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Daniel 6:16-17 — In the Lion’s Den

The king had to throw Daniel in the lions’ den—contrary to the king’s own wishes. Why did he keep lions, anyway? In that day, the animals were kept for the kings to chase in their parks and kill, symbolizing their royal power.²⁶ This den was an underground area, which was either a natural cave or one that had been dug out of the earth. It had an opening at the top through which the prisoners were put in, and probably a side entrance through which the lions were let in and out.

According to custom the sentence had to be carried out before the end of the day on which the accusation was made, so Darius gave the order for Daniel to be thrown into the lions’ den. At that moment it would have been easy for Daniel to think that God had forgotten him. Years before, a similar experience had confronted his three friends when they faced the blazing furnace after refusing to fall down and worship the king. Now it was Daniel’s turn to suffer for being true to God, and we can assume that he faced the challenge with equal commitment and trust in God.

As believers, we are called to share in the suffering of Christ. The apostle Paul wrote, “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death” (Philippians 3:10, italics added). When Jesus suffered for us, how did He respond? The apostle Peter explains, “If you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps… When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:20-23).

Do you have the strength to suffer wrong without retaliation or threats as Daniel and then Jesus Christ did? Paul gives us the secret to this strength: “I can do everything through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13). Whether it is some great wrong done to you, or some little offense that you meet in daily life, before you fix your thoughts in anger and retribution on the person who did it, first be still and remember that God allows you to come into this trouble so you will glorify Him in it. This trial, be it the greatest or least, is allowed by God and is His will concerning you. You must recognize and submit to God’s will in it. Then, with God’s peace, you will receive wisdom to know how to behave in it.

Daniel was faithful to God. He was a powerful witness as he was taken to the lions’ den. Amazingly the king himself was there and tried to console Daniel, whom he had sentenced. He told Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!” (Daniel 6:16). This amazing statement reveals that Daniel had witnessed to Darius concerning the true God. Daniel had not let Darius’ high position stop him from speaking about his faith in the living God.

Daniel was thrown to the hungry lions, and a stone cover was set in place and sealed with the signet rings of both the king and his nobles. The seal was made of wax or soft clay into which were pressed all the official rings. The seal indicated that the stone could not be moved without the permission of both the king and these lesser officials, insuring that no one could rescue Daniel during the night.