THREE KINGS WHO LOVED THE PROPHET DANIEL

     In the life of Daniel is seen a character whose integrity to GOD and His Holy Law led him to be trusted by three heathen kings: Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, Cyrus of Persia, and Darius of Media. With men’s lust of ambition and ever plotting for their advantage for wealth and power, only Daniel stood as a humble servant to these kings. And they knew it!

     Of course, GOD deserves the glory and honor, for He was the Supreme influence in these relationships. Through the power of the Holy Spirit and holy angels “hearkening unto the voice of his word” circumstances and events were molded to bless His faithful children.

     In the case of Nebuchadnezzar the LORD gave him a dream that was so disturbing to him that he had to know of the dream and its meaning. And when none of his wise men could tell the king his dream let alone interpret it, only Daniel was able to show the king that the GOD of heaven had blessed the king with the prophecy showing the reigning kingdoms of Earth's history to the close of time. From this moment forward the king learned the religion of the True GOD from Daniel, including the coming Messiah, and how “he shall save his people from their sins.” Matt.1:21. And Nebuchadnezzar died in his faith in "the Son of God" (Dan.3:25-29).

     After Nebuchadnezzar’s death, when his grandson, Belshazzar sat on the throne, the wickedness of Babylon came into remembrance before GOD. This king, having stepped away from the banner of GOD’S protecting hand to live a life of self-indulgence at the expense of virtuous judgment, a more righteous man was raised up by GOD to take the throne: Cyrus The Great. He invaded and captured Babylon. And once seated on the throne he too learned the religion of the GOD of Daniel. He was shown the prophecy of Isaiah concerning him. The LORD had called him by name nearly 150 years before his birth. Cyrus carefully read these words from the pen of Isaiah:

“Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself; That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish; That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof: That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers: That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid. Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut; I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron: And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel. For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me. I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else. I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things. Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it. Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker!” Isa.44:24-45:9.

     With these words of "the LORD" to Cyrus, he determined to bring honor to the GOD of heaven by making provision for the return of the Jews to their promised land. And it was his initiative that paved the way for king Artaxerxes’ full and unending decree (Ezra 7) that began the “Seventy weeks” prophecy of Jesus Christ in Daniel 9:24-27. As with Nebuchadnezzar, Cyrus was surrounded with his wise men and nobles. But among them all, he knew he could trust Daniel over and above them all.

     After Cyrus came Darius to the throne. Darius The Great truly loved Daniel and trusted in the GOD of Daniel. All three kings came to understand that the Ten Commandments are the standard of virtuous living, and that any deviation from their jurisdiction betrayal always results. This was the key to Daniel being preferred in each of the kingdoms. In knowing Daniel's allegiance to GOD, his word would be his bond and his deeds would always stand blameless. But of the three kings who loved Daniel, Darius showed the deepest love for Daniel:

“It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom; And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage. Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.” Dan.6:1-5.

     When the “presidents and princes” schemed to get Daniel killed, they lured Darius into a snare that was impossible to escape. They deceived him into making a decree that forbid Daniel to pray to his GOD. And the tradition among the Persians was that any law passed could never be reversed. (It is the same snare we see in today’s government and justice system that has allowed tens of millions of abortions along with sodomy and lying and stealing, and with no allowance to halt the abominations of sin that have come to overrule any virtuous judgment on the part of our nation's leadership).

     So Daniel was convicted and condemned to die in a lion’s den. But Darius so loved Daniel and believed in Daniel’s GOD that he made every effort to secure his safety:

“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. Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed. Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee. And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel. Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him. Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt. Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God. And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den. Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end. He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.” Dan.6:14-28.

     In Daniel we see that there was “no guile” (cunning deceit). The same cannot be said of men today. From the lips of politicians, judges, priests, businesses, and common criminals come forth words that always betray and deceive people into believing false promises, all masquerading in virtue, leading people to have false expectations. Of every kind of sin that exists these men and women spew their ungodliness as easily as they breathe. This is the natural fruit of the carnal mind, for “the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Rom.8:7. Only a keen discernment based on the lessons of Scripture can protect the soul from becoming ensnared, while the majority will always be swept away with the tide of sin.

     The LORD always provides the simple remedy: "My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments; Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her....Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye." Prov.3:3-18; 7:2.