Origin: Daniel 6 in the Bible
Once upon a time, in a faraway land, there lived a man named Daniel. Daniel loved God with all his heart and followed His commandments faithfully. Because of his wisdom and integrity, Daniel held a high position in the kingdom of Babylon.
Now, the king of Babylon at that time was named Darius. He trusted Daniel greatly and planned to make him even more powerful in his kingdom. This made some of the other officials jealous, and they wanted to find a way to get rid of Daniel.
These jealous officials devised a wicked plan. They convinced King Darius to issue a decree stating that anyone who prayed to any god or human except the king himself for the next thirty days would be thrown into a den of hungry lions.
Daniel heard about the decree but remained faithful to God. Three times a day, just as he always did, Daniel went to his house, opened his windows facing Jerusalem, and prayed to God.
When the jealous officials saw Daniel praying to God, they went to King Darius and reported his actions. Although King Darius liked Daniel and didn’t want to harm him, he was bound by the law he had signed.
Reluctantly, King Darius ordered Daniel to be thrown into the den of lions. Before Daniel was thrown in, the king said to him, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!”
The den of lions was dark and scary, but God was with Daniel. He sent an angel to shut the lions’ mouths so they couldn’t harm him. That night, Daniel slept peacefully among the lions, unharmed.
Early the next morning, King Darius rushed to the lion’s den. He called out to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”
Daniel answered, “O king, live forever! My 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. I have done no wrong before you, O king.”
Overjoyed, King Darius ordered Daniel to be lifted out of the den. Then he issued a new decree, declaring that everyone in his kingdom must fear and reverence Daniel’s God, “for he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end.”
And so, children, the story of Daniel in the lion’s den teaches us about faith, courage, and God’s protection. Daniel trusted in God even when facing danger, and God was faithful to deliver him from harm.