Because they knew the character of Daniel, they knew all they had to do was to wait.

Now Daniel knew the writing was signed by Darius (Dan. 6:10). Possibly, he even knew of the plot against him. Nevertheless, he went to his own house, his windows opened, and did as he always did and prayed (Dan. 6:10,11). And even though he knew his enemies would be lying in wait, he obeyed the Lord. This is character at it’s best. He wasn’t trying to hide but he was not going to stop worshiping the Lord, the one true, living God. Even Darius was saddened that this had hurt Daniel but, even though he tried to find a way to reverse this decree and even though he fasted (Dan. 6:18), he could find no way of altering the law he had made (Dan. 6:14,15). Daniel was thrown into the lions den and it was sealed (Dan. 6:17).

In the morning Darius hastened to the den and removed the stone. He found Daniel alive. The Angel of the Lord had miraculously shut the lion’s mouths because Daniel believed in his God (Dan. 6:23). The passing reference to Daniel in the New Testament is to his faith and this incident in stopping of the mouths of the lions (Heb. 11:33). If we believe in God and trust in Him, the mouth of the roaring lion will be shut (I Pet. 5:8; James 4:7). May we learn to have the heart and the faith of Daniel.

Eric L. Padgett