UBF Daily Bread

GOD RESCUES DANIEL FROM THE LIONS

Passage: Daniel 6:16~28

Key verse: 27

¹⁶So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den.^(A) The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue^(B) you!”

¹⁷A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed^(C) it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. ¹⁸Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating^(D) and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.^(E)

¹⁹At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. ²⁰When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”^(F)

²¹Daniel answered, “May the king live forever!^(G) ²²My God sent his angel,^(H) and he shut the mouths of the lions.^(I) They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight.^(J) Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”

²³The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound^(K) was found on him, because he had trusted^(L) in his God.

²⁴At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den,^(M) along with their wives and children.^(N) And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.^(O)

²⁵Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language^(P) in all the earth:

“May you prosper greatly!^(Q)

²⁶“I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence^(R) the God of Daniel.^(S)

“For he is the living God^(T)
    and he endures forever;^(U)
his kingdom will not be destroyed,
    his dominion will never end.^(V)
²⁷He rescues and he saves;^(W)
    he performs signs and wonders^(X)
    in the heavens and on the earth.
He has rescued Daniel
    from the power of the lions.”^(Y)

²⁸So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus^[a]^(Z) the Persian.^(AA)

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Footnotes

Daniel 6:28 Or Darius, that is, the reign of Cyrus

1. He trusted in his God (16-24)

The king prayed that Daniel's God would save him. Then Daniel was put in the lion's den with a stone over the entrance. That night, the king couldn't eat or sleep. At dawn, the king called out in anguish, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God been able to rescue you?" Indeed, God had sent his angel and protected Daniel because he was innocent in God's sight. The king joyfully lifted Daniel out of the lion's den. No wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.

2. Fear and reverence the God of Daniel (25-28)

Daniel's accusers didn't fare as well. The king threw them and their families to the lions and the lions crushed them quickly. Their evil scheme backfired on them. King Darius sent an evangelistic message to all nations. Read verses 25-27 (compare 4:1-3). It is proper to fear and reverence God, who is living and who endures forever. His kingdom and dominion will never end. He rescues and he saves those who trust in him.

Prayer: God, I trust in you, my Rescuer and Savior.

One Word: God rescues and saves his people