Does the lions’ den come to mind when you describe what you are going through at this time in your life? There are many ways to find yourself there: persecution, conflict, fear, loss or impending loss, suffering, isolation... we all have our own specific trial or tribulation. Whatever it is that puts you in the crucible of the lions’ den, you know when you’re in there and getting out of there is something beyond your own power or strength. So how do you live there? What hope do you have? Consider Daniel. You know the original lions’ den story so well that it doesn’t need to be printed here, but you can always find it in Daniel 6.

How did Daniel get there? At first glance, he was the victim of a conspiracy. At an age where most of us would be long since retired, Daniel was outperforming all the young administrators in the kingdom of Darius the Mede. In their jealousy, these bureaucrats searched for some fault in Daniel that they might bring a charge against him before the king. Finding nothing, they concluded that his only weakness might be in his faith – perhaps something in God’s Law conflicted with the law of the land. Unable to find an obvious conflict, they finally managed to create one by suggesting a new law to the king.

The proposed law: For thirty days no one in his kingdom could pray to any god or man, but only to King Darius. Could Darius actually hear and respond to the prayers of all his constituents? No, but it certainly would be an ego trip to be treated like a god for that month.

It was imperative to the bureaucrats that the king’s new law be decreed “in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed” (Daniel 6:8). Of course, Daniel ignored this law and continued in his worship practice of praying to God three times daily at his open window facing Jerusalem. Before reporting Daniel’s crime to Darius, the bureaucrats reminded the king of his law, and the king himself invoked the formula: “in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed” (6:12). When the king learned that the offender was Daniel and wavered in his enforcement of the law, the jealous conspirators were right there to remind him “that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed” (6:15).

The king felt bad. He’d been deceived. He genuinely liked Daniel. Why couldn’t he just change his mind, let Daniel off the hook and punish the deceivers? We begin to understand the unique nature of the law of the Medes and Persians.

In reality, Daniel wasn’t sent to the lions’ den by the king or by the conspirators. He was sent there by the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed. The law was the law, whether just or not. Daniel had in fact broken this law. The law must be satisfied.

The law of the Medes and Persians can teach us something about the Law of God. God’s Law is not capricious. It cannot be hijacked by humans with evil intent. Instead, it is perfect, because it is based on the character of God. It likewise cannot be changed, because it is based on the character of God, who does not change.

Daniel goes into the lions’ den and we have an imperfect picture of Jesus Christ being nailed to the cross. There are many similarities between the two accounts, and also some important differences.

Notice that Daniel and Jesus were both victims of conspiracies by the ruling class. Both were ultimately sentenced to death not because of the conspirators, but because of the demands of an unchangeable law. In both cases the one who pronounced judgment (Darius and Pilate) found no fault in the accused. Both Daniel and Christ were placed in tombs; at least it was intended to be Daniel’s tomb, as there would be nothing left of him by morning. In both cases a huge stone was rolled over the entrance to that tomb and it was then officially sealed. Very early in the morning, someone who cared about them hurried to their respective tombs – and discovered that they were alive!

Exiting that tomb alive was a miracle of God in either case. We marvel at Daniel’s preservation. But which miracle is greater – to survive a night with hungry lions or to actually die and then be restored to life?

Perhaps most significantly, for both Daniel and for Jesus Christ, the law that condemned was completely satisfied. Was Darius defying the law of the Medes and Persians when he pulled Daniel out of the den alive? No. The actual wording of the law said only that the violator must be thrown into the lion’s den. Daniel had served his sentence and had satisfied the law himself. Jesus, on the other hand, voluntarily identified himself with sinners, even in his baptism. The penalty for those who break God’s Law is death. Jesus took upon himself that full penalty due each of us, and by his suffering and death satisfied the Law completely, once and for all!

There are also differences worth noting between the experiences of Daniel and Jesus. Daniel was in fact guilty of breaking the law. He knew of the decree and willfully violated it. He was justly condemned. Jesus, however, never broke the Law, was unjustly condemned by human beings, yet he willingly became the condemned sinner in each of our places. Another difference is that Daniel’s story is only a figurative death and resurrection, whereas Jesus experienced the real thing.

Let’s shift perspectives now, and instead of a Daniel and Jesus comparison, consider Daniel and us. Daniel reminds us of ourselves, each one of us being the guilty person who stands condemned by an unchangeable Law. We deserve death, yet somehow, in God’s grace and providence, we are shown mercy – and amazingly, miraculously led out from the shadow of death into new life.

In Christ today, Daniel’s experience of deliverance from certain death can also be yours. “No wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God” (6:23).

How can this be? What is the mechanism? Theologians call it substitutionary atonement. On one hand, here is Jesus Christ, perfectly righteous Son of God. On the other hand, there are you and me, sinful in thought, word and deed, condemned by the Law, without hope. Then God makes a huge switch. He places all your sin on Jesus, and all Jesus’ righteousness on you. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). The sentence against sin is pronounced and carried out against Jesus, while you are forgiven. “By his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). The Law is satisfied by Christ – “It is finished” (John 19:30) – and you are given new life. Now God says of you what he said of Jesus, “This is my son (daughter), whom I love; with him (her) I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17).

I neglected to mention one difference between Daniel’s experience and yours. King Darius apparently loved Daniel, and tried everything he could think of in an effort to set Daniel free. But at sundown, the king gave up. There was a limit to Darius’ love; he would not take Daniel’s place in the lions’ den. But God loved you to the fullest degree. When the Law had to be satisfied, there was no limit to his love. He himself stepped into your place.

What does this mean for those who feel trapped in a lions’ den today? Your circumstances may not suddenly change. Yet there is hope. There is hope that the ultimate lions’ den experience of facing the just judgment of the perfect Law in your own tattered “righteousness” will never be yours – if you trust in Christ today.

For today, it means that the very same God, the one who placed no limit on his love for you and volunteered for that ultimate lions’ den experience as your substitute – this God will certainly not turn his back on you now. You are not abandoned. You are not alone, “because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?’” (Hebrews 13:5-6).

By Brent Juliot

Rev. Brent Juliot is Editor of Faith & Fellowship Magazine, teaches math at Hillcrest Lutheran Academy, and serves as senior pastor at Stavanger Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls, MN.