There were many Israelite exiles in Babylon.
The king of Babylon wanted some of them to work in his palace.

The king told his officials to select 4 young men
and train them in local customs and culture.

The 4 selected were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.
God blessed these 4 with great wisdom.
God also blessed Daniel with the gift of understanding dreams.

When the 4 began work for the king,
they were much wiser than all the local officials.

Lord, please give us the gift of wisdom,
as you gave it to Daniel and his friends

The king of Babylon had a dream
which none of his wise men could interpret.

God enabled Daniel to understand the dream.
The king then promoted Daniel and his friends to important jobs.

Some time after this, the king built a golden statue
and everyone was commanded to adore it.

The Jewish exiles, including Daniel and his friends,
refused to adore the statue.

Daniel and his friends were condemned to be burnt to death
in a big furnace.

But God protected the four young  men
and they walked around unhurt in the flames.

They praised God for his wonderful protection
and called on all creatures to adore the one true God.

When the king saw this miracle take place
he cancelled the law for Jews to be killed.

Give thanks to the Lord for he is good.
 Let everyone praise the Lord for his love is everlasting

Some of the king's officials were jealous of Daniel,
so they had him arrested on a false charge and condemned to death.

One evening, Daniel was put into a cave of lions.
The mouth of the cave was sealed with a great stone.

In the cave Daniel prayed to God for help,
and God protected Daniel.

The next morning the stone was removed.
Daniel walked out unharmed.

The king then ordered Daniel's accusers to be put into the cave.
The lions immediately ate them.

Thank you, Lord, for protecting Daniel.
Thank you, Lord, for so often protecting me

Once when Daniel was asleep, he had a vision of heaven:

"Thrones were put in place
and one of great age took his seat.

His robe was white as snow,
his hair as pure as wool.

A thousand thousand waited on him,
ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.

Then coming on the clouds of heaven
was one like a son of man.

On him was conferred  glory and kingship,
and people of all nations became his servants.

His kingship is eternal.
His empire will never be destroyed."

Jesus, please help me understand that you are the "Son of Man"
 whose kingship is eternal

Daniel was given glimpses of the future,
the rise and fall of nations.

He also was given to understand what happens after this life:

"The dead will rise from the grave,
some to everlasting life,
some to everlasting shame.

Those who have instructed others in virtue,
will shine like stars for all eternity."

Lord, please help everyone get to Heaven

A beautiful woman named Susanna
was condemned to death on a false charge of immorality.

God stirred Daniel's heart to help Susanna.
Daniel confronted Susanna's two accusers, two elderly Jewish men.

Daniel had the two men separated.
He then asked them individually where the alleged crime took place.

One of them said "under a mastic tree."
The other said "under an oak tree."

The people then realized the men were lying.
The people praised God for giving such wisdom to Daniel.

Susanna was freed.
The two men were executed, as required by the Law.

Lord, please help people who have been falsely accused of crimes

70 priests and their families  used to eat the food each night,
having entered the temple by a secret door.

The king believed Bel ate the food.
Daniel told him that an idol cannot eat anything.

The 70 priests called for Daniel to be executed
if he could not prove the idol was not eating the food.

Daniel got his servants to spread ashes over the temple floor.
Next morning he showed the king the footprints in the ashes.

The king had the 70 priests and their families executed.
The king had Bel destroyed.

Lord, please help people turn away from lifeless idols
 and serve you, the Creator of the world