But Darius could not help himself; the law that had once been made could not be broken, and these spiteful people declared that Daniel must be thrown to the lions. All day long the king tried to get his wise good counsellor saved from this dreadful fate, but he could not succeed; and at evening Daniel's enemies came to take him and throw him to the lions in their den.
[Illustration: THE JEWISH CAPTIVES CONDUCTED BEFORE DARIUS.]
Still, though Darius was a heathen himself, he had one hope; and when he saw his friend led away, he said, "Thy God whom thou servest continually, He will deliver thee."
So they took Daniel, and put him into a pit among the lions, and they fastened up the door and left him there; and the king was so sorry, that he could not sleep all night for grieving for the good, wise, brave man who was thrown to the lions because he would not leave off praying to God, and feared God more than man.
And when daylight came they all went to the den. The enemies hoped to find that Daniel was eaten up, but the king cried out in a lamentable voice, "O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?"
And Daniel's own voice came cheerfully back, and told the king that his God had sent His angel, who had shut the lions' mouths, so that they could not hurt him, and had kept him safe all night.
[Illustration: DANIEL IN THE LION'S DEN.--Daniel 6:19, 22.]
And the king was very glad, and commanded them to take Daniel out of the pit, and to put the spiteful men in instead; and the lions were so hungry that they brake all their bones in pieces before ever they came to the bottom of the den.
Only think what Daniel was willing to bear rather than not say his prayers! And it was because he prayed that God saved him. God's power shut the lions' mouths, because Daniel had been more afraid to leave off praying than even to be torn to pieces. How glad we should be that we can say our prayers safe and unhurt; and how careful we should be never to miss them out of idleness, if Daniel would not miss them out of fear.
1. Where were the Jews living? 2. Who was king of Babylon? 3. What law was Darius persuaded to make? 4. Who was to be prayed to? 5. What was to be done to anybody who said prayers to any but Darius? 6. Who did go on saying his prayers? 7. Who was Daniel? 8. What was done to Daniel? 9. Did the lions hurt Daniel? 10. Why was Daniel kept safe in the den? 11. Whom did Daniel fear most, God or men? 12. When should we say our prayers? 13. Can anyone hurt us if God takes care of us?