by Dian Ramsey
(Morganton, NC)
Daniel In the Lion's Den
Click here for part 1 of our Daniel Bible Story
by Dian Ramsey
(Morganton, NC)
Bible Story About Daniel
Today boys and girls we are going to travel to a place called Babylonia where there is a king by the name of Darius that rules in that land. He is not a good king. There's a young man by the name of Daniel who had been chosen by the previous king to be a leader in the kingdom. Daniel is a man who believes in God. King Darius had decided to let Daniel be over the whole kingdom because of his abilities.
Let's go and see just what is taking place with the new King and Daniel.
"Did you hear that, the king has made Daniel the head over the entire kingdom. This is just not going to work." the men grumbled.
"We should try to find something to tell the king about him that he will not like. Maybe then we can get our jobs back," one man said.
"Let's go, there has to be something that he will do that we can tell King Darius about."
Look boys and girls the men are leaving and they are angry. They look like they mean business.
Look! There is Daniel and here come those men. I wonder what they will do now. Let's just stay back and watch. This should be real interesting.
"I don't believe it. He is doing everything just right. I wonder if we will be able to find something that we can tell King Darius about him," said one of the men.
"I don't know, but we have to keep watching him very closely. Surely he can't be this good. He has to do something dishonest."
Boys and girls, I can't imagine Daniel being dishonest.
"You know guys, I know of something that we might get on Daniel. He has a very strong belief in his God. I think this will help us get rid of him." one man suggests.
This doesn't sound good boys and girls. Let's see just what this man meant by this.
"O King Darius, may you live forever, the royal administrators and leaders have agreed that the king should give a statement that all the people of the kingdom should pray to you and you only. We also urge you to put this in writing so that it can't be changed according to the laws of the land. We also say that this should go from now until 30 days from now."
King Darius, being the selfish person he is did just that. He signed it and made it a rule that all should pray only to him. This made the administrators and leaders very happy. Now they could get Daniel taken care of real quick.
Boys and girls, I think this could be a time of danger for Daniel. I wonder just how he will react to this law The king signed it. All people of the kingdom will pray only to King Darius and no one else. This will be a real test of Daniel's faith in God. Let's see what Daniel will do.
Look, there go those men again to see about Daniel. They are following him home. I know Daniel has heard about this by now. I wonder what he will do. Let's wait here outside his window and see what happens.
Daniel has heard about King Darius' law and has gone home to pray.
"SHH! Men, listen, Daniel is praying to his God. He is thanking him just as he has done before. I wonder if he does not realize what will happen to him if he is caught doing this."
The men leave and decide to go back at noon to see if Daniel will pray again to his God.
"Come on men let's go back to Daniel's house and see if he will still pray to his God. Listen he praying to his God and thanking him for all he has done for him. Doesn't he know that he could be sent to the lion's den and be eaten alive for praying to his God?"
"Let's go men. Now we have the goods on Daniel. We must tell King Darius now and get this taken care of and get Daniel removed from the King's service."
"Yea!!!" shouted the men.
Boys and girls let's move here out of the way of these men. Come quickly, let's hide over here.
Again the men came to Daniel's home and saw the window open and again saw Daniel kneel down and begin to pray to his God and thank him for all the good things he has done for him.
"Listen men, Daniel is asking his God for help. Let's go and speak to the king about this."
"King Darius, did you not publish a law that during the next 30 days anyone who prays to any god or man except you would be thrown into the lion's den?"
"The law stands, in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be changed."
"King Darius, your trusted administrator Daniel has gone against your law. He has not paid any attention to what you have said about praying to gods other than you. We found him praying to his God 3 times a day just as he did before you made your law."
"I just can't believe that Daniel would do such a thing. He is one of my most trusted men and administrators. He has been so honest and has done such a wonderful job in my kingdom. Surely you are mistaken. Surely you saw someone else praying to another god, King Darius cried."
"No King, it was Daniel we saw. His window was open and we saw him bow down and pray to his God and ask him for help, the men said. King Darius this is your law and according to this Daniel is to be punished, right?"
Boys and girls, I think Daniel is in a lot of trouble. I don't know if he can get out of this. He is very special to King Darius and it seems that the king trusts Daniel. If the king does what the law says, then Daniel will be thrown into the lion's den and he will be eaten. This will not be good.
The men have left and the king is deeply hurt and confused. What will he do? Will he be able to save Daniel?
Click here for part 2 of our Bible Story About Daniel in the Lion's Den!
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