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We
understand that Babylon had royal inspectors who had the responsibility
to visit the different provinces over which the satraps ruled and
to check them out. These royal inspectors were spies for the government.
They were the king’s eyes and ears. It was their job to make
sure the king did not suffer loss. They reported any wrong doing such
as graft or dishonest government officials back to Babylon. It appears
from Daniel 6:2 that they reported to Daniel and the other two commissioners.
Trouble Is
Coming. After awhile Darius began to notice that Daniel
was a better commissioner than the other two, and planned to promote
him.
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Then
this Daniel began distinguishing himself among the commissioners
and satraps because he possessed an extraordinary spirit, and
the king planned to appoint him over the entire kingdom. (NASB)
Dan. 6:3 |
The other commissioners were disturbed with this plan. Is it possible
that Daniel and his royal inspectors were more honest and Darius knew
it? Were the other two commissioners taking bribes along with their
royal inspectors and fearing what would happen when Daniel was promoted?
They were disturbed over something and so they tried to find some
fault with Daniel.
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Then
the commissioners and satraps began trying to find a ground
of accusation against Daniel in regard to government affairs;
but they could find no ground of accusation or evidence of corruption,
inasmuch as he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption
was to be found in him. (NASB) Dan. 6:4 |
But they could not find anything wrong. Now we would say that Daniel
was ethical, loyal, and responsible. Today some companies are training
their employees to be “ethical” rather than teaching God’s
ethics - the righteous standard of God as found in the Bible. Daniel
did not need ethical training. He had the Word of Truth.
Our Heel.
Someone recently said “the lead guy is always the target.”
That is true. But when the person is a Christian, he or she does not
need to be the “lead guy” to come under attack. Satan is
attacking if a Christian is seeking to please the Lord. Attacks within
the church usually come from poor understanding of the Bible, empire
building, and an unwillingness to change. A serious and common “Achilles
Heel” for Christians is a desire to please others - both Christians
and non-Christians. Daniel wanted to please only God and so it is
no surprise that trouble came.
Since these men could not find anything
wrong with Daniel, they decided to create a situation and have Daniel
killed.
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Then
these men said, “We shall not find any ground of accusation
against this Daniel unless we find it against him with regard
to the law of his God.” Then these commissioners and satraps
came by agreement to the king and spoke to him as follows: “King
Darius, live forever! All the commissioners of the kingdom,
the prefects and the satraps, the high officials and the governors
have consulted together that the king should establish a statute
and enforce an injunction that anyone who makes a petition to
any god or man besides you, O king, for thirty days, shall be
cast into the lions’ den. Now, O king, establish the injunction
and sign the document so that it may not be changed, according
to the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be revoked.”
(NASB) Dan. 6:5-8 |
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