What should we learn from the account of Daniel in the lions’ den?

Answer

The account of Daniel in the lions’ den, documented in Daniel 6, is among the most cherished in all of Scripture. In summary, the narrative revolves around Daniel, a prophet of the true and living God, who disobeys King Darius’s decree that people should pray solely to the Persian king for thirty days. Despite being a law-abiding individual, Daniel persists in praying to God of Israel as he always has. Wicked men, who orchestrated the decree to entrap Daniel due to their jealousy of him, report him to Darius. The king is compelled to place Daniel in a den of lions where he would be torn apart. King Darius is deeply troubled by having to punish Daniel, and he tells Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you” «Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee. », (Daniel 6:16). Indeed, God saves Daniel by sending His angel to close the lions’ mouths so they do not harm him. Daniel is taken out of the lions’ den the following day, much to the king’s relief.

One of the primary teachings we derive from this account is from King Darius’s own acknowledgment: “For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end” «I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end. », (Daniel 6:26). Only by having faith in such a God could anyone have “shut the mouths of lions” «who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought rightRighteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,”, (Hebrews 11:33). As with Daniel, the faithful Christian must understand that God is sovereign and omnipotent, and His will permeates and supersedes every aspect of life. It is God’s will that takes precedence over everything and everyone. The psalmist tells us, “As for God, His way is perfect” « As for God, his way is perfect: The word of the LORD is tried: He is a buckler to all those that trust in him. », (Psalm 18:30). If God’s ways are “perfect,” then we can trust that whatever He does—and whatever He allows—is also perfect. This may not seem possible to us, but our minds are not God’s mind. It is true that we can’t expect to understand His mind perfectly, as He reminds us in Isaiah 55:8-9. Nevertheless, our responsibility to God is to obey Him, to trust Him, and to submit to His will and believe that whatever He ordains will be for our benefit and His glory «And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. », (Romans 8:28). In Daniel’s case, “no wound was found on him, because he had trusted his God” «Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God. », (Daniel 6:23). Joseph, too, understood that sometimes evil men plan things for evil, but God means them for good «But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. », (1 Peter 2:13-14). Daniel not only followed this principle, he exceeded it by distinguishing himself as one with “exceptional qualities” (Daniel 6:2-3). Taking this lesson further, we read that submission to our political authorities “is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk as foolish men” «For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: », (1 Peter 2:15). Daniel’s faithfulness, his outstanding work ethic, and integrity made it next to impossible for his adversaries to find “grounds for charges against him” «Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. », (Daniel 6:4). Instead, they found that “he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent.” The world now, as it did then, judges us not by our faith but by our conduct «Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. », (James 2:18). How many today could stand such a scrutiny as did Daniel on this occasion?

The story ends badly for Daniel’s a

Dear users, just as it will for those who accuse and persecute Christians today. King Darius, on the other hand, recognized the power of the God of Daniel, turned to Him in faith, and commanded the people of his kingdom to worship Him (Daniel 6:25-27). Through the witness of Daniel, his faith, and the faithfulness and power of God, an entire nation came to know and reverence the Lord. “For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end.”