They present their plan in such a way that it looks like it has nothing to do with Daniel. It seems that this plan is only intended to increase the greatness and glory of Darius. It seems like all their attention is focused on that one goal. The plan is that no one in the Empire should worship anyone but Darius. Prayers are to be directed only to Darius as a god. For one month Darius is to be worshipped as the Almighty. No one else may be asked for divine help during this time.
At that time, people did not find it strange to serve their king as a god. This fitted the religious feelings and customs of the time. However, it was rather striking that it was not allowed to worship anyone else than Darius.
Just imagine what this meant for God’s people. In exile they had been allowed to worship the Lord. They were even allowed to worship the Lord only. This had not caused any major problems until now. On occasion the Lord had made it very clear to Nebuchadnezzar that he should not force people to serve himself as a god—that Israel and the other people should have the freedom to worship the Lord as the only God. However, now the devil is trying to cause a break with the past. At the very time that God’s people will soon receive permission to return to the land of Israel, the devil puts all his strength into opposing this. Just when the Lord is once again opening the way for his people and the world to the coming of Christ as the Redeemer, the devil seeks to prevent this. The devil is doing everything he can to bring God’s people in exile to the point that they will forcibly deny the Lord. This is a serious threat to God’s people in exile.
7 All the high officials of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an injunction, that whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions.