At last the king realised that he had been tricked into making this evil law. Daniel, his good and trusted friend, had broken the law and had to be killed. The king tried all day to find a way out for Daniel but the law could not be changed. Daniel had to die.

So the desperate king gave the order and Daniel was thrown into the pit in which hungry lions were waiting for their food.

Long Night

That night Darius could not sleep. He was tossing and turning in bed all night and thinking about Daniel. Could Daniel’s God save him from the lions or was he already dead?

At dawn the king could not stay in bed any longer. He rushed to the lions’ pit and shouted loudly, “Daniel, servant of the living God, whom you serve continually, has your God been able to deliver you from the lions?” (Daniel 6:21)

The king listened anxiously for any answer. From under the big rock, which covered the pit, he made out a faint voice. Could it be the voice of Daniel? Yes it was! Daniel was still alive and he called out, “O king, live forever! My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me” (Daniel 6:22-23).

The king was so happy! He ordered Daniel to be pulled up out of the pit and the evil men who had plotted against him were thrown into it instead.

Daniel became an even more important man in Babylon. Now Darius too knew that his God is the only one, true and perfect God.