God Heard Daniel’s Prayer and
Shut the Mouths of Lions

Dear Father, please use this study to teach the children to pray faithfully.

Choose any of the learning activities that fit the children’s ages and current needs.

1. A teacher or older child reads or tells by memory about Daniel and the lions, Daniel 6.

God heard Daniel’s prayer and saved him from being eaten by hungry lions.

God kept Daniel safe in a den of lions.

Ask these questions: [Answers appear after each question.]

· Why were the king’s officials jealous of Daniel? [See verse 3]

· Why did the king’s officials want the king to make a new law about prayer? [verse 5]

· What did Daniel do when he heard about the king’s new law? [verse 10]

· What did the king do the night that Daniel was in the den of lions? [verse 18]

· How was Daniel saved from the lions? [verse 22]

· What new law did the king make after Daniel was saved from the lions? [verse 26]

2. Dramatize parts of the story of Daniel in the lions’ den, Daniel 6.

· Arrange for the children to present this drama during worship.

· Prepare the children well. Older children help younger ones prepare.

· Older children or adults play these parts:

Narrator         Summarize the story and help children recall what to say and do.

King.                Have a paper labeled in large letters, King’s Ruling. Daniel

Younger children play these parts:

Officials

Lions               Walk on hands and knees and growl.

Angel              Holds a cloth.

Narrator                 Tell the first part of the story, Daniel 6:1-10. Then say,
“Hear what the king’s officials say.”

Officials                  (One shouts) “The king makes Daniel more important than we officials!”
(Another says) “Let us get rid of him. Of what can we accuse him?”
(Another says) “But he does nothing wrong!”
(Another says) “So let’s get the king to rule against praying to Daniel’s God!”
(All shout) “Yes! Yes!”

King                         Hand the officials the paper, King’s Ruling.
“Alright. Here is the new law you want.
Everyone must pray only to me.”

Daniel                     Stand on a chair and pretend to open a window; bow and say,
“Dear God of my fathers, I will pray only to you and praise you every day.”

Narrator                 Tell the second part of the story from Daniel 6:11-18. Say,
“Hear what the king’s pagan officials say.”

Officials                  (Some say) “Oh, king, Daniel still prays to his God.”
(Others say) “You must throw him into the den of lions.”

King                         “Oh, no! I do not want to do that; Daniel is a good man.
However, my decree is the law and it cannot be broken. Alas!
Officials, throw Daniel into the lions’ den
and put a stone over the entrance.
Oh, I am so sad! I will not eat or sleep all night!”

Soldiers                  Gently throw Daniel to the lions.

Lions                        Growl loudly.

Narrator                 Tell the third part of story from Daniel 6:19-22. Say,
“Hear what the angel says.”

Angel                      Cover the mouth of a lion with the cloth. Say,
“Lions, do not hurt Daniel”.

Lions                        Walk around Daniel and then lie down and sleep.

King                         “Finally it is morning!”
(Walk to where the lions are.)
“Daniel, are you alive? Did your God save you?”

Daniel                     “Yes. God’s angel shut the mouths of the lions.”

Narrator                 Tell the fourth part of the story from Daniel 6:23-28. Say,
“Hear what the king says.”

King                         “I am so happy!
Guards! Go get those evil officials! Throw them to the lions!
Now, we shall all worship Daniel’s God.”

Soldiers                  Throw the officials down among the lions.

Lions                        Growl and attack the officials.

Narrator                 Thank all who helped with the drama to teach
the children to pray faithfully.

3. If the children present this drama for the adults then let them ask the adults the questions under #1 above, about Daniel and his prayer.

4. Ask the children:

“What are other times when we must pray faithfully?
(Let the children cite examples.)

5. Draw or show a picture of a lion, and let the children copy it.

They can show their pictures to the adults at the next worship time and explain that these illustrate how we should be faithful in prayer even if people hate us for it.

6.  Memorize 2 Thessalonians 3:2.

“We will be rescued from perverse and evil men; for not all have faith.”

7. Let three children each recite one of the verses from Psalm 57:4, 5 & 6.

8. Let an older child pray:

“Lord, you are powerful. You can shut the mouths of lions. We will always trust you. We will always pray to you, even when it is hard. Even if bad things happen to us, you will save us from eternal death. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

A drama showing how God saved Daniel’s faithful companions from a fiery furnace, 5 minutes:

http://biblestoryskits.com/008-god-rescues-daniel-and-his-friends-from-ruthless-pagan-tyrants-2/