GOD RESCUES DANIEL FROM THE LIONS

Passage: Daniel 6:16-28

Key verse: 27

NIV

16 So 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!”

17 A 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. 18 Then 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)

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?”(F)

21 Daniel answered, “May the king live forever!(G) 22 My 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.”

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(K) was found on him, because he had trusted(L) in his God.

24 At 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)

25 Then 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)
27 He 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)

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

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Footnotes
  1. Daniel 6:28 Or Darius, that is, the reign of Cyrus
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

16 Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared[a] to Daniel, “May (A)your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” 17 (B)And a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, (C)and the king sealed it (D)with his own signet and with the signet of his (E)lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. 18 Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; (F)no diversions were brought to him, and (G)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 (H)the living God, (I)has your God, whom you serve continually, (J)been able to deliver you from the lions?” 21 Then Daniel said to the king, (K)“O king, live forever! 22 My God (L)sent his angel (M)and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless (N)before him; (O)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 (P)no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. 24 And the king commanded, and (Q)those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and cast into the den of lions—they, their children, and their wives. And before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces.

25 Then King Darius wrote to all (R)the peoples, nations, and languages (S)that dwell in all the earth: (T)“Peace be multiplied to you. 26 (U)I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion (V)people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel,

for (W)he is (X)the living God,
    enduring forever;
his kingdom shall never be destroyed,
    (Y)and his dominion shall be (Z)to the end.
27 He delivers and rescues;
    he works (AA)signs and wonders
    in heaven and on earth,
he who has (AB)saved Daniel
    from the power of the lions.”

28 So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and (AC)the reign of (AD)Cyrus the Persian.

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Footnotes
  1. Daniel 6:16 Aramaic answered and said; also verse 20
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
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