aniel in the ions en aniel 6:1-24 re you familiar with various superstitions, like lucky rabbits feet, throwing salt over one s shoulder for good luck, finding a four leaf clover? When people believe in these superstitions, what are they doing? What does the first commandment tell us about trust? oday s lesson is an example to us of an individual who trusted in od even when his life was in danger. rayer od imself is present: let us now adore im nd with awe appear before im. od is in is temple - all within keep silence, rostrate lie with deepest rev rence. im alone od we own, im our od and avior; raise is name forever. men he tory - aniel 6 t pleased arius to set over the kingdom of abylon one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom; {2} and over these, three governors, of whom aniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them, so that the king would suffer no loss. {3} hen this aniel 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. {4} o the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against aniel 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. {5} hen these men said, "We shall not find any charge against this aniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his od." {6} o these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: "King arius, live forever! {7} "ll 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, king, shall be cast into the den of lions. {8} "ow, king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the edes and ersians, which does not alter." {9} herefore King arius signed the written decree. {10} ow when aniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. nd in his od s and in ur ives ld estament aniel in ions en - evel 3 8/17/04
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 od, as was his custom since early days. {11} hen these men assembled and found aniel praying and making supplication before his od. {12} nd they went before the king, and spoke concerning the king's decree: "ave you not signed a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within thirty days, except you, king, shall be cast into the den of lions?" he king answered and said, "he thing is true, according to the law of the edes and ersians, which does not alter." {13} o they answered and said before the king, "hat aniel, who is one of the captives from Judah, does not show due regard for you, king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day." {14} nd the king, when he heard these words, was greatly displeased with himself, and set his heart on aniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him. {15} hen these men approached the king, and said to the king, "Know, king, that it is the law of the edes and ersians that no decree or statute which the king establishes may be changed." {16} o the king gave the command, and they brought aniel and cast him into the den of lions. ut the king spoke, saying to aniel, "our od, whom you serve continually, e will deliver you." {17} hen 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 aniel might not be changed. {18} ow the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no musicians were brought before him. lso his sleep went from him. {19} hen the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions. {20} nd when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to aniel. he king spoke, saying to aniel, "aniel, servant of the living od, has your od, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?" {21} hen aniel said to the king, " king, live forever! {22} "y od sent is angel and shut the lions' mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because was found innocent before im; and also, king, have done no wrong before you." {23} hen the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take aniel up out of the den. o aniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his od. {24} nd the king gave the command, and they brought those men who had accused aniel, 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. {25} hen King arius wrote: o all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: eace be multiplied to you. {26} make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the od of aniel. For e is the living od, nd steadfast forever; is kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, nd is dominion shall endure to the end. {27} e delivers and rescues, nd e works signs and wonders n heaven and on earth, Who has delivered aniel from the power of the lions. {28} o this aniel prospered in the reign of arius and in the reign of yrus the ersian. uter im - aniel obeyed od s will rather than men. ld estament 2 aniel in ions en - evel 3
ld estament 3 aniel in ions en - evel 3 What the tory ells s - hoose a word from the word box to fill in each blank with the correct answer. hen find the answers in the W below. 1. was the ruler in. 2. e chose governors and to help him rule. 3. was one of them chosen and he was a Jew. 4. Jealous rulers tricked the king to sign a ordering idol worship. 5. his did not stop aniel. e still times a day as od had commanded. 6. ecause of the law of the the king could not change the law. 7. aniel was thrown into the. 8. od sent an to keep him safe. nner im - We are to obey od rather than men. K V W K J K F X W J Q F
our urn - nswer the following questions together. 1. Why did aniel do well as a governor under King arius? What gifts had od given to aniel to fulfill his duty to the king? 2. What sinful feelings grew in the hearts of the other rulers because of the way the king treated aniel? 3. What did these sinful feelings lead them to do? 4. ow did aniel show that he trusted in od above all things? 5. ow did od show that e has all power to care for is children? What od s Word ells s - ead the following passage. hen write at least three sentences explaining how this passage relates to our lesson about aniel and our lives as hristians today. hen talk about times or possible situations in which we should disobey men in order to obey od. cts 5:29 - We ought to obey od rather than men. ld estament 4 aniel in ions en - evel 3
assages salm 50:15) all upon e in the day of trouble; will deliver you, and you shall glorify e. atthew 10:32-33 - herefore whoever confesses e before men, him will also confess before y Father who is in heaven. ut whoever denies e before men, him will also deny before y Father who is in heaven. ymn - #428 am trusting hee, ord Jesus, rusting only hee; rusting hee for full salvation, reat and free. am trusting hee for pardon; t hy feet bow, For hy grace and tender mercy rusting now. am trusting hee for cleansing n the crimson flood; rusting hee to make me holy y hy blood. am trusting hee to guide me; hou alone shalt lead, v ry day and hour supplying ll my need. am trusting hee for power; hine can never fail. Words which hou hyself shalt give me ust prevail. am trusting hee, ord Jesus; ever let me fall. am trusting hee forever nd for all. men. rayer ear eavenly Father, ou are the od who blessed and protected aniel, and ou have promised to bless and protect me too. elp me to trust in ou above all things and not to be afraid of anything that man can do to me. elp me to pray to ou at all times, because know that ou have promised to hear me. hank ou for sending our on, Jesus, to forgive my sin. men. ld estament 5 aniel in ions en - evel 3