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The Book of Daniel Introduction to the Letter

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The Book of Daniel Introduction to the Letter The Book of Daniel Introduction to the Letter I. Daniel a. His name means “God is my judge.” b. He was a man of deep and abiding faith his whole life: (1:8; 6:10) c. Daniel was blessed by God repeatedly because of his faith: (1:17; 6:22) d. Daniel was a contemporary of Ezekiel and Jeremiah. i. Jeremiah remained in Jerusalem. (626-586 BC) ii. Daniel lived in the capital city of Babylon. (605-534 BC) iii. Ezekiel was in Babylon with the Jewish exiles. (592-570 BC) II. Dates to Remember a. 612 - Babylon takes over as world power by defeating Assyria. b. 606 - Nebuchadnezzar storms Israel and take captives. (including Daniel) c. 597 - Nebuchadnezzar attacks again: 10,000 more are taken. (including Ezekiel) d. 586 - In this third attack the temple is destroyed. Many more taken. (not Jeremiah) e. 536 - Babylon falls to Persia and the first remnant of Jews return. (Ezra 1-6) i. 520 - A new foundation is laid for the temple in Jerusalem. ii. 516 - The temple project is completed in Jerusalem. f. 458 - A second remnant return with Ezra to bring spiritual reform. (Ezra 7-10) g. 445 - A third group return with Nehemiah to rebuild the Jerusalem wall. (Nehemiah) III. Outline of the Book a. (Chapters 1-6) - Historical Events i. Stories of Daniel’s days in Babylon as well as his three friends. ii. Spans 70 years of history (605-536 BC), as well as three Kings. 1. Nebuchadnezzar (Ch. 1-4) 2. Belshazzar (Ch. 5) 3. Darius the Mede (Ch. 6) iii. Daniel interprets 3 messages from God, but explanations are given. 1. The Dream (Ch. 2) 2. The Vision (Ch. 4) 3. The Writing on the Wall (Ch. 5) b. (Chapters 7-12) - Daniel’s Visions i. These chapters go back through the history to record visions Daniel had. 1. (7:1-14) - 4 Great Beasts. 2. (8:1-14) - A Ram and a Goat. 3. (9:21-27) - The 70 Weeks. 4. (10:5-6) - A Man in Linen. 5. (11:1-45) - Rise and Fall of Many Kings. 6. (12:5-13) – The Man in Linen Speaks. IV. Main Ideas in this Letter a. God is ruler over mankind, without exception! (2:21; 4:17, 25, 32, 34-35; 5:21) b. The Kingdom of God is greater than the kingdom of men. (2:44; 7:13-14, 27) c. In the generations to come, God’s Authority would never diminish. (12:9-13) 1 The Book of Daniel Chapter 1 I. Daniel and His Friends are Captured and Selected for Special Training - (1:1-7) a. Nebuchadnezzar took Israelites captive in 605 BC. And more in 597 and 586. b. He overtook the Jews by the power and intent of God. (2:21) c. God’s people didn’t give honor to the Lord, so when they were besieged, their articles of worship to God were taken from them. d. Daniel and his friends were selected from the captives because they were handsome, intelligent, and able to serve well. They were immersed in Chaldean culture. e. Notice the significance of their names by meaning: Daniel (God is my judge) - Belteshazzar (a servant of Bel) Hananiah (the Lord is gracious) - Shardrach (inspired by the sun god) Mishael (who is what God is) - Meshach (who is what the moon god is) Azariah (the Lord helps) - Abednago (servant of Nebo) II. Daniel refuses to defile himself – (1:8-16) a. You can change his name and environment but not his loyalty. i. Daniel was a very young man here, and his choice was set from the beginning. ii. Not sure why the meat was forbidden, but clearly he would have to sin to eat. b. God does not leave His faithful ones on their own (v.9). God helped him through this. c. This event appears to be a miracle from God. So they are allowed to continue. III. God rewards his faithful serVants – (1:17-21) a. They are blessed with great wisdom. Daniel is gifted to interpret dreams. b. In fact, they are 10 times wiser than any other wise men in the kingdom. c. For the entire length of Babylonian rule, God utilized and blessed Daniel. IV. Discussion Questions a. (1:8) – How exactly does one “make up his mind not to defile himself”? b. What are some examples today that are similar to “the king’s choice food?” c. (1:9,17) – If God is so pleased with Daniel, why is He subjecting him to this slavery? 2 The Book of Daniel Chapter 2 I. The dream and decree of Nebuchadnezzar – (2:1-16) a. (1-3) - The king has an unsettling dream and expects it has some great meaning. b. (4-9) - In his wisdom, he asks that the dream be told to him and then interpreted. c. (10) – The locals contend that such is an unreasonable request. d. (12-13) – The king is furious and gives order for all wise men to be killed! e. (14-16) – Daniel asks the king for a little time. II. Daniel leans on God for aid and giVes God the glory for all blessings (2:17-23) a. (v17-18) – Daniel and his friends request compassion from God. b. (v19) – God answers by revealing the mystery. c. (v20-23) – Praise and credit and majesty is given to God. III. Daniel praises God before Nebuchadnezzar (2:24-30) a. (28) - “There is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries…” b. (30) – Daniel takes absolutely no personal credit. IV. The reVelation and interpretation of the king’s dream (2:31-49) a. (31-35) – The dream is told by Daniel to the king. A single statue, with head of gold, breast and arms of silver, belly and thighs of bronze, legs of iron, and feet a mixture of iron and clay, is struck to the ground by a stone cut out of it that struck its feet. The statue is blown away in the wind, but that stone grows to a great mountain. b. (36-45) – The dream’s interpretation: Babylon is the head of gold. Silver is an inferior kingdom that would rule after. Then a third kingdom would rule. Finally a fourth kingdom would come, but division in it would leave it weak. In the days of those kings, God would set up a kingdom that would never be destroyed. Head of Gold Babylon 612-539 BC Silver arms and chest Persia 539-331 BC (5:28; 8:20) Bronze belly and thighs Greece 331-146 BC (8:21) Iron and clay legs and feet Rome 146 BC – 476 AD (7:7) In the days of the Roman kings, God would set up an indestructible kingdom: Jesus proclaimed its coming. - Mark 1:14-15; 9:1 Divine origin and eternal duration. - Hebrews 12:28 From God and by God. - Daniel 2:34 This Kingdom belongs to God. - Matthew 16:18-19 Any and all may be saved in it. - Daniel 7:14 c. (46-49) – Nebuchadnezzar credits God and promotes Daniel. By Daniel’s request, his three friends are promoted as well. V. Discussion Questions a. What do we learn about God’s control over governments in this chapter? And how is your answer affected by Romans 13:1-7? b. How is it possible for us to live Daniel’s example in our own lives, since you and I do not have miraculous revelation from God? 3 The Book of Daniel Chapter 3 I. The Command For All - (1-5) a. “you are to fall down and worship the golden image.” II. The Punishment To Any - (6-7) a. “immediately be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire.” III. The Violation by 3 Faithful Men - (8-12) a. “have disregarded you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image.” IV. The Stand by all 3 Men - (13-18) a. “our God… will deliver us out of your hand, O king.” V. The Deliverance by God - (19-27) a. “Look! I see four men loosed and walking about in the midst of the fire.” VI. The ReVerence of the King - (28-30) a. “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.” VII. The King’s Sermon (28-30) a. The 3 Points: “God… delivered His servants…” i. “who put their trust in Him”. ii. “violating the king’s commands.” iii. “yielded up their bodies.” b. Application: i. All who speak against their God shall die. ii. And these men shall prosper for their faith. VIII. Discussion Questions a. “Is it true?” (3:14) - How are people in the world asking us this same question? b. In what ways does God expect us to have the boldness of these 3 faithful men? c. The king was positively affected by the men’s faith. Where does the New Testament discuss our ability to have a similar effect on the world? 4 The Book of Daniel Chapter 4 I. Nebuchadnezzar Recounts an Old Story a. He is giving glory to God with this story - (4:1-3, 37) b. The date is unclear. He ruled for 43 years. This is likely told late in his reign. II. The King’s Dream (4:4-18) a. (4-9) - This time he tells the dream, but still none but Daniel could interpret. b. (10-12) - A majestic tree in a field is described. c. (13-17) - The tree is cut down and a bronze and iron band is put around it. It is exposed to the elements in the open field.
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