Children’s Bible Program – Level 2: Lesson 57 “Daniel and the Lion’s Den”
Featured Passage: Daniel 6
Babylon was captured by the Medes the very night that Daniel interpreted the handwriting on the wall. The new King Darius appointed one hundred twenty satraps (princes) over the provinces of his empire and three governors over them. One of the governors over the satraps was Daniel. Daniel did so well at his job that the king thought about making him the leader over the whole realm. The other governors and satraps were not happy about this idea. They wanted to find something that Daniel was doing wrong, but they couldn’t find anything that would be a reason to fire him from his job. They needed to come up with a plan to get rid of Daniel.
Discuss:
- Why do you think the other government officials wanted to take action against Daniel? Why was it hard for them to find anything wrong with Daniel?
- What was the scheme the men came up with to get rid of Daniel. How did the satraps and governors get the king to sign their new decree?
- What did Daniel do when he heard about the new law? What character traits can we learn from Daniel’s decision?
- Why could the king not pardon Daniel when the officials wanted him punished for praying to God? How did the king feel he found out what his officials were up to?
- What was Daniel’s punishment? How did God protect Daniel? How did the king respond to the miracle?
- What happened to the officials who accused Daniel?
Memory Challenge
Daniel 6:25-27
Then King Darius wrote: To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth:
Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, And steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, And His dominion shall endure to the end. He delivers and rescues, And He works signs and wonders In heaven and on earth, Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.
