Our ancestors felt it too, and they wrestled with it in their stories and prayers. Today, we're diving into Midrash Tehillim 64, a fascinating passage that uses the story of Daniel in the lion's den to explore these themes of power, conspiracy, and ultimately, divine justice.
The midrash begins by quoting Amos 3:7: "Surely the Lord God does nothing, without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets." This sets the stage: God is involved, God knows, and God reveals. The midrash then connects this idea to David, the conqueror, suggesting that God informed David of Daniel's fate. It's all interconnected.
The text then takes a surprising turn, imagining the wicked as those who would "drill through the firmament" if they could, echoing Psalm 18:8: "Smoke went up from his nostrils, and devouring fire from his mouth; glowing coals flamed forth from him." Since they can’t reach God directly, they plot below, as Psalm 2:2 says, "The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together." Unable to challenge God on His own turf, they target those faithful to Him—like Daniel.
And here’s where the story of Daniel comes into sharper focus. Remember the plot against him? As we read in Daniel 6:8-9, all the powerful figures – "the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counselors, and the captains" – they all colluded, trying to trap him with a decree that would force him to choose between loyalty to the king and loyalty to God. They knew Daniel's unwavering devotion. They used it against him.
So, what did Daniel do? He knew the decree was signed, but as Daniel 6:10-11 tells us, he went home, opened his windows toward Jerusalem, and prayed, just as he always had. He refused to hide his faith, even in the face of death. He trusted in God.
When they caught him, Daniel didn't panic. He prayed, acknowledging God as "Lord, the King of the Universe." He sought refuge from the "plot of evildoers." And when his enemies gleefully reported him to the king, as Daniel 6:13-14 recounts, the king was "sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him." But the law was the law, and the king was bound to uphold it.
Now, here's where the midrash gets really interesting. It invokes Proverbs 30:30: "A lion, mightiest among beasts, recoils before none." The Holy One, blessed be He, said, "Let a lion come and rescue a lion from the mouth of a lion." The midrash sees Daniel as a 'lion' of faith, and God sends literal lions to rescue him! It’s a powerful image of divine intervention.
The story continues, elaborating on the miraculous nature of Daniel's survival. Seventy powerful men couldn't consume him, and when they plotted to increase their numbers, Daniel challenged them. The result? As Psalms 7:13 says, "God shoots His arrows suddenly," and the wicked were devoured instead. It’s a complete reversal!
The midrash then delves into the sheer number of lions involved, drawing from Daniel 6:2 and imagining a vast, almost supernatural force protecting Daniel. It culminates in the triumph of justice, echoing Psalms 58:11: "The righteous man will rejoice when he sees revenge; he will bathe his feet in the blood of the wicked." A stark image, perhaps, but one that underscores the complete and utter victory of good over evil.
Ultimately, the midrash concludes with Psalms 64:11: "The righteous man will rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in Him, and all the upright in heart will exult." It's a powerful affirmation of faith, a reminder that even when faced with overwhelming odds, even when powerful forces conspire against us, we can find strength and solace in our relationship with God. Daniel's story isn't just a historical account; it’s a timeless message of hope and resilience. It reminds us that even in the darkest of times, divine justice will ultimately prevail.