Daniel was a special man. He had been taken from Israel to Babylon when he was young. Now he was elderly, but faithfully served King Darius, king of the Medes and Persians who had conquered Babylon.

King Darius had appointed one hundred and twenty satraps to rule throughout the kingdom. Over them were three presidents, of whom Daniel was one. Daniel distinguished himself above the presidents and the satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him.

The king planned to set Daniel over the whole kingdom. He was wise, honest, hardworking, and faithful - the best administrator the king had!

But this made the other presidents and satraps jealous. They wanted to get rid of Daniel. They sought to find a charge against him concerning the kingdom, but they could find no fault, because he was faithful.

They said: "We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God."

Then these presidents and satraps came together to the king and said:

"O King Darius, live forever! All the presidents of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors agreed to establish a royal edict: that whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions."

It was a trap! They knew that Daniel prayed to God three times a day, every day. If he continued praying, he would break the law. If he stopped praying, he would be unfaithful to God.

King Darius signed the document and the edict. Once a law of the Medes and Persians was signed, it could not be changed - not even by the king!

When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house. In his upper room he had windows open toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.

Daniel didn't hide. He didn't pray in secret. He didn't change his habits. With his windows open, where everyone could see, Daniel continued praying to God, as he always had.

Daniel knew he could die for this. But he chose to be faithful to God, no matter the cost. Prayer was more important than his own life.

Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and plea before his God. They went to the king and spoke concerning the royal edict:

"Did you not sign an edict that any man who makes petition to any god or man within thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?"

The king answered: "The thing stands fast, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked."

Then they said to the king: "Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or the edict you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day."

The king was much distressed when he heard these words! He liked Daniel very much and didn't want him to die. The king labored until the sun went down to deliver him. But he could not.

Then these men came by agreement to the king and said: "Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no edict or decree that the king establishes can be changed."

The king had no choice. The law was the law, and not even the king could change it. With a heavy heart, the king gave the command, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions.

The king said to Daniel: "May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!"

A stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den. The king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel.

The king went to his palace and spent the night fasting. No entertainment was brought before him, and sleep fled from him.

The king couldn't eat, couldn't be entertained, couldn't sleep. He was worried about Daniel all night. The king loved Daniel and hoped that Daniel's God would save him.

Meanwhile, in the den, Daniel was surrounded by lions. Big lions, with sharp teeth and powerful claws. Hungry lions that should have devoured him instantly.

But something extraordinary happened. The lions didn't attack Daniel! They lay down around him, gentle as kittens. God had shut their mouths! Daniel slept peacefully all night, protected by God in the midst of the lions!

Early in the morning, at the break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the lions' den. When he came near, he called to Daniel in a sad voice: "O Daniel, servant of the living God! Has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?"

Then Daniel answered:

The king was exceedingly glad! He commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.

Imagine the scene: Daniel coming out of the den, unharmed, not a scratch, not a mark! The lions that should have torn him apart hadn't touched him! It was a complete miracle!

The king gave command, and those men who had accused Daniel were brought. They were cast into the den of lions, they, their children, and their wives. Before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.

The lions weren't tame - they were fierce! The only reason they hadn't attacked Daniel was because God had stopped them. It was clearly a miracle!

Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth:

A pagan king was now proclaiming the greatness of the God of Israel! What Daniel's enemies planned for evil, God turned into good. Daniel's faithfulness resulted in glory to God!

Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and during the reign of Cyrus the Persian. He continued serving faithfully, and God continued taking care of him.

Daniel's story teaches us powerful lessons:

- We must be faithful to God, no matter the cost

- Prayer is essential - more important than our own life

- God protects those who trust in Him

- Faithfulness to God can lead others to know Him

- God can turn evil plans into good

Daniel could have stopped praying for thirty days. He could have prayed in secret. He could have found an excuse. But he chose faithfulness to God above his own safety.

And God honored that faithfulness in an extraordinary way. Not only did He save Daniel, but He used that situation to proclaim His glory to the entire Persian empire!