Beyond the Lion's Den

Most of you likely remember the biblical story of Daniel in the Lion's Den. I grew up on stories like this as I'm sure many of you did. However, it always amazes me how many different lessons a story like this teaches. The story in Daniel 6 tells us that King Darius had appointed Daniel as one of the three presidents in the Persian Empire, and he was the most favored one. In essence, he was second in command, and the other Persian leaders became jealous of him, so they conspired to get rid of him. They had the king sign a royal statute that no one could petition any god for thirty days, except for the king, whom they viewed as a god; and if someone did, he would be thrown in the lion's den to be devoured.

Daniel had no intention to stop praying to God as was his custom. He didn't try to hide it but prayed in front of his open window, facing toward Jerusalem as he always had. His adversaries had him arrested, and according to the laws of the Medes and Persians, a royal decree could not be overturned. Although hating to do so, King Darius was forced to have Daniel thrown into the lion's den. But notice what the king said to Daniel. "Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee" (Daniel 6:16). Throughout his time in the Babylonian and now in the Persian Empire, Daniel had already been a strong witness for his God. First King Nebuchadnezzar and now Darius recognized God's mighty power.

The Bible tells us that Darius didn't sleep any that night because he was so concerned about Daniel. He also fasted the whole time. He got out very early the next morning to check on Daniel. "And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel. O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, who thou servest continually, able to deliver you from the lions?" (Daniel 6:20).

The Bible recounts Daniel's answer and what happened next.  "My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and before thee, O king have I done no hurt. Then was the king exceedingly 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. And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, and their children, and their wives; and the lions had their mastery of them, and brake all their bones to pieces or even before they came at the bottom of the den" (Daniel 6: 22-24).

But that wasn't all. Reading what happened next brings the good kind of emotional chills. "Then king Darius wrote unto all the people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble with 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." How many people came to know God because of Daniel's faithfulness? It appears that King Darius certainly did. May our testimonies be as strong in a world that definitely needs them.

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