Daniel’s history is a remarkable one. He carried out his faith and principles against great opposition. He was condemned to death because he would not abate one jot of his allegiance to God even in the face of the king’s decree. It might, at this day, be called overrighteousness to go, as was his wont, three times a day and kneel before the open window for prayer while he knew that prying eyes were observing him and that his enemies were ready to accuse him of disloyalty to the king; but Daniel would allow no earthly power to come in between him and his God, even with the prospect of death in the den of lions. Although God did not prevent Daniel from being cast into a den of lions, an angel went in with him and closed their mouths, so that no harm befell him; and in the morning, when the king called him, he responded: “My God hath sent His angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before Him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.” He was a noble, steadfast servant of God. {5T 527.1}

Daniels beretning er bemærkelsesværdig. Han gennemførte sin tro og principper mod stor modstand. Han blev dømt til døden fordi han ikke vil fralægge en tøddel af sin troskab mod Gud også over for kongens dekret. Det kunne den gang kaldes overretfærdighed at gå, efter hans vane, tre gange om dagen op for det åbne vindue og knæle i bøn, skønt han vidste at udspionerende øjne lagde mærke til ham og at hans fjender var parat til at anklage ham for illoyalitet over for kongen; men Daniel ville ikke lade jordisk magt komme ind mellem ham og hans Gud, heller ikke med udsigt til død i løvekulen. Selvom Gud ikke forhindrede at Daniel blev kastet i løvekulen, så gik en engel dog med ham og lukkede deres munde, så at der ikke tilstødte ham nogen skade; og om morgnen da kongen kaldte på ham, svarede han: »Min Gud sendte sin engel og lukkede løvernes gab, så de ikke har gjort mig nogen men, fordi jeg er fundet skyldfri for hans åsyn og heller ikke har forbrudt mig imod dig, o konge!« Han var en ædel og standhaftig Guds tjener.