Daniel 6:19-28

Daniel Lives through the Night

Read the passage

19At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the den of lions.

20When he reached the den, he cried out in a voice of anguish, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?”

21Then Daniel replied, “O king, may you live forever!

22My God sent His angel and shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, for I was found innocent in His sight, and I have done no wrong against you, O king.”

23The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den, and when Daniel was lifted out of the den, no wounds whatsoever were found on him, because he had trusted in his God.

24At the command of the king, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought and thrown into the den of lions—they and their children and wives. And before they had reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.

25Then King Darius wrote to the people of every nation and language throughout the land: “May your prosperity abound.

26I hereby decree that in every part of my kingdom, men are to tremble in fear before the God of Daniel: For He is the living God, and He endures forever; His kingdom will never be destroyed, and His dominion will never end.

27He delivers and rescues; He performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth, for He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.”

28So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

Berean Standard Bible

Read aloud

At dawn, Darius hurries to the lions’ den. In anguish he calls to Daniel, asking whether the God he serves continually has rescued him. Daniel answers: God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths. He was found innocent before God and had done no wrong against the king.

Darius is overjoyed. Daniel is lifted out, and no wounds are found on him because he trusted in his God. At the king’s command, the men who falsely accused Daniel are thrown into the den with their wives and children. The lions overpower them before they reach the bottom. The account reports this terrible punishment as Darius’s command; it gives no command for God’s people to imitate it.

Darius writes to the peoples of every nation and language throughout the land. He orders reverence for Daniel’s God, declaring that He lives forever, that His kingdom cannot be destroyed, and that He delivers and rescues. Daniel prospers during the reigns of Darius and Cyrus. The man condemned for praying is now publicly known as the servant of the God who rescued him.

Questions

1 What does Darius do at dawn?

AnswerHe hurries to the den and calls out anxiously to Daniel. His question shows that the king's confidence in his own decree has given way to hope in Daniel's God.

2 How does Daniel explain his survival?

AnswerHe says God sent an angel and shut the lions' mouths. Daniel also says he was found blameless before God and the king, joining divine trust with public integrity.

3 What happens to Daniel?

AnswerHe is brought out without injury because he trusted in his God. The narrative presents a specific deliverance, not a guarantee that every faithful person will escape persecution unharmed.

4 What does Darius proclaim?

AnswerHe proclaims that Daniel's God is living, enduring, and sovereign over kingdoms. The decree gives public testimony to the God whom the earlier law tried to replace.

What This Means for Us

Daniel speaks from inside the den before anyone lifts him out: God has protected him. Darius’s relief becomes a public acknowledgment of the living God.

Tell your children about help you have received from God, and thank Him together. Be equally willing to pray with people whose danger has not passed. This particular rescue is a reason to trust God; it does not promise that every faithful person will escape suffering unharmed.

Prayer

God of the living, be near to people who are waiting in places of danger. Give us faith without false guarantees, compassion without easy answers, and courage to speak of Your goodness while caring for those who still suffer. Amen.

Your reading

Keep your place.

Save this passage to your private reading history.