This is a new song and lesson that I wrote. After the song, I created a ready to use lesson plan. This would work great for Sunday School teachers, Children’s Church leaders, Awana leaders, Homeschoolers, Road trips or just something to help bring this story to life. The lesson is ready to teach, just follow along. No extra work involved unless you want to. This could be used as a full lesson or a filler if you need 10-15 minutes or more.

STORY CLUE: Prayed-Den-Lions   What Bible story are we going to learn about today?

Daniel and the Den 

Lyrics: These can be used to teach the children the song or can be used as a bible story for younger children or as a poem. 

Once upon a time, long ago
Daniel loved to pray, you know
Pray to God three times each day
King said “No!” but he’d still pray

They caught him praying and took him away
Down to the den where the lions stay
No, Daniel wasn’t scared
He knew his God would spare
Lions couldn’t bite, couldn’t fight
God shut every mouth that night

Jealous men made evil plans
Tricked the king with wicked hands
The king he made a decree
You can only pray to me.
“Throw him down!” the people cried
But God was right there by his side

They caught him praying and took him away
Down to the den where the lions stay
No, Daniel wasn’t scared
He knew his God would spare
Lions couldn’t bite, couldn’t fight
God shut every mouth that night
Morning came and the king looked down
Daniel was smiling, safe and sound
The lions were calm, they didn’t bite
God protected him all through the night
Safe and sound, safe and sound
God keeps us safe and sound

Babylon’s King learned that day
Daniel’s God is the only Way.
Faith and fire, bold and brave
Trust the God who always saves
Faith and fire, bold and brave
Trust the God who always saves

DANIEL AND THE DEN

Bible Story: Daniel and the Lion’s Den

Scripture Passage: Daniel 6

Memory Verse: “Your God whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.” Daniel 6:16

SCRIPTURE PASSAGE    Daniel Chapter 6

The Plot Against Daniel
1It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom; 2and over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them, so that the king would suffer no loss. 3Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm. 4So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him. 5Then these men said, “We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.”
6So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: “King Darius, live forever! 7All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. 8Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.” 9Therefore King Darius signed the written decree.
Daniel in the Lions’ Den
10Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days. 11Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. 12And they went before the king, and spoke concerning the king’s decree: “Have you not signed a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.” 13So they answered and said before the king, “That Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah, does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.” 14And the king, when he heard these words, was greatly displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him. 15Then these men approached the king, and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is the law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statute which the king establishes may be changed.” 16So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.” 17Then 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 signets of his lords, that the purpose concerning Daniel might not be changed.
Daniel Saved from the Lions
18Now the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no musicians were brought before him. Also his sleep went from him. 19Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions. 20And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” 21Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! 22My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.” 23Now the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God.

Darius Honors God
24And the king gave the command, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions—them, their children, and their wives; and the lions overpowered them, and broke all their bones in pieces before they ever came to the bottom of the den. 25Then King Darius wrote:To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth:
Peace be multiplied to you. 26I 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.27He delivers and rescues,And He works signs and wondersIn heaven and on earth,
Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. 28So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

QUESTIONS

1. What was the name of the King? Darius   Verse 1
2. T/F The King liked Daniel.      True
3.  How do we know the king liked Daniel? He was dismayed with himself and set to deliver Daniel Verse 14      The king didn’t sleep that night and went very early to check on Daniel        Verse 19-20
4. There was another man in the Bible who went through a very similar thing as Daniel, do you know who that man was?  Joseph (Genesis 37-50)
5. How long was Daniel in the Lion’s Den?  Overnight stay   Chapter 6:18-19
6. What did God do to keep Daniel safe that night?  God sent an angel to shut the lion’s mouth    Verse 22
7. Fill in the blank    So Daniel was taken up out of the den and no ________(injury) whatever was found on him, because he __________(believed) in his _______(God). V. 23

DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE (FUN FACTS)

*Daniel was about 80 years old when he was thrown into the lion’s den.  He was born around 620 BC, Lion’s Den event around 540 BC, Died around 536 BC

*Daniel was a slave that rose to 2nd in command of a great nation through obedience to God

*Daniel interpreted dreams

*He wrote the book of Daniel, became King Nebuchadnezzar’s closest advisor

*Daniel means ” God is my Judge”

*Number of men mentioned in the bible with name Daniel       3 men

DISCUSSION POINTS

*What do you think Daniel did all night?  Probably prayed and maybe slept

*The men who accused Daniel were thrown into the den along with all their families, their outcome was not the same as Daniel.  What does that tell us about our actions or words?

Our actions/words affect more than us.

STORY CLUE REVIEW: OK kids, now that we have finished the lesson, does the Story Clues make sense?  Can anyone explain the Clues and why those clues were given. (Prayed-Den-Lions)

Does anyone have any questions about the story?

Picture of what a lion’s den may have looked like.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sources: The Woman’s Study Bible 2nd Ed., WHO’s Who and Where’s Where in the Bible (Stephen Miller), The Complete Book of People and Places in the Bible (Pamela McQuade), The Ultimate Infographic Guide to the Bible (Joseph Holden), The Essential Bible Companian (Walton-Strauss-Cooper), The Everything Bible, The Ultimate Bible Character Guide (Gina Detwiller)

Song written by Robin McMullen Produced by AI program (Suno.com) (AITubo.com)