Christian Religious Studies Paper 2 WASSCE (PC), 2017

Question 4

 

HOW GOD SAVED DANIEL FROM THE CONSPIRACY OF THE SATRAPS (DANIEL 6)

Observation

 

This question was not all that popular among the candidates. However, a vast number of the candidates attempted it. The performance to this question was average. Some candidates narrated the experience of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego rather than on Daniel. In some other instances, they mistook the name Nebuchadnezzar for Darius. Furthermore, many students did not know the meaning of the word Satraps to this end; students do need seasoned teachers to guild students on biblical terms. In regards to this question, candidates were expected to have highlighted the essential points as listed below;

  1. King Darius set over his kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps (governors) who were accountable to three presidents.
  2. Daniel was one of the presidents and he distinguished himself because he had the spirit of God.
  3. The king loved him and planned to make him head over the kingdom.
  4. This made his colleagues envious of him thus, they conspired to destroy him.
  5. Having found no fault with Daniel, they decided to turn him against his God.
  6. They collaborated and got an agreement before the king.
  7. They requested that the king makes a decree banning the worship of neither man nor God except the king for thirty days. The penalty for such offence was to be cast into a lions’ den.
  8. They pressed that the law be made irrevocable/unchangeable according to the law of the Medes and Persians.
  9. King Darius signed and passed their suggestions into law.
  10. In spite of this, Daniel went to the upper chamber of his house, left the windows open and prayed to God three times daily.
  11. Daniel was caught breaking the law and was reported to the king by the conspirators for his failure to obey the decree.
  12. He was brought before the king, tried according to the decree and was ordered to be cast into the lions’den.
  13. King Darius, prayed and fasted for him all night that the God of Daniel should deliver

him from the lions.

  1. Early the next morning, the king went to the den and realized Daniel was still alive.
  2. With gladness in his heart, the king ordered that Daniel be brought out of the lions’ den. 
  3. He afterwards commanded that Daniel’s accusers, including their families be thrown into the den of lions where they were consumed.
  4. The king made it a law binding on everyone in his dominion to worship the God of Daniel for He saves and delivers.
  5. Daniel became prosperous afterwards throughout his life time.