Daniel Lesson 6 – God Delivers Daniel from the Lions’ Den (Daniel 6)

1. Why were the other high officials in Darius’s kingdom jealous of Daniel? What plan did they come up with to get rid of him?

Daniel became the most distinguished of all the high officials, so much so that Darius was going to set him over all the kingdom. The other high officials did not want Daniel to reign over them. They decided to have the King sign a law that, for 30 days, everyone could only worship and pray to King Darius.

2. When Daniel heard their plot against him, what did he do?

Daniel went up to his house and, like he did 3 times each day, prayed toward Jerusalem to the God of Israel. He prayed with the windows open like he normally did. He did not hide, he did not worship Darius, he was faithful to his God.

3. What was the punishment for going against the king’s command? Did the king try to save Daniel? Why couldn’t he?

The punishment was that anyone who disobeyed the king’s command was to be thrown into the den of lions. King Darius did everything he could to save Daniel, but he was powerless to do so. When the king signed a command, there was no way he could go back on what he wrote. The king was subject to the law he made. In reality, the law was king.

4. How did God rescue Daniel? And why did God rescue him?

God sent an angel to close the mouths of the lions so that they did not harm Daniel at all. Daniel was in the pit with the lions all night and he was not harmed. God has rescued Daniel through his rescuing angel. Daniel was rescued because he had trusted in his God and was faithful to him. God will rescue his faithful ones.

5. What does this teach us about Daniel’s God?

God is mighty and powerful to save. Darius could do nothing to save Daniel, but God did. God is not bound; he can deliver however and whenever he wants. God reigns over all kingdoms and God reigns over all gods. Through Darius’ next decree, God was glorified by a gentile pagan empire to show his glory through his faithful servant, Daniel. God also knows when his people go through suffering. He may not rescue them from it at the beginning, but he will always redeem and restore his people in the end.

6. How does this point us to the greatest prophet, the Lord Jesus?

Like Daniel, Jesus was accused falsely. Like Daniel, Jesus had charges made against him that were not true. Like Daniel, Jesus suffered, was thrown into the grave, and endured the wrath of God, the punishment of sin. It looked like the devil, that roaring lion, had devoured Jesus by having him crucified. However, it was God’s plan all along to raise his son out of the pit/grave, and, through his suffering, defeat Satan and death. Jesus is the prophet greater than Daniel whom God delivered because he was totally faithful to God. Jesus was the pure and blameless one, and God heard him because of his reverence (Hebrews 5). Jesus trusted in his Father fully (Hebrews 11, 1 Peter 2), and we can trust in him by the power of his Spirit in us.