Characters

Daniel

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Known As

A Nobel Prophet and Tamer of the Lions

Lessons in the BibleFroce Bible

Where in the Bible?

The Book of Daniel

Stories in the BibleFroce Bible

Did You Know

Daniel never lost faith in God—his love and commitment to God were without measure, and he refused to hide them. Though he lived in a strange land with different customs, he stayed true to God and kept his own values and integrity

Bio – Daniel

7th–6th century BC

Born in Jerusalem, Daniel was one of the exiles taken from the city when it fell to Nebuchadnezzar’s forces in about 605 BC. He was only a teenager when he arrived in Babylon, and as the son of noble parents he was trained in the king’s court and taught the language and customs of the kingdom. There, he and his Hebrew friends risked the wrath of the king by rejecting his rich food and requesting the simple food that God had told them to eat. When they became fitter and healthier than those around them, they were permitted to continue with their chosen diet.

From the start, Daniel showed great promise. He was intelligent and hardworking, finding favor with the king, and was made one of the king’s advisors. But not only did Daniel show administrative skills and loyalty, he also had a special gift—with God’s help he was able to interpret dreams and visions. When Nebuchadnezzar’s other advisors were unable to explain one strange dream that the king had, Daniel interpreted the dream, and passed on God’s message to the king.

Daniel’s wisdom and skills were such that he served in the court of four different kings in Babylon. When King Darius showed great favor towards Daniel, planning to put him in charge of the entire kingdom, the other officials conspired against the Hebrew, persuading the king to sign a royal decree that for thirty days the people of the kingdom could pray only to the king. Daniel refused to stop praying—despite his loyalty to the king, he would never compromise his faith in the one true God. The king—unable to rescind a law he had signed—was regretfully forced to throw his favorite advisor to the lions. Yet even though the lions were starving, Daniel passed the night unscathed, for God protected his faithful servant. A jubilant and relieved Darius declared before all his kingdom that Daniel’s God was the living God who would endure forever.

Daniel is also well known for the prophetic dreams and visions that he himself had.

Daniel always did the right thing, whether it was by refusing the king’s rich food, by interpreting dreams without softening God’s message, or even by insisting on praying when it had been banned. Each time he must have known that the consequences could have been dreadful. Each time his actions could have brought upon him the wrath of the king and he could have lost his life. Yet still he stayed steadfast, honest and diligent, acting with integrity and courage. Daniel never lost faith in God—his love and commitment to God were without measure, and he refused to hide them. Though he lived in a strange land with different customs, he stayed true to God and kept his own values and integrity.

Copyright ©2020 International Publishing Services (IPS) Sydney Australia

Daniel - A Nobel Prophet and Tamer of the Lions

Bible Verses About Daniel

Daniel 2:20-22

““Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
For wisdom and might are His.
And He changes the times and the seasons;
He removes kings and raises up kings;
He gives wisdom to the wise
And knowledge to those who have understanding.
He reveals deep and secret things;
He knows what is in the darkness,
And light dwells with Him.

Daniel 2:23

“I thank You and praise You,
O God of my fathers;
You have given me wisdom and might.”

Daniel 6:16

But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.”

Daniel 6:21

“My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him.”

Daniel 9:9

“To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him.”

Daniel 10:11-12

And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you. . . . Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words.”

Daniel 10:19

“O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!”

Daniel 12:3

“Those who are wise shall shine
Like the brightness of the firmament,
And those who turn many to righteousness
Like the stars forever and ever.”

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