The End of Time
Daniel 6:1-9
It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss.
Here we are learning a few things about governing rightly. Notice this set-up here is done so that the king will not suffer loss. This passage makes you wonder what the king had gone through which causes him to do thusly. See, there is order to the kingdom. When God appoints us a nation of kings and priests unto himself in Revelation 1:6, he will make some ruler over the cities based on their faithfulness. This is likely how he would do so as in Luke 19:17. Darius appointed under rulers and over rulers of those which answered directly to himself. Thus, the satraps ruled but had to give answer to their dealings before the administrators. Therefore, the king could not be directly charged for the errors of the satraps. See, in like fashion is not the kingdom of Heaven set up. The angels are made accountable to the archangels that God's kingdom suffers not loss. When there was war in Heaven at Revelation 12:7, Michael and his angels fought against the devil and his angels. Sometimes what you are dealing with may not be a person or a situation but rather a provenance. Ephesians 6:12 says, "for we wrestle not against flesh and blood" but against principalities, powers, rulers of the dark forces of this world and spiritual wickedness in high places.
Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent.
How many of you know that what God has purposed will come to pass. Not even the schemes or machinations of man can prevent it. Conversely, if God has promised something will not come to pass, there is nothing man can do to change such a ruling. The decree of Heaven is absolute. This should be comforting no matter what is faced in this life. We might have troubles, tribulations, distress, despair, or adverse circumstances. However, he always leads us in a triumphant parade through Jesus Christ our Lord as 2 Corinthians 2:14 makes known. Now let us look at what Daniel did. Daniel was not an evil-doer. The text makes it clear he was a good person. He loved justice, showed mercy, and walked humbly with his God as Micah 6:8 demands. Daniel was not even named as an administrator or a satrap but rather served as an advisor for the king. So, what then were these men's problem? Daniel was no person of no position; here were somebodies of considerable position who were ready to put him down into the ground. Not only was he diligent in his business to stand before kings, but the text says he was excellent in all he did as well in Proverbs 22:29. He had a spirit of excellence from the Lord within him.
Notice that the other rulers had an evil intent. Do you wonder why these men felt so threatened? Daniel was no threat to them yet. Only the king had purposes to set him over the others. Before this could happen, the other rulers have found out about this plan and are trying to trap Daniel as he goes about his daily affairs of carrying out the kingdom assignments. May I suggest they felt threatened because of his excellence and the fact that they themselves were up to no good. Before Daniel could be placed in a position to expose their plans, they tried to take him out. How many of you know people who dig a pit for others only to fall into the same snare themselves according to Psalm 35:8. Is not this how the picture of the rapture will be. Two men will be in the field, one taken and the other left. Two women will be "grinding at a mill," one taken and the other left as in Matthew 24:40-41. I would like to say they were sleeping, but only God knows. Surely someone will be asleep at that time. Only, God will cause the enemy to fall into the same snare they laid for others; his wrath and his creatures will set themselves upon the evil ones. They could find no corruption in Daniel because God will not let his loved one see corruption in Acts 2:27. He will not allow his children to behave as they wish or please and get away with it.
Might I suggest that these officials were the ones who were both negligent and corrupt. You cannot attend your own business while your nose is in my house. Remember awhile back, there was a news article about a popular singer that alleged he kept a box of noses in his closet. If you have not already guessed, your nose was among them. So were the editors of this rag which found a pressing need to attend someone else's closet in the first place. Which means, if you are not occupying your place, your position, and your authority, the devil is. Daniel's business dealings were beyond reproach much like that of the spider of Proverbs 30:28 which "takes hold with her hands and is" found "in kings' palaces."
Finally these men said, "We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God." So these administrators and satraps went as a group to the king and said: "May King Darius live forever!
Notice the set-up here. Does anyone ever feel that odd creeping sensation of deja-vu? Here I certainly can. In Daniel 2, King Nebuchadnezzar had issue with his magician advisors and wise men who wished he would live forever but conspired to tell him false and misleading things. Now, here is King Darius with his satraps and administrators ever so subtlety displaying similar symptoms in almost the same situation. It is good for us to remember where God has brought us from; this is so that if we ever find ourselves there again, we will know that he delivers. No one is afraid or upset in this situation because they no doubt heard what happened before. Word travels fast among nosy people. Even the satraps and administrators had heard of Daniel and his God. Daniel's testimony was so powerful that it had made the international news of that time.
Notice several things with me here. First, there was no basis for their conduct. Second, they attack the law of his God. Whatever do these foreign men know about the Jewish law? Whatever do they know about Moses' law? There was no shortage of people among the captives who knew the law of Moses and could quote it chapter and verse. Fewer still know all the prophets had to say. However, what these people did remember was King Nebuchadnezzar's statue of gold and the command to worship it or else be cast into the fiery furnace. These men also remembered that Daniel was one of those who did not. Already, they have been taught something about Daniel and his God. He will not share his glory with another, for one. If they remembered all that, they ought to also have known that Daniel and his friends survived the fiery furnace. How many of you know that God has not forgotten Daniel. They might be whispering and plotting in the king's ear. They might be setting up plot against you that it seems like you will not survive.
Everyone may be against you, but I come to tell you that God remembered Daniel. As it is in Daniel so will it be in Revelation 13:10. Whether taken into captivity or to die by the sword they will go as their destinies have determined as Psalm 94:14 states. Even then, God will not forget his people. This may be an awful time of testing and you might feel like you are all by yourself. But know this, the God of eternity has remembered you. You may not understand what is going on and may feel like everyone is against you. But God remembered you. He keeps the saints, those martyred for his name, under his altar in Revelation 6:9-10; the angels offer their prayers with much incense later. Will not God remember his people. He has not forgotten about you, even in all this. Watch and see how he will work this thing. It was not these men's concern whether King Darius lived forever. Notice here, this saying is just a formality to accomplish their final plan of insulting Daniel's God.
The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions' den. Now, Your Majesty, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed." So King Darius put the decree in writing.
The setup here is the same as that of the fiery furnace and the golden idol which King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Have you ever had someone come to you about one thing when they really wanted about three or four others? These satraps and administrators are wondering to themselves on the inside whether King Nebuchadnezzar is still alive and out there somewhere. They are wondering if he maybe escaped what had happened after all. They are wondering if maybe he had become someone else. They had not forgotten King Nebuchadnezzar's decree that all must worship the God Daniel served. There are no options left here. There is no room for interpretation or for what the ruler wants to do. Notice their language here. They do not ask, they do not beg, and they certainly do not bargain. They come with certainty in their hearts and a demand of what will happen if the king does not do as he is commanded. There was little choice left to the king in this matter. The text says that they "have all agreed." They agreed that they would do something ridiculous that benefitted only themselves.
Notice here, there is no way to enforce such a decree. How silly it is to suggest that someone is going to be lurking in other people's bedrooms to catch them praying. The king had appointed these unwise councilors so he would not suffer loss. But see, God had Daniel waiting to prevent the whole situation. How many of you know that when man plots and has forgotten, God does not. God is faithful. He will turn this situation around. It may look hopeless right now, but just wait until God is through. God has his rulers covered; he will accomplish all his will so that his purpose might stand according to Isaiah 46:10. How many of you remember that King Nebuchadnezzar had shown great leniency towards those false wisemen and theologians earlier. He did not have them killed for their conspiracy to tell him false and misleading things. This makes you wonder, since all these events seem to occur within one lifetime of Daniel, how many of these original people remained in the kingdom from ruler to ruler. How many of them advised the next generation to do evil also. How many of them had been exalted by this kingdom setup to avoid loss. Thereby, their true colors had been proven. Kingdom ministry and divine purpose go hand in hand in the Lord's work. How much different is that from the devil who copies him.