Metaphysical Bible Interpretation of Daniel Chapter 6
Metaphysically Interpreting Daniel 6:10-28
6:10And when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house (now his windows were open in his chamber toward Jerusalem) and he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. 6:11Then these men assembled together, and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his God. 6:12Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king's interdict: Hast thou not signed an interdict, that every man that shall make petition unto any god or man within thirty days, save unto thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. 6:13Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, who is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the interdict that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.
6:14Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to rescue him. 6:15Then these men assembled together unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians, that no interdict nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.
6:16Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee. 6:17And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. 6:18Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting; neither were instruments of music brought before him: and his sleep fled from him.
6:19Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. 6:20And when he came near unto the den to Daniel, he cried with a lamentable voice; the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? 6:21Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. 6:22My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, and they have not hurt me; forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt. 6:23Then was the king exceeding glad, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he had trusted in his God. 6:24And the king commanded, and they brought those men that had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces, before they came to the bottom of the den.
6:25Then king Darius wrote unto all the peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied unto you. 6:26I make a decree, that in all the dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel;
for he is the living God,
and stedfast for ever,
And his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed;
and his dominion shall be even unto the end.
6:27He delivereth and rescueth,
and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth,
who hath delivered Daniel
from the power of the lions.
6:28So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
March 5, 1916: Daniel 6:10-23
INTERPRETATI0N
Every faculty is brought forth in character through use and trial of its strength in various ways. Spiritual judgment, represented by Daniel, is made strong by trial. The Son of God must master every mortal limitation. When we overcome a weakness, we are that much stronger. It is the Christ consciousness that says, "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne." This throne represents the place of power and dominion which one attains who masters himself.
This mastering oneself includes not only dominion over the appetites and passions, but also the strengthening of the higher faculties. Daniel is represented as a very just man. Though an Israelite, he had risen to power in Babylon and was ruler over one hundred and twenty provinces. Such rulers in those times almost always made their position a source of gain. But Daniel refused to share in or wink at "grafts," and he thus incurred the enmity of the other office holders. This is the basis of the conspiracy against him, as given in this lesson.
An analysis of the individual mind reveals that thoughts congregate and center around certain ideas exactly as men form organizations; also that there are opposing sets of thought aggregations in every mind, each seeking for the ascendency. All the honest thoughts you have held flock together in your mind, and also the dishonest thoughts, and each aggregation is trying to make you act from its standpoint. The one in dominion is the king (will), who acts as moved by the various thoughts, or as directed by spiritual understanding.
This king (will) is a vain fellow and has his weak spots, one of which is that his law is supreme and cannot be broken. In the Oriental countries this is carried on to the extent of deifying the king and making all his edicts absolutely inviolate. The king of Babylon was not simply a servant of Ormuzd, the deity; he was regaled and described as actually the "image of the god " who dwelt in him. Divine honors and worship were naturally paid to such an exalted personage. The will is the "image and likeness " of God, and is regarded by all mystics as the central spark that links man to the Supreme.
The will (king ) naturally loves the good, the true; therefore it is the friend of right judgment, Daniel. But having in ignorance sent forth an act that puts this faculty to a severe test, will is worried, and affirms that the God of Daniel shall deliver him. This is a correct handling of the situation. When we do that which puts us to the test along any line, we should declare the Divine deliverance and power at work. This sets into action thought forces that may be described as the "angel " who shut the lions' mouths.
The lions are the savage thoughts that arise in us when we are wrongfully accused and know we are innocent. One who is passing through this phase of thought regeneration should, like Daniel, be true to his God, in spite of all intimidation and persecution; for these will sometimes come from without as a reflection of the tumult within. People who are making special efforts to live true and spiritual lives often find whose who have been their friends turn about and abuse them, and accuse them of evil acts. This seems doubly hard to bear, right when the aspirations of the soul and the whole trend of life have been to a holiness. But, when we understand some of the inner workings of thought, we see why this opposition is set up. Jesus saw it and said, "Forgive them, Father, they know not what they do."
June 6, 1948: Dan. 6:10
Can faith become as habitual with us as doubt? Yes. The whole tenor of our life depends on our habitual attitude toward Truth. If it is constructive, we meet life calmly and confidently, instead of fearfully. Faith that is held fast under all conditions and circumstances will prove equal to whatever test it must meet.
August 11, 1929: Dan. 6:10, 11
What is the most efficacious preparation and defense against persecution? Prayer is the most efficacious preparation and defense against persecution. “And when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house (now his windows were open in his chamber toward Jerusalem) and he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.”
Should we wait until an emergency is upon us before we pray, or should we pray before the emergency comes? Like Daniel, we should be faithful in daily prayers. Daniel prays three times a day. Every time we pray, we make a stronger union with Divine Mind; this union insures us ever-ready help in any emergency that may arise.
August 11, 1929: Dan. 6:16-23
What is the meaning of Jesus’ words: "He that overcometh, I will give to him to sit down with me in my throne"? Overcoming is "gaining mastery over"; a throne is a place from which dominion is exercised. This passage of Scripture means that one who overcomes self attains dominion and mastery.
What are we to have dominion over? We are to have dominion over our thoughts, over our desires, feelings, appetites, and passions.
What thought does the lion represent? The lion represents the undisciplined, savage courage of the natural man.
What is the symbology of Daniel being thrown into the den of lions? At a certain place in development, spiritual judgment is apparently given over by the personal will to the mercy of the animal forces in the subconsciousness. Daniel, by thought, prayer, and meditation, opened up the powers of the subconsciousness that he might overcome these forces and raise them to spiritual consciousness!
Do the animal forces in the subconsciousness ever devour those who have not purified and strengthened themselves by prayer? Yes; the savagery of the natural man becomes rampant and destroys the body, unless it is disciplined and restrained by the higher principle, the Christ Mind.
What is represented by the angel that God sent to close the lions’ mouths? The angel that God sent to close the lions' mouths is the messenger (divine thought) which has power to subdue all elemental forces and to make there harmless.
July 23, 1922: Dan. 6:16-23
LESSON INTERPRETATION
What is the most efficacious preparation and dose against persecution? Prayer. In the tenth verse of this chapter is written: "And when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house (now his windows were open in his chamber toward Jerusalem) and he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime."
Should we pray when an emergency is upon us, or before? Like Daniel, we should be faithful in our daily prayers. Daniel prayed three times a day. Every time we pray, we make a stronger union with Divine Mind, which gives us help in any emergency which may arise.
What is the meaning of Jesus' words: "He that overcometh, I will give to him to sit down with me in my throne"? Overcoming is gaining the mastery over; a throne is a place from which dominion is exercised. This means that one who overcomes self, attains dominion and mastery over all his powers.
What are we to have dominion over? We are to have dominion over our thoughts, our desires, feelings, appetites, and passions.
What thought does the lion represent in our consciousness? The lion represents the undisciplined, savage courage of the natural man.
[Unreadable question.] Daniel, by [prayer] and meditation, opened up the powers of the subconscious, that he might overcome them and raise them in spiritual consciousness.
Do these animal forces in the subconscious ever devour those who have not purified and strengthened themselves by prayers? Yes. The savagery of the natural man becomes rampant and destroys the body, unless disciplined and restrained by the higher principle, the Christ Mind.
What is represented by the angel which God sent to close the lions’ mouths? The angel is the messenger, or God-thought, which has power to subdue and to make harmless all elemental forces.
Transcribed by Lloyd Kinder on 10-23-2013
