Bible Memory Verse:
Memory Verse:
“Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; protect me from men of violence who plan to trip my feet.” Psalm 140:4
"My God send his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions…" Daniel 6:22
CHARACTERS: NARRATOR, KING DARIUS, DANIEL, WISE MEN, GUARDS, LIONS
PROPS: crown & throne/chair for King Darius, what looks like large, flat stone, writing paper
(Narrator is at the side of stage, King Darius is on throne near one end of stage, Administrators are in center state, Daniel is near Administrators on other end from King Darius.)
NARRATOR: The Medes and the Persians had conquered the Babylonians who ruled the country where Daniel lived. The handwriting on the wall had appeared the very night they were conquered. Now Darius the Mede was the king over the kingdom where Daniel lived.
It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule the kingdom, with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct in government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him because he was neither, corrupt or negligent.
ADMINSTRATORS: We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.
(Administrators go to King Darius)
ADMINSTRATORS: O King Darius, live forever! The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisors and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the degree that anyone who prays to any god or man during the next thirty days, except to you, O king; shall be thrown into the lion’s den. Now, O king, issue the decree and put it in writing, so that it cannot be altered–in accordance with the laws of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be repealed.”
(While Narrator is speaking the following, Darius signs a paper, the Administrator go to center stage, Daniel goes to other end of stage & bows down to pray doing this until King Darius calls him. After seeing Daniel praying the Administrators go the King Darius.)
NARRATOR: So Darius put the law in writing. Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to God, just as he had done before. When these men found Daniel praying they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree.
ADMINISTRATORS: (to King Darius) Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or man except to you, O king, will be thrown into the lion’s den?
KING DARIUS: The decree stands, in accordance with the laws of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be repealed.
ADMINISTRATORS: Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.
(While the Narrator is speaking the following, the Administrators leave, King Darius acts distressed & pretends to talk to those around him to make every effort to rescue Daniel. The Administrators return.)
NARRATOR: When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him. At sundown the men went as a group to the King Darius.
ADMINISTRATORS: Remember, O king, that according to the law of the Medes and the Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.
(While the Narrator is speaking the following, the Guards get Daniel & bring him to King Darius. After King Darius speaks to him, Daniel, King Darius the Guards & the Administrators go to center stage.)
NARRATOR: So, the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lion’s den.
KING DARIUS: May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!
(While the Narrator is speaking the following, a stone is brought to place over the den, & the king pretends to seal it with his ring. The Guards pretend to throw Daniel in the lion’s den. Then the King goes back to his throne & folds his hands & tries to sleep but can’t. He looks up as if seeing the first light of dawn. He hurries over to where Daniel is.)
NARRATOR: A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of the nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating or without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep. At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lion’s den.
KING DARIUS: (in anguished voice) Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?
DANIEL: O king, live forever! My God sent His angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king.
KING DARIUS: (overjoyed) Take Daniel out of the lion’s den!
(Guard take Daniel out of the Lion’s den. While Narrator is speaking the following
all pretend to look at Daniel & see no wound on him. King Darius points at the Administrators and pretends to command them to be thrown to the lions. The Guards thrown them in and they fall down dead.)
NARRATOR: No wound was found on Daniel, because he had trusted in his God. At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in & thrown into the lion’s den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed their bones. Then King Darius wrote to all the nations, peoples and men of every language throughout the land:
KING DARIUS: (pretending to write) May you prosper greatly! I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.”
NARRATOR: So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.