My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that 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.

My God hath sent his angel - the instrument, not the author of his deliverance (; ).

And hath shut the lions' mouths - (). So, spiritually, God will shut the roaring lion's mouth () for His servants, so that he cannot "devour" them.

Forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me - not absolutely before God (in ; he disclaims such a plea), but relatively to this case. God has attested the justice of my cause, in standing up for His worship, by delivering me. Therefore, the "forasmuch" does not justify Rome's doctrine of works meriting salvation.

And also before thee. Obedience to God is in strictest compatibility with loyalty to the king (; ). Daniel's disobedience to the king was seeming, not real, because it was not from contempt of the king, but from regard to the King of kings (cf. ).

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