Daniel is broken down into two sections: stories from his life of service to the Lord in a foreign land and prophecies given to him later on in life. Daniel wholeheartedly serves the King that he works for but not at the expense of his love for God. He and his friends repeatedly make the hard choice when it comes to serving the Lord. They face fiery furnaces and lion’s dens for the Lord without missing a step. They are not afraid to claim their Lord proudly. As believers do we make the easy choice or the hard choice when it comes to following God? Obedience is not always an easy path, but regardless of the difficulty, He is with us.
Passage:
Daniel
Discovered:
- Daniel & other young, handsome, smart nobility were taken to Babylon to learn how to serve the King when Nebuchadnezzer defeated Jehoiakim and Jerusalem.
- educated 3 years, given a portion of King’s food and wine daily
- Daniel -> Belteshazzar, Hannah -> Shadrach, Michael -> Meshach & Azariah ->Abendego
- Daniel did not want to defile himself with the King’s food, asked for vegetables and water.
- had to pass a 10 day test, at the end they were stronger than the others eating the King’s food.
- God blessed their learning, most wise, Daniel was given ability to interpret dreams.
- King Nebuchadnezzer had a dream no-one could interpret, Daniel offered to do so.
- God revealed the mystery of the dream to Daniel and interpreted it for King Nebuchadnezzer and was rewarded – given responsibilities over Babylon.
- King Nebuchadnezzer had a huge golden image made and everyone was to worship it when music was played or be thrown into the fiery furnace.
- King Nebuchadnezzer found out Shadrach, Meshach, and Abendego would not worship and when confronted they refused, so King Nebuchadnezzer had the furnace turned up 7 times hotter and threw them in the furnace.
- 4 men were seen in the furnace walking in the fire unharmed, King Nebuchadnezzer than decreed that anyone who spoke against their God would be punished.
- Daniel interprets a 2nd dream for King Nebuchadnezzer: his kingdom would be taken from him
- immediately driven out, ate grass and was wet with dew. He was eventually restored and praised the Lord.
- King Belshazzar had a feast and used gold dishes from temple to serve wine and a single hand appeared and wrote on the wall.
- Daniel interprets writing: your days are at the end, you have been found wanting and your kingdom will be delivered to Medes and Persia.
- King Beshazzar was killed that night and Darius of Mede became king.
- King Darius signed a decree to throw anyone who worshipped anyone but the King would be thrown into the lion’s den.
- Daniel continued to worship God and was thrown into the lion’s den, God sent an angel to protect Daniel.
- King Darius told the people worship Daniel’s God.
- Daniel had a vision of 4 beasts, the 4th beast was killed and the son of man was given glory and rule over the kingdom: the saints will destroy the beast and have an everlasting kingdom.
- Daniel had a vision of a powerful ram overpowered by a goat.
- ram = Media & Persia, goat = Greece, Greece will rule over Media and Persia.
- Daniel prays for the forgiveness of Israel and their restoration. Gabriel appears and tells Daniel of the 70 sets of 7.
- Daniel has a vision of a messenger.
- Daniel is given prophecy of 3 Kings and their future and of an eventual 4th King (Antichrist) that will reign.
- At the end of times, the people whose names are written in the book of names will be delivered.
- Daniel did not understand all of what was told to him.
Help me to remember:
the Lord rewards those who serve and walk with Him with an unwavering faith.
Lord, I ask that . . .
even when faced with unfavorable consequences, I choose to put You first.
Heavenly Father, I am thankful for . . .
that You are with us always.
