The Den of Lions

Jealous Politicians

When Darius became king he set up 120 governors over the whole kingdom and over the governors he established 3 presidents. Daniel was one of the presidents. King Darius soon realized that Daniel had an excellent spirit so he planned to set him over the whole kingdom. This made the other presidents and governors jealous so they watched Daniel. They were looking for something wrong that they could report to the king.

Not Finding Fault in Daniel

Even though they watched very carefully they couldn't find any fault in Daniel to report to king Darius. Daniel was faithful and careful to take care of the king's business well. So eventually the men conspiring against Daniel said, "We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God."

Setting a Trap

Then these presidents and governors came by agreement to the king and said to him, "O King Darius, live for ever! All the presidents of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors are agreed that the king should make a law 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. Now, O king, make the law and sign the document, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be revoked." Therefore King Darius signed the document and made the law. When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down upon his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.

Accusing Daniel

Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his God. Then they came near and said before the king, concerning the law, "O king! Did you not sign a law, that any man who makes petition to any god or man within thirty days except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?" The king answered, "The thing stands fast, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked." Then they answered before the king, "That Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no heed to you, O king, or the law you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day."

Cast into the Den of Lions

Then the king, when he heard these words was much distressed, and set his mind to deliver Daniel. He and he tried all day to figure out a way to rescue Daniel. When the sun went down the men accusing Daniel came to the king, and said to the king, "Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no law which the king establishes can be changed." Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king said to Daniel, "May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!" And a stone was brought and laid upon the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel.

The King's Anxiety

Then the king went to his palace, and spent the night fasting; no diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him. Then, at break of day, the king arose and hurried to the den of lions. When he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish and said to Daniel, "O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?"

Daniel's Deliverance

Then Daniel said to the king, "O king, live for ever! My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not hurt me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no wrong." Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of hurt was found upon him, because he had trusted in his God. And the king commanded, and those men who had accused Daniel were brought and cast into the den of lions--they, their children, and their wives. Before they reached the bottom of the den the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces.

The King's Praise

Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: "Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring for ever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end. He delivers and rescues, he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions." So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

What aspect of Daniel's life did the other officials try to use to attack him?
Why was it so important?