“Then King Darius wrote: To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you.
I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, and steadfast forever;
His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, and His dominion shall endure to the end. He delivers and rescues, and He works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.” Daniel 6:25-27
When we come to verse 25 we see the impact of the lions’ den on King Darius. As we think about what he wrote it is humbling to realize this impact comes because of a man who lived his life in full obedience to God. We do not hear Daniel preaching a sermon or quoting the Romans Road to Darius. He just lived obediently to what God said no matter the consequences. He did not lash out at others when there were injustices, he trusted God to protect him. Daniel’s
life is what made an impact on Darius yet it took Daniel going to the lions’ den to bring Darius to a belief in the living and true God.
When we read Darius pronouncement we are struck with similarities to the comments of Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4:34-37). In both cases we seethe hearts of two the mightiest rulers ever to live humbled. Both of these men are touched by the life of a third man who is loyal to them, who loves them but who loves and obeys his God more. What did Darius learn about God from watching Daniel?
In every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel God is awe inspiring, His power, majesty and greatness are to be feared.
For He is the living God He is a living God who hears and cares, not an idol of wood.
His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed Darius shows his humility. Daniel’s God is greater than he is, he bows his heart in submission to the King of all kings.
He delivers and rescues Darius had just witnessed this in Daniel’s life. Daniel’s God is able to do “exceedingly abundantly above all one can ask or think”.
He works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth We see the impact here of Daniel’s discussion with Darius of what God has done. Likely this had come from a study of the Scriptures and from Daniel’s first hand testimony of God’s working in Babylon.
Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions For the second time in his proclamation Darius mentions Daniel. We are struck again with the impact of one Godly man who God took from Jewish royalty to Babylonian slavery to Babylonian leadership to Persian leadership. We are amazed again that this man reached two kings, two heads of state and introduced them to the living God. We are amazed how God did this through Daniel’s faithfulness to his earthly masters and and through the trials that God allowed him to suffer which showed others there is a living and true God. “To know Christ and to make Him known.”
What can we learn? Darius’ proclamation is the outpouring of a heart that finds God and has a burning conviction to tell others of the living and great God he serves. That would never have been possible unless one man had been faithful to His God all the way through his trial.