Daniel was an important man in Babylon. King Darius was planning on setting Daniel over the whole kingdom because of his exceptional qualities. There were some high officials that were very jealous of Daniel, they wanted to be the person with the most power. They tried to catch Daniel doing something wrong. But Daniel did nothing wrong. They tried to find fault with the ways he served the King. But Daniel was loyal and trustworthy, and they could find no corruption in him.

Finally these men said: "We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God" So they came up with a tricky idea. These officials went to the King to request that he make it a "Law forbidding anyone to pray to any god or man except the king for thirty days." If anyone was found not obeying the law they would be thrown in the lion's den. The king thought this was a good idea, and signed the decree which could not be altered. King Darius did not realize that these officials were tricking the king against Daniel.

The new law was written and proclaimed throughout the land. Daniel was not even troubled when he heard of the new law. He didn't do anything different. He went to his room at his window facing Jerusalem, and got down on his knees to pray to his God as he always did three times a day.

The jealous officials went to the King. They reminded him of his law and they told him that they saw Daniel praying at his window. King Darius realized that he had been tricked. He remembered that Daniel had always confessed that he loved his God and would always honor his God first. Whenever anyone told Daniel that he was very wise, he would give God the glory and credit for his wisdom.

All day long the King tried to find a way Daniel could be saved, but he couldn't change the law. So with great sadness he gave the order and sent his guards to get Daniel and bring him to the lions den.

The King met him there. "May Your God save you" said the King. Then a stone was placed over the mouth of the den, and the king marked the seal with his own signet ring, so that Daniel could not get out.