The Gospel in Daniel and the Lions' Den

Even in the days of Daniel, approximately 540 years before the coming of Christ, God knew His Gospel plan for salvation.

Isaiah 46:10 states "Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,’"

Throughout the Old Testament God uses types and shadows to illustrate the salvation to come through Jesus Christ. The story of Daniel in the lions’ den is no exception.

Daniel 6: Daniel in the Lions’ den:

Through Daniel’s integrity and excellence in spirit he was promoted above all the other governors in the land. The other governors decided to come up with a plan to have Daniel removed.

Verses 3- 5 “Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm. ⁴ So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him. ⁵ Then these men said, “We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.”

The governors approached the king and made accusations against Daniel, so that the king had no choice but to discipline Daniel.

Verses 7-9 “All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. ⁸ Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.” ⁹ Therefore King Darius signed the written decree.”

The Gospel so far:

Here we can see an illustration of the gospel.

The governors represent the devil, the king represents God and Daniel represents us.

The governors have brought accusations against Daniel to the King, who has the power to bring judgment against Daniel.

In the same way the devil goes before God and petitions God to bring judgment on us for the wrongs we have committed. Just like the governors in Daniel 6 knew that the King would be true to his word and serve justice, the devil knows that God is a just God who cannot lie. He knows that we have all committed wrongs and justice demands that we are deserving of judgment accordingly, therefore the devil goes before God petitioning Him constantly to bring judgment against us for the wrongs we have done, accusing us of breaching Gods laws.

Revelation 12:10 states “Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now Salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.”

Back to the story…

The king, knowing that Daniel had broken his law, unwillingly agreed to bring judgment against Daniel. He had no choice but to do so because if he did not then he would be allowing a man guilty of breaching the law walk free. This would be an injustice.

Verse 12-16 “And they went before the king, and spoke concerning the king’s decree: “Have you not signed a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.”¹³ So they answered and said before the king, “That Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah, does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.” ¹⁴ And the king, when he heard these words, was greatly displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him. ¹⁵ Then these men approached the king, and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it isthe law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statute which the king establishes may be changed.” ¹⁶ So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.” 

Daniel was placed in the lions’ den overnight. We all know the rest – the next morning when the king awoke he ran to see what had become of Daniel. He was amazed to find that Daniel was still alive. Daniel tells him that God had sent His angels and they had shut the lions’ mouths so that they could not hurt him.

Verse 19-23 “Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions. ²⁰ And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?”

²¹ Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! ²² My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.”

²³ Now the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God.”

The king then, furious with Daniel’s accusers orders for the governors who tried to have Daniel killed to be dealt with in the same way and cast them into the lions den. We are told in verse 24 that the lions overpowered the men and their families before they even touched the bottom of the pit.

Verse 24 “And the king gave the command, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions—them, their children, and their wives; and the lions overpowered them, and broke all their bones in pieces before they ever came to the bottom of the den.”

The Gospel Continued:

We know already who the characters represent.

In verse 12-16 we are told that the King unwillingly served judgment against Daniel because he had broken the law.

2 Peter 3:9 states “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

God does not want any of us to perish, however we know from Romans 3:23 that “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” 

It is with great sorrow and anguish that our holy God must bring judgment against us. God loves us and does not wish for any of us to perish, however He knows that we are all guilty of breaking His law and therefore he must deal with us accordingly. He is a God of justice. It would be unjust for Him to allow us, as law breakers, to walk free. A punishment must be paid.

Just as how Daniel was found guilty and cast into the lions' den, we too will be found guilty before God and be cast into hell – not because God wishes for any to perish, but because this is justice.

This is a very dark state of affairs that we find ourselves in, however from reading verse 18 we can see that there is still hope for us.

In Verse 8 the king reassures Daniel “Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.”.

Verse 19-23 tells us that Daniel survived the impending judgment made against Him. Why? Because, we are told he was found “innocent before God”.

The Good News:

When we die we must all stand before God and be judged according to His laws. We are all guilty of breaking those laws. However, God has made a way for us to go free. He has made a way for us to be washed clean and appear innocent, despite the wrongs we have committed.

John 3:16 states “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

1 Corinthians 5:21 states “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

God knew that we were going to break his laws, therefore he made a way for us to go free. He sent His Son Jesus Christ to the earth to take the punishment that we deserve upon Himself. Jesus paid the fine in His own blood. He was the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf. Now because Jesus has died and the punishment has been taken for what we have done wrong we are able to walk free and escape the impending judgment of God and the punishment at the hand of the lions. We are found innocent before God!

What must I do to be saved?

God has offered us this amazing way out. We would be foolish not to grab onto it with every effort that we can! We must make a decision, to either accept the gift that God is offering us or to reject it. To make no decision is the same as rejecting it.

Just like at Christmas if somebody was to give you a present you would have to accept it before you could enjoy that gift. Not accepting it would mean that you could not benefit from that gift.

How do you accept God’s amazing gift? 

We are told in Daniel 6:23, “…no injury was found on him, because he believed in his God.”

To accept the gift of God we must believe.

Romans 10:9 “if you confess the Lord Jesus Christ and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Romans 10:13 “for whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved”

Put your trust in Christ today and repent from your sin so that you may be saved from the wiles of the devil; from the jaws of death at the hand of the lions.

What if I don’t accept Christ?

If you chose to do nothing your fate will be the same as the governors and their families in Daniel 6:24. You will be judged accordingly and cast into the lions’ den. However, unlike Daniel who was found innocent before God, you will be found guilty and be devoured, even before your feet touch the bottom of the pit.

Revelation 20:10 “The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”

I said that the governors represented the devil. His fate is that he will be cast into the lake of fire; guilty of the very things that he accuses us of day and night. However note in Daniel 6:24 that not only the governors but also their families are cast into the lions’ den and devoured. 

The families represent those who fail to accept Christ and are found guilty before God. Their fate is just as devastating as the governors.

There are two sides on this earth; Gods side and the devils side.

I know which side I am on. Whose side are you on? Whose side do you want to be on?

-BACChristian.