Lessons From the Lion's Den

Daniel 6:24-27

“At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.

Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language in all the earth: “May you prosper greatly! I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.”

It’s one of the most familiar stories in all of scripture, a Sunday school classic, depicted in most children’s bibles, and one you’ve likely heard time and time again: Daniel in the lions’ den.

When this event occurred, Daniel was an old man, who through a life of hard work and obedience had worked his way up the political ladder and earned the favor of the king. Other government officials were incredibly jealous of Daniel, and finding nothing to accuse him of, set a trap.

They tricked King Darius into passing a 30-day decree that said anyone who prayed to anyone or anything other than the king would be thrown into the lions' den. Daniel, upon hearing this decree, did not change his ways. He went home, knelt down, and prayed to God. The sneaky government officials caught him in the act and turned him into the king, who though saddened by the news could do nothing to stop what happened next. Daniel was thrown into the lions’ den.

As soon as the sun rose the king rushed to the lions’ den calling out to Daniel, asking if his God had saved him. Daniel replied that God had sent an angel to shut the mouths of lions and Daniel was brought out, unharmed.

There are so many lessons we can learn from this story. Through Daniel’s actions, we witness the importance of prayer and faithfulness. We see unwavering faith and refusal to conform to the world. The king’s reaction reminds us that a believer’s life can be a compelling witness of God’s glory. We catch a glimpse of God’s sovereignty and protection, proof that He has a plan and His timing is perfect.

But what caught my attention as I read through the story of Daniel in the lions’ den for the first time in a long time, is something that is left out of the children’s bibles and many Sunday school lessons: the fate of the men who tricked the king. Along with their wives and children, they were thrown to the lions. And this time there was no angel there to close the lions’ mouths. They tore into their new victims with no hesitation, proving that they had not been sick or disinterested and that Daniel’s rescue had been a miracle. This reminded me of the stark reality that although “He rescues and He saves,” God does not deliver everyone. Paul reminds us in Romans 9 that God in his absolute and glorious freedom said “[I] will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” Like Daniel in the lion's den, we must call on the name of the Lord and fall on His mercy. It is through His love and grace that we are saved. Let us be reminded of that today.