Daniel 6:11-18

Daniel Is Taken to the Lions

Read the passage

11Then these men went as a group and found Daniel petitioning and imploring his God.

12So they approached the king and asked about his royal decree: “Did you not sign a decree that for thirty days any man who petitions any god or man except you, O king, will be thrown into the den of lions?” The king replied, “According to the law of the Medes and Persians the order stands, and it cannot be repealed.”

13Then they told the king, “Daniel, one of the exiles from Judah, shows no regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed. He still makes his petition three times a day.”

14As soon as the king heard this, he was deeply distressed and set his mind on delivering Daniel, and he labored until sundown to rescue him.

15Then the men approached the king together and said to him, “Remember, O king, that by the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or ordinance established by the king can be changed.”

16So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the den of lions. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!”

17A 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 nothing concerning Daniel could be changed.

18Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting. No entertainment was brought before him, and sleep fled from him.

Berean Standard Bible

Read aloud

The officials find Daniel praying and asking God for help. After Darius confirms that his decree stands, they accuse him of disregarding both the king and the order by continuing to pray three times a day.

Darius is deeply distressed. He works until sundown to rescue Daniel, but the officials remind him that a royal decree cannot be changed. The king gives the order, and Daniel is thrown into the lions’ den. Darius says, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!”

A stone closes the mouth of the den. The king and his nobles seal it with their rings so that nothing concerning Daniel can be changed. Darius returns to his palace and spends the night fasting. No entertainment is brought to him, and he cannot sleep. The law he signed has put a faithful servant in danger, and his efforts to rescue Daniel have failed.

Questions

1 What do the conspirators find Daniel doing?

AnswerThey find him praying and asking God for help. Daniel is not hiding a political plot; his offense is the same faithful practice he kept before the decree.

2 How does Darius react?

AnswerHe is deeply distressed and works until sunset to save Daniel. The king recognizes that the law he signed has trapped both Daniel and himself.

3 What does Darius say as Daniel is taken away?

AnswerHe hopes that Daniel's God, whom Daniel serves continually, will deliver him. Even the king's words acknowledge that Daniel's service has been steady and visible.

4 What does Darius do that night?

AnswerHe fasts, no entertainment is brought to him, and he cannot sleep. His distress continues after Daniel has been sealed inside the den.

What This Means for Us

Darius is not portrayed as innocent merely because he regrets the decree. His signature made the danger possible, and regret cannot erase the responsibility attached to authority.

Darius appeals to the God Daniel serves continually. He recognizes Daniel’s faithfulness, yet his own decree has allowed the officials to punish it.

When a rule harms someone, do not let concern stop at private distress. Use whatever authority you have to change the rule, protect the person, and accept responsibility for what your decisions made possible.

Prayer

LORD, give us courage to resist unjust commands and humility to repent when our decisions harm others. Protect people trapped by powerful systems, and make our service steady enough to bear honest witness. Amen.

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