The Lions Den

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Daniel was now in his eighties, a seasoned statesman who had served multiple kings with distinction. His integrity and wisdom had made him so valuable that King Darius planned to set him over the entire kingdom. But success has a way of making enemies, and Daniel's promotion stirred up jealousy among the other officials.

Here's what's fascinating: these men searched desperately for some corruption in Daniel's record and found nothing. No financial scandals, no abuse of power, no moral failures. Their only option was to attack his faithfulness to God. They convinced the king to issue a decree that for thirty days, no one could pray to any god or human except the king himself.

Let’s take a moment to read Daniel 6:10-23:

Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the lions’ den?”

The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”

Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.” When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.

Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, “Remember, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.”

So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!”

A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.

At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”

Daniel answered, “May the 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. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”

The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.

REFLECT

Daniel didn't call a press conference, organize a protest, or seek legal counsel. He simply went home and did what he had always done – he prayed. Three times a day, windows open toward Jerusalem, just as he had done before. Daniel understood that sometimes the most radical thing you can do is simply remain consistent. This is where worship becomes warfare. Daniel's prayer wasn't just personal devotion; it was public declaration. With those windows open, everyone could see that Daniel's allegiance belonged to someone higher than the king. His prayer life had become his protest, his worship his weapon.

The conspirators rushed to the king with their accusation, and Darius realized he had been trapped by his own law. Despite his affection for Daniel, he had no choice but to throw him into the lion's den. But here's the beautiful irony: the very thing designed to destroy Daniel became the platform for God's greatest display of power. That night, God shut the lions' mouths. When morning came and the king rushed to the den, he found Daniel unharmed. Daniel's response is perfect: "My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions." Notice he didn't say, "I survived" or "I was lucky." He gave credit where credit was due. But the story doesn't end there. King Darius was so amazed that he issued a new decree – one that commanded everyone in his kingdom to fear and reverence the God of Daniel. The very attack meant to silence Daniel's witness ended up amplifying it throughout the entire empire.

Daniel's story teaches us that faithfulness in the small moments is what prepares us for life's biggest tests. For decades, Daniel had been faithful in his prayer life when it didn't matter to anyone but God. That consistency prepared him for the moment when it would cost him everything. The truth is, we can actually thrive in places that seem hostile to our faith without giving up what matters most. Daniel never became less effective in his secular job because of his spiritual convictions. If anything, his integrity made him more valuable, not less.

Your prayer life might seem like a small thing, but it's actually preparing you for battles you can't yet see. The enemies of your faith are looking for ways to compromise your witness, but they can't touch what you've built in secret with God. Real courage isn't about not being scared – it's about doing what's right even when you are. Daniel surely felt fear facing those lions, but he had spent decades learning to fear God more than man. His worship had become his warfare, his prayer his power.

RESPOND

Take a moment to process what God might be leading you to do in light of what you read.

• How can your daily spiritual disciplines prepare you for unexpected tests of faith?

• In what ways might your faithfulness be a testimony to others, even when it's not convenient?

REST

Take a moment to rest in God’s presence and consider one thing you can take away from your time reading, then close your devotional experience by praying:

God, I want to be someone whose consistency in the small moments prepares me for life's biggest tests. Help me build a prayer life that becomes my strength when facing opposition. When worship becomes warfare, give me the courage to remain faithful even when it costs me everything. Let my consistency in following You become a testimony that points others to Your power and faithfulness. Amen.