Active Christians Today University of Toledo
Bible Study ~ Daniel 6:1-28 "The Lion's Den"
The Book of Daniel is one of the most thrilling books in the Bible! It has all the elements of great stories: cliff-hanger drama, memorable characters and science fiction-like visions. Come join us for this challenging study on someone who chose to stand up in the midst of a culture that wanted him to stand down!
Locations & Times
Delta Church of Christ
2018 Bretton Pl, Toledo, OH 43606, USA
Wednesday 5:30 PM
ACT UT - Daniel 6:1-28 "The Lion's Den"
Group Bible Study - March 13, 2019
Group Bible Study - March 13, 2019
Introduction:
Here we go! Chapter six presents the most famous event in the life of Daniel. In many ways, it has a lot in common with chapter three when Daniel’s three friends are saved by God from the fiery furnace. While Daniel did not play a part in that event, Daniel is central to what happens in chapter six.
Where is Daniel in his life at this point? He’s an old man. He is in the king’s court under Darius the Mede. He has served faithfully despite his captivity for almost his entire life. All of this sets the foundation for the dramatic happenings in this chapter.
Here we go! Chapter six presents the most famous event in the life of Daniel. In many ways, it has a lot in common with chapter three when Daniel’s three friends are saved by God from the fiery furnace. While Daniel did not play a part in that event, Daniel is central to what happens in chapter six.
Where is Daniel in his life at this point? He’s an old man. He is in the king’s court under Darius the Mede. He has served faithfully despite his captivity for almost his entire life. All of this sets the foundation for the dramatic happenings in this chapter.
CONNECT WITH EACH OTHER:
What makes you envious of others?
What would you do if your right to pray in any public setting was legally taken away?
What makes you envious of others?
What would you do if your right to pray in any public setting was legally taken away?
THE STORY:
Each group has been provided with a variety of puppets. Use your own creativity to present the events in chapter six. Add a narrator if you want. Make up names for characters who are unnamed in this chapter. Build suspense. Make it a spy story! Do whatever you want, but in the end - make sure the main events are presented in your production!
Chapter Outline:
Daniel Promoted (6:1-3)
The Administrators’ Plot to Remove Daniel (6:4-15)
Daniel Preserved in the Lions’ Den (6:16-24)
Darius Acknowledges the Power of Daniel’s God (6:25-27)
Daniel Preserved until the End of the Exile (6:28)
Each group has been provided with a variety of puppets. Use your own creativity to present the events in chapter six. Add a narrator if you want. Make up names for characters who are unnamed in this chapter. Build suspense. Make it a spy story! Do whatever you want, but in the end - make sure the main events are presented in your production!
Chapter Outline:
Daniel Promoted (6:1-3)
The Administrators’ Plot to Remove Daniel (6:4-15)
Daniel Preserved in the Lions’ Den (6:16-24)
Darius Acknowledges the Power of Daniel’s God (6:25-27)
Daniel Preserved until the End of the Exile (6:28)
CONNECT WITH THE BIBLE:
Read the entire chapter.
Read the entire chapter.
Daniel Promoted (6:1-3)
How did Darius rule his kingdom? (6:1-2)
Clearly, Daniel is a responsible and faithful senior servant of the empire. In the opening verses of this chapter, what indications do we have of Daniel’s trusted status?
Why did Daniel’s colleagues plot against him? (6:3-4)
How did Darius rule his kingdom? (6:1-2)
Clearly, Daniel is a responsible and faithful senior servant of the empire. In the opening verses of this chapter, what indications do we have of Daniel’s trusted status?
Why did Daniel’s colleagues plot against him? (6:3-4)
The Administrators’ Plot to Remove Daniel (6:4-15)
How do Daniel’s faithfulness and reliability pose a challenge to the administrators in their plot against him? What do they think is their only chance of catching Daniel doing something wrong?
Think about the trial of Jesus. How does the administrators’ plot to remove Daniel resemble the Jews’ strategy to see Jesus condemned to die? What motives underlie each?
The administrators hatch a plot to catch Daniel violating the king’s decree. They persuade the king to issue an edict prohibiting making petitions to any god or man other than King Darius. Presumably, they knew that this would be a problem for Daniel.
What does this imply about their knowledge of Daniel’s life? And how is that supported by what we read of Daniel’s response to the edict (see 6:10)?
How did the administrators and satraps plan to discredit Daniel? (6:5)
When the leaders went to the king, what did they say? (6:6-8)
How did Daniel respond to the king’s decree? (6:9-10)
Who found Daniel praying to God? (6:11)
Why was Daniel prosecuted? (6:12-15)
How do Daniel’s faithfulness and reliability pose a challenge to the administrators in their plot against him? What do they think is their only chance of catching Daniel doing something wrong?
Think about the trial of Jesus. How does the administrators’ plot to remove Daniel resemble the Jews’ strategy to see Jesus condemned to die? What motives underlie each?
The administrators hatch a plot to catch Daniel violating the king’s decree. They persuade the king to issue an edict prohibiting making petitions to any god or man other than King Darius. Presumably, they knew that this would be a problem for Daniel.
What does this imply about their knowledge of Daniel’s life? And how is that supported by what we read of Daniel’s response to the edict (see 6:10)?
How did the administrators and satraps plan to discredit Daniel? (6:5)
When the leaders went to the king, what did they say? (6:6-8)
How did Daniel respond to the king’s decree? (6:9-10)
Who found Daniel praying to God? (6:11)
Why was Daniel prosecuted? (6:12-15)
Daniel Preserved in the Lions’ Den (6:16-24)
Although Darius regrets the impact of his decree upon Daniel, he goes ahead with the decision to put him into the lions’ den. But clearly he is not happy about having to do so. What evidence from the text shows this?
According to Daniel, why did God deliver him from the lions’ den (vv. 21-23)? Is there anything surprising or perhaps unsettling to you about what Daniel says? If so, what is it? And why?
What was the king’s hope for Daniel? (6:16)
How was Daniel punished? (6:16-17)
What happened during the night? (6:19-22)
What did Daniel say to the king? (6:21-22)
Why did God protect Daniel? (6:23)
What happened to Daniel’s accusers and their families? (6:24)
Although Darius regrets the impact of his decree upon Daniel, he goes ahead with the decision to put him into the lions’ den. But clearly he is not happy about having to do so. What evidence from the text shows this?
According to Daniel, why did God deliver him from the lions’ den (vv. 21-23)? Is there anything surprising or perhaps unsettling to you about what Daniel says? If so, what is it? And why?
What was the king’s hope for Daniel? (6:16)
How was Daniel punished? (6:16-17)
What happened during the night? (6:19-22)
What did Daniel say to the king? (6:21-22)
Why did God protect Daniel? (6:23)
What happened to Daniel’s accusers and their families? (6:24)
Darius Acknowledges the Power of Daniel’s God (6:25-27)
From Darius’s perspective, why did God deliver Daniel from the lions’ den? And what does God’s deliverance of Daniel reveal about who God is?
What was the king’s pronouncement? (6:25-28)
From Darius’s perspective, why did God deliver Daniel from the lions’ den? And what does God’s deliverance of Daniel reveal about who God is?
What was the king’s pronouncement? (6:25-28)
Daniel Preserved until the End of the Exile (6:28)
How are the events described at the close of this chapter (v. 28) similar to those of the previous chapters? Would you say preservation is a theme of the book of Daniel? If so, how would you state that theme in your own words?
How are the events described at the close of this chapter (v. 28) similar to those of the previous chapters? Would you say preservation is a theme of the book of Daniel? If so, how would you state that theme in your own words?
CONNECT TO GOD:
If you were attending a public event at which you felt that your Christian values were being compromised, what would you do?
How do you forgive someone who has betrayed you?
When have you chosen to submit to God’s authority over you rather than obeying the laws of the land?
What qualities in Daniel do you most admire?
How do you feel toward God when innocent people are hurt or destroyed?
When have you seen the Lord do something surprising or miraculous?
How is the Lord your lifeline in difficult circumstances?
If you consistently show trust in the Lord, how do you think He will reward you?
If you were attending a public event at which you felt that your Christian values were being compromised, what would you do?
How do you forgive someone who has betrayed you?
When have you chosen to submit to God’s authority over you rather than obeying the laws of the land?
What qualities in Daniel do you most admire?
How do you feel toward God when innocent people are hurt or destroyed?
When have you seen the Lord do something surprising or miraculous?
How is the Lord your lifeline in difficult circumstances?
If you consistently show trust in the Lord, how do you think He will reward you?
APPLY IT:
What steps can you take to trust God to resolve whatever difficult circumstances you face?
How do you need God’s wisdom and help in forgiving someone who has betrayed you?
What can you do to become a stronger, more courageous Christian?
What steps can you take to trust God to resolve whatever difficult circumstances you face?
How do you need God’s wisdom and help in forgiving someone who has betrayed you?
What can you do to become a stronger, more courageous Christian?
PRAISES & PRAYER REQUESTS:
Take time to reflect on the implications of Daniel 6:1-28 for your own life today. Consider what you have learned that might lead you to praise God, repent of sin, and trust in his gracious promises.
Take a moment also to look back through this study, to reflect on some key things that the Lord may be teaching you—and perhaps to highlight these things to review again in the future.
Share any other prayer requests, and close by thanking God for his comfort and promise to be with us.
Take time to reflect on the implications of Daniel 6:1-28 for your own life today. Consider what you have learned that might lead you to praise God, repent of sin, and trust in his gracious promises.
Take a moment also to look back through this study, to reflect on some key things that the Lord may be teaching you—and perhaps to highlight these things to review again in the future.
Share any other prayer requests, and close by thanking God for his comfort and promise to be with us.
The Essential Inductive Questions:
1. What does this passage say?
2. What does this passage mean?
3. What is God telling me?
4. How am I encouraged and strengthened?
5. Is there sin in my life for which confession and repentance is needed?
6. How can I be changed, so I can learn and grow?
7. What is in the way of these precepts affecting me? What is in the way of my listening to God?
8. How does this apply to me? What will I do about it?
9. What can I model and teach?
10. What does God want me to share with someone?
1. What does this passage say?
2. What does this passage mean?
3. What is God telling me?
4. How am I encouraged and strengthened?
5. Is there sin in my life for which confession and repentance is needed?
6. How can I be changed, so I can learn and grow?
7. What is in the way of these precepts affecting me? What is in the way of my listening to God?
8. How does this apply to me? What will I do about it?
9. What can I model and teach?
10. What does God want me to share with someone?