Unshakeable Sheep
Unshakeable Sheep Living Lion-Proofed
We all have lions in our lives—moments when fear surrounds us, when pressure backs us into a corner, and when our faith is tested. Daniel faced real lions. But what got him through wasn’t luck, politics, or power—it was his unshakeable relationship with God.
No matter what den you find yourself in today, you can walk through it Lion-Proofed when Jesus is Lord of your life.
The same God who rescued Daniel is still rescuing today. He shut the mouths of lions for Daniel—and He shut the mouth of sin and death at the cross through Jesus Christ.
The Backstory
Before Daniel ever entered the lions’ den, he had already proven faithful. In Daniel 5, he interpreted the handwriting on the wall for King Belshazzar—a king who refused to humble himself before God and despised the God his father Nebuchadnezzar had learned to revere. Because of Belshazzar’s pride, God allowed his kingdom to fall:
Darius, the new king, was no fool. At sixty-two years old, he had seen a lot—and he could see that Daniel was wise, strong, and faithful. This was one of the rare times Daniel wasn’t at the bottom looking up—he had the king’s respect.
Key Verse:
Daniel 6:10
10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.
No matter what den you find yourself in today, you can walk through it Lion-Proofed when Jesus is Lord of your life.
The same God who rescued Daniel is still rescuing today. He shut the mouths of lions for Daniel—and He shut the mouth of sin and death at the cross through Jesus Christ.
The Backstory
Before Daniel ever entered the lions’ den, he had already proven faithful. In Daniel 5, he interpreted the handwriting on the wall for King Belshazzar—a king who refused to humble himself before God and despised the God his father Nebuchadnezzar had learned to revere. Because of Belshazzar’s pride, God allowed his kingdom to fall:
Daniel 5:30–31
30 That very night Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans, was slain. 31 And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.
Darius, the new king, was no fool. At sixty-two years old, he had seen a lot—and he could see that Daniel was wise, strong, and faithful. This was one of the rare times Daniel wasn’t at the bottom looking up—he had the king’s respect.
Key Verse:
Daniel 6:10
10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.
Daniel 6:1-28
1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom; 2 and over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them, so that the king would suffer no loss. 3 Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm.
4 So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him. 5 Then these men said, “We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.” 6 So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: “King Darius, live forever! 7 All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions.
8 Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.” 9 Therefore King Darius signed the written decree.
10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.
11 Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. 12 And they went before the king, and spoke concerning the king’s decree: “Have you not signed a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?”
The king answered and said, “The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.”
13 So they answered and said before the king, “That Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah, does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.”
14 And the king, when he heard these words, was greatly displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him. 15 Then these men approached the king, and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is the law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statute which the king establishes may be changed.”
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.
1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom; 2 and over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them, so that the king would suffer no loss. 3 Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm.
4 So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him. 5 Then these men said, “We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.” 6 So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: “King Darius, live forever! 7 All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions.
8 Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.” 9 Therefore King Darius signed the written decree.
10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.
11 Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. 12 And they went before the king, and spoke concerning the king’s decree: “Have you not signed a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?”
The king answered and said, “The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.”
13 So they answered and said before the king, “That Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah, does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.”
14 And the king, when he heard these words, was greatly displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him. 15 Then these men approached the king, and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is the law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statute which the king establishes may be changed.”
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.
Big Idea: A lion-infested world demands sheep who know how to survive. God gives us those survival skills—and when we apply them and give Him praise, He shuts the lions’ mouths every time.
Sheep know they have adversaries. From where will your attack come?
1. Know the Adversary is Coming
Daniel knew exactly what was happening around him—the hatred, the scheming. He wasn’t surprised. Neither should we be.
Don’t be caught off guard. It’s coming. Get ready.
Christians never say, “Why me?” but rather, “Why not me?”
1 Peter 5:8
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
Don’t be caught off guard. It’s coming. Get ready.
Christians never say, “Why me?” but rather, “Why not me?”
2. Know to PRAY!
When Daniel heard about the decree, he didn’t panic. He didn’t compromise. He prayed.
Daniel’s life was marked by prayer:
How did Daniel endure? He stuck with what had always worked—prayer.
Even Jesus prayed as the Son of God—because prayer prepares us for battle.
Prayer should be a lifestyle.
Daniel 6:10
...He knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.
Daniel’s life was marked by prayer:
- Daniel 1:8 – He purposed in his heart not to defile himself.
- Daniel 2:18 – He sought God’s mercy.
- Daniel 3:18 – He prayed for his friends in the fiery furnace.
- Daniel 5:11 – He was known as a man in whom was the Spirit of God.
How did Daniel endure? He stuck with what had always worked—prayer.
2 Chronicles 7:14 – Seek God.
James 5:16 – Repent and pray for one another.
Philippians 4:6 – Be steady in prayer, not anxious.
Even Jesus prayed as the Son of God—because prayer prepares us for battle.
Prayer should be a lifestyle.
3. Know to Let God be God.
Notice who was falling apart: not Daniel!
God has not given us a spirit of fear. While the king worried, Daniel trusted. He didn’t broadcast his trial on social media or run around shouting that the sky was falling. He rested in God.
To live is Christ, to die is gain.
I am who I am because the I AM tells me who I am!
We read in Daniel 6:18-22 that the king spent the night fasting, sleepless, and distressed. But Daniel was calm—probably using a lion for a pillow!
God has not given us a spirit of fear. While the king worried, Daniel trusted. He didn’t broadcast his trial on social media or run around shouting that the sky was falling. He rested in God.
To live is Christ, to die is gain.
I am who I am because the I AM tells me who I am!
4. Know to Advance the Gospel
Daniel’s lions’ den became God’s glory!
Notice: the king didn’t say “Daniel and his God.” He said “the God of Daniel.” God used Daniel’s trial to bring glory to Himself.
God allows the lions in our lives with purpose—to bring Him glory.
God will turn your test into a testimony that gives Him praise.
Daniel 6:26
I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel.
Notice: the king didn’t say “Daniel and his God.” He said “the God of Daniel.” God used Daniel’s trial to bring glory to Himself.
God allows the lions in our lives with purpose—to bring Him glory.
Philippians 1:12–14
The things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel… My chains are in Christ.
God will turn your test into a testimony that gives Him praise.
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