Daniel in the Lions' Den
570 BC
📂 BIBLICAL
📖 About This Event
Daniel's deliverance from the lions' den is one of the most famous stories of faith and divine protection in the Old Testament. After Nebuchadnezzar's death, Daniel continued to serve under successive Babylonian and Persian rulers. His administrative excellence made him a target of jealous rivals, who tricked King Darius into signing a decree that for 30 days, anyone who prayed to any god or man except the king should be thrown into the lions' den. Daniel, knowing the decree had been signed, continued to pray three times a day 'as he had done previously,' with his windows open toward Jerusalem (Daniel 6:10).
When Daniel was denounced, Darius was deeply distressed but could not revoke the decree. Daniel was thrown into the den, and the king said, 'May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!' A stone was laid over the mouth of the den, and Darius fasted and could not sleep. At dawn, the king ran to the den and called out, 'Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?' Daniel answered, 'My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before him' (Daniel 6:20-22).
The Catholic Church sees in Daniel's deliverance God's faithfulness to those who remain faithful in persecution. The angel who shut the lions' mouths prefigures Christ's angels who protect His faithful servants. Key Scripture: Daniel 6; Revelation 13:10; Hebrews 11:33; CCC 336
📜 Key Facts
Date
570 BC
Category
Biblical
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