Night with the lions.

In the previous segment we saw about New law for Daniel.

Today we will see what happened after that…

“Look at him!” they cried. Doesn’t he know about the king’s decree?” “He’ll know when he finds himself in the den of lions,” said others. Meanwhile the jealous princes hurried to Darius with the story. Now, too late, the king realized what they had left him to do. He was very angry, but having made the decree, there was nothing he could do but order that Daniel be thrown to the lions. So Daniel was arrested and led through the streets to the den.

What a procession that must have been! The aged prophet out in front, followed by the princes and many soldiers. Thousands of men and women, boys and girls, looked on, many of them sad that this dear old man was going to be killed. But Daniel strode on unmoved, his trust in God unshaken. The door of the den was opened. Daniel walked in. When he went in, he saw gigantic lions inside the den. But the lions did not touch him. Instead they slunk away, as though afraid of him. All that night, while Daniel prayed, they paced to and fro, growling now and then, but never trying to attack him.

Early in the morning Daniel heard a familiar voice calling to him from outside the den. It was the king! “Daniel, Daniel,” cried Darius, servants of the living God, is thy God, whom you served continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?” Oh, yes, indeed. Well able. Said Daniel, “ My God has sent His angel, and has shut the lion’s mouths, that they have not hurt me.” “ Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.”

Some may say that the lions did not touch Daniel because they weren’t hungry. Oh. But they were! When those who had found fault with Daniel were put in his place there was a terrible scene. The lions pounced on them at once, breaking all their bones in pieces before they reached the bottom of the den. King Darius was so impressed by what happened that night that he sent a special message to everybody in his kingdom, saying, “I make a decree, that in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for He is the living God, and steadfast for ever. He delivers and rescues, and He works signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.”

To be continued…