7The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den. 8Now, Your Majesty, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” 9So King Darius put the decree in writing.
10Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. 11Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. 12So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the lions’ den?”
The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”
13Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.” 14When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.
15Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, “Remember, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.”
16So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!”
17A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. 18Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.
19At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. 20When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”
21Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! 22My 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, Your Majesty.”
23The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
24At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.
25Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language in all the earth:
“May you prosper greatly!
26“I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.
“For he is the living God
and he endures forever;
his kingdom will not be destroyed,
his dominion will never end.
27He rescues and he saves;
he performs signs and wonders
in the heavens and on the earth.
He has rescued Daniel
from the power of the lions.” (Daniel 6)
Thoughts: One of the requirements of a prophet of the Lord was that he/she stayed close to God. Daniel showed he read the scriptures (quoting Jeremiah in Daniel 9:2 and other quotes from the first five books). But Daniel also was a man of prayer. He didn't pray just silently or in his closet. He prayed so much that his enemies knew it. They saw it as his weakness, but Daniel knew it was his strength. For every believer prayer is our lifeline to God. Out of their jealousy of Daniel's success and blessing they sought to have him thrown into the lion's den. But Daniel prayed (as was his custom) and an angel shut the mouths of the lions. When Daniel was drawn out his enemies were thrown in and the lions ate them without hesitation. The content of Daniel's prayer is unknown an unimportant. But Daniel would doubtless pray.
if you look up how to survive a lion's attack you will find- 1) Don't Panic, 2) Don't Run, 3) Back away slowly- facing the lion. But if you look hard enough they will be honest and say there is almost no way to survive a lion's attack if they want to eat you. The missing ingredient in Wikihow is what Daniel used- prayer. Even the king recognized God's hand and proclaimed that all people should pray to Daniel's God- for He rescues and saves. The point of this passage is not that Daniel was saved. It was that God was glorified- and throughout the whole known earth.
if you look up how to survive a lion's attack you will find- 1) Don't Panic, 2) Don't Run, 3) Back away slowly- facing the lion. But if you look hard enough they will be honest and say there is almost no way to survive a lion's attack if they want to eat you. The missing ingredient in Wikihow is what Daniel used- prayer. Even the king recognized God's hand and proclaimed that all people should pray to Daniel's God- for He rescues and saves. The point of this passage is not that Daniel was saved. It was that God was glorified- and throughout the whole known earth.
Prayer: Lord, help me to trust in you, and not flinch back.
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