DANIEL IN THE DEN OF LIONS

0. Bible Story Summaries 

a) The collection of Bible story summaries highlights the simple yet profound truths found in the ancient and enduring stories of the Bible. Each of the summaries provides a brief synopsis of Old and New Testament Bible stories with Scripture reference, interesting points or lessons to be learned from the story, and a question for reflection.

b) We shall look at each of the Bible story summaries.

1. God Protected and Delivered Daniel from the Den of Lions

a) Sooner or later we all go through extreme trials that test our faith, just like Daniel did when he was tossed into the den of lions. Maybe you are going through a time of serious crisis in your life right now. Let Daniel's example of obedience and trust in God encourage you to keep your eyes on the true Protector and Deliverer.

2. Scripture Reference

a) Book of Daniel, chapter 6.

3. Daniel in the Den of Lions - Story Summary

a) The ancient Middle East was the story of one empire rising, falling, and being replaced by another. In 605 B.C., the Babylonians conquered Israel, taking many of its promising young men into captivity in Babylon. One of those men was Daniel.

b) When the lions' den event occurred, Daniel was in his 80s. Through a life of hard work and obedience to God, he had risen through the political ranks as an administrator of this pagan kingdom. In fact, Daniel was so honest and hardworking that the other government officials--who were jealous of him--could find nothing to remove him from office.

c) So they tried to use Daniel's faith in God against him. They tricked King Darius into passing a decree that during a 30-day period, anyone who prayed to another god or man besides the king would be thrown into the lions' den.

d) Daniel learned of the decree but did not change his habit. Just as he had done all his life, he went home, knelt down, faced Jerusalem, and prayed to God. The wicked administrators caught him and told the king. King Darius, who loved Daniel, tried to save him, but the decree could not be revoked.

e) At sundown, they threw Daniel into the den of lions. The king could not eat or sleep all night. At dawn he ran to the lions' den and asked Daniel if his God had protected him. Daniel replied,

"My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king." (Daniel 6:22)

f) Scripture says the king was overjoyed. Daniel was brought out, unharmed, "...because he had trusted in his God." (Daniel 6:23)

g) King Darius had the men arrested who falsely accused Daniel, and along with their wives and children, they were all thrown into the lions' den, where they were immediately killed by the beasts.

h) Then the king issued another decree, ordering the people to fear and reverence the God of Daniel. Daniel prospered under the reign of Darius and King Cyrus the Persian after him.

4. Points of Interest from Daniel in the Den of Lions

• Daniel is a type of Christ, a godly Bible character who foreshadows the coming Messiah. He is called blameless. In the lions' den miracle, Daniel's trial resembles that of Jesus before Pontius Pilate, and his escape from certain death is like Jesus' resurrection.

• The lions' den also symbolized Daniel's captivity in Babylon, where God protected and sustained him because of his great faith.

• Even though Daniel was an old man, he refused to take the easy way out and abandon God. The threat of an agonizing death did not change his trust in God.

• Daniel is not mentioned by name in Hebrews 11, the great Faith Hall of Fame, but he is alluded to in verse 33 as a prophet "who shut the mouth of lions."

• Daniel was taken into captivity at the same time as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

5. Question for Reflection

a) You might be enduring your own personal "den of lions" right now. The key is not to put your focus on your situation but rather on your all-powerful Protector. Are you putting your faith in God to rescue you? 

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