July 31, 2025 • 13 mins
Death roared at Daniel, but was ultimately tamed by the hand of God. Jesus also faced death’s roar, but its bite wasn’t strong enough to hold him back.
Today's Bible verse is 1 Peter 5:8, from the King James Version.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Let us pray, be sober and self controlled. Be watchful
your adversary. The devil walks around like a roaring lion,
seeking whom he may devour one Peter five eight. Dear
Heavenly Father, we recognize that our adversary, the devil, prows
(00:21):
around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. We
ask for your protection, Lord, against every form of temptation, deceit,
and harm that the enemy might throw our way. Grant
us the wisdom to stay vigilant and alert. Understanding that
we have an enemy seeking our downfall. God, fortify our
(00:43):
faith that we may stand firm in the face of
trials and adversities. Strengthen us, Lord, so we can resist
the devil and cause him to flee from us. Let
your word be our shield and sword, equipping us to
stand strong against the forces of darkness. Please remind us,
(01:05):
Father of the victory we have in Christ, Jesus, our
savior who overcame the world. Let the confidence of this
victory be our courage, and may your spirit guide us
in all righteousness, keeping us from falling prey to the
enemy's schemes. In Jesus's mighty name, we pray Amen thank
(01:30):
you for praying with me today. Stay tuned now for
another episode of Stories of the Messiah with Rabbi Schneider.
Daniel knew he had done nothing wrong.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Driven by jealousy, the governors of Persia tricked the king
into condemning Daniel to die. Fooled by his governors and
tempted by his bride, King Darius made a decree outlawing
prayer to anyone but him. Daniel knew praying to God
might mean certain death.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
But it didn't stop him.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
He prayed to the Lord daily, seeking wisdom and praising
his name. What was the punishment for such a crime
being fed to the lion's So there Daniel was standing
at the edge of a hole carved into a stone dungeon.
He could hear the rumbling of the lion's pur underneath.
Darius put a hand on Daniel's shoulder. His voice was
(02:26):
filled with regret.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
I wouldn't have made such a decree if I'd have known,
But now I must follow through.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
His voice trailed off, and he turned away from his
dear friend.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
May your God deliver you.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
With those words, the gods klew Daniel into the lion's
den and laid a stone over it. Daniel hit the
ground with a thud and looked up. A stone was
placed over the entrance, blocking out the sun. All was
silent until Daniel heard the low vibrations of the lion's growl.
Speaker 3 (02:58):
Hello, and welcome to an another episode of the Jesus Podcast.
I'm Athan frompray dot com, your guide through this journey
through the Bible's most iconic stories. If you've enjoyed our
journey thus far, consider leaving us a review and sharing
it with a friend. We want the story of the
Bible and the hope of Jesus to be spread worldwide.
(03:20):
We've been exploring the highs and lows of the Bible's
most famous heroes, ultimately showcasing how their stories foreshadow the
greatest hero of all, Jesus. So far, we've learned how
Jesus is the greater Adam, Cain, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Isaac, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Samson, Boaz, David, Solomon, Elijah,
(03:45):
and Jonah. Their stories are testaments to the faithfulness of God.
Their highs and lows remind us that no circumstances, no sins,
no flaws will ever keep God from accomplishing his purposes.
Today we turn our attention to a character whose unwavering
devotion got him into trouble because of his faithfulness to God.
(04:10):
Daniel was condemned to spend a night in a lion's den.
The other governors of the empire were jealous of Daniel's wisdom, favor,
and influence on the King. They hated his righteousness and
sought to use it against him. Now, I don't need
to tell you that this world can be pretty hostile
to the people of God. Persecution is rampant worldwide, and
(04:33):
we are forced as believers to consider the cost of
following Jesus. If we were in Daniel's position, would we
stop praying? Would we shrink under cultural pressure and give in?
Daniel's story invites us to ponder those types of questions.
Do we have unwavering faith in the face of cultural pushback?
(04:54):
Daniel believed losing his relationship with God would be worse
than losing his life, amitted himself to pray, knowing that
it might mean death. Let's enter back into this dramatic
retelling of Daniel's story. Daniel has been thrown into the
lions den. Will this be the end for Daniel. Will
God deliver him? As King Darius hopes, Let's find out now,
(05:17):
then unpack what it means together.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Daniel's sight had not yet adjusted to the darkness. He
scrambled onto his hands and feet to find his place.
He found a loose stone and held it in his hand.
Daniel was prepared to fight for his life. He knew
that God could protect him from the lions, but even
if he didn't, he would not regret praying to the Lord.
He couldn't see.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
Anything, but he knew they were there.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
He could feel the low base of the grouse in
his chest. They were getting closer, stalking him and waiting
for the perfect moment to pounce. He prayed for deliverance,
gripped the stone, and prepared for the worst. He turned
around to see the faintest shadow of a lion crouched
behind him, prepared to ounce. Just as it was about
to attack, a radiant light cut through the darkness like
(06:04):
a hot blade. The light illuminated the four lions surrounding Daniel.
They all cowered in fear and backed away from the light.
They roared, but the light sprang forth and wrapped around
their jaws. The lions submitted. Immediately, the light vanished from sight,
and Daniel was left alone again in darkness with the lions.
That he knew they had been subdued. The God of
(06:26):
all creation had shut the jaws of death for Daniel.
He would emerge out of that den living and triumphant. Meanwhile,
King Darius paced his room, worrying over Daniel. He did
not eat or sleep all night. Instead, he set his
mind on the welfare of his friend. He waited for
the light to break so he could roll away the
stone of the den. As soon as the light touched
(06:49):
the bottom of the horizon, Darius put on his clothes
and rushed to the cave. He and all the men
raced together and pulled away the stone.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
All was silent.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
Darius approached the entrance to the den. He looked down
and listened for any sounds. He could hear nothing. He
worried and shouted, Daniel, servant of the Living God, I
shall God delivered you from the lions.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
There was a long pause.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Darius Podds was beating fast. Then a small voice echoed
up to the entrance. Oh, King live forever. Of course,
I'm safe, for I was blameless, My Lord have held
me and shut the mouth of the lions.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
The story of Daniel and the lions Den is famous
for a reason. It's a story of courageous faith and
providential protection. What I love about Daniel's character is that
he was fully prepared to die if that's what God
had for him. He didn't pray with the certainty that
God would save him from the lions. He prayed because
that's what gave his life. Meaning, let me encourage you friends,
(07:53):
it's better to live a short life on fire for
the Lord than to live a long life apart from him.
Relationship with God is what gives this life vibrancy, and
it's what carries us into eternity. Daniel understood this, but
he also believed that God would protect him from the
lions if that were his will. Daniel's story teaches us
(08:16):
the value of trust and steadfast devotion. Daniel faced various
trials throughout his life, yet he never stopped trusting God's sovereignty.
Whether interpreting dreams for a king, serving in a foreign government,
or facing lions and a den, Daniel had faith in
God's control over all circumstances. He believed that God was
(08:38):
in control even when things seemed chaotic or dangerous. This
encourages us to trust God's plan for our lives even
when we can't see the bigger picture. In the darkness
of the Lion's Den, it was hard to see, but
God's light eventually broke through. It's the same for us
(08:58):
when we are facing darkness. Daniel also teaches us how
to stand firm in our convictions. Daniel's life was marked
by his unwavering faith and his commitment to his beliefs,
even when those beliefs directly contradicted the governing powers. From
his refusal to eat the king's food because it violated
(09:19):
Jewish dietary laws to his defiance of a law that
forbade praying to anyone but the king, Daniel stood firm
in his convictions. The lesson is that personal integrity and
faithfulness to our beliefs are more important than conforming to
societal pressures or expectations. This is especially important for today's
(09:40):
cultural moment, when the pressure to compromise our beliefs and
integrity is at an all time high. Lastly, Daniel's journey
into the Lion's Den and out into the light points
us towards Jesus, who had his journey into darkness. Let's
immerse ourselves into a short retelling of Jesus's resurrection. When
(10:02):
Death's jaws were shut to save the Son of God.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
Jesus knew that he had done nothing wrong. Driven by jealousy,
the leaders of Israel condemned him to die. He hung
on a cursed cross, but his death was not a defeat.
The grave was always his destination. Death roared like a
lion and sank its claws into the Son of God,
but Death's grip could not hold him long. For three days,
(10:30):
Jesus lay in a tomb in the garden. Gods were
placed at either side of the grave to keep people out.
Little did they know they would need to keep Jesus in.
Christ's followers had lost hope, and the enemy thought he
had achieved victory, but death had no power over Jesus.
The dark skies gave way to the morning sun on
(10:50):
the third day, for the first time since his death.
Light broke through The sun crept over the horizon, its
rays spilling over the hills like liquid gold. The two
guards lounged in the coolness of the morning mist, lazily
watching the sun's rays ripple through the misty air. The
sunrise was ahead of them, illuminating the rest of the garden.
(11:10):
As its rays reached the grave site, another light emerged
from behind. The guards recoiled and looked back. The earth
began to tremble, knocking the guards down on their backs.
They turned and watched the stone roll away. A glory
beyond words cascaded from the dark tomb. The radiance swept
through the air with such might that it sent the
guards flying backwards. They reached for their spears, but not
(11:33):
before another surge of power broke forth from the darkness.
They ran back into the trees and remained on the ground.
Death's mouth was sealed shut, and Jesus cries to emerged
from the grave victorious. No scheme of man or power
of hell could hold him back.
Speaker 3 (11:52):
First Peter chapter five tells us that the enemy prowls
like a lion, seeking whom it made a vour. The
enemy certainly tried its best to devour Jesus on the cross.
Death's cruel jaws sunk its teeth into Jesus and dragged
him to the grave. But on the third day, Jesus
emerged victorious. The lions den in Daniel chapter six is
(12:15):
a metaphor for the grave. Jesus, like Daniel, rose from
the lion's den and displayed the power of God. Jesus's
victory over death gives us hope that we, through Christ,
can have victory over sin, death and shame. Perhaps there
are some of you today who feel like you're trapped
(12:35):
in a lion's den. The enemy has tried to take
your heart as well. My friends, it is my joy
to remind you that you don't have to be a
victim to your sins or to the sins of our society.
Romans chapter eight tells us that we are more than conquerors.
In Christ Jesus, we follow the God who shut the
(12:58):
mouths of lions and rose Christ from the pit of death.
Whatever sins you struggle with or trials you have faced,
can be conquered. Dare to be a Daniel and face
the struggle head on. Dare to stand boldly in the
lions den. Jesus has given you victory. Because Jesus rose
(13:18):
from the grave and shared his victory with you and me,
we are confident that Jesus is the greater Daniel. Join
us next time, where we explore the most unlikely hero
of all you. We'll learn about God's deep and abiding
love for you, and how your shortcomings allow God to
(13:39):
display his glory. Don't miss our final episode to discover
how Jesus is the greater you.
Let us pray, be sober and self controlled. Be watchful
your adversary. The devil walks around like a roaring lion,
seeking whom he may devour one Peter five eight. Dear
Heavenly Father, we recognize that our adversary, the devil, prows
(00:21):
around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. We
ask for your protection, Lord, against every form of temptation, deceit,
and harm that the enemy might throw our way. Grant
us the wisdom to stay vigilant and alert. Understanding that
we have an enemy seeking our downfall. God, fortify our
(00:43):
faith that we may stand firm in the face of
trials and adversities. Strengthen us, Lord, so we can resist
the devil and cause him to flee from us. Let
your word be our shield and sword, equipping us to
stand strong against the forces of darkness. Please remind us,
(01:05):
Father of the victory we have in Christ, Jesus, our
savior who overcame the world. Let the confidence of this
victory be our courage, and may your spirit guide us
in all righteousness, keeping us from falling prey to the
enemy's schemes. In Jesus's mighty name, we pray Amen thank
(01:30):
you for praying with me today. Stay tuned now for
another episode of Stories of the Messiah with Rabbi Schneider.
Daniel knew he had done nothing wrong.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Driven by jealousy, the governors of Persia tricked the king
into condemning Daniel to die. Fooled by his governors and
tempted by his bride, King Darius made a decree outlawing
prayer to anyone but him. Daniel knew praying to God
might mean certain death.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
But it didn't stop him.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
He prayed to the Lord daily, seeking wisdom and praising
his name. What was the punishment for such a crime
being fed to the lion's So there Daniel was standing
at the edge of a hole carved into a stone dungeon.
He could hear the rumbling of the lion's pur underneath.
Darius put a hand on Daniel's shoulder. His voice was
(02:26):
filled with regret.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
I wouldn't have made such a decree if I'd have known,
But now I must follow through.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
His voice trailed off, and he turned away from his
dear friend.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
May your God deliver you.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
With those words, the gods klew Daniel into the lion's
den and laid a stone over it. Daniel hit the
ground with a thud and looked up. A stone was
placed over the entrance, blocking out the sun. All was
silent until Daniel heard the low vibrations of the lion's growl.
Speaker 3 (02:58):
Hello, and welcome to an another episode of the Jesus Podcast.
I'm Athan frompray dot com, your guide through this journey
through the Bible's most iconic stories. If you've enjoyed our
journey thus far, consider leaving us a review and sharing
it with a friend. We want the story of the
Bible and the hope of Jesus to be spread worldwide.
(03:20):
We've been exploring the highs and lows of the Bible's
most famous heroes, ultimately showcasing how their stories foreshadow the
greatest hero of all, Jesus. So far, we've learned how
Jesus is the greater Adam, Cain, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Isaac, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Samson, Boaz, David, Solomon, Elijah,
(03:45):
and Jonah. Their stories are testaments to the faithfulness of God.
Their highs and lows remind us that no circumstances, no sins,
no flaws will ever keep God from accomplishing his purposes.
Today we turn our attention to a character whose unwavering
devotion got him into trouble because of his faithfulness to God.
(04:10):
Daniel was condemned to spend a night in a lion's den.
The other governors of the empire were jealous of Daniel's wisdom, favor,
and influence on the King. They hated his righteousness and
sought to use it against him. Now, I don't need
to tell you that this world can be pretty hostile
to the people of God. Persecution is rampant worldwide, and
(04:33):
we are forced as believers to consider the cost of
following Jesus. If we were in Daniel's position, would we
stop praying? Would we shrink under cultural pressure and give in?
Daniel's story invites us to ponder those types of questions.
Do we have unwavering faith in the face of cultural pushback?
(04:54):
Daniel believed losing his relationship with God would be worse
than losing his life, amitted himself to pray, knowing that
it might mean death. Let's enter back into this dramatic
retelling of Daniel's story. Daniel has been thrown into the
lions den. Will this be the end for Daniel. Will
God deliver him? As King Darius hopes, Let's find out now,
(05:17):
then unpack what it means together.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Daniel's sight had not yet adjusted to the darkness. He
scrambled onto his hands and feet to find his place.
He found a loose stone and held it in his hand.
Daniel was prepared to fight for his life. He knew
that God could protect him from the lions, but even
if he didn't, he would not regret praying to the Lord.
He couldn't see.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
Anything, but he knew they were there.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
He could feel the low base of the grouse in
his chest. They were getting closer, stalking him and waiting
for the perfect moment to pounce. He prayed for deliverance,
gripped the stone, and prepared for the worst. He turned
around to see the faintest shadow of a lion crouched
behind him, prepared to ounce. Just as it was about
to attack, a radiant light cut through the darkness like
(06:04):
a hot blade. The light illuminated the four lions surrounding Daniel.
They all cowered in fear and backed away from the light.
They roared, but the light sprang forth and wrapped around
their jaws. The lions submitted. Immediately, the light vanished from sight,
and Daniel was left alone again in darkness with the lions.
That he knew they had been subdued. The God of
(06:26):
all creation had shut the jaws of death for Daniel.
He would emerge out of that den living and triumphant. Meanwhile,
King Darius paced his room, worrying over Daniel. He did
not eat or sleep all night. Instead, he set his
mind on the welfare of his friend. He waited for
the light to break so he could roll away the
stone of the den. As soon as the light touched
(06:49):
the bottom of the horizon, Darius put on his clothes
and rushed to the cave. He and all the men
raced together and pulled away the stone.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
All was silent.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
Darius approached the entrance to the den. He looked down
and listened for any sounds. He could hear nothing. He
worried and shouted, Daniel, servant of the Living God, I
shall God delivered you from the lions.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
There was a long pause.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Darius Podds was beating fast. Then a small voice echoed
up to the entrance. Oh, King live forever. Of course,
I'm safe, for I was blameless, My Lord have held
me and shut the mouth of the lions.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
The story of Daniel and the lions Den is famous
for a reason. It's a story of courageous faith and
providential protection. What I love about Daniel's character is that
he was fully prepared to die if that's what God
had for him. He didn't pray with the certainty that
God would save him from the lions. He prayed because
that's what gave his life. Meaning, let me encourage you friends,
(07:53):
it's better to live a short life on fire for
the Lord than to live a long life apart from him.
Relationship with God is what gives this life vibrancy, and
it's what carries us into eternity. Daniel understood this, but
he also believed that God would protect him from the
lions if that were his will. Daniel's story teaches us
(08:16):
the value of trust and steadfast devotion. Daniel faced various
trials throughout his life, yet he never stopped trusting God's sovereignty.
Whether interpreting dreams for a king, serving in a foreign government,
or facing lions and a den, Daniel had faith in
God's control over all circumstances. He believed that God was
(08:38):
in control even when things seemed chaotic or dangerous. This
encourages us to trust God's plan for our lives even
when we can't see the bigger picture. In the darkness
of the Lion's Den, it was hard to see, but
God's light eventually broke through. It's the same for us
(08:58):
when we are facing darkness. Daniel also teaches us how
to stand firm in our convictions. Daniel's life was marked
by his unwavering faith and his commitment to his beliefs,
even when those beliefs directly contradicted the governing powers. From
his refusal to eat the king's food because it violated
(09:19):
Jewish dietary laws to his defiance of a law that
forbade praying to anyone but the king, Daniel stood firm
in his convictions. The lesson is that personal integrity and
faithfulness to our beliefs are more important than conforming to
societal pressures or expectations. This is especially important for today's
(09:40):
cultural moment, when the pressure to compromise our beliefs and
integrity is at an all time high. Lastly, Daniel's journey
into the Lion's Den and out into the light points
us towards Jesus, who had his journey into darkness. Let's
immerse ourselves into a short retelling of Jesus's resurrection. When
(10:02):
Death's jaws were shut to save the Son of God.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
Jesus knew that he had done nothing wrong. Driven by jealousy,
the leaders of Israel condemned him to die. He hung
on a cursed cross, but his death was not a defeat.
The grave was always his destination. Death roared like a
lion and sank its claws into the Son of God,
but Death's grip could not hold him long. For three days,
(10:30):
Jesus lay in a tomb in the garden. Gods were
placed at either side of the grave to keep people out.
Little did they know they would need to keep Jesus in.
Christ's followers had lost hope, and the enemy thought he
had achieved victory, but death had no power over Jesus.
The dark skies gave way to the morning sun on
(10:50):
the third day, for the first time since his death.
Light broke through The sun crept over the horizon, its
rays spilling over the hills like liquid gold. The two
guards lounged in the coolness of the morning mist, lazily
watching the sun's rays ripple through the misty air. The
sunrise was ahead of them, illuminating the rest of the garden.
(11:10):
As its rays reached the grave site, another light emerged
from behind. The guards recoiled and looked back. The earth
began to tremble, knocking the guards down on their backs.
They turned and watched the stone roll away. A glory
beyond words cascaded from the dark tomb. The radiance swept
through the air with such might that it sent the
guards flying backwards. They reached for their spears, but not
(11:33):
before another surge of power broke forth from the darkness.
They ran back into the trees and remained on the ground.
Death's mouth was sealed shut, and Jesus cries to emerged
from the grave victorious. No scheme of man or power
of hell could hold him back.
Speaker 3 (11:52):
First Peter chapter five tells us that the enemy prowls
like a lion, seeking whom it made a vour. The
enemy certainly tried its best to devour Jesus on the cross.
Death's cruel jaws sunk its teeth into Jesus and dragged
him to the grave. But on the third day, Jesus
emerged victorious. The lions den in Daniel chapter six is
(12:15):
a metaphor for the grave. Jesus, like Daniel, rose from
the lion's den and displayed the power of God. Jesus's
victory over death gives us hope that we, through Christ,
can have victory over sin, death and shame. Perhaps there
are some of you today who feel like you're trapped
(12:35):
in a lion's den. The enemy has tried to take
your heart as well. My friends, it is my joy
to remind you that you don't have to be a
victim to your sins or to the sins of our society.
Romans chapter eight tells us that we are more than conquerors.
In Christ Jesus, we follow the God who shut the
(12:58):
mouths of lions and rose Christ from the pit of death.
Whatever sins you struggle with or trials you have faced,
can be conquered. Dare to be a Daniel and face
the struggle head on. Dare to stand boldly in the
lions den. Jesus has given you victory. Because Jesus rose
(13:18):
from the grave and shared his victory with you and me,
we are confident that Jesus is the greater Daniel. Join
us next time, where we explore the most unlikely hero
of all you. We'll learn about God's deep and abiding
love for you, and how your shortcomings allow God to
(13:39):
display his glory. Don't miss our final episode to discover
how Jesus is the greater you.
Host
Zak Shellabarger
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