Session
4
God Rescues
Daniel from the Lions
THEOLOGICAL THEME: God glorifies Himself through the rescue of those
who trust Him.
We have now arrived at the most famous story in the Book of Daniel. As we’ve seen,
this man of God ruled with “insight, intelligence, and wisdom” under Nebuchadnezzar
(5:11). He had a reputation as a man with “an extraordinary spirit” (5:12), as one
who had within him “the spirit of the gods.” “Insight, intelligence, and extraordinary
wisdom” (5:14) was the word on the street about him continuing into the reign of
Belshazzar, the last Babylonian king. King Darius the Mede shared their opinion and
appointed Daniel to a position of significant leadership.
But suddenly, Daniel faced a crisis, a major test of faith. And within a few short days, we
see a faithful 80-year-old man thrown into a pit with ravenous lions ready to tear him
apart. Why? Because he wouldn’t stop praying.
What do you know about the story of Daniel in the lions’ den?
Why do you think this particular story has become so well known in the
church and in our culture?
46
Date of My Bible Study:
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© 2016 LifeWay Christian Resources. Permission granted to reproduce and distribute within the license agreement with purchaser.
In Daniel 6, we encounter a real story about a real
man who by supernatural protection escaped the
claws and teeth of real lions so that the nations
would know that the God of Daniel “is the living
God, and He endures forever; His kingdom will
never be destroyed, and His dominion has no end”
(v. 26). As God’s people, we are to show courage as
we trust in God and obey Him, no matter what.
Our courageous witness of faith is a sign to the
world that Jesus is the world’s true King.
1. Dedication to the Lord in
Prayer (Dan. 6:1-10)
Voices from
the Church
“Daniel…set the standard
for Christians who would
hold public office. He was
serious about the work of
statecraft, but he was even
more serious about being
known as a servant of God,
determined to follow God’s
precepts no matter the
cost…Our society could use
a few more political leaders
like Daniel.” 1
–Joel Belz
Darius decided to appoint 120 satraps over the kingdom, stationed throughout the
realm, 2 and over them three administrators, including Daniel. These satraps would be
accountable to them so that the king would not be defrauded. 3 Daniel distinguished
himself above the administrators and satraps because he had an extraordinary spirit,
so the king planned to set him over the whole realm. 4 The administrators and satraps,
therefore, kept trying to find a charge against Daniel regarding the kingdom. But
they could find no charge or corruption, for he was trustworthy, and no negligence
or corruption was found in him. 5 Then these men said, “We will never find any
charge against this Daniel unless we find something against him concerning the law of
his God.”
6
So the administrators and satraps went together to the king and said to him, “May
King Darius live forever. 7 All the administrators of the kingdom, the prefects, satraps,
advisers, and governors have agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and
enforce an edict that for 30 days, anyone who petitions any god or man except you, the
king, will be thrown into the lions’ den. 8 Therefore, Your Majesty, establish the edict
and sign the document so that, as a law of the Medes and Persians, it is irrevocable and
cannot be changed.” 9 So King Darius signed the document.
10
When Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house.
The windows in its upper room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got
down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before.
1
Session 4
47
The passage says that Daniel not only possessed “an extraordinary spirit” but “he was
trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was found in him” (vv. 3-4). But the envy
and jealousy of the other officials led them to take Daniel down, “trying to find a charge
against [him] regarding the kingdom.” They had only one problem: “they could find no
charge or corruption…no negligence or corruption was found in him” (v. 4).
What was it about Daniel’s faith that made him such a model employee
and public servant?
How does your faith impact the way you work?
The plot against Daniel was designed to use his
integrity against him. By manipulating Darius
into making an irreversible decree, the enemies
hoped to trap Daniel in an act of disobedience to
the king. Their goal was not to see Daniel
demoted. Their goal was to see Daniel dead.
When Daniel was told that the document
honoring Darius as the exclusive deity of the
empire had been signed, what did he do? What
he had always done. He obeyed God rather than
man. He continued a pattern of spiritual devotion
that had marked his life for years, a pattern his
enemies knew very well. He went to his home
and went upstairs to his place of prayer, with the
windows open toward Jerusalem. He then got
down on his knees and prayed three times that
day and the following days, giving thanks to God
“just as he had done before” (Dan. 6:10).
48
Personal Study Guide
99 Essential
Christian Doctrines
81. Priesthood of the Believer
God’s intention for humanity
is that we be a kingdom of
priests, not just a kingdom
with priests. Although God
set up the priestly system
in the Old Testament due to
the sinfulness of humanity
and people’s need for a
mediator, His ultimate
purpose is that we come to
God directly, through the
mediating work of Jesus
Christ, thus eliminating
the need of another priest.
Because of the work
of Christ on the cross,
exemplified in the tearing of
the curtain that prevented
access into the holy of
holies, Christians are free to
approach God with boldness
(Rom. 5:1-5; Heb. 4:14-16).
What statement did it send to the rest of the world when Daniel refused
to obey the king’s edict?
What does prayer to God—higher than an earthly king—reveal about our
ultimate allegiance?
2. Dependence on the Lord for Rescue (Dan. 6:11-18)
Then these men went as a group and found Daniel petitioning and imploring his
God. 12 So they approached the king and asked about his edict: “Didn’t you sign an
edict that for 30 days any man who petitions any god or man except you, the king, will
be thrown into the lions’ den?”
The king answered, “As a law of the Medes and Persians, the order stands and
is irrevocable.”
13
Then they replied to the king, “Daniel, one of the Judean exiles, has ignored you,
the king, and the edict you signed, for he prays three times a day.” 14 As soon as the king
heard this, he was very displeased; he set his mind on rescuing Daniel and made every
effort until sundown to deliver him.
15
Then these men went to the king and said to him, “You as king know it is
a law of the Medes and Persians that no edict or ordinance the king establishes can
be changed.”
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. The king sealed it with
his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing in regard to
Daniel could be changed. 18 Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting.
No diversions were brought to him, and he could not sleep.
11
Session 4
49
King Darius “was very displeased” at the situation and tried to find a way to deliver a man
he obviously admired, appreciated, and respected (v. 14). Unfortunately, he had stepped into
his own trap and he was caught. His evil administrators reminded him once more of the
binding nature of the law of the Medes and Persians—it could not be changed (v. 15).
More importantly, these evil men had counted on Daniel to be true to his God. Daniel
knew that past faithfulness would be no substitute for present faithfulness. Indeed,
the past had simply prepared him for the present and the future. One’s character is not
forged in the moment of adversity but revealed in the moment of adversity.
What did this moment of adversity reveal about Daniel’s faith?
What role do you think Daniel’s consistent practice of prayer had in
shaping him to be this kind of man?
Much to his regret, Darius commanded that
Daniel be “[thrown] into the lions’ den” (v. 16).
The den was probably a pit with an opening at the
top. As Daniel was about to be thrown into the
pit, the king spoke to Daniel, “May your God,
whom you serve continually, rescue you!” Stephen
Miller notes, “Darius’s concern for his friend is
touching…The words express the king’s hope.” 2
Daniel, however, was not resting in the king’s
concern or his hope. He was resting in the
providence and sovereignty of his God!
Voices from
the Church
“How did Darius know about
Daniel’s God? Because Daniel
lived a life of integrity before
everyone and did not hide his
witness. So God joined him
in the lions’ den, and the lions
became Daniel’s pillows for
the night.” 3
–Tony Evans
Verse 18 informs us “the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting. No
diversions were brought to him, and he could not sleep.” No doubt Darius’ lords were
out partying. Not so for the king. No food. No partying. No music. He knew he had
been played, and it had cost him the life of his loyal friend, or so he thought.
50
Personal Study Guide
How did Daniel’s dependence on God serve as a witness to King Darius?
3. Deliverance by the Lord for Mission (Dan. 6:19-28)
At the first light of dawn the king
got up and hurried to the lions’ den.
20
When he reached the den, he cried out
in anguish to Daniel. “Daniel, servant of
the living God,” the king said, “ has your
God whom you serve continually been
able to rescue you from the lions?”
21
Then Daniel spoke with the king:
“May the king live forever. 22 My God
sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths.
They haven’t hurt me, for I was found
innocent before Him. Also, I have not
committed a crime against you my king.”
23
The king was overjoyed and gave orders to take Daniel out of the den. So Daniel
was taken out of the den, uninjured, for he trusted in his God. 24 The king then gave
the command, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and
thrown into the lions’ den—they, their children, and their wives. They had not reached
the bottom of the den before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.
25
Then King Darius wrote to those of every people, nation, and language who live
in all the earth: “May your prosperity abound. 26 I issue a decree that in all my royal
dominion, people must tremble in fear before the God of Daniel:
For He is the living God, and He endures forever;
His kingdom will never be destroyed, and His dominion has no end.
27
He rescues and delivers;
He performs signs and wonders
in the heavens and on the earth,
for He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.”
28
So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
19
Session 4
51
As Darius came near to the den of lions, “he cried out in anguish…‘Daniel, servant of
the living God…has your God whom you serve continually been able to rescue you
from the lions?’ ” (v. 20). Most likely, he did not expect to hear a thing other than the
satisfied purring of lions following their supper.
Suddenly, and no doubt to his joyful surprise, Daniel spoke (vv. 21-22)! This is the only
time Daniel’s words are recorded in the entire chapter.
Next, we see how God used this entire story to show His greatness to the pagan world.
Darius was clearly impacted by God’s miraculous deliverance of Daniel. In words
reminiscent of the Psalms, and in particular Psalm 2, this unbelieving ruler wrote of
the living God “to those of every people, nation, and language who live in all the earth”
(Dan. 6:25). Once more the language of Daniel anticipates the glorious missionary
promise of Revelation 5 and 7.
Make a list of the attributes
ascribed to God in the decree
of Darius.
52
Personal Study Guide
How is God’s ultimate mission of receiving glory
and honor from people of all nations reflected in
this edict?
Once again, God honored His faithful servant. Just as he blessed and honored Daniel
under the Babylonian kings Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar, he did so again under the
Medo-Persian king Darius (that is, Cyrus the Persian [v. 28]). The truth of James 4:10
rings forth: “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.”
How does our dependence on God for salvation lead us to mission in
God’s world?
Conclusion
All throughout the Bible, the stories point us
to a coming deliverer, a rescuer, in fulfillment
of the first gospel promise in Genesis 3:15.
Sometimes we see how events like the Passover in
Exodus 12 point us to Jesus. Other times we see
how institutions like the temple and the sacrificial
system point us to Christ. And still other
times we see how people like Adam, Abraham,
Moses, David, and Daniel point forward to the
coming King.
Voices from
Church History
“I know without a doubt that
you are a faithful God for all
those who put their trust in
you. When I am in darkness,
you are my light. When I am in
prison, you are there with me.
When I am deserted, you are
my comfort. In death, you are
my life.” 4
–Menno Simons
(circa 1492-1561)
In the messianic Psalm 22, the Righteous Sufferer
proclaims in verse 21, “Save me from the mouth
of the lion!” God indeed saved the Messiah Jesus
from “the mouth of the lion” when He raised Him from the dead on Easter morning.
Praise God we can have courage as we follow a risen Savior!
CHRIST CONNECTION: God showed His power to rescue Daniel from
death. In the fullness of time, God showed His power to save His
people from their sins and give them eternal life through the death and
resurrection of His Son.
Session 4
53
HIS MISSION, YOUR MISSION
MISSIONAL APPLICATION: God sometimes calls us to civil
disobedience when it is a matter of obeying Him.
1. How can we learn to show dependence on God when facing adversity?
2. W
hat are some ways we can make sure God is seen as great for who He is
and what He has done for us in Jesus?
3. W
rite a prayer asking God to help your group obey the Lord, regardless of
the consequences.
54
Personal Study Guide
About the Writers
The Gospel Project®
Adult Personal Study Guide HCSB
Volume 5, Number 2 Winter 2016-17
Eric Geiger
Vice President, LifeWay Resources
Ed Stetzer
General Editor
Trevin Wax
Managing Editor
Daniel Davis
Unit 1:
Daniel Akin (sessions 1-4) is the President of
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and also a
professor of preaching and theology. He and his wife,
Charlotte, have four grown children.
Walter R. Strickland II (sessions 5-6) serves as
Special Advisor to the President for Diversity and Instructor
of Theology at Southeastern Seminary. He and his wife,
Stephanie, have three daughters, Hope, Kendra, and Kaiya.
Content Editor
Josh Hayes
Content and Production Editor
Ken Braddy
Manager, Adult Ongoing Bible Studies
Michael Kelley
Director, Groups Ministry
Send questions/comments to:
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The Gospel Project: Adult Personal Study Guide,
One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0102;
or make comments on the Web at
www.lifeway.com.
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The Gospel Project®: Adult Personal Study Guide HCSB
(ISSN 2162-7207; Item 005461524) is published
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are
taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®,
copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman
Bible Publishers. Used by permission.
Unit 2:
Jimmy Scroggins (session 7) is the Lead Pastor of
Family Church in West Palm Beach, Florida. He and his
wife, Kristin, have eight children, James, Daniel, Jeremiah,
Isaac, Stephen, Anna Kate, Mary Claire, and Caleb.
Matt Capps (sessions 8-10) is Senior Pastor of
Fairview Baptist Church in Apex, North Carolina. Matt
and his wife, Laura, have three children, Solomon, Ruby,
and Abby.
D. A. Horton (session 11) currently serves as a pastor
at Reach Fellowship, a church plant in Los Angeles,
California. He and his wife, Elicia, have three children,
Izabelle, Lola, and D. A. Jr.
Robby Gallaty (session 12) serves as the Senior
Pastor of Long Hollow Baptist Church and President of
Replicate Ministries. He and his wife, Kandi, have two
young sons, Rig and Ryder.
Special Session—Christmas:
Rey De Armas serves as one of the campus pastors
at Christ Fellowship in Miami, leading the Coral Gables
campus. He is married to Lauren, and they have two
daughters, Zoe and Lexi.
WRITERS
Notes
SESSION 1
SESSION 4
SESSION 7
1. Dale Ralph Davis, The Message of Daniel,
in The Bible Speaks Today (Downers Grove:
IVP, 2013), 36.
1. Joel Belz, “Dare to Be a Daniel,”
WORLD [online], 30 March 1996 [cited
2 May 2016]. Available from the Internet:
www.worldmag.com.
1. Clement of Rome, 1 Clement 55:3-6,
quoted in 1–2 Kings, 1–2 Chronicles, Ezra,
Nehemiah, Esther, ed. Marco Conti, vol. V in
Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture:
Old Testament (Downers Grove: IVP, 2014)
[WORDsearch].
2. Charles R. Swindoll, Daniel: God’s Pattern
for the Future (Nashville: Thomas Nelson,
1986), 17.
3. J. Hudson Taylor, quoted in Expect Great
Things: Mission Quotes That Inform and
Inspire, comp. Marvin J. Newell (Pasadena,
CA: William Carey Library, 2013), 89.
4. David Helm, Daniel for You (Purcellville,
VA: The Good Book Company, 2015), 28.
5. Heinrich Bullinger, Daniel the Most Wise
Prophet of God, quoted in Ezekiel, Daniel,
ed. Carl L. Beckwith, vol. XII in Reformation
Commentary on Scripture: Old Testament
(Downers Grove: IVP, 2012), 247.
SESSION 2
3. Tony Evans, No More Excuses, 10th
Anniversary Edition (Wheaton: Crossway,
1996), 112.
4. Menno Simons, “A Meditation on the
Twenty-Fifth Psalm,” in Early Anabaptist
Spirituality: Selected Writings, ed. Daniel
Liechty (Mahwah, NJ: Paulist, 1994), 248-49.
SESSION 5
1. “What are thin places?” Thin Places
[online], 2014 [cited 3 May 2016]. Available
from the Internet: www.thinplace.net.
1. Nate Saint, quoted in Introducing World
Missions, 2nd ed., by A. Scott Moreau, Gary R.
Corwin, and Gary B. McGee (Grand Rapids:
Baker, 2015) [eBook].
2. Matt Boswell, Doxology and Theology
(Nashville: B&H, 2013), 15-16.
2. “How Firm a Foundation,” from John
Rippon’s Selection of Hymns in Baptist
Hymnal (Nashville: LifeWay Worship, 2008),
456.
4. Mervin Breneman, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther,
vol. 10 in The New American Commentary
(Nashville: B&H, 2003) [WORDsearch].
3. John Chrysostom, Homilies on the
Statues, 4.8, New Advent [online; cited
21 April 2016]. Available from the Internet:
www.newadvent.org.
4. C. H. Spurgeon, “Consolation in the
Furnace,” Spurgeon’s Sermons Volume 11:
1865 [online; cited 21 April 2016]. Available
from the Internet: www.ccel.org.
SESSION 3
1. Johann Wigand, Commentaries on
Daniel, 12, quoted in Ezekiel, Daniel, ed. Carl L.
Beckwith, vol. XII in Reformation Commentary
on Scripture: Old Testament, 305.
2. Sinclair B. Ferguson, Daniel, vol. 21 in The
Preacher’s Commentary (Nashville: Thomas
Nelson, 1988) [eBook].
SPECIAL SESSION—CHRISTMAS
1. C. S. Lewis, in The Quotable Lewis, eds.
Wayne Martindale and Jerry Root (Wheaton:
Tyndale, 1989), 330.
2. Matt Chandler with Jared Wilson,
The Explicit Gospel (Wheaton: Crossway,
2012), 172.
3. Horatius Bonar, “Come, Lord, and Tarry
Not,” in Christ in Song, by Philip Schaff (New
York: Anson D. F. Randolph & Company,
1869), 397.
4. Augustine, Sermons, 18.1-2, quoted in
Mark, eds. Thomas C. Oden and Christopher
A. Hall, vol. II in Ancient Christian Commentary
on Scripture: New Testament (Downers
Grove: IVP, 1998), 186.
128
2. Stephen R. Miller, Daniel, vol. 18 in The
New American Commentary (Nashville: B&H,
2003) [WORDsearch].
Personal Study Guide
3. Skye Jethani, With (Nashville: Thomas
Nelson, 2011), 110.
5. Mark D. Roberts, “Thin Places: A Biblical
Investigation,”
Reflections
on
Christ,
Church, and Culture [online], 2012 [cited
4 May 2016]. Available from the Internet:
www.patheos.com.
SESSION 6
1. Saint Augustine, City of God, 1.8, quoted in
The City of God: Books I-VII, trans. Demetrius
B. Zema and Gerald G. Walsh, in The Fathers
of the Church (Washington D.C.: Catholic
University of America Press, 2008), 28-29.
2. William Wilberforce, quoted in The Life of
William Wilberforce, by Robert I. Wilberforce
and Samuel Wilberforce, vol. 5 (London:
John Murray, 1838), 318.
3. Mervin Breneman, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther,
vol. 10 in The New American Commentary
[WORDsearch].
4. Ibid.
5. Ed Stetzer, “What You Celebrate, You
Become,” Christianity Today [online], 2 June
2015 [cited 5 May 2016]. Available from the
Internet: www.christianitytoday.com.
6. Charles Spurgeon, in 2,200 Quotations
from the Writings of Charles H. Spurgeon,
comp. Tom Carter (Grand Rapids: Baker,
1996), 13.
2. Adrian Rogers, Adrianisms: The Wit and
Wisdom of Adrian Rogers, vol. 1 (Memphis:
Love Worth Finding Ministries, 2006), 101.
3. John Wesley, Wesley’s Notes on the Bible,
Christian Classics Ethereal Library [online;
cited 13 May 2016]. Available from the
Internet: www.ccel.org.
SESSION 8
1. Andrew Murray, Humility (New Kensington,
PA: Whitaker House, 1982) [eBook].
2. J. G. McConville, Ezra, Nehemiah, and
Esther, in The Daily Study Bible Series
(Louisville: Westminster, 1985), 193.
SESSION 9
1. Jerry Bridges, I Will Follow You, O God
(Colorado Springs: WaterBrook, 2010), 91.
2. D. L. Moody, “Prevailing Prayer,” in The
D. L. Moody Collection, ed. and comp. James
S. Bell Jr. (Chicago: Moody, 1997), 253.
SESSION 10
1. J. I. Packer, Knowing God (Downers Grove:
IVP, 1973) [eBook].
2. Amy Carmichael, If (United States:
Popular Classics Publishing, 2012), 9.
3. John Stott and Christopher J. H. Wright,
Christian Mission in the Modern World
(Downers Grove: IVP, 2015), 27.
SESSION 11
1. John R. W. Stott, Culture and the Bible
(Downers Grove: IVP, 1979), 12.
2. Augustine Pagolu, South Asia Bible
Commentary, ed. Brian Wintle (Cumbria, UK:
Langham Partnership, 2015) [eBook].
3. A. W. Pink, “Eternal Punishment,”
Providence Baptist Ministries [online], 2012
[cited 23 May 2016]. Available from the
Internet: www. pbministries.org.
SESSION 12
1. A. W. Tozer, quoted in Tozer on Worship
and Entertainment, comp. James L. Snyder
(Camp Hill, PA: WingSpread Publishers,
1997) [eBook].
2. Matt Papa, Look and Live (Bloomington,
MN: Bethany House Publishers, 2014), 246.
3. Michael Catt, The Power of Surrender
(Nashville: B&H, 2010), 150.