Excellence Is The Entrance

Daniel 6:1–3 (ESV) It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps, to be throughout the whole kingdom; 2 and over them three high officials, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss. 3 Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.

Daniel is at the top of his game no matter who is in charge. Here we have a clue as to why. The text repeats a line from Belshazzar's time: "an excellent spirit was in him". 

Notice the effect of that excellent spirit:

Daniel 6:3 (ESV) this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him.

It doesn't say "Daniel distinguished himself. It says he became distinguished. We live in a "distinguish yourself" culture. We are inundated with messages suggesting that we must get loud, make something of ourselves, put ourselves first, believe in ourselves, and our dreams. Daniel's ambition was to maintain a faithful obedience to God in all things. His excellent spirit has made him unafraid to stand up for God's standards, able to confront power, uninterested in gain or wealth or prestige. Now, in this chapter, we find another facet of the excellent spirit within Daniel.

Daniel 6:4–5 (ESV) Then the high officials and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him. 5 Then these men said, “We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.”

Daniel's jealous compatriots go to work. They convince Darius to sign a law saying no one prays to any god other than him. It's a perfect combination of flattery and condescension for what could Darius do in response to any prayer offered to him?

Daniel 6:9 (ESV) Therefore King Darius signed the document and injunction.

Now what would Daniel do? He doesn't hesitate. It's right to prayer just as he had done before. 

Daniel 6:10 (ESV) When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.

And even though Darius is upset his foolishly agreed to edict now threatens the life of his best advisor, he is bound by the law he enacted. Daniel is thrown to the lions (literally) as Darius calls to him in hopes his God will deliver. 

Daniel 6:16 (ESV) Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!”

The rest of the story is a beautiful piece of history. God shuts the mouths of the lions for Daniel, the king finds no harm on his body, and then casts Daniel's accusers into the pit to be mauled by those same lions. 

Finally, the king writes letters:

Daniel 6:25–26 (ESV) Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: “Peace be multiplied to you. 26 I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end.

You have a clear picture of Jesus in Daniel's ordeal. He's cast into the pit because of the jealousy of his fellows. He's better than they are, and they know it. A conspiring group compels the king to put him to death, but he is raised to live, and as testimony, letters are sent to the nations that Daniel's God is God. What is the New Testament but the collection of letters sent to the nations that Jesus is God who beat death and reigns in the presence of the Father. 

The last bit of narrative in the book of Daniel ends with this:

Daniel 6:28 (ESV) So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

Excellence is the entrance to God's blessing. When we refuse the compromise the world offers, when we stand strong in the face of evil threats, when we speak boldly to power, and when we hold to our convictions even if the laws turn against us, God empowers it and blesses it.