'In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the line of the Medes, he was made king over all the Chaldean people.'
In Daniel 5, mighty Babylon - until then dominated by the Chaldeans - falls during the reign of Belshazzar, Nebuchadnezzar's grandson. In the midst of an unholy feast, a supernatural hand writes on the wall ( Daniel 5:5 and 5:25-28)
That same night, Belshazzar is killed, and the empire passes to the Medes and Persians ( Daniel 5:30-31).
That's when Darius the Mede comes on the scene. During his short reign (around 538-536 BC), Darius appoints Daniel as one of the three main administrators of the kingdom ( Daniel 6:1-3). But this provokes jealousy among the other leaders.
'O king, sign a decree forbidding anyone to pray to any god or man but to you for 30 days.' ( Daniel 6:6-7) Darius, flattered, signs it. ( Daniel 6:9)
But Daniel continues to pray. ( Daniel 6:10) And then, 'He was thrown into the den of lions' ( Daniel 6:16).
Darius repents bitterly, but he can't go back on his own law. He spends the night fasting and goes early to the den.
"Daniel, servant of the living God! Could your God, whom you serve continually, have delivered you from the lions?" ( Daniel 6:20).
Darius then writes a historic decree ( Daniel 6:26): "I make a decree that in all the dominion of my kingdom men shall tremble and fear before the God of Daniel."
In Daniel 9:1, we read:
'In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the line of the Medes, he was made king over all the Chaldean people.'
In Daniel 5, mighty Babylon - until then dominated by the Chaldeans - falls during the reign of Belshazzar, Nebuchadnezzar's grandson. In the midst of an unholy feast, a supernatural hand writes on the wall ( Daniel 5:5 and 5:25-28)
That same night, Belshazzar is killed, and the empire passes to the Medes and Persians ( Daniel 5:30-31).
That's when Darius the Mede comes on the scene. During his short reign (around 538-536 BC), Darius appoints Daniel as one of the three main administrators of the kingdom ( Daniel 6:1-3). But this provokes jealousy among the other leaders.
'O king, sign a decree forbidding anyone to pray to any god or man but to you for 30 days.' ( Daniel 6:6-7) Darius, flattered, signs it. ( Daniel 6:9)
But Daniel continues to pray. ( Daniel 6:10) And then, 'He was thrown into the den of lions' ( Daniel 6:16).
Darius repents bitterly, but he can't go back on his own law. He spends the night fasting and goes early to the den.
"Daniel, servant of the living God! Could your God, whom you serve continually, have delivered you from the lions?" ( Daniel 6:20).
Darius then writes a historic decree ( Daniel 6:26): "I make a decree that in all the dominion of my kingdom men shall tremble and fear before the God of Daniel."
Good is good, all the time!
And all the time, God is good. Amen!
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