33-Daniel 3:

August 24: Ezekiel 32-34 1. In chapter 33, God reiterates Ezekiel’s call as a watchman, bookending the first 33 chapters of the book. What stands out to you about Ezekiel’s mission? What should we today do with this? How could you start today being obedient to this call?

2. Who is the identity of the good shepherd who seek after and feeds the sheep (34:11, 23)? What New Testament passage does this remind you of? What’s the goal of the restoration, 34:30? How does this find final fulfillment in Revelation 21:3?

August 25: -37 1. Why does God choose to restore His people, according to 36:21-23? How does this make you feel? Who is at the center of salvation: God or man?

2. What does God promise in 36:25-26? What parallels do you see in John 3:5?

3. In Ezekiel’s vision of the dry bones, what do the bones represent? How is this prophecy fulfilled? What other spiritual realities does this vision point to?

August 26: -40 1. Chapters 38-39 describe a coming invasion by “Gog and .” The identity of these nations is unknown (though many have speculated that they represent Russia). What is God’s purpose in bringing this invasion (38:16, 23; 39:7, 13, 21-22)?

2. Ch. 40 begins the final section of Ezekiel, a description of a future temple. Some see this as literal temple that will one day be built (neither Zerubbabel’s nor Herod’s temple even come close to the splendor described here) while others see this as yet another of Ezekiel’s extended metaphors, an idealized symbol of God’s restored presence with His people.

August 27: -43 1. As Ezekiel continues his tour of the temple, what does God declare about its purpose in 41:6? Did you notice the repetition of the word “holy” throughout these chapters?

2. What does Ezekiel witness in 43:1-5? What NT event does this somewhat remind you of?

3. Why does God give such a detailed description of an unbuilt temple, according to 43:10? How do reminders of God’s promises motivate holiness?

August 28: -46 1. Once again, God connects future blessings with present repentance in 45:9-12. He calls the political leaders to be just and honest in their dealings in light of future blessing.

2. One of the challenges in these chapters of Ezekiel is understanding the role of the sacrifices. If this refers to a literal temple built during the millennial reign of Christ, why are there sin offerings providing “atonement” (45:15, 17, 20)? Wouldn’t a millennial reinstitution of sacrifice contradict Hebrews 10:1-4 and diminish the work of Christ? Why or why not?

If, however, ch. 40-48, simply portrays an idealized vision of restoration, then the sacrifices need not be regarded as millennial. The weakness of this view, however, is that Ezekiel seems to regard the temple/sacrifices as literal and real (why all the details for nine chapters?).

August 29: -48 1. Take a look at Revelation 22:1-2 and compare it to Ezekiel 47:1, 12. How does this promise seem to be ultimately fulfilled? How about :31 and Revelation 21:12-14?

2. How does the book end in v. 35? In what ways does this tie into the “big story” of the ? See Revelation 21:3, 22.

Introduction to Daniel:

Author/Date: As with many books of the Bible, this one bears the name of its author and main character, Daniel. His name means “God is my Judge,” a reality reflected in Daniel’s steadfast faith in God to vindicate him, even as he lived in the midst of a hostile culture.

According to 1:3-4, Daniel was among the exiles taken from in 605 B.C. by the Babylonians. He belonged to the royal family and exhibited outstanding traits. Throughout the book, Daniel is shown to be a man of great wisdom, eloquence, and trustworthiness. He faithfully served both the Babylonian Empire and the Medo-Persian Empire.

More than likely, Daniel composed the book toward the end of his life, recording his extraordinary life and the revelation God entrusted to him.

Background: The takes place during the exile of Judah. In 605 B.C., Nebuchadnezzar took control of Judah from the Egyptians and took many prominent leaders from Jerusalem back to . Daniel and his three friends were among this group. Later, in 597, Nebuchadnezzar took a second group of exiles, including Ezekiel. Finally, in 586 B.C., Nebuchadnezzar besieged and destroyed a then-rebelling Jerusalem, taking the remainder of the inhabitants captive. Daniel’s ministry spanned the bulk of his adult life, lasting until 536 B.C. Themes: Because of the setting of the book, it is no surprise that the book grapples with the difficulties experienced by God’s people living in a pagan world. The first half of the book includes a series of narratives detailing the faithfulness of Daniel and his friends when faced with various demands to compromise with the evils of the day.

But more than Daniel’s faithfulness, the book details God’s sovereignty. Even as Judah experienced God’s judgment against her sin, God declares His utter control over the nations, including Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome. He demonstrates His sovereignty over nations and kings, over human wisdom, over history, ultimately a sovereignty brought to bear by a Coming King. This coming King, the Messiah, would set up a worldwide kingdom and rule forever. In the book of Daniel, Jesus Christ is portrayed as the Stone out of the mountain in ch. 2, the Son of Man in ch. 7, and the Anointed One in ch. 9.

Genre: Daniel is among the more challenging books to interpret due to its inclusion of multiple genres. It includes historical narrative and apocalyptic literature (employing highly symbolic language detailing God’s future dealings). There is much debate regarding how much of Daniel’s prophecy has already been fulfilled and how much is yet future.

Outline: I. Daniel’s Faithfulness in Exile (1-6). II. Daniel’s Visions of the Future (7-12).

August 30: -3 1. In these opening chapters, Daniel and his three friends demonstrate a great commitment to God even as they live in the middle of a pagan culture. What does their devotion say about them? About their God? What kinds of ways do you feel pressured to conform to a pagan society?

2. In Daniel 2, God reveals His plan for history (a series of empires). What’s the point of this revelation? What does it show us about God, 2:20-23? How would the realities of 2:20-23 motivate and enable Daniel and his friends to faithfully follow God in Babylon?

3. What truth about God’s character enabled Shadrach, Meschach, and Abed-nego to stand up to the most powerful man on the planet? See 3:17-18.