但以理在獅子坑
但以理書六章16至28節
16王下令，人就把但以理帶來，扔在獅子坑中。王對但以理說：你所常事奉的神，他必救你。
17有人搬石頭放在坑口，王用自己的璽和大臣的印，封閉那坑，使懲辦但以理的事毫無更改。
18王回宮，終夜禁食，無人拿樂器到他面前，並且睡不著覺。
19次日黎明，王就起來，急忙往獅子坑那裡去。
20臨近坑邊，哀聲呼叫但以理，對但以理說：永生神的僕人但以理啊，你所常事奉的神能救你脫離獅子麼？
21但以理對王說：願王萬歲！
22我的神差遣使者，封住獅子的口，叫獅子不傷我；因我在神面前無辜，我在王面前也沒有行過虧損的事。
23王就甚喜樂，吩咐人將但以理從坑裡繫上來。於是但以理從坑裡被繫上來，身上毫無傷損，因為信靠他的神。
24王下令，人就把那些控告但以理的人，連他們的妻子兒女都帶來，扔在獅子坑中。他們還沒有到坑底，獅子就抓住（原文是勝了）他們，咬碎他們的骨頭。
25那時，大利烏王傳旨，曉諭住在全地各方、各國、各族的人說：願你們大享平安！
26現在我降旨曉諭我所統轄的全國人民，要在但以理的神面前，戰兢恐懼。因為他是永遠長存的活神，他的國永不敗壞；他的權柄永存無極！
27他護庇人，搭救人，在天上地下施行神蹟奇事，救了但以理脫離獅子的口。
28如此，這但以理，當大利烏王在位的時候和波斯王塞魯士在位的時候，大享亨通。
信息分享
我們可以想像但以理被押到獅子坑的情景嗎？王一定是一臉懊惱，看著但以理以充滿平安和信心的堅定腳步，慢慢地走往獅子坑。在但以理被扔進獅子坑前的一刻，王雖然沒有親口道歉，但歉疚之心溢於言表，而他更公開承認但以理的神和祂的大能（16節）。
大利烏王回宮之後，終夜難眠。可是，但以理卻在獅子坑中舒舒服服地度過一宵。連獅子也似乎只能安然入睡，牠們不能如常在牠們的巢中任意而行；神和祂的僕人但以理纔是真正掌權者，牠們根本無法傷害他。
但以理究竟有甚麼方法來馴服獅子呢？但以理清楚表示：「我的神差遣使者，封住獅子的口，叫獅子不傷我。」（22節）
大利烏王提出了一個十分發人深省的問題。我們今天的朋友和鄰舍，可能也經常問同一個問題，那就是：「你所服事和禱告的神，能否真正滿足你的需要，和拯救你脫離生命中的危難呢？」我們應該像但以理一樣，作出堅定而響亮的回答：「祂當然能！」
當我們面對人生中的嚴峻考驗時，我們該怎樣做呢？我們要憑著信心，默然將自己交在神的手中，相信這位信實的神必為我們開一條最好的出路。
有些時候，神會以某種方法來拯救我們脫險；但有些時候，祂或許未必如我們所期望的那樣拯救我們。神那至高無上的旨意，有時跟我們的計劃和心願有很大距離。然而，祂卻清楚知道甚麼是最好的；祂將會以祂的方式一直拖帶著我們經過，以致讓祂得著最大的榮耀。祂是全知的神，我們只管信靠祂。
DANIEL IN THE LION'S DEN
Daniel 6:16~28
16 So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.”
17 Then 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 Daniel might not be changed.
18 Now the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no musicians were brought before him. Also his sleep went from him.
19 Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions.
20 And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?”
21 Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever!
22 My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.”
23 Now the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God.
24 And the king gave the command, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel, 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 Then King Darius wrote:
To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth:
Peace be multiplied to you.
26 I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel.
For He is the living God,
And steadfast forever;
His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed,
And His dominion shall endure to the end.
27 He delivers and rescues,
And He works signs and wonders
In heaven and on earth,
Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.
28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
Message
Can we imagine that walk to the lion's den? The king in anguish, walked slowly with Daniel who was cool, confident and full of faith. As Daniel was thrown into the pit, Darius almost apologized. He certainly gave a remarkable acknowledgement of Daniel's God and His power (v.16).
Then Darius went home but could not sleep. Daniel spent a comfortable night on the den floor. The lions apparently slept well too. They were not in control of their own den as they usually were. God and Daniel were in control and the lions were unable to touch their intended victim.
What was the secret of their inaction? Daniel said it (v.22), "My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me."
Darius asked a remarkable question. It is often repeated today. It may be asked silently by our neighbours and friends. "Is the God you serve, the God you pray to, adequate to meet the needs and the crises of your life?" Our answer should be as strong and clear as Daniel's. "Yes, He certainly is!"
What can we do when severe tests come to us? Quietly in faith we must commit ourselves and the outcome of the test to our faithful God who knows best and leave it all with Him.
God may deliver us in one way or another, but sometimes he may not. His sovereign will is sometimes very different from what we plan or desire. But He knows best and He will carry us through our situation in a way that will bring the greatest glory to Him. Trust Him. He knows what He is doing.