KEEPING THE FAITH

THE BOOK OF DANIEL

CHAPTERS 1 - 6

The Book of Daniel The book begins during the reign of King

Nebuchadnezzar and ends during the reign of Cyrus from Persia.

Chapters 1 - 6 = Historical events (narrative) Chapters 7 – 12 = Apocalyptic visions (future)

Themes of the book of Daniel:God’s sovereignty (what does this mean?)Faithful worship of God aloneJudgment and deliverance

A Little Bit of Babylonian History… The reign of Nebuchadnezzar was the height of

Babylon’s power. After he died the empire slipped into chaos and weakened.

Much of the infighting within the empire was due to fighting about rival gods (Marduk & Sin).

The next three kings were not able to consolidate power before being pushed aside.

Nabonidus, the last of three, was never around. He was always excavating temples and left his son, Belshazzar in charge. (Dan. 5)

Babylon fell to the Persians in 539 B.C.

Who Was Daniel?

Daniel was deported in the first group of exiles during King Jehoiakim’s reign—when Judah became a vassal state of Babylon.

What does this tell us about

where Daniel came from? He is described as young, talented and

handsome. For these reasons, he was selected to receive special training for three years with other youths in the king’s court.

After this training, Daniel would enter the king’s service. Which king are we talking about?

Life in Babylon for an Exile Living as a conquered people in an unfamiliar

place was disorienting and discouraging. People felt abandoned and hopeless.

The exiles were permitted to build houses and live together in settlements—so they had some form of community.

Babylon was one of the great centers of world culture. Technological and architectural advances were to be found all throughout the Babylonian empire. Do you think this made it harder or easier for the exiles to hold onto or throw away their customs and beliefs?

Babylon: An Amazing City Towering arches decorated with blue-glazed tile. Massive walls around the city—strong & wide

enough for two chariots to ride next to each other on the top!

Air vents in homes that brought cool breezes in but kept the rats out.

Goat skins used as rafts and floatation devices for getting across the Euphrates River.

Irrigation systems and advancing farming skills. Cuneiform (writing system) Mathematics (numbering by 60s)—still used

today! (i.e. our concept of time and circles)

Daniel, Chapter 1

Main Characters

- Daniel

- Three friends

- Ashpenaz

(king’s official)

- King

Nebuchadnezzar

Conflict with God

Daniel and his friends

believed in keeping

God’s law. The king

wanted them to eat

defiled (unclean) food.

Side note: What made food “unclean”?

Daniel, Chapter 1 Theme = Obedience, God’s sovereignty

God’s Triumph

The official allowed

them to eat

their own food,

God gave

Daniel and his

friends great

wisdom and

understanding.

Human Reaction

King Nebuchadnezzar

accepted the eating

habits of Daniel

and his friends

and was blessed

by their talents and

their counsel.

Daniel, Chapter 2

Main Characters

- Daniel

- His friends- Arioch

(the commander)

- Astrologers

- King

Nebuchadnezzar

Conflict with God

God’s people were threatened by

the king’s decree

to kill all of the

wise men in Babylon.

Why was

the king killing

all the wise men?

Daniel, Chapter 2Theme = God’s sovereignty, judgment

God’s Triumph

God gave Daniel

the vision and the interpretation

of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of

the four kingdoms (Babylon, Persia,

Greece and Rome).

Human Reaction

King Nebuchadnezzar

acknowledged

God’s power.

He bowed before Daniel and promoted him to be in charge of

all the wise men

in Babylon.

Daniel, Chapter 3

Main Characters- King

Nebuchadnezzar- Herald- Astrologers- Shadrack, Meshack

and Abednego- Angel

Conflict with God

The king wanted to be worshiped in place of

the Lord God. But Rack, Shack and

Benny refused to bow down in worship before the statue of Nebuchadnezzar.

Daniel, Chapter 3Theme = Worship, deliverance, God’s sovereignty, obedience

God’s Triumph

God’s angel saved

the three friends

from death

in the fiery furnace.

Human Reaction

King Nebuchadnezzar

praised God and ordered others to

honor God.

Daniel, Chapter 4

Main Characters- King

Nebuchadnezzar- Daniel

Conflict with God

The king did not

honor God

but walked in

great pride.

Daniel, Chapter 4Theme = God’s sovereignty, worship

Judgment

God’s Triumph

God humbled him by driving him insane

and making him act like a beast.

Human Reaction

King Nebuchadnezzar

praised God and again acknowledged

God’s power.

Daniel, Chapter 5

Main Characters- King Belshazzar- Daniel

Conflict with God

The king defiled the temple goblets and

scorned God.

Daniel, Chapter 5Theme = God’s sovereignty, judgment

God’s Triumph

The king was killed by invading Medes

(Persians).

Human Reaction

King Nebuchadnezzar

praised God and again acknowledged

God’s power.