(dynamic orchestral music) (dramatic music) - Lions. They are considered ferocious predators and known as the king of the jungle. A very popular song goes like this, "In the jungle, the mighty
jungle, the lion sleeps tonight." But in actual fact, lions don't
live in the jungle at all; they live on grasslands and savanna. These majestic animals are
part of the big cat family. They are the second-largest
of the big cat family and live in groups called prides. The female lions hunt while the males patrol the territory
and protect the pride. Now, lions can run up to
speeds of 80 kilometres an hour when chasing their prey. They chase zebra, antelope, wildebeest and any other animals
that cross their paths when they are on the hunt. Lions need to eat about eight
kilogrammes of food every day, which means they spend a
lot of their waking time thinking about food. The splendid male lion can
weigh up to about 200 kilos and is nearly three metres in length, and they are the only
big cats with a mane. The female lion is smaller
and weighs about 130 kilos. (lion roaring) One of the greatest sounds
of the African night is the lion's roar. Now, a roar is a sign of dominance and a signal of the
lion's power and strength. So, the louder the roar, the better. In fact, a lion's roar can be heard up to eight kilometres away. Lions use their impressive
roar to warn rivals and to instil fear into all who hear it. (lion growling) Lions used to roam all
over the Middle East, and one thing is for sure: you wouldn't want to get
too close to a hungry lion. But that was the fate of an elderly man who lived in Babylon 2,600 years ago. In fact, he found himself
in a den of hungry lions ... and survived. (lion roaring) How did he do it? How did he survive the lions' den? What's the secret of
his bravery and courage? Well, today we're going
to take a close look at this old lion tamer, Daniel, and discover his secret of inner strength, that will provide us with the key to surviving the
challenges of modern life, and more importantly, the end-time. His amazing story will
inspire and encourage you. (dramatic choral music) It's one thing to hear the roar of danger off in the distance or far in the future. It's one thing to make promises to God in a safe and calm here and now. But what if that roar suddenly erupted in your face right now? What if your faith was tested
by the fiery gaze of a lion? Would you be able to stay committed? Well, I'd like to tell
you about a man who stood very much alone in a time
of widespread corruption, a man who was tested by the
roar of danger up close. His career took him to the courts of the Medo-Persian Empire
during the reign of King Darius. The man, Daniel, was considered
by many to be a prophet. (moving music) Our story begins with the destruction of the sacred city of Jerusalem during a series of fierce battles that started in 605 BC,
just over 2,600 years ago. The greatest empire of the
ancient world, Babylon, attacked and plundered
the nation of Judah, looting the temple and carrying off many of the sacred golden vessels. Daniel was captured, and with the cream of the city's youth, he was carried off to
Babylon as a war hostage. By a remarkable turn of events, he eventually rose to a position of trust under King Nebuchadnezzar. His unique character is demonstrated by this remarkable fact:
Daniel survived the fall of one empire and its
replacement by another. He served both the Babylonian king and the Persian monarch who conquered him. Not many people are valued enough to make that kind of transition. In the kingdom of
Medo-Persia, Daniel became what we would call the
first vice president. The book of Daniel records
this remarkable story, Notice what it says in chapter
six, verses one to three. "It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps, "to rule throughout the kingdom, "with three administrators over them, "one of whom was Daniel. "The princes were made accountable to them "so that the king might not suffer loss. "Now Daniel so distinguished himself "among the administrators and princes "or satraps by his exceptional qualities "that the king planned to set
him over the whole kingdom." Notice that Darius made
his 120 bureaucrats accountable to the three administrators so that he might not suffer loss. Bribery, extortion and
fraud were as much a problem in the ancient world as they are now. Many of the officials who had managed to occupy positions of
influence were interested only in furthering their own careers. They tended to pocket a good portion of whatever tax money
passed through their hands. And they often enriched
themselves at the expense of the king by keeping
false financial records. Daniel's responsibility was to see that the books were kept honestly. He was supposed to deal with
corruption in the court. And apparently, he did a very good job, because he distinguished
himself by his integrity. And so, Darius wanted to entrust the whole kingdom into Daniel's hands. Daniel was on his way to becoming the second most powerful man
in the Medo-Persian Empire. But not everybody was pleased with this. Some very much wanted
to keep the status-quo. They wanted to keep enriching themselves with government funds. And this strange Hebrew,
who didn't fit in, the man always intent on
straightening things out, he was now going to be elevated
to a position over them. They just couldn't let that happen. They couldn't handle it. So, they huddled together
in a quiet palace passageway and they planned a strategy. How could they move
Daniel out of the picture? Darius trusted him implicitly. So they thought, "Why not
find grounds for charges "against him in his handling
of the government affairs?" These officials set about to dig for dirt. And they dug long and hard,
but they came up empty. Not even a hint of corruption. Not even a trace of negligence. Daniel was not the kind of man who wears his religion like
a cloak that he can take off when circumstances seem to require it. Daniel's faith went to the bone. But that was it; somebody
finally realised how to get him. His faith. The Bible tells us what
these men concluded. Notice Daniel chapter six and verse five: "We will never find any basis for charges "against this man Daniel
unless it has something "to do with the law of his God." Daniel could not be bought off;
he could not be blackmailed. There was only one way to get rid of him, and that was to enact a
law that would put Daniel in the position of disobeying his God. Now, the book of Daniel not
only gives us prophecies regarding the future, the end-time; it also shows us how to
survive the final crisis. You know, it's interesting
to note that Daniel's enemies decided to attack him
through the law of his God. Specifically, in this case,
they decided to test him regarding the commandment to
worship God and God alone. So, one day, the conspirators
arrived at the palace and presented King Darius with
a very flattering proposal. We read about it again in
Daniel, the sixth chapter, this time in verses six and seven: "O Darius, live forever. "The royal administrators,
prefects, satraps, "advisers and governors have all agreed "that the king should issue an edict "and enforce the decree
that anyone who prays "to any god or man during the
next 30 days, except to you, "O king, should be thrown
into the lions' den." These men suggested a
sort of King Darius month, a 30-day period in which everyone would honour the monarch exclusively. Naturally, Darius took
a liking to the idea. Such spontaneous devotion
from his chief administrators. That was nice to hear
after all his problems with their dishonesty. So, he signed the decree
into law, an irrevocable, unchangeable decree that
carried the death penalty. The trap was set. Sooner or later Daniel
was bound to fall into it. They would catch him
worshipping his own God during the next 30 days
and bring the king's decree down on his own head. Now, think about that for a moment. What if the simple act of prayer was made a criminal offence? It might seem a simple, easy act to worship the God of heaven and earth in the privacy of your own home. But what if prayer were
made a criminal offence? What if to worship the true God meant staring into the
face of a hungry lion? That sort of changes
the picture doesn't it? What faith. What courage. What commitment to God. This man's response to the threat is recorded in Daniel,
chapter six and verse 10: "Now when Daniel learned that
the decree had been published, "he went home to his upstairs room "where his windows were
opened toward Jerusalem. "Three times a day he got
down on his knees and prayed, "giving thanks to his God,
just as he had done before." What a remarkable act of devotion. Daniel could have tried
to hide his religion. He could have tried to
go along with the decree. Surely God would understand
if he took a break from his worship routine. After all, he'd been so faithful before. But now, he prayed toward Jerusalem, by the window, just as he had done before. There's a beautiful testament
of courage in that simple act. Decree or no decree,
Daniel was going to give his ultimate allegiance to
the God of heaven and earth. (emotional music) There's something else that impresses me about Daniel's prayer. He wasn't in a panic, begging God to give him a way out of the dilemma. He wasn't a desperate man;
it wasn't a desperate prayer. It was a prayer of thanksgiving. That's what it says, Daniel was giving thanks to his
God, as was his custom. This tells me something
about this man's religion. It shows me why it stood the
test of time during a crisis. Daniel treasured his
relationship with his Lord. To him that was most important, the most important thing
in his life, in fact. He was thankful for the privilege of communicating with the Almighty. That was worth any price. A religion of convenience
isn't going to make it when we find ourselves in
a real pressure situation. Nor is it going to make it when things really get
tough now or in the future. Religion as a once-a-week
supplement to our lives just isn't going to make it. Only a relationship with God, a God that we value above
all else is going to stand. Like Daniel, the great reformer John Hus based his life on obedience to his Lord. When Hus was condemned to the
be burnt alive at the stake, he had to undergo what was called the ceremony of degradation. Church dignitaries at the
scene publicly stripped away his identity as a priest
and as a Christian. First, the cup of communion
was taken from his hands, and the dignitaries denounced Hus. He responded by saying, "I hope to drink "from the cup in the kingdom of God." Next, the officials removed
his garments one by one, pronouncing in each instance
the appropriate curse. Hus replied that he was quite willing to suffer shame for the name of the Lord. Finally, a tall, paper crown
was placed on his head. It pictured three devils
fighting for the possession of his soul, and read,
"This is an arch-heretic." The bishops intoned a final curse: "We commit your soul to the devil." John Hus calmly replied, "And I commit it "to the most merciful Lord, Jesus Christ." What this courageous
man expressed was this: "You can take everything away from me, "you can degrade me publicly, "but you can't take away the
most precious thing in my life, "my relationship with
the Lord Jesus Christ." And that's the kind of
testimony that Daniel made, even under the threat of
certain death in the lions' den. He still treasured
communicating with his Lord. He would not betray that relationship. Well, needless to say, his
enemies spotted him praying and rushed into court
with the news that someone was not celebrating King
Darius month properly. When he learned who it
was, the king was dismayed. He realised he'd been tricked
into signing the death warrant of the one man in his empire
who he trusted completely. But his hands were tied; the
law could not be revoked. Let's read what happened in Daniel, chapter six, verses 16 and 17: "They brought Daniel and
threw him into the lions' den. "The king said to Daniel, 'May your God, "'whom you serve continually, rescue you!' "A stone was brought and placed
over the mouth of the den." Now, let me ask you, how would you feel if you were thrown to
the lions' den and told, "I hope your God may rescue you somehow." That might not be much
comfort to any of us. Well, the grate was closed and the stone was lowered into place overhead, sealing Daniel in with
those hungry beasts, and appeared to seal his fate. (lion growling) Not many would expect to survive
a night in a den of lions. And there'd be absolutely no chance of spending a restful night in there. But here's the fascinating thing: King Darius was the one who tossed and turned all night in his palace. He lost his appetite
and couldn't eat a bite. He dismissed his attendant. Darius was filled with guilt and anguish over what had happened. He was genuinely concerned for Daniel and had a great affection
and respect for him. He couldn't sleep at all that night. Now, Darius already knew of Daniel's God, and he had some inkling that He could intervene
on Daniel's behalf. So at the crack of dawn,
he called his attendants and they rushed to the lions' den. King Darius was stressed and impatient. He impatiently told the guards to hurry up and open
the entrance to the den. He'd had a dreadful night
and now he was desperate to know what had happened to Daniel. He called out to Daniel, wondering if there would be any response. Daniel had just had a nice, quiet evening in the company of the lions. He probably fell fast asleep with his head against
one of those big cats. How did he do that? How did he remain calm and
relaxed in the lions' den? Well, that's what King
Darius wanted to know as he helped his friend
out of the lions' den and gratefully embraced him. How did he survive? (dramatic music) Well, first of all, because
he had his mind fixed on God, the God who can give us peace in the midst of terrible circumstances. And most importantly,
as Daniel told Darius: "My God sent His angel, and
he shut the lions' mouths." Daniel believed in a God who's sovereign over all, sovereign over history. He could turn the captivity
of Israel into a blessing. Sovereign over individual lives. He had saved Daniel's three
friends from the fiery furnace and used him as his
witness in a heathen land. Sovereign over every situation. God could tame the lions
in the darkness of the den. Remember, the angel who came
down to shut the lions' mouths was coming from the
Creator, the One who made these magnificent creatures
in the first place. He was their Master. With the Creator's authority, that angel could have made the lions
to do just about anything. God took care of His
man in a time of crisis. And we have a promise of
the same kind of protection. Listen to what it says here in Psalm 91. "Whoever dwells in the
shelter of the Most High "will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. "I will say of the Lord, 'He
is my refuge and my fortress, "'my God, in whom I trust.'" "If you say, 'The Lord is my refuge,' "and you make the Most High your dwelling, "no harm will overtake you, "no disaster will come near your tent. "For he will command his
angels concerning you "to guard you in all your ways; "they will lift you up in their hands." "Because he loves me," says
the Lord, "I will rescue him; "I will protect him, for
he acknowledges my name. "He will call on me,
and I will answer him; "I will be with him in trouble, "I will deliver him and honour him. "With long life I will satisfy him "and show him my salvation." Isn't that reassuring? God promises us the
same kind of protection that He provided for Daniel. (emotional music) One cold winter day toward
the end of World War II, an elderly woman walked out of what seemed even worse than a lions' den. She was leaving the
Ravensbruck concentration camp where countless human beings had been systematically
starved and worked to death. As the heavy gates closed behind her, Corrie ten Boom could hardly believe that she was alive and free. Corrie had been arrested by the Nazis for hiding Jews in her home in Holland. She and her family believed in a God who gives refuge to all, and they committed themselves
to this dangerous work. This quiet matron in
her 50s had not imagined she could survive the
horrors of a labour camp. But God had sustained
her during the ordeal. Corrie saw many women
brutalised at Ravensbruck. Many perished, including
her dear sister, Betsy. But many of those women
died with the name of Jesus on their lips because of the
witness of these two sisters. "And those women," Corrie wrote, "were well worth all of our suffering." Finally, as a result of what turned out to be a clerical error,
Corrie was released. One week later, can you imagine it, a week after her release, all the women her age at
Ravensbruck were gassed. As she walked out of this lions' den, this place of unspeakable suffering, Corrie had learned something invaluable. This is the testimony she
would give, all over the world: "There is no place on
earth so dark, so deep, "that God's love is not deeper still." Yes, Daniel discovered that
God's love is deep enough to penetrate that stone
sealing the lions' den. He found his God to be a
very present help in trouble, because Daniel had always been
very present with his Lord. You might be dealing with your own personal den of lions right now. Just remember that the same Lord who delivered Daniel
will deliver you, too. Daniel had confidence in God
in the midst of the lions' den, and that same God can shut the mouths of the problems called
lions in your own life. If you'd like God to do for you, why not ask Him right now as we pray? Dear Heavenly Father,
thank you for giving us the example of Daniel in the Lions' Den. Thank you for your promise to stand by us as we face the challenges of life. We want to trust you
more completely today. Our aim is to please you and
always stand true for You, just like Daniel. Accept our commitment now in the name of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen. (uplifting music) The story of Daniel in the Lions' Den has encouraged and inspired
people all over the world. It's a story about courage and bravery, but most of all, about true faithfulness, about faith in God through all things. Sometimes we can feel our faith wavering when we seem overwhelmed
with the challenges of life and feel as if we're right
in the lions' den ourselves. But if you're looking for
ways to strengthen your faith, live a better life, and find
inner peace and true happiness, if you'd like to get closer to God, then I'd like to recommend
the free gift we have for all our viewers today. It's the Bible reading guide
entitled About Your Future. This guide is our gift to
you and is absolutely free. I guarantee there are no costs
or obligations whatsoever. So, make the most of this
wonderful opportunity to receive the gift we have for you today. Here's the information you need. - [Announcer] Phone or text us
at 0436 333 555 in Australia, or 0202 422 2042 in New Zealand, or visit our website, TIJ.tv,
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totally free of charge and with no obligation. Write to us at GPO Box 274, Sydney, New South Wales 2001, Australia, or PO Box 76673, Manakau,
Auckland 2241, New Zealand. Don't delay; call or text us now. - If you've enjoyed today's
journey to ancient Babylon and our reflections on the life of Daniel and his experience in the lions' den, then be sure to join us again next week when we will share another
of life's journeys together. Until then, remember
the ultimate destination of life's journey. "Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth. "And God will wipe away
every tear from their eyes; "there shall be no more
death, nor sorrow, nor crying. "There shall be no more pain, "for the former things have passed away." (joyful music)
