Daniel in the Lions' Den

Daniel was a good and wise man who loved God with all his heart. He served in the palace of a powerful king, and everyone could see how honest and faithful he was. Three times every day, Daniel knelt by his window and prayed to God.

But some of the other officials were jealous of Daniel. They wanted to get him in trouble. So they tricked the king into making a new law: for thirty days, anyone who prayed to anyone except the king would be thrown into a den of hungry lions.

Daniel heard about the law. But he loved God too much to stop praying. So he went home, opened his window toward Jerusalem, knelt down, and prayed — just as he always had.

The jealous men were watching, and they reported him at once. The king was very upset, because he liked Daniel, but the law could not be undone. Sadly, he ordered Daniel to be lowered into the lions’ den, and a great stone was rolled across the entrance.

“May the God you serve so faithfully rescue you,” the king said.

That night the king couldn’t sleep at all. At the first light of morning he hurried to the den and called out in a worried voice: “Daniel! Was your God able to save you?”

And from inside came Daniel’s calm, happy voice: “O king, live forever! My God sent his angel and shut the mouths of the lions. They haven’t hurt me at all.”

The king was overjoyed. Daniel was lifted out without a single scratch.

Daniel teaches us to be brave and to keep trusting God, even when it’s hard or a little scary. God saw Daniel’s faithful heart — and he sent an angel to keep him safe all night long.