What The Enemy Meant for Evil God Turns For Good – Daniel 6

No matter what is going on around us, God can and will turn it for His glory. Our God being fully Holy, Righteous, Mercy, Grace, Love, well basically Perfect, will always turn things into good. God does not create evil. Evil is a by product of free will that He gave to humanity.
Let us look at Daniel 6:

“So Darius the Mede took over the kingdom at the age of 62.

Delivered from the Lions’ Den

2 It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the whole kingdom 3 with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. These satraps were accountable to them so that the king would not be troubled. 4 Now this Daniel was distinguishing himself among the supervisors and satraps because he had an extraordinary spirit in him. In fact, the king planned to appoint him over the entire kingdom. 5 At this time the supervisors and satraps tried to find ground for a charge against Daniel regarding the kingdom. But they were unable to find fault or corruption, because he was trustworthy and no negligence or dishonesty could be found in him. 6 Finally these men said, “We’re not going to find any basis for charges against this man Daniel, unless we find something against him regarding the law of his God.”

7 So these supervisors and satraps went in to the king as a group, and said to him, “King Darius, live forever! 8 All the supervisors of the realm, the magistrates and satraps, ministers and governors, have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce a decree that anyone who prays to any god or man for 30 days other than you O king, will be cast into the lions’ den. 9 Now, O king, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it may not be altered, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” 10 Thereupon King Darius issued the written decree.

11 Now when Daniel learned that a written decree had been issued, he went into his house, where the windows in his upper room opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he knelt down, prayed and gave thanks before his God, just as he did before. 12 Then these men came as a group and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. 13 So they approached the king and spoke to him about the royal decree: “Didn’t you issue a written decree that anyone who prays to any god or man for 30 days—except for you, O king—shall be cast into the den of lions?”

The king replied, “The decree stands, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”

14 Then they answered and said to the king: “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the decree that you put in writing. He still prays three times a day!” 15 When the king heard this report, he was deeply distressed, and he set his mind on how he might rescue Daniel. Until sunset he struggled to find a way to save him.

16 Then these men came as a throng in to the king, and said to the king: “Remember, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or edict which the king issues may be altered.”

17 So the king gave the order and Daniel was brought and thrown into the lions’ den. Now the king spoke to Daniel saying, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” 18 A stone was brought to block the mouth of the den. The king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet of his nobles, so that nothing could be changed regarding Daniel. 19 Then the king went to his palace and passed the night fasting—no entertainment was brought before him. He was unable to sleep.

20 At dawn the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. 21 As he reached the den, he cried out to Daniel with a voice of anguish. The king spoke out to Daniel saying: “Daniel, servant of the living God, was your God, whom you serve continually, able to rescue you from the lions?”

22 Daniel spoke to the king: “May the king live forever! 23 My God sent His angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they haven’t harmed me, because I was found innocent before Him. Nor have I committed any crime against you, O king.”

24 Then the king was overjoyed, and ordered Daniel taken up out of the den. So Daniel was lifted out of the pit. No injury of any kind was found on him because he had trusted in his God. 25 At the king’s command, those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and thrown into the lions’ den—they, their children, and their wives. They had not even reached the bottom of the pit before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.

26 Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages dwelling in all the earth:

“May your peace be abundant!

27 I issue a decree that in all the dominion of my kingdom people are to tremble with fear before the God of Daniel.

“For He is the living God,

    enduring forever!

His kingdom will never be destroyed,

    His dominion will never end.[b]

28 

He delivers and rescues.

    He performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on earth.

    He has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions!”

29 So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.”

Daniel 6 – The Tree Of Life Version

Here we see a time where Daniel was highly favoured. He was now serving his third king. He was the first ranking president or satrap in the nation and he was known as someone who had an extraordinary spirit in him (Daniel 6:4). The king had seen through history how this anointing had shown that the living God is real and with Daniel. Humans by nature are greedy and hungry for more. We see this highlighted in mans first sin. Adam and Eve wanted better fruit, more knowledge, more power. These traits have continued throughout the Bible and human history. It is through this root desire that the devil stirs sin around the world, the Church Body included. How many of us have wanted more “anointing” or more “power” or more “ministry”? What is the purpose of wanting more? Well Daniel can give us some insight.

We see those around him were jealous of his position. Jealous that he was favoured. They wanted his position of power. Why else would they create such an elaborate trap? They enticed the king into signing a law that raised him (king Darius) above the position of God! For 30 days it was illegal to ask anyone apart from the king for anything! The word pray means to ask, so can you imagine that you could not ask a friend for a bottle of milk, you could not ask a friend for some money, you could not pray to God. You were only allowed to ask king Darius! You can again see a root sin here of wanting more. King Darius signing this law shows an innate desire to be worshipped and have more respect, more authority, more power. Why else would you want to have a whole nation coming before you to pray?

Through this trap we are seeing how the devil uses this desire to create a situation, to form a weapon against Gods elect. But let us look at what happens. Daniel chooses to honour God and he continues to prostate himself before God. He chose to break the law in order to honour the most important part of being alive, his relationship with God. Not only did he continue, but he did not hide it! He kept his windows open for all to see! He was in the moment saying, “God you are first”. God was placed in a position where He was above all things in his life. God was more important than life itself. When Daniel is in this position we can see how God will turn things to His glory. 

When the king finds out Daniel broke this law he was upset and he tried to get Daniel out of the punishment (Daniel 6:14). We do not see Daniel, beg, plead or even say anything. Daniel did what was right by God and honoured the covenant he made with The Lord. In Daniels mind it was simple, he left it all to God. What do we see God do? God worked on the kings heart, he softened and folded king Darius’s heart. So much so that is was in fact king Darius who declared that God would save Daniel (Daniel 6:16). Let that sink in, Daniel didn’t say or declare anything…… No, it was a pagan worshiping man who decided that One Living Alright God would rescue Daniel!! How cool is that?! But wait, it gets better….. Not only did the king declare, but he went into fasting and prayer through the night to petition for Daniel (Daniel 6:18-19), he then ran in the early morning to see this deliverance. Is that not amazing! The kings heart was so stirred that he fasted and then rushed to see Daniel. It is then only now that we Daniel speak. He knew his relationship with God and because of this he had no fear, no anxiety, no worry. This is why he did not defend himself, he knew he did not have to, he knew God would protect him (Daniel 6:22-23).

What happens next is where we see the statement :what the enemy meant for evil, God turns for good” manifested. Darius releases a new law that the whole empire should tremble and fear before God. Darius declares that there is a living God that shall not be destroyed (Daniel 6:25-27). What started a mission to kill one man resulted in a whole nation hearing that there is but one Living Almighty Powerful God.