May 10th & 17th: Daniel

About This Bible Story :

The book of Daniel describes a time when the Jewish people were captives in Babylon. The story of Daniel, like that of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego a few chapters earlier, is about a faithful Israelite who defied the rules of Babylon. Instead of worshipping idols or King Darius, Daniel prayed only to the one true God. He found favor with the ruling king, but the king’s ministers became jealous and formed a plan they were sure would end his life.

Thrown into a den of lions, Daniel spent the night trusting God. King Darius spent the night awake and fasting. In the morning, the king made an amazing discovery—Daniel’s God had saved him! The king decreed that all people should “tremble and fear before the God of Daniel” (Daniel 6:26). In this story, we see how a faithful witness to God was protected from those who would harm him.

A Child’s View of the Story:

This story describes a brave hero, some conspiring villains, one surprised king, and a den full of lions. Children may enjoy the roaring sounds and furry manes, but there is more to this story for them. Daniel’s faithfulness to God is worth mentioning. He prayed to God, even when that meant breaking the rules. Children may be surprised to hear that a law from the king said that he was the one to pray to, not God. Point out that Daniel prayed openly, knowing he could be discovered.

A den of lions would be a very scary place for anyone to spend the night! Daniel may have felt afraid, but he was confident that God was with him. We can teach children they can be confident that God is with them during scary times. We are never alone. God hears our prayers and answers them, sometimes in very dramatic ways.