You can view an in-depth discussion of “From Lion’s Den to Angel’s Den” in the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris. Click on the image to view:

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You may download an MP4 video file, and audio file or a PDF lesson outline from the HopeSS site.

With thanks to Hope Channel – Television that will change your life.

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1. No fault in him. What twist of events has government officials wracking their brains to find fault with Daniel? How successful are they? And, by the way, who is Darius?
2. Jealous souls. Have you ever felt the sting of jealousy aimed at you? What was there about Daniel that aroused the sense of jealousy in the officers of the king’s court where Daniel was working? Wait a minute. If Daniel was careful in all that he did, why would any of his fellow workers be jealous of that? What did they want from Daniel? How did they propose to achieve their goal and get rid of Daniel? 
3. The plot against Daniel. How would a new law proposed to defer all petitions to the king for thirty days affect the standing of Darius before the people? What was the real purpose of this new law? How would the den of hungry lions contribute to the elimination of Daniel? What was there about this law that made it especially difficult even to imagine Daniel’s release from the execution?
4. Daniel’s prayer. Daniel’s habit was to pray three times every day standing and facing in the direction of the temple of God. Now he faces a dilemma. The decree forbids prayer or petition to any person except to the one chosen by the government as the king. But Daniel is not about to pay heavenly tribute to a human being. His prayer is one of loyalty and surrender to the God who is above all. His worship is of Divinity.
5. The lions’ den. Those with a burden to eliminate Daniel from the earth haven’t given up. The lions, the lions. We can depend on the lions, they must have said, to give Daniel the punishment he so richly deserves. We can’t allow insubordination like this. But at the site of execution, what do the royal onlookers see? Some might have snarled, “We promised to put them in the lion’s den. We did that. But their God rescued them.”

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Read Daniel 6:11-23. What does the king say to Daniel that reveals just how powerful a faithful witness Daniel is to God?

The conspirators soon spot Daniel praying — that is, doing exactly what the decree has forbidden. And as they bring the accusation before the king, they refer to Daniel in a demeaning way: “that Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah” (Dan. 6:13, NKJV). In their eyes, one of the chief officers of the empire, the king’s favorite, is no more than “a captive”.

Image © Providence Collection at GoodSalt.com

In addition, they pit Daniel against the king by saying that Daniel “does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed” (NKJV). Now the king realizes he has been entrapped by signing the decree. The text says that “he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him” (Dan. 6:14, NKJV). But there is nothing he can do to save the prophet from the prescribed punishment. The irrevocable law of the Medes and Persians must be applied to the letter. Thus the king, however reluctantly, issues the command to throw Daniel to the lions. But in doing so Darius expresses some glimmering hope, which sounds like a prayer: “Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you” (Dan. 6:16, NKJV).

The biblical text does not say what Daniel does among the lions, but one can assume he is praying. And God honors Daniel’s faith by sending His angel to protect him. In the morning, Daniel remains unharmed and ready to resume his activities in the government. Commenting on this episode, Ellen G. White says: “God did not prevent Daniel’s enemies from casting him into the lions’ den; He permitted evil angels and wicked men thus far to accomplish their purpose; but it was that He might make the deliverance of His servant more marked, and the defeat of the enemies of truth and righteousness more complete”. — Prophets and Kings, pages 543, 544.

<–Tuesday Thursday–>

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