Ancient Insights Into 7 Familiar Bible StoriesSample

Daniel and the Lions’ Den: A Trial by Ordeal

The story of Daniel and the lions’ den seems unfair—why would a king make an irrevocable law that seems nonsensical? Why wouldn’t the king anticipate problems with the law? Why would the king allow for a trusted advisor like Daniel to be executed in such a terrible way?

In the ancient Near East, there were certain occasions when a person experienced a “trial by ordeal.” These situations involved placing a person in a dangerous situation and then seeing if a god would intervene on his behalf and save him. If so, the person was seen as justified in his actions.

Daniel was put through a trial by ordeal. He was put in a lions’ den and was left there overnight. The king came back to the den in the morning and eagerly wanted to know if Daniel’s God had intervened. Did Daniel pass the trial by ordeal? Had he been vindicated?

The answer, of course, was “yes.” Daniel’s God had intervened and spared him. Daniel was vindicated, and the evil advisers were executed in Daniel’s place. To the original audience of the book of Daniel, it would have been clear that Daniel’s God was powerful and was worthy of receiving prayers. The king’s decree in Daniel 6:26-27 affirms this belief.

Application point:

How do you view God? Do you see Him as worthy of your prayers? Do you regularly and reverently approach Him in prayer?

Prayer:

God, thank you that you are worthy of my prayers. Thank you that I can pray to you and that you hear me. Please help me to faithfully seek you in prayer. In Jesus’ name, Amen.