What does Daniel 6:22 mean?
Daniel was unquestionably guilty of breaking the law. When Darius issued an edict prohibiting prayer to anyone but himself (Daniel 6:6–9), Daniel deliberately ignored it (Daniel 6:10). Yet he rightly says here that he was innocent before God and had done nothing to harm the king. The law which Daniel violated was a malicious conspiracy (Daniel 6:4–5) with no purpose other than to entrap him. Darius realized this too late and spent a night of anguished worry hoping that Daniel's God would provide rescue (Daniel 6:14–18). Hearing his trusted advisor's words is cause for celebration (Daniel 6:23).Daniel affirmed that his safety was a miracle. The "angel" mentioned here is not identified. Some suggest it was a common angel, or perhaps Michael the archangel (Daniel 12:1). Others think this might have been a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ. Similar discussion surrounds the angelic figure who appeared to rescue Daniel's three friends from a fiery death (Daniel 3:24–26).
Clearly, Daniel exhibited strong trust in the Lord during a perilous situation. Hebrews 11:33 mentions faith as having "stopped the mouths of lions." When Jesus rules the earth, He will subdue the wild nature of lions and all savage beasts. Isaiah 11:7 predicts "the lion shall eat straw like the ox."
