Hello! I'm Lucas, and I'm a Lion, a very brave and strong lion. We all are in our family. Shall I tell you something wonderful which happened to me and my brothers?
We were bought by a King called Darius, and we lived very happily in the Palace grounds. Then one day we heard that the King was worried and upset. We used to hear all the Palace news from a pigeon who sat on the window ledges of the Palace waiting for crumbs. He always heard everything, and then he would fly around telling the rest of us all that was going on.
Well, this day Peter Pigeon told us how upset the King was, so, of course we asked him 'Why?'
'You know Daniel, don't you?' he asked.
'What a silly question to ask' we roared. 'Of course we know Daniel - who doesn't know of the cleverest man in the kingdom!'
'All right. All right, no need to get annoyed' he said ruffling his feathers. 'I only asked.'
'Do get on with your story' my brother growled.
'Well, Daniel is in trouble' Peter said quickly, knowing my brother has a rather bad temper! 'He did something he shouldn't have done.'
'What?' I asked, as Peter just sat there, his bright eyes looking from one of us to the other.
'He prayed to God - I saw him - three times every day.'
'Well that is good' we said. 'It's a good thing to talk to our Creator, we always do.'
'Yes, but he was told not to' Peter said.
We shook our manes in astonishment.
'Who would do such a thing?' we wanted to know.
'You know the men the King has appointed to look after different parts of his Kingdom?' Peter asked.
'Yes, we know them' we nodded.
'They are jealous of Daniel' Peter said. 'I know, I've heard them talking about him many times.'
'Those ears of yours will get you into trouble one day' someone growled behind me.
'Ha Ha' Peter laughed, his eyes twinkling. 'They would have to catch me first!'
'Peter, you were telling us some important news' I reminded him.
'Oh yes, well these governors have talked the King into making a Law - I know, I heard them' and he nodded his head up and down to show us how serious this was.
We waited.
'Peter' I again spoke. 'The Law, what is this Law?'
'Yes, this Law' he went on. 'It says that anyone who asks a favour from God or man for the next Thirty days - except from the King - would be ................' And then Peter said no more!
'Come on, come on, what would happen?' we asked.
'I think it's tea-time' he said, and off he flew!!!
We looked at each other.
'Someone must have a word with that young Peter' said one of my cousins. 'He is acting very strangely!'
We agreed.
'Perhaps he will come back after tea' I said hopefully.
'I can't imagine the King wanting to hurt Daniel, can you?' asked one of my brothers.
'No' we all said. 'He is very fond of Daniel.'
'Maybe that's why he is upset' I suggested. 'Because he doesn't want any harm to come to him.'
'And because he has signed this law' interrupted one of the others. 'It seems that Daniel has to be punished in some way.'
'That's dreadful' we said. 'No wonder the King is upset.'
'I wonder what the punishment is?' we asked ourselves.
We thought and thought, but had no idea what it could be.
'These Governors are a nasty bunch' my bad-tempered brother growled. 'I know what I would like to do to them' and he licked his lips!!
'Do you think Peter has finished his tea yet?' I asked hurriedly - trying to change the subject.
'I don't think he is coming back. He looked rather scared' said a cousin thoughtfully.
'Mm' we nodded.
'Then we will just have to wait and see - perhaps God will help him in a special way, just as He did when Daniel's three friends were put into the furnace' I said.
'Yes, I'm sure He will' they all said happily, as we ''membered how the three friends had come out of the fire with not even their clothes smelling of smoke.
The next day we woke early because something wonderful happened. God spoke to us!!
Yes, He woke us up and told us that Daniel was going to be thrown into our den.
'The Governors are hoping you will eat Daniel' God chuckled.
We were shocked! 'Eat Daniel' we roared. 'NEVER!'
'I knew you wouldn't' God said, 'But I shall send an Angel down so that Daniel can see that everything is going to be all right.'
And that is exactly what happened. Daniel was thrown into the den with us, and we had a lovely time together.
The next morning the King came to the den. We saw him looking over the side of the den asking if Daniel was safe.
'Has your God saved you from the lions?' he asked.
We all roared loudly telling the King how God had spoken to us, and that, of course, we wouldn't hurt Daniel - but he couldn't understand. He just looked down anxiously.
'Yes, your Majesty' Daniel called up to him. 'I'm perfectly safe, my God, the Living God, has looked after me' and he patted my head as I was standing right beside him.
The King was very happy. 'Lift Daniel out of the den' he ordered.
So the King was happy, Daniel was happy, and we were happy. Now isn't that a wonderful story?
Elizabeth Aynsley © 93/10/27
Daniel 6 vs. 1 - 23