My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me.
Daniel — A Man Who Loved God
Daniel was a young man from Israel who was taken far from home to live in a land called Babylon. Even though he was in a strange new country with different food, different language, and different rules, Daniel never stopped loving God.
Daniel was smart, hardworking, and honest. He was SO good at his job that the king of Babylon put him in charge of important things. When a new king named Darius took over, Daniel was still the best leader around. King Darius planned to put Daniel in charge of the ENTIRE kingdom!
But not everyone was happy about Daniel's success. Some of the other leaders were very, very jealous.
A Jealous Trap
The jealous leaders tried to find something wrong with Daniel. They watched him at work. They checked his records. They looked for any mistake, any lie, any little thing they could use against him.
But they couldn't find ANYTHING wrong. Daniel was completely honest and trustworthy. The Bible says they "could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful" (Daniel 6:4).
So these sneaky men came up with a terrible plan. They knew Daniel prayed to God three times every day. They decided to use Daniel's love for God against him.
They went to King Darius and said, "O king, you are so great! Let's make a law that for the next 30 days, nobody can pray to any god or man except YOU. And if anyone breaks this law, they'll be thrown into the den of lions!"
King Darius liked the idea (it made him feel important), so he signed the law. In those days, once the king signed a law, it could NEVER be changed — not even by the king himself.
Daniel Keeps Praying
When Daniel heard about the new law, what do you think he did? Did he hide? Did he stop praying? Did he pretend to obey?
Nope.
Daniel went home, opened his window toward Jerusalem — just like he always did — got down on his knees, and prayed to God. Three times a day. Just like always. He didn't try to hide it. He didn't pray in secret. He trusted God more than he feared the lions.
Think about how brave that is! Daniel KNEW the punishment was being thrown to hungry lions. But he also knew that obeying God was more important than anything — even his own safety.
The jealous men were watching. They saw Daniel praying. They ran straight to the king. "Daniel is breaking your law!" they told King Darius. "He must be thrown to the lions!"
King Darius was heartbroken. He loved Daniel! He tried everything he could think of to save him. But the law could not be changed. With a heavy heart, the king gave the order.
Into the Lions' Den
Soldiers brought Daniel to the den of lions. A den is like a deep pit or cave, full of hungry, wild lions. This was supposed to be the end for Daniel.
Before they lowered Daniel in, King Darius said something surprising: "Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee" (Daniel 6:16). Even the king believed that Daniel's God was powerful enough to save him!
They put Daniel in the den. A heavy stone was placed over the opening. The king sealed it with his own ring. There was no way out.
That night, King Darius couldn't eat. He couldn't sleep. He couldn't even listen to music. He paced back and forth all night long, worrying about his friend Daniel.
But down in the den, Daniel was not alone. God was with him.
God Shuts the Lions' Mouths
At the first light of dawn, the king raced to the lions' den. His voice was shaking as he called out: "Daniel! Daniel! Was your God able to save you from the lions?"
And then — a voice from inside the den:
"O king, live for ever! My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me" (Daniel 6:21-22).
Daniel was ALIVE! Not a scratch on him. Not a single bite. Not even a claw mark. God had sent an angel to close the lions' mouths. Those big, fierce lions sat there all night like gentle kittens.
The king was overjoyed! He ordered Daniel pulled out immediately. Then King Darius made a brand-new law — one that told EVERYONE in the kingdom to respect Daniel's God, "for he is the living God... he delivereth and rescueth" (Daniel 6:26-27).
You can read Daniel's full story in the Book of Daniel. Read Daniel 6 on Bible.eu →
What We Can Learn from Daniel
Daniel's story is one of the most exciting stories in the entire Bible. But it's also one of the most important. Here's what we can take away from it.
Remember This!
- Never stop talking to God. Daniel prayed three times every day — no matter what. Prayer was like breathing to Daniel. When we talk to God regularly, our faith grows stronger and stronger.
- Do what's right, even when it's dangerous. Daniel could have stopped praying for 30 days. Nobody would have blamed him. But he chose to obey God even when it meant risking his life.
- God is with you in scary places. The lions' den was dark and terrifying. But God was right there with Daniel. Wherever you are, God is with you too.
- Honesty and faithfulness matter. Daniel's enemies couldn't find a single fault in him. Living with integrity — doing the right thing even when nobody is watching — is a powerful witness.
- God can do the impossible. Shutting the mouths of hungry lions? That's impossible — for us. But nothing is impossible for God.
Family Discussion & Activity
Discussion Questions
- ? Daniel prayed three times a day. When do you like to talk to God? Morning? Bedtime? Mealtime?
- ? Have you ever been in a situation where it was hard to do the right thing? What happened?
- ? Why do you think Daniel wasn't afraid of the lions? What gave him courage?
- ? If someone told you that you couldn't pray anymore, what would you do?
Family Activity
Prayer Time Challenge! As a family, try praying together three times today — just like Daniel did! In the morning, thank God for a new day. At lunchtime, ask God to help someone you know. At bedtime, tell God about your favorite part of the day. You can also make a 'Prayer Den' by draping blankets over chairs, crawling inside, and praying together in your cozy den. Write your prayers on paper and put them in a jar to read later and see how God answers!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Daniel thrown to the lions?
Daniel was thrown into the lions' den because he prayed to God. Some jealous men tricked the king into making a law that said nobody could pray to anyone except the king for 30 days. Daniel refused to stop praying to God, so the law said he had to be punished. But God protected him!
How did God save Daniel?
God sent an angel to shut the lions' mouths! The Bible says in Daniel 6:22, "My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me." Daniel spent the whole night with the lions, but not one of them touched him.
How many times a day did Daniel pray?
Daniel prayed three times every day (Daniel 6:10). He would open his window toward Jerusalem, get on his knees, and pray to God — morning, noon, and evening. He did this his whole life, and he never stopped, even when it was against the law.
Was the king happy Daniel was safe?
Yes! King Darius was very happy. The Bible says the king was up all night worrying about Daniel. In the morning, he ran to the den and called out to Daniel. When Daniel answered that he was alive and safe, the king was overjoyed and had Daniel pulled out right away (Daniel 6:19-23).
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