Daniel 6:16-28, Daniel’s Feline Escape

 Who was delivered from the mouth of the lion?  Daniel, you say?  Sure.  But so was Paul (2 Tim. 4:17-18; 1 Cor. 15:32).  How about you?  Are you a Christian?  If you are, then you are being stalked by a lion as we speak (1 Pet. 5:8).  Facing lions is common.  As a matter of fact, what Daniel faced in Dan. 6, Jesus also faced.

·       Daniel was attacked by evil men (v4,11); so was Jesus (Mk. 15:11; Ac. 2:23).

·       Daniel faced prejudice (v13, being an exile); so did Jesus (Lk. 22:5-6).

·       Daniel’s enemies were prompted by envy (v3); so were Jesus’ (Mk. 15:10).

·       Daniel was accused as a threat to the government (v13); so was Jesus (Lk. 23:2,5).

·       Daniel’s charges were unjust (v4,22); so with Jesus (Mk. 14:55-59; Lk. 23:4).

·       There is no record of Daniel defending himself; Jesus was also silent, as a lamb to the slaughter (Mt. 27:12-14; Mk. 14:60-61; Isa. 53:7).

·       A stone sealed Daniel's death chamber, and yet he came out alive (v16-17); likewise, with Jesus (Mt. 27:59-60).

There is another interesting comparison between Daniel’s and Jesus’ situations, a comparison of Darius and Pilate.  Both were distressed over the situation (6:14; Mt. 27:19).  Both were determined to free the innocent m(M)an (6:14-15; Mt. 27:21-23).  And both longed to be free of guilt (I see it in Darius’ words in 6:16; Mt. 27:24-26).

We must say, as we always must say, that this story is not simply about Darius and Daniel.  God used this situation to make Himself the issue in Babylon under the Medes and Persians.  Darius hoped for deliverance (v16), but was doubtful (in the morning he called out with a grieving voice, v19-20).  But Daniel made it clear in declaring God’s work (v22).  God was glorified.

Thus, we have another Gentile king declaring the praises of the God of Israel.  Meditate on v26-27: He is the living God, and steadfast forever … He delivers and rescues … who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.

Allow us to make one more comparison between Daniel’s situation and that of Christ.  The deliverance of Daniel is a great picture of our deliverance through Christ:

·       Those lions had the power of death over Daniel, yet God delivered him.  The lion Satan has the power of death; yet through His death, Jesus has delivered us from the one who had the power of death, that is, the devil (Heb. 2:14).

·       Those lions ruled in the kingdom of darkness.  God has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love (Col. 1:13).

·       Those lions were kept hungry; they didn’t care if their meal was innocent or guilty.  But God kept them from eating innocent Daniel.  So, Christ gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age (Gal. 1:4).

·       The lions were tools of the king’s wrath against criminals.  God pours out His wrath on evil men.  But Jesus delivers us from the wrath to come (1 Th. 1:10).