Friday, December 21, 2012

Jesse Tree: The Story of Daniel in the Lion's Den



During the time of exile in Babylon, the Israelite Daniel served under King Darius.  When the king signed a law that any  person who prayed to anyone, divine or human, besides the king himself should be "thrown into a den of lions," Daniel continued to pray to God.  He was caught by men who were jealous of him and brought before the Babylonian king.  Now King Darius was distressed because he liked and respected Daniel, but the jealous men reminded him that no law the king had made could be changed, so Daniel was thrown into the lions' den.  The king spent the night fasting, and in the morning "the king got up and hurried to the den of lions."  Daniel was alive!  He said to King Darius, "My God sent an angel and shut the lions' mouths so that they would not hurt me."  The king freed Daniel and threw his accusers to the lions instead.  Then he wrote to all his people, advising them to "tremble and fear before the God of Daniel:  For this is the living God, enduring forever."


Daniel 6

Potential ornament for the Jesse Tree: a lion

1 comment:

  1. Today marks the end of our Old Testament readings; tomorrow we read about the Annunciation. There aren't enough days in Advent to tell all the stories, but maybe next year you might add a favorite that you missed (like Moses in the bullrushes, which I missed this year).

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