Daniel-The Law that Could Not Be Changed

By Mary Vee
Daniel 6

From Daniel's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Daniel. I am a prophet of God and a prisoner in the land of Babylon with many other Jews.

King Darius the Mede agreed to set up a rule saying no one in the kingdom may pray to anyone except the king for thirty days.

When I heard the news, I did the only thing that seemed right. I went home to my upstairs room and knelt by the window that opened toward Jerusalem. 

Three times a day I knelt and prayed, giving thanks to God, just as I had before.

This was the choice I decided to make. The punishment King Darius signed said anyone disobeying the rule would be thrown into the lions' den. Like my friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, I know God can save me from any harm in the den, but if He choses not to, I also know that I cannot give up my faith in Him.

Of course the satraps and administrators hid, waiting to catch me praying. Once they had their proof, they ran to the king. They practically pushed the guards away. "Get out of the way, we have important business with the king."

King Darius gave them permission to come forward. "Yes. Yes. What is the problem?"

"O king live forever, did you not publish a decree saying no one is to pray to any god or man except you during the end thirty days. And if anyone did they would be thrown into the lion's den?"

The king frowned as if this did not seem to be that urgent of a problem. "Yes. The decree stands, according to the laws of the Medes and Persians. It cannot be stopped and there are no exceptions."

The two other administrators who served with me tipped their noses in the air. "Daniel, who I might remind you is nothing more than one of the exiles from Judah, has paid no attention to you, O king. Or to the law. He stills prays three times a day." 

The other administrator and satraps nodded.

Well, the smug looks on their faces showed they had me trapped. Maybe they did. But they will never get me to give up my faith in God.

The king became very upset. "There must be a way to save Daniel."

"My lord, you have signed the decree and said yourself that it cannot be undone and there would be no exceptions."

He rubbed his fingers through his hair. "Yes. I know. But I never thought this would happen.

"Remember, O king, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or law that the king issues can be changed."

The men were right. There was no way the king could save me from the punishment that had been signed into law.


Come back next time to see what happens.

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1. What decree did the king sign into law?
2. What did Daniel do?
3. Why the the satraps and administrators spy on Daniel?
4. What did they do when Daniel chose to pray?
5. What did the king say?