May 22, 2025
Today’s scripture lesson is a study in unintended consequences. No matter how carefully we construct and construe our plans, no matter how much time and energy we spend researching and preparing, something always happens we never thought of. There are always knock-on effects, some of which are beyond horrible.
In our story today, Darius the Mede has conquered Babylon and is now ruling over the Babylonians, Medes and Persians. Daniel, one of the Jews living in exile in Babylon, is a senior administrator of the new kingdom. In fact, Daniel is so proficient at his job, and so pleasing to the king, that Darius is thinking of making him his Grand Vizier, his Prime Minister. In effect, Daniel would be the head of the government.
The other officials are beyond jealous. They are consumed with rage and will stop at nothing to bring him down. Despite a thorough search, they can find nothing against Daniel except the fact that, three times per day, he faces Jerusalem from his open window and prays to the one true God.
The officials conspire together to convince the king to issue an edict that, for the next 30 days, no person may worship any other god than King Darius. Anyone who breaks the order will be thrown into a den of lions. And once the edict is declared, it cannot be revoked. This is the law of the Medes and the Persians!
Who knows what drove Darius to sign this edict, to create this crazy law? Pride? Flattery? Did he genuinely believe he was a God? We don’t know. But we do know that his actions had unintended consequences.
Daniel, of course, does not follow the edict. He continues as always, facing Jerusalem through his open window three times per day, praying to the one true God. It doesn’t take long for the conspirators to pounce, and Daniel is hauled before the king.
Inquiring minds want to know – did Daniel know he was being watched? Were the windows already open or did Daniel open them? Did he look out of the window and think, “Here I am, boys. Catch me if you dare!” Did he think, “Lord God, I know you will protect me.” We don’t know. But I can’t help but think that, whatever Daniel thought about his actions, there were some unintended consequences. As you know, we Presbyterians understand that none of us are perfect and even our best actions are tainted by sin, even Daniel’s.
King Darius is beside himself. Daniel is one of his favorites, one of his most trusted advisers. Someone the king genuinely cares about! He does his best to weasel out of prosecuting the case, but the conspirators will not let him. Once an order has been signed it cannot be revoked. This is the law of the Medes and the Persians!
Poor Darius has no choice but to order Daniel to be thrown into the lions’ den. Beside himself with despair, Darius retreats to his palace where he spends a sleepless night, refusing all food and comfort.
At first light, Darius makes his way to the den. ‘Daniel, are you OK? Did your God save you?’ Daniel replies that yes, he is just fine, thank you very much. God saved him because is innocent in the sight of God and has done no harm to the king.
Darius is overjoyed at Daniel’s answer. He immediately orders Daniel to be taken from the lions’ den and that the conspirators be thrown in instead, along with their wives and children. “And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones” (Daniel 6:24b).
Surely the deaths of all these innocents was a tragically unintended consequence!
As Presbyterians, we understand that even our most noble, most humble, most altruistic acts are tainted with sin. We live in a fallen world. Sin is real. And so are unintended consequences.
If even our best acts have unintended consequences, how much more will our acts of deceit, greed and violence? When we engage in these awful acts, we soon learn a universal law: when our actions are cruel, dangerous or mean spirited, the innocent will suffer.
God is with us in all we say and do. Sometimes, by God’s grace, no one is hurt by the unintended consequences of our righteous, altruistic actions. But when we conspire to hurt others, we should expect to suffer as well, along with many innocent people. All actions have unintended consequences.
May God’s peace be with us all,
Pastor Ken.