Daniel in the Lion's Den

Instructions

Read some poetry connected to the story of Daniel and reflect on its meaning.

This poems are from the English Standard Version of the Bible.

Image
King Darius Poem

A few verses of the story are in poetic form:

for he is the living God,
    enduring forever;
his kingdom shall never be destroyed,
    and his dominion shall be to the end.
27 He delivers and rescues;
    he works signs and wonders
    in heaven and on earth,
he who has saved Daniel
    from the power of the lions.”


Darius I

درفش کاویانی, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Discussion Questions


How does this poetry summarize the story? 

What does it say about the true nature of power?

What does it say delivers, rescues, and saves us?

Psalms 57


Reflect on Psalms 57 and its connection to the story of Daniel in the Lions' Den.  We'll look at verses 4-7 in the English Standard Version.


My soul is in the midst of lions;
    I lie down amid fiery beasts—
the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows,
    whose tongues are sharp swords.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
    Let your glory be over all the earth!

They set a net for my steps;
    my soul was bowed down.
They dug a pit in my way,
    but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah
My heart is steadfast, O God,
    my heart is steadfast!


“Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

Darius I

Discussion Questions


What themes and ideas do you see in this poem that are similar to the story?

What do you think the lions in this poem represent?  Are they literal lions or a symbol for something else?  What does the poem say they are?  How does this connect to the story of Daniel in the Lions' Den?