DANIEL 6

GOD PROTECTS DANIEL IN THE DEN OF LIONS  

With Darius as the new king, Daniel is promoted to a higher level of authority and power. Jealous of Daniel’s position, the other leaders seek to find a scandal in Daniel’s life. However, Daniel is an upstanding man, and they find no misconduct to report. Instead, they decide to use his faith in God against him.

There is a new decree that for thirty days, Darius should be the only recipient of prayer, forbidding prayers to any other idol or god. Daniel’s faithfulness does not waiver due to the decree and he continues living a prayerful life that honors God.

The leaders convince King Darius to issue a new decree that for thirty days, no one is allowed to pray to any god or man except the king. Violators of the decree will be thrown into a den of lions. Despite the decree, Daniel remains faithful and continues living a prayerful life that honors God, as he has previously done.

Daniel’s conspirators catch him praying and report his actions to the king. Bound by the decree, Darius reluctantly orders Daniel to be thrown into the lions’ den, believing that Daniel’s God will deliver him.

That night, God sends an angel to shut the mouths of the lions, sparing Daniel’s life. Because Daniel trusted in God and refused to pray to Darius, he is protected from harm. The next morning, Darius finds Daniel unharmed!

The men who conspired against Daniel are thrown into the lions’ den and immediately devoured. In response to Daniel’s miraculous deliverance, Darius decrees that Daniel’s God should be worshiped and feared. Showing humility and faith, Darius proclaims that God is sovereign, and His kingdom will never fail.

Daniel’s story parallels the resurrection of Christ in several ways. Both Daniel and Jesus were innocent men persecuted unjustly. Daniel’s survival in the lions’ den mirrors Christ’s victory over the grave, as both stories highlight God’s power to deliver and redeem.