Delivered from the Lions of Life

As we work our way through Daniel, we come across the infamous story of Daniel in the lions den. This is a story every Christian should know. However, I have come to discover that many of these key Bible stories are unknown, even among Christians.

We find ourselves in Chapter 6 of Daniel (remember that the story of Daniel and the lions is in chapter 6 of Daniel).

While Daniel was one of three high officials; known as a “satrap” or a governor.

The empire was reorganized into a total of twenty satrapies and placed a satrap in charge of each province, in order to bring more rigorous method to taxation and control throughout his vast empire.

The satrap was often a close relative of the king. Generally the satrap’s power of command extended over both civil and military affairs. but in some cases major fortresses and their garrisons were under commanders who reported directly to the Great King. This re-structuring under Darius served the empire for some two centuries.

, was generally appointed and removed by him. The satrap’s court was modeled on that of the great king. Usually a wealthy man in his own right, he regularly spent of his own resources in the service of government while also having command over royal government resources within his satrapy.

Generally the satrap’s power of command extended over both civil and military affairs, but in some cases major fortresses and their garrisons were under commanders who reported directly to the Great King. In the main, however, the system of provincial organization re-structured under Darius served the empire well for some two centuries.

The satrap was often a close relative of the king. Generally the satrap’s power of command extended over both civil and military affairs. but in some cases major fortresses and their garrisons were under commanders who reported directly to the Great King.

This re-structuring under Darius served the empire for some two centuries.

Just as Darius was ready to raise Daniel to an even higher status, over the whole kingdom.

Darius was ready to raise Daniel to an even higher status. However, the other two officials were willing to do whatever it takes to take Daniel and the other Jews down…even lying and conniving.

Darius was ready to raise Daniel to an even higher status. However, the other two officials were willing to do whatever it takes to take Daniel and the other Jews down…even lying and conieving.

It was at this time, that Darius was ready to raise Daniel to an even higher status, over the whole kingdom.

The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary Satrap

SATRAP. The governor of a province or satrapy of the Achaemenid empire. Herodotus (3.89ff) informs us that Darius I (521–486 B.C.) reorganized the empire into a total of twenty satrapies and placed a satrap (Old Persian xsacapaban = satrap = “protector of the kingdom/kingship”) in charge of each province, in order to bring more rigorous method to taxation and control throughout his vast empire.

The satrap, often a close relative of the king, was generally appointed and removed by him. The satrap’s court was modeled on that of the great king. Usually a wealthy man in his own right, he regularly spent of his own resources in the service of government while also having command over royal government resources within his satrapy.

Generally the satrap’s power of command extended over both civil and military affairs, but in some cases major fortresses and their garrisons were under commanders who reported directly to the Great King. Other means were available to the king for independently monitoring the satrap’s activities. The “king’s scribes” for example, regularly reported back to the court. There were also officials called “the eyes and ears of the king,” who are assumed to have provided the central government with information on events in the provinces.

In the 4th century B.C. some satrapies (most notably in Anatolia) became semi-independent hereditary fiefdoms, with the satrap no longer appointed by the king. Also, as might be expected, from time to time individual satraps or coalitions of satraps rebelled against central authority. In the main, however, the system of provincial organization re-structured under Darius served the empire well for some two centuries. See also PERSIAN EMPIRE.

Yet, the other the administrators and satraps were not willing to take this lying down. They did not want to give up their powers to foreign Jews.

So they tried to find charges against Daniel, but could not because he was trustworthy and not corrupt.

Yet, they were willing to do whatever necessary to take Daniel and the other Jews down…even lying and conniving. So they schemed a way to back up Daniel into a corner, to get him out of the way. They did this by having the King create an edict (somewhat unknowingly) in writing so that it could not be changed: that anyone praying to any god or human being except to the king for the next 30 days would be thrown into the lions den. King Darius signed it!

So they schemed a way to corner Daniel by having the King create an edict in writing so that it could not be changed: that anyone praying to any god or human being except to the king for the next 30 days would be thrown into the lions den. King Darius signed it.

When Daniel found out, he immediately went home and prayed three times a day asking God for help, in an upper room facing Jerusalem so that all could hear. The officials then turned Daniel into the king and he had to follow through on his edict.

English Standard Version Chapter 6

16 Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” 17 And a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. 18 Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him.

19 Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions. 20 As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, “O 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, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.” 23 Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.

English Standard Version Chapter 6

16 Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” 17 And a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. 18 Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him.

19 Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions. 20 As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, “O 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, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.” 23 Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.

When Daniel found out about the plot to remove him, he immediately went home and prayed three times a day asking God for help, in an upper room facing Jerusalem so that all could hear. Even though his days were number, he stayed ‘faithful.’ He relied on God.

Have you ever been backed into a corner? Have you ever had others plot against you? What did you do?

Often we resist, we seek revenge, we try to deal with it ourselves. BUT not Daniel. He was drawn to God even when facing death.

The officials then turned Daniel into the king and he had to follow through on his edict.

The New International Version Chapter 6

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

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

19 At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. 20 When 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?”

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

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

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 6

6:10 when Daniel realized Daniel chooses to obey God’s command to worship Him alone (see Exod 20:3) over the king’s edict. His disobedience is not motivated by spite—he simply refuses to compromise his religious convictions.

What can we learn from this story?

1. Worship God alone

() Again the words of the Ten Commandments come into play. Praying three times a day became a common practice for Jews before Christianity. His symbolic praying toward Jerusalem meant that there was no other God but Yahweh.

2. Refuse to compromise

Like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abenigo, Daniel will not compromise.

His disobedience is not motivated by spite — he simply refuses to compromise his religious convictions.

6:17 sealed it with his signet ring A broken seal would alert the authorities that the den had been opened during the night. The seal also testified to the issuance, authority, and approval of the decree. See note on .

6:18 spent the night in fasting An action he hopes the lions will duplicate.

Piety and devotion.

3. Delivered from lions.

Daniel not only had to face the lions in the den of lions, but those too who would try to devour him by any means possible. We too face our own lions, but like Daniel we can be “delivered from the lions of life.”

“Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!” not just lions and tigers. As many of us know, it's from the 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz. While walking through the dark forest, Dorothy, the Tin Man, and the Scarecrow get scared when they start hearing noises coming from the foliage around them. The Scarecrow wonders if there are any animals out there who might be interested in eating things like, um, straw, and the Tin Man's like, Yeah, there are probably lions and tigers and bears out there. Whatever.

While walking through the dark forest, Dorothy, the Tin Man, and the Scarecrow get scared when they start hearing noises coming from the foliage around them. The Scarecrow wonders if there are any animals out there who might be interested in eating things like, um, straw, and the Tin Man's like, Yeah, there are probably lions and tigers and bears out there. Whatever.

Naturally, this causes the Scarecrow to anxiously repeat, "Lions and tigers and bears," and Dorothy throws in the good old "oh my" for dramatic effect. Pretty soon, the three rapscallions are skipping through the forest chanting, "Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!"

It means that the the speaker is fearful of a rumored threat, and (as others have pointed out) comes from the classic Wizard of Oz.

"Probably a lot of lions and tigers and bears" they start repeating that over and over and suddenly out of the forest comes a fierce lion, but he turns out to be the "Cowardly Lion"

There was no "song" accompanying this quote, though Dorothy, Tin Man, and Scarecrow chanted it rhythmically as they proceeded through the Spooky Forest (I'd turn back if I were you).

Beware of alligators or sharks…it often refers to those who cause problems for individuals or organizations.

Daniel not only had to face the lions in the den of lions, but those too who would try to devour him by any means possible. We too face our own lions, but like Daniel we can be “delivered from the lions of life.”

sealed it with his signet ring A broken seal would alert the authorities that the den had been opened during the night. The seal also testified to the issuance, authority, and approval of the decree. See note on .

6:18 he spent the night in fasting An action he hopes the lions will duplicate.

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 6

6:17 sealed it with his signet ring A broken seal would alert the authorities that the den had been opened during the night. The seal also testified to the issuance, authority, and approval of the decree. See note on Esth 3:10.

6:18 spent the night in fasting An action he hopes the lions will duplicate.

No matter what.

Piety and devotion.

3. Trust that God delivers from lions.

3. Delivered from lions.

Daniel not only had to face the lions in the den of lions, but those too who would try to devour him by any means possible.

We too have our own lions of life, but like Daniel we can be “delivered from the lions of life.”