Daniel in the lions’ den bible story for young children. You can read the story in Daniel 6.
Daniel in the Lions’ Den story idea
Daniel lived a long, long time ago. He loved God and often talked to God, we call that praying. He prayed to God three times every day. What do you think he said? The Bible tells us that he thanked God. He lived a long way from his home in a foreign country but he worked hard and he was always doing his best.
He worked for the King. (Say hello to king Darius). Now king Darius had lots of people who worked for him. But he knew that Daniel was the most hardworking and trustworthy person so he made Daniel the boss over all the other servants.
Well they weren’t happy about that at all! They were grumpy. They were jealous. ‘Why is Daniel the kings favourite and not us?’ they said.
Then they thought. ‘Let’s get daniel into trouble.’ But that was going to be difficult because Daniel worked hard and always did his best.
But these other servants were full of jealously and determination. ‘Let’s trick the king into making a law about praying to God. Then we will see what happens to Daniel!’
They went to the king and said, ‘ Oh most wonderful King make a new rule that everyone must only pray to you for a whole month or be thrown into the den with the lions’.
Well the king liked the sound of that. It made him feel important. So he made the new rule; and it couldn’t be changed.
So what was Daniel going to do? When Daniel heard about the new rule he didn’t start praying to King Darius. Oh no – why do that? He went home and he did what he had always done – he knelt down by his window and he prayed to God.
The jealous servants were so happy! We’ve got him ! Off they went to see the King. They told him all about Daniel breaking the new rule.
King Darius was sad. He spent all day trying to find a way to save Daniel from being thrown to the hungry lions. But he couldn’t think of anything. He couldn’t save Daniel.
When evening came Daniel was taken to the lions den. ‘I hope you God can save you,’ King Darius said.
King Darius went to his beautiful palace. But he didn’t eat. He didn’t listen to music. He couldn’t sleep.
As soon as morning came he hurried to the lions’ den. He called out , ‘Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God saved you?’ He waited. He listened. He heard something! It wasn’t the roar of a lion it was a voice..
‘Yes, he has saved me’, Daniel called back!
King Darius was a very powerful king but only The living God could save Daniel. The living God still saves people today!
Daniel in the Lions’ Den storytelling prop ideas
Choose some props to take out of the story bag as you tell the story. It’s great to have everyone say hello to the different characters as they come out of the bag. I had three props; Daniel, King Darius (made from a Cardboard tube – instructions here) and a lion (which is also a craft idea)
Daniel in the Lions’ Den craft idea
If you don’t have any paper plates there is another idea here (with a printable lion) that uses paper curls for the mane.
NOTE – my example has stick on eyes. Be careful with these. You can use stickers for eyes instead.
