King Darius

Daniel 6:13&14

"13 Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.

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."

This week we are focused on the king of beast; the LION! We are going to go with the Prophet Daniel into the LION'S den!! Daniel is unique in the Old Testament; he is the only figure with a completely positive record of his actions. And his FAITHFUL service to the Lord in a land and culture hostile to him, makes him all the MORE remarkable. 

Daniel lived through the 70 years of captivity of his people. He raised through the ranks of his captors to become one of only three administrators over the kingdom. Daniel was favored by King Darius. So, much so that others in the King's court grew jealous and plotted to get Daniel executed! They coerced King Darius into making a law that would execute anyone worshiping anything other than the king himself. Daniel's enemies caught him is the act of praying to God and are seeking his execution! It's the Law. Daniel must be executed! He must be cast into The DEN of LIONS!!! According to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be changed!

Today's verses; "Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth NOT THEE, O king, nor the decree that THOU hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day." These people in the King's court are making the case that Daniel MUST BE executed. He is a prisioner and he is disobeying the King's orders. We cannot tolerate THIS! 

But, King Darius had his own mind; "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." The King is looking for anyway he can get out of executing Daniel. There has to be a way! ? ! ? Darius is as good as any pagan king can be. He wants justice and NOT this travesty that is unfolding before his eyes. We know exactly how King Darius feels if we objectively look at our justice system today.