The den of lions

King Darius had been talked into signing a law that said that anyone caught praying would be thrown to the lions.

However, Daniel still prayed three times a day—as he had done before. When Daniel’s enemies saw him praying, they immediately went to tell King Darius. The king was very upset because he liked Daniel and because he could not change the law he had signed. So Daniel was arrested and thrown into a den of hungry lions. The king said to Daniel, “May the God you serve so faithfully keep you safe from the lions.” Then the den was sealed with a huge stone.

King Darius went back to his palace, but he could not eat or sleep all night. Very early the next morning, he hurried to the den and called out, “Daniel, servant of the living God! Has your God been able to keep you safe?”

To the king’s great relief, Daniel answered, “Oh king! My God sent an angel to shut the mouths of the lions so that they would not hurt me because I had done no wrong.”

Was Daniel afraid of the lions?

God has made us with emotions, which include feelings such as joy, love, anger, and fear. If God gave us these emotions, they cannot be bad. Each emotion has a purpose. Yet, we must be careful that our feelings do not keep us from honoring and obeying God.

Fear becomes a problem when it keeps us from doing what is right. However, the Bible tells us that love drives out fear. When we love God, we trust Him, and when we trust Him, we can be sure of His protection (see 1 John 4:18). Yes, Daniel may have been afraid of the lions, and if he was, his faith in God was stronger than his fear! Even David, who seemed fearless, wrote in a psalm, “When I am afraid, I will trust in you” Psalm 56:3.

What makes us brave is not the danger we face, but the choice we make not to run and hide.

Verse for today

Rescue me from the mouth of the lions; save me from the horns of the wild oxen. Psalm 22:21

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