Daniel kept his windows open and prayed three times a day, knowing the law had changed

Daniel knew the law had been signed. He went home, opened his windows toward Jerusalem and knelt to pray, as he had always done.

The story in Daniel 6 is one of the best known in the Bible. It is often told to children as a tale of lions. It is really about an old man’s refusal to hide his faith.

The setting

Daniel had been taken to Babylon as a young man when Jerusalem fell. Decades later, under the Persian king Darius, he was one of three top officials over the kingdom, and the king planned to set him over all of it, because “an excellent spirit was in him” (Daniel 6:3).

The trap

Jealous officials looked for grounds to accuse him but found none: “forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him” (6:4). They realised they could only attack him through his faith. They persuaded Darius to sign a decree that for thirty days, anyone who prayed to any god or man except the king would be thrown into the den of lions. Under the law of the Medes and Persians, it could not be changed.

Daniel’s response

“Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime” (6:10).

The key words are “as he did aforetime”. Daniel did not start a protest. He simply did what he had always done.

The den

The officials reported him, and Darius, distressed, tried all day to save him but could not change the law. Daniel was thrown into the den, and the king said, “Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee” (6:16). Darius spent the night fasting and sleepless.

At dawn, the king ran to the den. Daniel answered: “My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths” (6:22).

The outcome

Darius released Daniel and issued a decree that people throughout his kingdom should honour Daniel’s God. The accusers faced the punishment they had planned for Daniel.

Lessons

Daniel’s faithfulness was a habit built over decades. His enemies found no fault in his work. When pressure came, he did not change his routine.

Most believers will never face lions. Many will face pressure to hide their faith at work or school. Daniel’s example is simple: keep the windows open, and keep praying as you did before.