People who suffer because of a foolish leader

King Darius, upon hearing the accusations against Daniel,

was deeply distressed and spent the rest of the day

until sunset trying to find a way to save Daniel.

Then, the accusers came back to the king and said,

'Your Majesty, remember that according to the law of the Medes and Persians,

no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.'

So, the king had no choice but to give the order,

and they threw Daniel into the lions' den.

At that time, the king said to Daniel,

'May your God, whom you always serve, rescue you.'

When the stone was placed over the mouth of the den,

the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles,

so that nothing could be changed concerning Daniel.

Then the king returned to his palace, and he spent the night

without eating and without entertainment, and he could not sleep

(Daniel 6:14-18).

As I meditate on this passage, I believe that King Darius was not wise.

He fell for the scheming of those who wanted to accuse Daniel.

He should not have issued the decree based on their demands

and should not have set it into law.

Moreover, if King Darius truly valued Daniel,

he would have known that Daniel prayed to God three times a day,

and he should not have issued the decree that the accusers requested.

In the end, King Darius, realizing

that he could not change the decree he had issued,

reluctantly followed the wishes of those who sought to accuse Daniel

and ordered that Daniel be thrown into the lions' den.

Interestingly, King Darius said to Daniel while he was in the den,

'May your God, whom you always serve, rescue you' (v. 16).

From this passage, it is clear that King Darius knew Daniel served God 'always'

and that Daniel 'always' prayed to God three times a day.

So why did he issue the decree based on the words

of those who wanted to accuse Daniel?

Why did he prohibit prayer to any god or man other than himself?

Could it be that he was so foolish as to forget

that there is a King of kings in heaven,

and became so arrogant that he made such a decree?

Despite his foolishness, King Darius, who had commanded

that the wise and distinguished Daniel be thrown into the lions' den,

went back to his palace and, rejecting the usual joyful music,

spent the night without eating and without sleep (vv. 16, 18).

A wise associate pastor working under

a foolish senior pastor may suffer in such a way.

Similarly, a foolish husband who digs his own grave

causes his wise wife to suffer because of him.