Daniel in the Lions Den

We have all heard about Daniel in the Lions Den.  It is one of the more popular biblical stories told in Sunday school and in children’s bible story books.

The story goes like this.

Darius the Mede served as King over Babylon after defeating King Belshazzar.  He ruled together with Cyrus the Persian (Daniel 6:28)

Daniel was one of three administrators to oversee 120 satraps.  Daniel was so good at his job that the King planned to place him over the entire Kingdom.  The other satraps and administrators were not too pleased with this, so they came up with a plan to get rid of Daniel (verses 4-5).

Daniel was a man who was faithful to his God and everyone knew this.  The other administrators made the King sign a decree that anyone who prays to any god or man, except for the King, for the next thirty days, would be thrown in the lions den (verses 6-9).

When Daniel heard this he had no choice but to go and pray for his life.  He was accustomed to praying three times a day.  They went and found him praying and immediately told the King.  The King was distressed when he heard this and tried to find a way out for Daniel, but the decree was binding and there was nothing he could do.  He gave the order for Daniel to be thrown into the den.  The King told Daniel that he hoped his God would rescue him (verses 10-16).

The King, thinking about the situation with Daniel, fasted that night and could not sleep.  The next morning he went to the Den and called out to Daniel:

“Daniel, servant of the living God! Was your God, whom you worship continually, able to rescue you from the Lions?” 

Daniel answered:

“Long live the King!  My God sent his angel to shut the lions mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight.” (verses 18-22)

Daniel was saved.  The King then ordered that the men who falsely accused Daniel be thrown into the Den, together with their wives and children (verses 23-24).

Daniel, the Interpreter of Dreams

Daniel was a very gifted and knowledgeable individual.  God especially gave him a very unique ability.

“And God gave Daniel special ability in understanding the meanings of visions and dreams.” (Daniel 1:17)

Before the events of the Lions’ Den, Babylon was ruled by King Nebuchadnezzar from 605-562 BC.  During his reign he captured Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple of God and took captive the people of Judah (verses 1-3).

Daniel, together with three of his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, were among the captives. The King ordered his chief of court officials to bring to the palace some of the young men of Judah’s royal family.  He wanted only the strong, healthy and good looking men.  They must also be gifted with knowledge and good sense.  Daniel and his three friends were chosen (verses 3-6).

Nebuchadnezzar's Dream

One night King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that disturbed him so much, he could not sleep.  He summoned his magicians and sorcerers and demanded that they tell him what the dream meant.  Not only that, they must also tell him what it is he dreamt.  Failure to do this would result in their deaths and destruction of their properties. (Daniel 2:1-5).

The wise men, of course could not do such a thing.  They told the King that no man alive could do such a thing except for the gods.  The King was furious and ordered all the wise men to be executed.  This included Daniel and his friends (verses 12-13).

When the commander of the King’s guard, Arioch, came to kill Daniel and his friends, Daniel asked why such a decree was made.  When he was told, he went to see the King and asked for time to interpret the dream.  He then went and told his friends to ask God to show them the dream so they would not be executed.  That night God revealed the dream to Daniel in a vision.  Daniel thanked and praised God (verses 14-23).

Daniel then asked Arioch to take him to see the King.  Arioch told the King he found someone from among the captives who could interpret his dream.  The King questioned Daniel who replied:

“there are no wise men, enchanters, magicians, or fortune tellers who can tell the King such things. But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets…”

Daniel then proceeded to tell the King his dream (verses 24-28).

In his dream Nebuchadnezzar saw a powerful statue of a man, his head was made of gold, his chest and arms of silver and his belly and thighs of bronze.  His legs were of iron and its feet of iron and clay.  A rock from a mountain struck the feet of iron and clay smashing it to pieces.  The entire statue then collapsed into a heap of iron, clay, bronze, silver and gold, and the wind blew it away without a trace.  The rock then became a great mountain and covered the whole earth.  (Daniel 31- 35).

The Interpretation

Nebuchadnezzar is the head of gold.  After his Kingdom comes to an end, an inferior one will take its place.  After that one has fallen, a third great Kingdom, which is the bronze belly and thighs, will rise and rule the world.  After this a fourth Kingdom, strong as iron, will smash and crush all the previous empires.  This Kingdom will be divided as shown by the feet and toes of iron and clay.  Some parts strong as iron and others weak as clay.  This Kingdom will not succeed just as iron and clay does not mix.

During the reign of this Kingdom, God will set up a Kingdom that will never be destroyed.  This is the rock that came from the mountain (verses 36-45).

Daniel the Prophet

Daniel had many visions and was described by Jesus Christ as a prophet.

“The time will come when you will see what Daniel the prophet spoke about: the sacrilegious object that causes desecration standing in the Holy Place …” (Matthew 24:15).

God also gave Daniel great knowledge and understanding.

“Don’t be afraid, Daniel.  Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven”.  (Daniel 10:12).

Daniel, apart from being a prophet, was also declared a righteous man before God.

“Even if Noah, Daniel and Job were there, their righteousness could save no one but themselves, declares the Sovereign Lord.”  (Ezekiel 14:14).

Images were taken from http://www.visualbible.com