From the Book of Daniel

As was his habit, Daniel performed his tasks well. Darius soon began to think of promoting Daniel to administrative officer. This made the other presidents and governors jealous, and, thinking that they could bring a bad report to Darius, they began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling things. But they couldn't find anything to criticize. Daniel was faithful and honest and made no mistakes.

"Our only chance is his religion," they reasoned, knowing that Daniel was zealous in his worship of God. With evil in their hearts they devised a plan that they felt would rid them once and for all of Daniel.

"King Darius, live forever!" they greeted, coming before the king to carry out their wicked plot. "We presidents, governors, counselors and deputies have all decided that you should make a law, unchangeable under any circumstances that for the next thirty days anyone who asks a favor of a god or man - except from you, Your Majesty - will be thrown to the lions. Your signature on this law, Your Majesty, is all we need to make it so that the law cannot be canceled or changed. Once you sign it, it will become the law of the Medes and Persians."

Believing that all his assistants wanted such a law, and feeling that it would enhance his position as king, with all people looking to him as their authority, Darius signed the document and placed his royal seal upon it.

When Daniel heard of the law he went home and, as was his custom since childhood, knelt down with his face toward Jerusalem and prayed three times a day, giving thanks to God and asking for His assistance. Joining together the jealous governors and presidents broke into Daniel's home and found him on his knees praying and asking for God's intervention.

Thinking that their plot was going according to plan they rushed to the palace and gained audience with the king.

"Haven't you signed a decree that every man who asks any god or man for anything within thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?" they asked.

"That's true." the king agreed. "I signed such a decree, and by the law of the Medes and Persians it can not be changed."

"Well, that Daniel, one of the captives from Judah, doesn't show any respect for you or your law," they told Darius. "O king, he makes petition to his God three times a day. Completely disregarding the command which you, yourself have signed into law."

When the king heard these words he was sorry that he had signed such a law into effect and tired for the rest of the day to think of a way that he might deliver Daniel. But at the end of the day the men came once more before him.

"Know, O king, that it is the law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statue which the king establishes may be changed," they reminded him. So Darius gave command that Daniel be arrested and taken to the den of lions.

Before sentence was carried out Darius spoke with Daniel. "Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you." the king surprised others by saying.

Then a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet of his lords so that no one could remove the stone and rescue Daniel.

Darius returned to his palace and fasted all night. In the morning he hurried to the lion's den and called loudly, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?"

Daniel's voice came back loud and confident, "O king, live forever! My God sent His angel and shut the lion's mouths, so that they have not hurt me. For I was innocent before God and also O king, I did no wrong to you by continuing to worship God."

The king, who was overjoyed to find that God had protected Daniel from the lions, commanded that his friend be taken up out of the den. Daniel, because he believed in his God, was without any sort of injury.

Darius then gave command that those men who had tricked him into signing the decree be brought before him. Because they had unjustly accused Daniel of wrong Darius cast them and their entire families into the lions den. The lions leaped up and tore the bodies to pieces before they reached the bottom of the pit.

Darius then 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."