B i b l e S t u d y
Lesson: Daniel 6 - Daniel in the Lion's Den
SCRIPTURE READING: Daniel 6:1-28
GOLDEN TEXT: Daniel 6:22
1. Who is the king now that is ruling over Babylon? (Daniel 6:1). How many satraps did set over the whole kingdom? If Cyrus conquered Babylon, why is Darius king? (Daniel 9:1).
Note: After Cyrus had conquered Babylon he continued carrying out campaigns to finish subjugating all of the Babylonian Empire so he appointed Darius as king over Babylon.
2. How many governors did Darius appoint? (Daniel 6:2). Was Daniel one of the appointed governors? Who did the satraps report to? Why did Darius establish his government this way?
3. Did Daniel distinguish himself above all of the other governors and satraps? (Daniel 6:3). What was so distinguishing about Daniel? What did King Darius think about doing?
Note: Daniel was not a Babylonian but he had a lot of governmental experience under Nebuchadnezzar and other rulers of Babylon. Daniel was also blameless in character and had the reputation as being the wisest man in Babylon. He was the most logical person for the position of governor.
4. Did the governors and satraps seek to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom? (Daniel 6:4). Did they find any? Why?
5. How did these men find a charge against Daniel? (Daniel 6:5).
Note: The only thing that these governors and satraps could do was to put Daniel into a position of conflict between God’s way of life and the government to where Daniel would have to choose either to be obedient to God or to be obedient to the Medo-Persian Realm.
6. What did these governors and satraps say when they came before the king? (Daniel 6:6-7).
7. What was the penalty if someone did not comply with this decree? (Daniel 6:7).
Note: These government officials went in before the king and implied that ALL of them had agreed (implying that Daniel was among them). They lied to the king and urged him to issue an edict. On the surface this seemed to be a good idea to Darius in that it would bring about an affirmation of loyalty to the new Medo-Persian government.
8. Did these governors and satraps urge the king to establish the decree and sign it? (Daniel 6:8). What special feature was there with the Medo-Persian law? (Esther 8:8).
9. Did King Darius sign the decree? (Daniel 6:9).
Note: Medo-Persian law had an immutability clause in which once the king had issued a decree, no one could alter the decree.
10. Did Daniel know that the king signed te decree? (Daniel 6:10). What did Daniel do after he went home? How many times a day did Daniel pray? Why didn’t Daniel close his windows when he prayed?
Note: Daniel was following an instruction from the law and the prophets. In the dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem, Solomon prayed (1 Kings 8:48) in which he mentioned to God that when His people were taken captive into a land far away, that they should pray to God toward their land and that God would hear them. Daniel was praying facing in the direction of Jerusalem.
Notice that Daniel 6:10 says that Daniel prayed three times a day. How many times a day did David pray? (Psalms 55:17). Praying at morning, noon and night is a good habit in prayer and it can keep us close to God.
11. What did the governors and satraps find Daniel doing? (Daniel 6:11).
12. What did the governors and satraps do then? (Daniel 6:12).
13. Did the governors and satraps falsely accuse Daniel of not respecting the king? (Daniel 6:13).
14. When the king heard these words, was he displeased with himself? (Daniel 6:14). Did he try to come up with a legal way to deliver Daniel?
Note: Darius now realizes that the decree was not really to show loyalty to him. He had been manipulated by the enemies of Daniel and now he saw through it. He tried to change the sentence of Daniel but couldn’t because of the law of the Medes and Persians.
15. What did the governors and satraps remind the king of? (Daniel 6:15).
16. What did the king do? (Daniel 6:16). What did the king say to Daniel?
17. What was brought and laid on the mouth of the lion’s den? (Daniel 6:17). What did the king do with his ring?
18. Where did the king go and what did he do that night? (Daniel 6:18).
19. What did the king do very early in the morning? (Daniel 6:19).
20. What did the king say to Daniel? (Daniel 6:20).
21. What did Daniel say? (Daniel 6:21-22).
22. Did Daniel tell the king that he had done no wrong before him? (Daniel 6:22).
23. Was the king glad for Daniel? (Daniel 6:23). What did the king do?
24. What command did the king now give? (Daniel 6:24). What did the lions do?
Note: The king commanded the complete destruction of the governors and satraps along with the wives and children because they had lied to him and deceived him. They had served their own interests and was not loyal to the king.
25. Who did the king write a decree to? (Daniel 6:25). What did he say?
26. What was stated in this decree? (Daniel 6:26). Did the king honor Daniel’s God?
27. Did the king mention that God works signs and wonders? (Daniel 6:27).
Note: King Darius did not decree that the worship of Daniel’s God was to replace all of the Babylonian gods. He did decree that the God of Daniel was to be treated with reverence and respect.
28. Did Daniel prosper during the reign of Darius and Cyrus? (Daniel 6:28).
Note: Darius and Cyrus respected Daniel not only for his wisdom and character but also because of this event which proved the power of his God.
Scriptures
Scripture Reading:
Daniel in the Den of Lions
(Daniel 6 NKJV) It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom; {2} and over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them, so that the king would suffer no loss. {3} Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm. {4} So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him. {5} Then these men said, "We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God." {6} So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: "King Darius, live forever! {7} "All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. {8} "Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter." {9} Therefore King Darius signed the written decree. {10} Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days. {11} Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. {12} And they went before the king, and spoke concerning the king's decree: "Have you not signed a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?" The king answered and said, "The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter." {13} So they answered and said before the king, "That Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah, does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day." {14} And the king, when he heard these words, was greatly displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him. {15} Then these men approached the king, and said to the king, "Know, O king, that it is the law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statute which the king establishes may be changed." {16} So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, "Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you." {17} Then a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signets of his lords, that the purpose concerning Daniel might not be changed. {18} Now the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no musicians were brought before him. Also his sleep went from him. {19} Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions. {20} And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?" {21} Then Daniel said to the king, "O king, live forever! {22} "My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you." {23} Then the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God. {24} And the king gave the command, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions; them, their children, and their wives; and the lions overpowered them, and broke all their bones in pieces before they ever came to the bottom of the den. {25} Then King Darius wrote: To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you. {26} I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, And steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, And His dominion shall endure to the end. {27} He delivers and rescues, And He works signs and wonders In heaven and on earth, Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. {28} So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
Golden Text:
Golden Text:
(Daniel 6:22 NKJV) "My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you."All Questions: See Scripture Reading.
2.) (Daniel 9:1 NKJV) In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the lineage of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans;
9.) (Esther 8:8 NKJV) "You yourselves write a decree concerning the Jews, as you please, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's signet ring; for whatever is written in the king's name and sealed with the king's signet ring no one can revoke."
10.) (1 Kings 8:48 NKJV) "and when they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies who led them away captive, and pray to You toward their land which You gave to their fathers, the city which You have chosen and the temple which I have built for Your name:"