Introduction: Setting the Scene

Q1 - God’s prophets clearly and loudly warned the Israelites they would be taken into Babylonian captivity. What could the people and their kings have done to prevent or delay this event from occurring?

A1 - When Moses first climbed Mount Sinai after God delivered the Israelites out of Egypt, God told them that if they would obey Him and keep His commandments, they would be His own “special treasure from among all the peoples on earth” (Exodus 19:5 NLT). The first of the ten commandments God gave to Moses was that they were not to have any other god but Him, and the second was that they must not make idols and worship them (Exodus 20 NLT). Clearly, God wanted the obedience and sole devotion of His people!

However, from the time of their deliverance on, the Israelites struggled with obeying God. They would declare their devotion and then go astray, building their own idols and images to worship or worshipping the pagan gods of other peoples. This cycle repeated itself frequently, with the kings later setting the spiritual tone for the nation.

On various occasions, God would punish the Israelites when they strayed. Yet, when they turned from their sins and once again pledged their love and obedience to God, God would cease their punishment. Recall how Moses interceded and begged God multiple times not to destroy them (in Deuteronomy 9, Moses gives a recap of these happenings). Later, in the time of the kings, some were faithful to God and sought to bring the people back to obedience, but other kings led the people astray.

After years of dealing with the Israelites’ on-again, off-again devotion, God reached the end of His patience. He declared they would go into Babylonian captivity as punishment. Yet, He gave ample advance warning, allowing them plenty of time to repent and turn back to Him—if they had chosen to do so. Considering the way he responded to Hezekiah (see next question), He would likely have shown mercy to the Israelites if they had turned their sole devotion back to Him.

Q2 - What did King Hezekiah do to change God’s mind when he learned he was to die? (II Kings 20, Isaiah 38) What example does this provide for God’s people today?

A2 - Hezekiah evidently had a boil that had become infected (II Kings 20:7). When the prophet Isaiah came to Hezekiah and relayed God’s message that he would soon die, Hezekiah’s first response was to turn his face to the wall and pray to God—and then he wept bitterly. Here he was about to die while still in the prime of his life (about 39 years old at the time), even though he had served God faithfully (II Kings 18:5-7).

In his prayer, Hezekiah reminded God of his wholehearted devotion to Him and how he had done what was right before God. Almost immediately, God responded. Isaiah had hardly left the king’s presence before God sent him back to tell Hezekiah his life would be extended by fifteen years.

Hezekiah had lived his life in devotion to God, so he didn’t need to turn from evil and from serving false gods as had often been the case with other kings. Instead, all he had to do was to talk with God. In reminding God of his faithfulness, he was essentially begging for his life. In short, Hezekiah asked.

God likes for his children to talk to Him, and prayer is how we do that. God doesn’t always say “yes” to our requests, just as earthly parents don’t always say “yes” to their children. Regardless of what His response may be, God listened to His children back then, and He listens to them now. How many blessings does He have waiting to bestow, if only His children would ask!

Q3 - Hezekiah was a good king (II Kings 18:1-8), yet he was so human. After God granted him an extension on his life, what was his response when he learned the wealth of his kingdom, as well as his family members, would be carried to Babylon? (II Kings 20:16-19)

A3 - He seems rather unfeeling toward the fate of his descendants and nation after learning that the years of Babylonian captivity would occur after he was dead and gone. It was not going to affect him personally, so he essentially said, “Oh well.” There would be peace and security during his lifetime, and that was what mattered to him. His descendants would just have to deal with it.

Chapter 1: A Message from God

Jeremiah 25:1-14

Q1 - What did the Israelites do that made God so unhappy with them? (Reread these verses: Jeremiah 25:5-7) How did they arouse God’s anger with what their hands had made?

A1 - God was unhappy with their evil ways and evil practices, some of which were quite vile. They were following and worshipping other gods, including some they had created with their own hands. (How can something you create yourself from inanimate objects possess power, especially in contrast to God Almighty, who created the universe and delivered them from Egyptian bondage?)

This was exactly what God had commanded they not do in the first two of the Ten Commandments. (see A1 to the Intro Questions). When warned repeatedly by the prophets to stop doing these evil things, the people would not listen. Jeremiah himself had been cautioning them for twenty-three years.

Q2 - What types of “other gods” might people today be serving? How might “what your hands have made” cause problems for Christians today?

A2 - While some people intentionally worship Satan, most do so unintentionally by making the focus of their lives something other than God. This can happen by allowing other people, rather than God, to hold ultimate sway over one’s thoughts and actions. Actually, it could be worshipping one’s own self, living one’s life for the purpose of self gratification. It can also happen when one’s life revolves around accumulating material possessions, something that can afflict people of any economic strata, not just the “rich.”

Q3 - How did God use “the peoples of the north” and Nebuchadnezzar for His purposes? (As you study the book of Daniel, think on how God fulfilled this prophesy given in Jeremiah 25:9-14.)

A3 - God used the Babylonians and their ruler, Nebuchadnezzar, to discipline His people. If only they had turned from their evil ways, they could have possessed the land given to their ancestors forever (Jeremiah 25:5). Because they deliberately disobeyed God’s commands for years, ignoring the warnings of the prophets, He took their land away from them. He wanted their hearts, their love and their devotion. When they stubbornly refused God, He got their attention by taking away their most prized possession. Indeed, the events unfolded just as Jeremiah had prophesied.

Chapter 2: Living In Times of Turbulence

Daniel 1:1-7

Q1 - Compare the account of what happened here with what had been prophesied years before. (Reread II Kings 20:16-18 or Isaiah 39:5-7) Do you think these young men were among the descendants referred to in this prophesy?

A1 - Isaiah told Hezekiah three things would happen: 1) everything in his palace, including the treasures amassed by previous kings, would be carried off to Babylon; 2) some of Hezekiah’s own direct descendants would be taken to Babylon; and 3) these direct descendants would become eunuchs, serving in the palace of the king of Babylon.

While it’s likely Daniel and his friends were among Hezekiah’s descendants referred to in this prophesy, scripture does not specifically state that they were the ones. However, in reading Daniel 1, you can see how their situation seemed to parallel what had been prophesied. Let’s look at each of the above points:

1) Not only were articles from the temple of God delivered into Nebuchadnezzar’s hand, but also the king of Judah, Jehoiakim, was as well. Some of these temple treasures led to the downfall of a later Babylonian king, Belshazzar, when he used the goblets to toast the pagan gods.

While the palace of the king and the temple were two different structures, both were under the control of the king and were in close proximity to one another. Evidently, what the Babylonians didn’t seize and carry off, they ultimately destroyed. Remember that the Babylonians invaded Jerusalem several times. (This article, “The Destruction of Jerusalem,” presented by bible-history.com gives an overview of this time period. It’s also helpful to refer to their “Timeline of the Babylonian Captivity.”)

An account of this time period is given in II Kings 24. During the siege of Jerusalem when Jehoiachin, Jehoiakim’s son, was king, this scripture states in verse 13 that Nebuchadnezzar removed the treasures from the temple and the royal palace and cut up the gold articles that Solomon had made for the temple. So after enduring various invasions by the Babylonians, Jerusalem lay pretty well decimated.

2) Many of the Jews who survived the sieges were carried off into Babylonian captivity, and only the poor of the land were left behind to take care of things. During the invasion described in II Kings 24, Nebuchadnezzar carried off all the officers and fighting men along with the skilled workers and artisans (see verse 14). More destruction and deportation of Jews occurred during a later invasion described in II Kings 25, and again, only the poorest people were left behind to work the land (see verse 12). So it’s safe to assume that any of Hezekiah’s descendants who were still alive were deported to Babylonia. We also know from Daniel 1:3-4 that some of them were brought into King Nebuchadnezzar’s service, because the royal family would consist of his descendants. In fact, the King James Version refers to them as being “of the king's seed, and of the princes” (Daniel 1:3 KJV).

3) While Daniel 1:3-5 tells us that Jewish royalty and nobility were brought into King Nebuchadnezzar’s three year training program for the express purpose of entering the king’s service, it doesn’t state if they were made eunuchs or not. However, the King James Version of the Bible calls the king’s official, Ashpenaz, who was over Daniel and his friends, “the master of his eunuchs” (Daniel 1:3 KJV). Moreover, there is no mention in the Bible of Daniel ever having a wife or children. So while it’s possible, and perhaps even likely, that Daniel and his companions were made eunuchs, there doesn’t seem to be scriptural verification one way or the other.

Q2 - Even though God was unhappy with the nation, He did not blanket condemn every person. Think on the many ways God showed His favor to these four young men.

A2 - God cared and provided for the individuals who were faithful to them, even though the nation as a whole was being disciplined and forced to endure deportation to a foreign land. The following are some of the instances recorded in the book of Daniel.

God caused the king’s official to treat Daniel and his friends favorably while in the training program and agreed to let them eat the food they asked for. Remember that the Israelites were not allowed to eat certain foods under the Law of Moses, and it’s possible the king’s food would have violated their dietary restrictions.

God granted these young men exceptional knowledge and understanding and gave Daniel the ability to understand visions and dreams. As a result, they were noticed by the king and his officials and quickly appointed to leadership positions. These abilities caused them to be held in much higher regard than they would otherwise have been.

God saved Daniel and his friends from certain death when He delivered them from the fiery furnace and the lion’s den. When there appeared to be no way out for them, God provided a way and preserved their lives. Moreover, their miraculous deliverances showed the Babylonians the awesome power of Jehovah God.

Q3 - God’s people are never “lost in the crowd” in God’s eyes. Think of the teachings in the New Testament, particularly the parables of Jesus, that emphasize the importance of each individual.

A3 - The three parables presented in Luke 15 truly emphasize the value of each individual in God’s eyes. In the Parable of the Lost Sheep, when one sheep out of the whole flock wanders off, the shepherd first of all notices that it is missing. He searches until he finds it, and then he carries it back to the flock on his shoulders. Finally, he calls upon his friends and neighbors to rejoice with him that he has found his lost sheep.

Not only does this parable emphasize the importance of each individual, but it also presents a template for how the lost should be treated:

1) The shepherd keeps track of his sheep. Maybe he counts them or perhaps he knows the individual characteristics of each one. Note how crucial it is that he notices one sheep has wandered away—otherwise, how would he know to go look for it?

2) The shepherd searches until he finds the sheep. He doesn’t search until he gets tired, or until it gets dark, or until he gets distracted with something else. His focus remains on the lost sheep, and he doesn’t quit until he finds it. Each sheep is a treasure—each one possesses great value.

3) The shepherd carries it back to the flock on his shoulders. The sheep has been wandering for awhile, and the shepherd knows it’s tired. He doesn’t scream at it or berate it, he doesn’t put a rope around its neck and drag it back to teach it a lesson, and he doesn’t beat it as punishment for wandering off. The shepherd is joyful at finding his sheep and treats it tenderly.

4) The shepherd rejoices that he has found his lost sheep, and he calls upon his friends and neighbors to rejoice with him. It’s not enough just to reunite his sheep back to the flock. This one sheep is too important—its return must be celebrated!

The other two parables in this chapter, the Parable of the Lost Coin and the Parable of the Lost Son, hold similar messages. They hold a message for the lost—you are important, a real treasure in God’s eyes. They also hold a message for those who are not lost—be genuinely joyful when the lost come back and rejoice with them. It is not your place to berate them or shame them or try to teach them a lesson so they’ll never do that again. It is your place to embrace them and help them regain solid footing.

Chapter 3: Living Under Someone Else’s Control

Daniel 1:1-7

Q1 - What do you think was Nebuchadnezzar’s purpose in seeking to indoctrinate God’s people? Why did he select the “cream of the crop?”

A1 - During this period in history, kingdoms and empires were being built, with leaders aggressively attacking other countries in order to extend their control and thus increase their wealth. Babylonia had been under Assyrian rule until Nebuchadnezzar’s father, Nabopolassar, came along, and with the help of the Medes, defeated the Assyrians. Nebuchadnezzar married royalty, Amytis of Media, thus sealing his alliance with the Medes. (According to some historical accounts, it was for her that he built the Hanging Gardens of Babylon to remind her of home.)

Nebuchadnezzar went on to expand Babylonian rule by defeating the Egyptians and Assyrians in the great battle at Carchemish. This put Palestine and Syria under his control, and Nebuchadnezzar then set about to make Babylon a city of great splendor. (See the article, Nebuchadnezzar II, from the Ancient History Encyclopedia.)

It was no secret in that part of the world that the Israelites were God’s chosen people. For Nebuchadnezzar to have brought their Promised Land under his control, razed and looted their holy city of Jerusalem, and enslaved God’s people was truly a conquest. To indoctrinate members of the royal family with all things Babylonian served to humble the Israelites even further and exalt the pagan gods to whom Nebuchadnezzar gave tribute. It also served as an attempt to erase the heritage and culture of the Jewish people. Remember that until Daniel interpreted Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in chapter 2 and revealed to him God’s divine plan, this ego-driven king thought his rise to power and greatness was due to his own efforts and not God’s.

Q2 - How did these young men use their minds to prevent the total indoctrination that Nebuchadnezzar sought?

A2 - These young men endured a level of total indoctrination that few people, hopefully, will ever be subjected to. Through it all, they kept their resolve to remain loyal to their God, no matter their external circumstances. They used their reasoning ability to convince Ashpenaz to allow them to eat acceptable food by giving him an alternative should it not work out (Daniel 1:8-14). In this way they were still able to keep the dietary requirements set out for God’s people. They continued to pray and call upon God for His guidance (Daniel 2:18, Daniel 6:10). This kept their hearts focused upon God during trying times. They put their total trust in God, even when faced with certain death (Daniel 3:12-18). They knew the power their God held and that He had the ability to rescue them even in the direst of circumstances. But most importantly, even if God chose not to rescue them, they would still refuse to worship the image (Daniel 3:18). They would remain faithful to God even if it meant their deaths.

Q3 - How can you use your mind today when others seek to influence and control you? How can you bolster your resolve to serve God and always do the right thing?

A3 - When you study God’s word, you allow Him to speak to you. When you pray to God, you focus on Him. When you associate with others who love God and seek to do His will, you will all strengthen one another.

This scripture in Philippians 4:4-9 (NIV) provides a beautiful blueprint for Christian living:

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

Chapter 4: Nurtured by God in a Foreign Land

Daniel 1:8-21

Q1 - How did Daniel, even though he was in a position of servitude, gain control of this situation and bring about the outcome he desired?

A1 - It would be reasonable to think that for someone who had been forcefully uprooted from their homeland and placed in a position of servitude, they would feel great anger and resentment toward their captors. Daniel was wise enough to control any such emotions he may have had, and rather than lash out, he carefully considered his words before he spoke them.

He thought about things from the other person’s point of view. What would the chief official be concerned about if Daniel proposed he and his friends eat different food and drink only water? He prepared a counter argument ahead of time and presented it calmly and logically. He provided the official with an acceptable exit plan should things not turn out as desired. There would be no downside for the official, and as it turned out, all the subjects became healthier, which made the official look good in his job performance as well. The official then knew he could trust Daniel.

As you read the book of Daniel, you can see how Daniel gained the favor and trust of those who were over him. He spoke logically and rationally, relying upon the wisdom God supplied him. He thought about things from the other person’s point of view, and always did the right thing no matter what. Instead of pilfering from the king’s riches, he proved himself a good steward. In so doing, he gained the king’s trust.

When doing the right thing ran counter to the king’s commands, Daniel did not waver in his faith and trust in God, no matter the possible outcomes. He would rather endure the fury of man than abandon his faith in God. When the king and everyone around subsequently witnessed God’s powerful interventions on behalf of Daniel, they had no choice but to respect Daniel and hold him in high regard.

Q2 - Daniel, who was a young person at this time, showed great wisdom here and throughout the rest of his life. Consider wisdom and its great value. (Read and dwell on Proverbs 4 and Proverbs 8 and other scriptures on wisdom.)

A2 - Wisdom acts as a filter in our brains. Before ever speaking or acting, a wise person first runs their thoughts, words, and actions through their wisdom filter. As a person accumulates more knowledge, understanding, and life experiences, their filter becomes more refined. They become better able to understand what’s really going on in a given situation and to discern between what is true and what is not, even when appearances are deceptive. A person’s wisdom filter helps them to think through the consequences before they take action, and to choose the action that is most appropriate and beneficial, rather than the action that may be the most gratifying.

On the most intimate level, a person’s wisdom filter helps them to control their mind and their thoughts, which serves as the root of all words and actions. The apostle Paul stresses the importance of our hearts and minds and urges us to think on good things in In Philippians 4:8 (NIV): “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

The book of Proverbs is filled with references to wisdom, and chapters 4 and 8 are especially rich. Read these chapters through and find the verses that really speak to you. What other scriptures concerning wisdom come to mind?

Q3 - Does God bestow wisdom on His people today? (See James 1:5) Consider the value of wisdom in your life.

A3 -  Our God is the same God who cared for Daniel, even though Christians today live under a different covenant. Daniel lived under the Old Law given to Moses, but when Jesus came, He fulfilled the requirements of that law. Upon Jesus’ resurrection, He ushered in the new era under which we live today.

However, even though the law under which we live has changed, God Himself remains the same. “Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.“ (Psalm 90:2 NIV) His characteristics do not change through the ages. He loves good and hates evil.

In James 1:5 (NIV), we are told to ask God for wisdom: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” Wisdom helps us to think, speak and act in accordance with the will of God. It helps us to discern right from wrong and to use good judgement in whatever situation we find ourselves. Think of how wise words or wise actions, either yours or someone else’s, have impacted you personally.

Chapter 5: A Time to Stand and Act

Daniel 2:1-19

Q1 - What would be the natural reaction(s) for most people if they were unexpectedly told they were to be executed?

A1 - A whole range of emotions comes to mind—fear, panic, anger. Daniel may well have felt some or all of these emotions, but fortunately his rational self won out before he opened his mouth to speak.

Sometimes the emotions that immediately well up inside us when confronted with dire situations may cause us to freeze, rendering us incapable of taking action. Or they may cause us to scream and strike out at whomever or whatever is nearby. Fortunately, Daniel kept his actions under control as well.

One thing to consider in this whole situation is how different the times were back them for Daniel. As you read through the book of Daniel, notice how many death threats are issued at various times. Daniel lived in servitude under a pretty heavy handed set of kings, so he may have grown somewhat accustomed to death threats. While he certainly understood the consequences, perhaps hearing the death decree may not have been as shocking to him as it would be to us.

Q2 - Have you ever found yourself in a life or death situation? How did you handle it? How would you hope to handle a dire situation, should one arise in the future?

A2 - It will be interesting to hear about individual experiences. Situations can be so varied and happen so suddenly that it’s hard to prepare for what might occur in the future. Studying what has happened to others can be helpful.

Think about your relationship with God and ask yourself—if you were to die right now, would you be right with God? If you keep yourself in a right relationship with God, then you will have the assurance that no matter what occurs, whether you live or whether you die, you belong to Him. “If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.” (Romans 14:8 NIV)

Q3 - Can you, like the apostle Paul, truly say, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain”? (Philippians 1:21 NIV) What advice does he give in the verses that follow? (Philippians 1:27-30)

A3 - After the Lord got his attention on the road to Damascus, Paul lived his life wholly and fervently for the Lord. He endured many trying situations because of his faith, yet he never wavered in his devotion and truly lived for the Lord. He also knew how great the eternal reward will be for Christians. So he knew if he died, he would be so much bester off, in a situation infinitely more desirable that his earthly existence.

How do Christians today mature spiritually to the point where they can make the same statement as Paul? He gives his instructions in verses 27-30: conduct yourselves worthy of the gospel of Christ, stand together with fellow Christians firm in the one Spirit, don’t be frightened by those who oppose you—even though you go through struggles and suffer for Christ.

Chapter 6: A Time to Praise

Daniel 2:17-23

Q1 - How did King Nebuchadnezzar’s refusal to reveal the contents of his dream work to Daniel’s ultimate advantage? Has adversity ever worked to your advantage?

A1 - When Nebuchadnezzar demanded that the wise men tell him the contents of his dream as well as interpret it, he sought to separate the divinely inspired wise men from the imposters. He wanted to get to the truth of the matter and not just hear what someone thought he wanted to hear.

This definitely worked to Daniel’s advantage, because he was the only one who could rise to such a challenge. Immediately, this ability set Daniel apart from all the other wise men. Daniel gained the respect of the king, which then worked in his favor for him to later be placed in positions of authority.

Q2 - Consider the roller coaster ride of emotions that Daniel had to handle during this relatively short period of time, going from a regular day to facing his execution to his ultimate delivery. How would these events have impacted you?

A2 - Most of us would probably have been ready to collapse, physically and emotionally, after such a day. Thankfully, the Lord is able to make us stand, even when our knees buckle and we are not able to stand on our own. “To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.” (Romans 14:4 NIV)

Think of instances when you or someone else has been upheld by the power of God.

Q3 - If God had chosen not to reveal King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream to Daniel, what do you think Daniel’s response would have been? What would your response have been?

A3 - Given what is revealed about Daniel’s character throughout the book, it’s highly doubtful that Daniel would have wavered in his faith. If possible, he would probably have tried to reason with the king and the officials. If that didn’t work, he would likely have accepted his death, just as he did not resist being thrown in the den of lions.

His friends’ statement when they were to be thrown into the fiery furnace says it all—“If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” (Daniel 3:17-18 NIV) Their belief must have been something like—Do the right thing, no matter what, and whether you live or whether you die, God will take care of you.

Chapter 7: Acknowledging and Honoring the Power of God

Daniel 2:24-45

Q1 - Arioch had been appointed by Nebuchadnezzar as the executioner of the wise men. Had he not fulfilled his job as ordered, his own life would have been on the line. Why do you think he responded so favorably to Daniel?

A1 - Daniel responded to Arioch, who had come to execute him, with wisdom and tact. This was probably not the response that Arioch expected and may have actually caught him off guard. (“A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.”   Proverbs 15:1 NLT)

It’s possible that God caused Arioch to act favorably toward Daniel. Remember how God had previously caused Ashpenaz, the court official in charge of their training, to show favor and compassion to Daniel (Daniel 1:9).

God had also bestowed knowledge and understanding to Daniel and his friends, and he gave Daniel the ability to understand visions and dreams (Daniel 1:17) Because of this, these men were already known to the king and probably to the whole court. You remember how the king had interviewed them, evidently rigorously, at the end of the training program and found them to be far superior in their wisdom and understanding to any other in his whole kingdom (Daniel 1:18-20). So their reputation could well have worked in their favor when Arioch approached them.

Q2 - How do you think Daniel felt standing before the King, whose temper was so volatile that he had ordered death for all the wise men? How would you feel standing before someone who had ordered your death?

A2 - Daniel must have been a well known and highly regarded person by the king and his court because it’s highly doubtful that just anybody could have marched in and spoken directly with the king (Daniel 2:16). We know from Daniel 1:19-20 that the king had met him and grilled him at the end of the training program, and that he and his friends then entered the king’s service. But we don’t know how closely Daniel worked with the king or how frequently Daniel came in contact with him. However, Daniel’s reputation must have worked in his favor for the king to grant his request for more time and not have him executed on the spot.

Daniel was probably quite fearful as he went before the king. It took great confidence for him to go in and make his appeal directly. But knowing that God had his back, no matter what happened, must have motivated him to take this bold move. After all, what did he have to lose? He and his friends were already condemned men.

Even though he spoke calmly and rationally with the king, Daniel understood the gravity of the situation. He went back to his friends and urged them to plead with God for their lives. Just like a duck who glides smoothly across the pond, yet under the surface its feet are paddling away, so Daniel went home and together with his friends prayed fervently to God for His mercy. You can almost sense the desperation in their hearts as they begged God for their lives.

Q3 - God could have spoken clearly and directly to Nebuchadnezzar. Why do you think He chose to use a dream that needed to be interpreted by someone else? How many other people’s lives were impacted because of the way God chose to communicate?

A3 - God humbled Nebuchadnezzar and made him on purpose have to seek Him in order to find out the meaning of this troubling dream. Remember how powerful Nebuchadnezzar was at this point in history, a great conqueror of nations. Yet with just a dream, God masterfully got his attention and essentially undermined his power. Think how frustrated this king, who commanded armies and controlled vast resources, must have been.

You can imagine how this dream also caused an uproar throughout Babylon. When the king called in all the wise men, he threatened them with death in a most gruesome way: “If you do not tell me what my dream was and interpret it, I will have you cut into pieces and your houses turned into piles of rubble” (Daniel 2:5 NIV). Certainly, their families would have suffered greatly as well. Then, when the king ordered the execution of all the wise men of Babylon, the king’s guard went out and about to fulfill this decree. This likely caused quite a stir among the townspeople.

So by using a dream, God impacted many lives. If God had spoken directly to the king, others might never have known about the communication. This way, God got the attention of all the wise men, their families, the king’s guard, Daniel and his friends, and countless others who may have been caught up in all the excitement and chaos. Then, when Daniel stepped forward with the interpretation, the focus of the king and all the others turned directly toward God.

Chapter 8: King Nebuchadnezzar—Chosen by God

Daniel 2:28-45

Q1 - Daniel explained to Nebuchadnezzar that it was God who had placed him in his position of power. What other great ruler (who was not an Israelite) did God place in power over His people? (see Romans 9:16-18 and Exodus 9:13-18)

A1 - These scriptures refer to Pharaoh, who held the Israelites as slaves in Egypt and refused to let them go. Recall that before Abram (later called Abraham) ever had any children, God promised him descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky (Genesis 15:5). Then He promised to give his descendants the land “from the Wadi of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates” (Genesis 15:18 NIV). But before they would take possession of this Promised Land, God told Abram, “Know for certain that for four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own and that they will be enslaved and mistreated there. But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions” (Genesis 15:13-14 NIV).

Pharaoh’s ruling over the Israelites and keeping them as slaves was all part of God’s plan, a plan God revealed to Abram before the Israelite people ever existed. Egypt was a great nation, and Pharaoh was a powerful pagan ruler. Yet, God used Pharaoh to reveal His power and to show that the Israelites were indeed His people by delivering them in a most dramatic manner out of Egyptian slavery. Imagine Pharaoh’s disbelief when Moses delivered God’s message to him, “I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth” (Exodus 9:16 NIV). Until that point in time, Pharaoh, like Nebuchadnezzar, quite likely never imagined that it was God who had placed him in such a powerful position or that he was actually fulfilling God’s plan for the Israelite people.

Q2 - What was God’s purpose in placing oppressive rulers over His people?

A2 - The Israelites did not remain faithful to God and keep His commands as He had directed. Although several of the kings had tried to bring the people back to God, many were unfaithful. Through the prophets, God warned the people repeatedly to turn from their evil practices, from serving other gods and worshipping what they had made with their hands. So, by allowing the Israelites to be carried off into Babylonian exile, God was both punishing them and attempting to turn the hearts of the people back to Him.

Q3 - Why would God allow the destruction of what had been created for His Name? What value were these earthly items to God, the creator of the universe?

A3 - By allowing the destruction of what He had created for His Name, God achieved a two-fold purpose. First of all, He was punishing the Israelite people for not remaining faithful to him. In Ezekiel 24, God foretells of the destruction of Jerusalem. Then he graphically illustrated His point by causing Ezekiel’s wife to die and instructed Ezekiel not to show sorrow at her death. Just as God took away Ezekiel’s bride, his greatest treasure, in like manner, He would also take away Jerusalem’s greatest treasures: “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will defile my Temple, the source of your security and pride, the place your heart delights in. Your sons and daughters whom you left behind in Judah will be slaughtered by the sword.” (Ezekiel 24: 21, NLT)

However, in taking away what had been so revered by the Israelites, God also cleared the path for the coming of a new era in worship and for his eternal kingdom. As Daniel explained to Nebuchadnezzar concerning his dream of the huge statue, “During the reigns of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed or conquered. It will crush all these kingdoms into nothingness, and it will stand forever.” (Daniel 2:44, NLT)

God had planned for an eternal kingdom all along. Yet, think how hard the transition would have been from the Old Law to the New Law if God had not forcefully and completely done away with all that had symbolized the Old Law. Even the apostle Peter, who walked with Jesus and was one of His closest companions, had to have a vision from God to convince him to change his thinking concerning the Jewish laws. And God had to repeat it three times! (See Acts 10.)

Now consider the question, what value were these earthly items to God? Probably none. God had set aside the land of Israel so Jacob’s descendants would have a place where they could all remain together. This kept a clear lineage from which Jesus directly descended. God chose Jerusalem as the place for His temple and directed its building. This gave His people a centralized place of worship.

Although the land of Israel and the city of Jerusalem had great value, and  the temple was magnificent by human standards, what value were they to God, the Creator of the universe? Did He have need of those things? Various scriptures state that that the heavens and earth are going to pass away at some point in time anyway. (See Matthew 24:35, Hebrews 1:10-12, II Peter 3:10, Revelation 21.) So even though Jerusalem and the temple provided a way for humans to connect with God, these things were for the benefit of the people, and not for God.

Chapter 9: God Reveals the Future to Nebuchadnezzar

Daniel 2:31-49

Q1 - Why do you suppose God revealed to Nebuchadnezzar the coming of Christ? How was his kingdom like the head of gold in the statue?

A1 - God had chosen Nebuchadnezzar to carry out His purpose. However, unlike Pharaoh, whom God had chosen in order that His power could be seen and His name made known, God seemed to take a more personal interest in Nebuchadnezzar. Rather than simply using this ruler as an instrument to accomplish His will, He also revealed Himself through the dreams that Daniel interpreted. God knows the hearts of people. Perhaps He thought Nebuchadnezzar’s heart could be softened, for He seemed to be calling Nebuchadnezzar to Himself.

By using the image of the great statue, God graphically showed Nebuchadnezzar his place in His grand plan that would bring Christ to the world. As the head of gold, his kingdom would be the most magnificent, but God wanted him to know that his might and the opulence of his kingdom were the result of God’s favor toward him. The kingdoms which would follow would never measure up to his. This knowledge of where God had placed him and the role he would play in God’s plan greatly humbled this great king.

Q2 - Read the Parable of the Wicked Tenants in Matthew 21:33-46. Note Jesus’ reference to the stone the builders rejected and His explanation of the parable. How does this tie in with the happenings foretold in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream?

A2 - This parable gives a short synopsis of the Jewish religious leaders, who are the tenant farmers, and their relationship with God, who is the landowner or master. After choosing the Israelites as His people, God provided them with His law and helped them set up everything needed to nurture their relationship with Him. Yet, time and again, they rejected Him and the many prophets He had sent to instruct them. Finally, He sent his Son, Jesus, to bring them to Himself, but they killed him as well.

Note that Jesus, in telling this parable, is foretelling His own death, that the Jewish people would soon kill Him. It’s also interesting that the priests and Pharisees who heard this parable recognized themselves as the wicked farmers. They would have arrested Jesus right then, had they not been afraid of the crowds who considered Jesus a prophet.

How does the scripture in Psalm 118:25-26 which Jesus quotes relate to this parable? The stone the builders rejected was Jesus, God’s Son. He corresponds to the landowner’s son in the parable who was sent to the tenant farmers. But who were the builders who rejected the stone? Here’s what Matthew Henry states in his commentary: “The chief priests and the elders were the builders, had the oversight of the Jewish church, which was God’s building: and they would not allow Christ a place in their building, would not admit his doctrine or laws into their constitution; they threw him aside as a despised broken vessel, a stone that would serve only for a stepping-stone, to be trampled upon.” (Find Matthew Henry’s commentary here.)

Yet, this stone which had been cast aside by the Jewish leaders would become the cornerstone for God’s eternal kingdom. What is the significance of a cornerstone? In building a stone structure, the cornerstone is the first stone placed on the foundation. Often, this stone will be inscribed with the date and other information relevant to the structure being built. All the other stones are then laid in reference to the cornerstone. It determines their positioning and hence the positioning of the entire structure.

No wonder the religious leaders wanted to arrest Jesus. He had just told them the Kingdom of God would be taken away from them and given to a nation that would produce the proper fruit, implying that they had not produced what God had expected of them. Remember that under the Old Law, there was no separation of church and state. So they were the political as well as the religious leaders for the Jewish people. Jesus essentially was telling them they would become irrelevant when this great change came about!

The stone in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream was also destined to bring about great change. Having been cut from a mountain, but not by human hands, meant that this was God’s doing. This stone represented a divine new kingdom, and earthly rulers would play no part in establishing it. (It’s also possible the mountain represents God, and Jesus, as a stone cut from the mountain, was the part of God that came to live on earth.) This stone would then crush the magnificent statue in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream to bits, and the wind would blow the pieces away. This divine new kingdom would supplant all the earthly kingdoms, and it would continue to grow and become a great mountain covering the whole earth.

In both Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and the parable of the wicked tenants, the stone represented Jesus. He fulfilled the Old Law, and in establishing the New Law, He became the cornerstone on which God’s eternal church is built. This new kingdom is a spiritual rather than an earthly kingdom, and it will last forever. As a rock hewn from the mountain of God, it will be able to withstand all challengers and contenders. Best of all, this divine kingdom is open to all peoples of the world, regardless of their earthly lineage.

Q3 - In a relatively short period of time, Daniel went from his life hanging in the balance to being promoted ruler over the province of Babylon. What other examples can you think of where God turned a situation from being seemingly hopeless into an advantage for His people?

A3 - The Bible contains numerous examples of God’s hand at work in people’s lives. One that comes to mind is Joseph (see Genesis chapters 37, 39-41). Sold by his own brothers into slavery, he became a servant of Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh’s guard. After being falsely accused of rape by Potiphar’s wife, he then spent several years in prison in Egypt.

Joseph’s life changed instantly when, with God’s help, he interpreted Pharaoh’s dream. Pharaoh then put him in charge of the entire land of Egypt, second in rank only to the king. Pharaoh gave him his signet ring and fine linen clothing, hung a gold chain around his neck, and provided him a chariot in which to ride. “And Pharaoh said to him, ‘I am Pharaoh, but no one will lift a hand or foot in the entire land of Egypt without your approval.’” (Genesis 41:44, NLT)

Pharaoh also gave Joseph a wife, who bore him two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. Both of these sons’ descendants would later receive an allotment in the Promised Land, meaning that Joseph essentially received a double inheritance. Remember that Joseph’s father, Jacob who was later called Israel, had twelve sons and there would later be twelve tribes. But the descendants of one son, Levi, did not receive a tribal allotment, because they were the priestly tribe. In return for their service to God, they received other considerations, including the food offerings brought in by the other Israelites. However, Manasseh and Ephraim, Joseph’s sons, both received an allotment, thus bringing the number of tribes to twelve.

So Joseph went from being his father’s favorite son to being presumed dead. After being sold into slavery, things got even worse when he was thrown into prison in Egypt. He was seventeen when he was tending his father’s flocks (Genesis 37:2), and he was thirty when he began serving in Pharaoh’s court (Genesis 41:46). For those thirteen years in between, his life looked pretty bleak. But then everything changed, and he went from being a prisoner to being second in command over one of the greatest kingdoms of that time. His being placed in that position became a huge advantage for his family, who had to move to Egypt to survive the great drought. God later rewarded his descendants with a double portion of inheritance in the Promised Land. It took awhile, but things worked out well in the end for Joseph.

Chapter 10: King Nebuchadnezzar Forgets God

Daniel 3:1-7

Q1 - What does the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar built and his commands concerning it reveal about the his character?

A1 - Did Nebuchadnezzar have this golden image built in honor of his god? Or did he seek to honor himself and celebrate his military victories and the glory of the kingdom he had built? While the scriptures do not state why Nebuchadnezzar had this spectacular image built, the king’s statement in Daniel 4:29-30 (NLT) speaks to his character: “Twelve months later he was taking a walk on the flat roof of the royal palace in Babylon. As he looked out across the city, he said, ‘Look at this great city of Babylon! By my own mighty power, I have built this beautiful city as my royal residence to display my majestic splendor.’”

Note that Nebuchadnezzar made this statement later, after his second dream. This was after Daniel had once again explained to him God’s divine role in directing the events of his life. These messages from God did impact his thinking for a little while, they don’t seem to have permanently soaked into his psyche. The king’s ego was too great.

So it’s likely that Nebuchadnezzar had this enormous image built to honor himself. Erected out on the flat plain and made of dazzling gold, this statue had to have been spectacular as well as highly visible. By commanding that people of every nation and language fall down and worship it, the king obviously had no regard for anyone’s religious beliefs or political loyalties. Only his wishes mattered, and he ruled by brute force.

Q2 - What other powerful military conquerers through the ages come to mind? How were they similar or dissimilar to Nebuchadnezzar?

A2 - History is rife with military conquerors. Here’s one list, although you may want to do your own search.

This list includes the likes of Attila the Hun, Alexander the Great, and the Roman Caesars Julius and Augustus, all of whom lived before the time of Christ. After the time of Christ came Charlemange, William the Conqueror, Genghis Khan and Tamerlane. In more recent history, there were Napoleon Bonaparte and Adolph Hitler. Of course, many others could be added to this list.

Some promoted a religion or ideology. Others sought to gain control over as much territory as possible. In their wake would lay an untold number of dead bodies. Tamerlane’s army reportedly killed over 17 million people. Hitler had over 6 million Jews executed, a number which paled in comparison to the estimated 60 million ultimately killed in WW2.

It would take further research to affirm the motivators and personal characteristics of each of these conquerors. However, many appear to be similar to Nebuchadnezzar in that they possessed enormous egos, demanded allegiance, and killed any who stood in their way.

Nebuchadnezzar seems to be unique among world conquerors in several ways. God communicated with him by dreams. While Pharaoh also had dreams (Genesis 41), his dealt with the immediate future and were very limited in their message. Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams were much broader in scope. He saw how God had placed him in such as powerful position (head of the golden statue) and how the kingdoms that were to follow would stack up. He showed him the immediate future (tree that was cut down). His dreams also provided him a glimpse of God’s plan of salvation through Jesus Christ and then projected on into eternity. His dreams bear similarities with the dreams of Daniel, who was a prophet of God, and the Apostle John, who wrote the book of Revelation.

By revealing so much to this pagan ruler, God seems to have taken great interest in Nebuchadnezzar. God knows the hearts of people. He must have seen something worthy in this king’s heart, because He provided Nebuchadnezzar multiple opportunities to turn to Him. In fact, the last Biblical record of Nebuchadnezzar in the book of Daniel shows him honoring God: “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.” (Daniel 4:37, NIV)

Q3 - Do you think Daniel and his fellow Jews knew the intent of the king concerning this image during the time it was being built? How do you think they felt as its completion drew near?

A3 - Such an enormous and costly statue was not built overnight. It took some time to erect this monument, perhaps several years. It’s also safe to assume that Daniel and his friends, who were all in high positions of leadership, were fully aware that it was being built and of Nebuchadnezzar’s intent to make it a focus of worship. So they probably watched its completion, knowing that a showdown would be the ultimate result.

The Jewish people through history had witnessed God’s intervention many times. They knew that God was capable of delivering them yet again. However, it’s likely their human nature prevailed and that they felt a sense of impending doom. After all, God had sent them into Babylonian captivity as punishment for their unfaithfulness. While there, they were apparently threatened with death frequently. Perhaps they were more resigned than we would be today to accept whatever fate would be meted out to them, although it’s hard to imagine that the erection of this statue did not cause them great anxiety.

Chapter 11: Risking Their Lives to Honor God

Daniel 3:8-30

Q1 - Reread verses 16-18 and consider what a powerful statement these men made in the face of certain death.

A1 - Could there be any greater statement in the Bible of what faith in God means? Faced with what appeared to be certain death, these men proclaimed their confidence that God would somehow deliver them. However, they knew then, just as we know today, that our idea of what needs to happen doesn’t always align with what God wants to happen. So, instead of demanding God do their bidding, they proclaimed their faith in Him, regardless of what He chose to happen.

Think of other examples of faith in the Bible. A good scripture to remind you of the many who have gone before is Hebrews 11. Let their faith inspire you to always continue in yours, for we, together with them, will be made perfect! (See verse 40.)

Read Romans 8 and let the words of this powerful chapter soak in. Perhaps print off the following verses to put on the fridge where you can see them frequently: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: ‘For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35-39, NIV)

Q2 - How would it affect you if you had to live from day to day under the rule of someone who created life or death situations for you and who was given to such rage?

A2 - Some of us would find it hard to even function in such an environment. It seems that death was the punishment of choice for the people living during this time. And such imaginative, gruesome deaths at that—being burned in a fiery furnace or eaten by lions. Often it wouldn’t be just you, but your entire family as well. Obviously, keeping the people in constant fear of their lives served to ensure their instant obedience to the king’s commands. You would have to have a faith strong enough to be willing to die for your convictions.

Q3 - Does God always deliver His people from death? Why or why not? Consider Stephen and other early Christians. (Acts 7:54-8:3)

A3 - Stephen is often referred to as the first Christian martyr. During the early days of Christianity, many believers were persecuted and killed. While Stephen was killed by Jews, many other Christians were later killed by the Romans. (See the article, “Nero Persecutes The Christians, 64 AD.”) In an effort to escape this tyranny, the Christians who survived scattered to wherever they could go. This, in turn, helped spread the Gospel across the entire region. (See the article, “Persecution in the Early Church.”)

Why does God chose to deliver some from death but not others? God views things differently than we do. He sees the big picture and acts according to His purpose. Death holds no fear for Christians, because their reward lies in the spiritual realm, not the physical. As Paul stated in Philippians 1:21 (NIV), “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” He was torn between his desire to depart the flesh in order to be with Christ eternally or to live in the flesh and continue to labor on earth for Christ. Truly, physical death is not a punishment for Christians. And for those God does deliver from death, it would seem that He still has work for them to do on earth.

Chapter 12: The King’s Second Dream—God Tries Again

Daniel 4:1-18 

Q1 - What is the significance of the enormous tree in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream? What does this tree reveal about Nebuchadnezzar and his kingdom?

A1 - God had already revealed to Nebuchadnezzar with the dream of the great statue that it was He who had placed the king in such an exalted position. However, time passed and Nebuchadnezzar lapsed back into his self-serving, egotistical ways. So with this dream, God again reminds him that his greatness is not his own doing. It is God who has planted him, represented by this enormous tree, so firmly and mightily in the middle of the earth.

Trees help sustain life on this earth. Humans, animals, and other plants all benefit greatly from the presence of trees. They were such an important part of God’s creation that He created trees and other vegetation on Day 3, right after he separated the sea from the sky on Day 2. He even created trees before he created the sun, moon and stars on Day 4. He wanted them to be in place well before he created animals and mankind on Day 6. (See Genesis 1.)

So with this dream, God is showing Nebuchadnezzar how important he is in God’s plan.  Like this tree, he helps provides food and shelter for many. But just as God created this magnificent tree, He can take it down as well. God wants Nebuchadnezzar to learn once and for all who’s really in control and reveals what is about to happen to the king.

But God still holds out hope for Nebuchadnezzar, because instead of completely destroying the tree, He preserves the stump, keeping it bound with an iron and bronze band (keeping things all together for him). After the king’s stint as an animal (a huge dose of humility for someone so powerful), God will restore the king to his former position with even more greatness than before.

Without God’s intervention, do you think Nebuchadnezzar’s place would have been held for him? Other leaders would have seen this as an opportunity for them to quickly step in and fill the void. And without God’s intervention, do you think the advisers and nobles would have sought out someone who had just spent seven years living as an animal? Maybe they would seek him out of curiosity but definitely not to reestablish him over the kingdom. Truly, Nebuchadnezzar must have been someone special in God’s eyes, else why would God have placed him in such an exalted position and then gone to such efforts to turn the king’s heart to Him?

Q2 - What other trees have been mentioned in the Bible? Why were trees so important in ancient times?

A2 - Remember that most people in Bible times lived much closer to the earth than most of us do today. Those who lived the nomadic lifestyle likely had tents made from animal skins or fabric woven from various fibers. Those who lived in villages and towns may have had structures of stone or mud bricks made from mud and straw. Regardless, except for homes of the wealthy and the royalty, family dwellings were much, much smaller in size than homes today. They tended to spend a lot of time outdoors, whether caring for their crops or their animals, preparing food, or performing various other tasks. Trees provided shade and welcome coolness for them when the weather was hot, as well as a place to lounge or sit and visit with one another. Some trees provided fruit, others were used in building structures, and dead branches and fallen trees were an excellent source of firewood for cooking and keeping warm.

In certain areas, trees were few and far between, and large trees served as notable landmarks. Recall that Abraham, after he and Lot parted company, went and lived near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron (Genesis 13:18). He built an alter to the Lord there, and it was there that the Lord appeared to him and told him that Sarah would give birth to a son (Genesis 18). Unfortunately, “spreading trees” also served as sites for idol worship. (Search on this term at biblegateway.com to see the many times such practices were mentioned.)

Then, of course, the two most notable trees in the Bible are the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil which God placed in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:9). He had commanded the man not to eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil or else he would die (Genesis 2:16-17). Later, after God had created woman, the serpent came to her and tempted her to eat from that tree (read the entire account in Genesis 3). As a result, God drove them out of the Garden of Eden so that they would not also be able to eat from the Tree of Life and live forever (Genesis 3:22-24).

However, in the book of Revelation, the Tree of Life appears again. “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” (Revelation 2:7) It is there that the faithful will be able to partake of the Tree of Life. Jesus said, “‘Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.’” (Revelation 22:14-15) Then comes the warning not to add to nor take away from the words of this prophecy, “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.” (Revelation 22:18-19)

Q3 - In finding someone to interpret his dream, compare Nebuchadnezzar’s actions concerning his first dream with this dream. Do you think the confidence Nebuchadnezzar now had in Daniel dampened the king’s typically explosive nature?

A3 - By the time this dream occurred, Nebuchadnezzar was older. Although the scriptures don’t state how old he was, he had likely finished his conquering of other nations. He now contented himself with domestic living, enjoying the lavishness of his palace. The king had mellowed considerably, having already proved his prowess on the world stage.

Also by this time, Nebuchadnezzar had had much interaction with Daniel and others of the Jewish community. He had personally witnessed the power of their God on several occasions. He had held Daniel in high regard since the early days of his training, and for years he had placed Daniel in positions of great authority in his kingdom. Certainly, Daniel had more than earned the confidence of the king.

However, when Nebuchadnezzar had this second dream from God, it frightened him. He knew it was a message from the Divine, and it didn’t sound good. This God of the Jews had proven Himself much more powerful than the king could have ever imagined. Nebuchadnezzar now knew what he was up against, and he knew that lashing out at humans in an attempt to learn the meaning of this dream would prove futile. So perhaps the king’s knowledge of God’s great power also played a part in dampening his response.

Chapter 13: God Gives Nebuchadnezzar Time

Daniel 4:19-37

Q1 - What has God done at other times to humble someone? Can you think of any other instance where God caused someone to live like an animal as he did Nebuchadnezzar?

A1 - God shows his power to individuals in many ways. Sometimes it’s with a spectacular display, but other times it’s underwhelming so that there can be no doubt God was responsible for the result.

While there are numerous examples of God humbling the proud, the story of Naaman makes an interesting study (see II Kings 5). As a commander in the army of the king of Aram, he held a powerful position and was highly regarded. Yet, he had leprosy, a progressively destructive skin and nervous system disease from which there was no cure. (As an aside, armadillos can carry leprosy, so avoid handling them.)

Many cultures around the world isolated lepers from the rest of society, such as in leper colonies. The Israelites had received extensive commands concerning cleanliness and skin issues (see Leviticus 13 and 14), and those who were deemed unclean had to live alone outside the camp. Naaman was not an Israelite, but his disease must have caused him great concern.

After learning from a young Israelite girl who had been captured in one of their raids that a prophet in Samaria could cure leprosy, Naaman set about to find him. Finally, he came to Elisha’s house and stopped at his door. Instead of speaking with Naaman directly, Elisha sent a messenger to tell him to go wash in the Jordan River seven times.

These instructions were not at all what Naaman had expected. This powerful army commander angrily stormed off. He had expected a more showy display of God’s power performed by the prophet himself. Instead, after going to all this effort to find Elisha, he felt duped and humiliated. But, after his servants reasoned with him, he went and dunked himself in the Jordan seven times, and his skin was indeed restored.

Without a doubt, Naaman knew he had witnessed the power of God. It wasn’t the magical power of Elisha waving his hand over him which he had envisioned, and it certainly couldn’t have been that river water which cured him. It was Naaman humbling himself before the Lord and obeying what he was instructed to do.

But interestingly enough, this story is not over! Naaman and all his attendants came back to Elisha and acknowledged the power of God. “He stood before him and said, ‘Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel.’” (II Kings 5:15, NIV) Then Naaman tried to give Elisha a gift, but the prophet refused.

So after Naaman and his company had departed to go back home, Elisha’s servant, Gehazi, considered how he personally could profit from this incident. He chased them down and made up a story about needing silver and clothing for two young prophets who had just arrived. Naaman readily supplied these items, which Gehazi then tucked away in his house. Later, he tried to lie to Elisha about where he’d been, but the results were disastrous. His skin became leprous, as white as snow, and Elisha declared that Naaman’s leprosy would cling to him and his descendants forever (II Kings 5:27)! Certainly, Gehazi experienced the hand of God punishing him for his greed and deceit.

Now, concerning whether God has caused anyone other than Nebuchadnezzar to live like an animal, growing feathers like an eagle, claws like a bird, and eating grass. I posed this question, because I found this treatment so unique and have not come up with any other examples. This seems to be another instance of how God provided special treatment to Nebuchadnezzar. He went to great lengths to get the king’s attention in an effort to ultimately turn his heart to Him.

The Bible tells of numerous people who were demon possessed, which often caused them to behave erratically or violently. Demons do not seem to have been sent by God, but rather Satan, although not so much is known about demons. In the Old Testament, when God rejected Saul as king over the Israelites, He sent an evil or harmful spirit on several occasions to torment him (see I Samuel 15 and 16). In this case, God had given up on Saul, whom He had chosen to be the first king over the Israelites.

There is the curios instance in Numbers 22 of Balaam’s donkey, who, upon seeing the angel from God, began speaking to Balaam (an animal taking on a human trait rather than a human becoming like an animal). The donkey asked Balaam why he had been beating him, and to make the story even more curious, Balaam actually replied back to the donkey! However, none of the instances mentioned here seem comparable to what God did to Nebuchadnezzar. Perhaps you can think of other examples.

Q2 - Daniel advised Nebuchadnezzar to do what was right and be kind to the oppressed, which supposedly the king did during the year his punishment was delayed. Yet, what was the nature of his sin that caused God to follow through on his punishment?

A2 - When you think through all the many sins that are possible for humans to commit, the “bad” sins probably come to mind first. The sins where people physically do something—like stealing, murder, adultery—these are the ones that seem so wrong. The sins of the heart tend not to register as high on the “sin meter”.

Yet, does God have a meter? Certain sins have greater consequences for us while living on earth—for example, murdering someone versus telling a little white lie. However, sin separates us from God, any sin at all, and sin is quite prevalent within the human race. As John states, “If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.” (I John 1:8, NLT) So, with God, we are either saved or not saved, and sins of the heart separate us from God just as surely as any physical sin.

Sin can be “classified”, however, as explained in I John 2:16 (NIV): “For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.” The New Living Translationstates the same verse this way: “For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions.”

So God had given Nebuchadnezzar a reprieve from his sentence, which could possibly have lasted indefinitely. But after a year had passed, the king looked out across the city and exclaimed in Daniel 4:30 (NLT), “‘Look at this great city of Babylon! By my own mighty power, I have built this beautiful city as my royal residence to display my majestic splendor.’” At that moment, he forgot all his earlier lessons from God and let his pride overtake him. His enormous ego popped out, and while he was still speaking those fateful words, God carried out the sentence that had been revealed to the king earlier.

What a lesson for us to be ever vigilant to do what is right and not become forgetful! We sometimes let our guard down when things are coasting along pretty well. Remember God’s admonition to Cain in Genesis 4:7 (VOICE), “‘Don’t you know that as long as you do what is right, then I accept you? But if you do not do what is right, watch out, because sin is crouching at the door, ready to pounce on you! You must master it before it masters you.’”

Q3 - Can you think of other examples where someone went through a great ordeal or suffering and, because of God’s grace, ended up in as good or better position than when they started?

A3 - The Bible provides numerous examples of this occurring. Here are a few. Be sure to list your own favorites.

Daniel himself would certainly be such an example, as would his three Jewish companions, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.

Of course, Joseph being sold into slavery by his brothers and later becoming second in command only to the Pharaoh of Egypt comes to mind. (Refer back to Lesson 9, Question 3, where his life story is discussed.)

The Israelites were finally led out of Egyptian slavery by Moses, who should have been killed as an infant by Pharaoh’s decree but was instead raised by the Pharaoh’s own daughter as her son. He later had to spend forty years in exile in Midian after he had killed an Egyptian, but while living there, he tended the flocks of Reuel (or Jethro), a priest of Midan. He married Jethro’s daughter and then had two sons. Later, God called him to be one of the greatest leaders in all the Bible.

The book of Esther tells of both Mordecai and his young cousin, Esther (or Hadassah). Mordecai’s great grandfather, Kish, had been among the Jews carried off to Babylon, so Mordecai and Esther lived their entire lives in captivity. Mordecai, because he refused to kneel and pay honor to Haman, caused Haman to seek a way to destroy not only him but also every Jew in the kingdom. Esther, who was raised by Mordecai after the death of her parents, had become the queen and used her position to great advantage to save her people from annihilation. In the end, Haman was forced to honor Mordecai, and then he was impaled on the very pole he had erected to impale Mordecai. The king gave Haman’s estate to Esther, who in turn appointed Mordecai over it. The king also gave his signet ring, which he had previously given to Haman, to Mordecai, and Mordecai became second in command only to the king in ruling the entire empire.

Chapter 14: King Belshazzar Sees the Writing on the Wall

Daniel 5:1-12

Q1 - How did God use this evil king for His purposes?

A1 - Sometimes God takes His time doing things, but not this time! On the very day King Belshazzar threw his great feast, blaspheming God with toasts to false gods while drinking from the temple vessels, God ended his reign. Just when this king thought he had bested the Jewish people and their God, he saw the hand writing up on the wall and knew that he was doomed. Definitely, God used this king to display His great power and might and to show, without a doubt, that He is in control.

As mentioned in previous lessons, God can use evil people as well as good people to accomplish His will and display His might. Most notably, He told Pharaoh, when he once again refused to let the Israelites leave Egypt, that He could have already wiped him off the earth, “‘But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.’” (Exodus 9:16, NIV) Once again, this time with Belshazzar, God displayed His power to an earthly ruler and showed him just who was really in control.

Q2 - Why do you suppose God used a human hand (or at least fingers) to write on the wall? Why not just have words appear, or perhaps speak in a loud voice from heaven? What was God’s purpose in writing words that had to be interpreted?

A2 - The human form is something humans are very familiar with, and obviously a human hand requires a human body in order to function. With no visible body attached, the hand acting alone was undeniably a miracle in progress. If only words had appeared or a loud voice spoke or something without visibly seeing the human element, it could have been passed off as trickery. After all, magicians, sorcerers and the like were evidently considered pretty skilled back then. Remember how Nebuchadnezzar had called upon these “wise” men to interpret his dreams.

So after this obviously miraculous event occurred, no one knew what the words meant! Think how this increased the tension in the air. Wise men had to be called in, and when they couldn’t interpret the words, the anxiety level escalated even more. The outcries from those in the banquet hall became so loud that the queen (likely the queen mother) heard the commotion from wherever she was and came to see what was wrong. She tried to calm things down, but upon her suggestion, they had to go find Daniel. As they waited on him to arrive, the stress level probably ratcheted back up by the moment. It’s likely that all of these happenings took several hours, or longer, to transpire. The dread, the prolonged anticipation of impending doom, gave everyone there plenty of time to contemplate their situation. If God had acted quickly, they wouldn’t have been able to simmer in their anxiety and realize the full extent of the severity of mocking God.

Q3 - If you had been this king, what emotions and thoughts would have gone through your mind all on this one day, this day that turned out to be the last day of your life?

A3 - What a roller coaster ride this day was for King Belshazzar! He was so convinced he’d won, that the Jewish prophecy of Babylonian rule coming to an end was merely an old wives’ tale, that he threw an extravagant banquet to celebrate. At the height of his revelry, the sight of that hand writing on the wall threw ice water on everything. Things went down from there. The queen coming in to calm things down slowed the descent somewhat, but when Daniel calmly pronounced God’s judgment on him, he knew for certain he was doomed. Indeed, Belshazzar was killed that very night.

Chapter 15: The Night Prophecy Was Fulfilled

Daniel 5:13-31

Q1 - It makes an interesting study to review some of the scriptures in Jeremiah where he foretold what would happen during Babylonian captivity. Begin reading around Jeremiah 21, or search on "Nebuchadnezzar" in the book of Jeremiah and note how what was foretold lined up with what occurred in Daniel.

A1 - It would be good to start this study by placing events in perspective. Timelines can be very helpful for this. You can do your own search for Bible timelines or refer to the ones listed below.

• The Rulers and Prophets of Daniel’s Time - (This timeline provides a picture representation of the time periods covered by the various books of the Bible, from about 650 BC almost to the time of Christ.)

• Daniel - (Scroll down to the graphic in #4 and note the large shaded rectangle denoting the time covered by the book of Daniel. Note that the complete line depicting the time period for the book of Jeremiah is not shown and would extend back to about 627 BC. However, you can see that the book of Jeremiah precedes and overlaps the book of Daniel.)

• Bible Timeline - (This timeline gives a complete listing of approximate dates, from the creation in Genesis through the book of Revelation. References to Daniel begin at 605 BC, and you can scroll around and see how the various scriptures in Jeremiah line up with Daniel.)

• Amazing Bible and World History Timeline Poster - (This poster is for sale and looks to be very comprehensive. However, I have not actually seen it, nor do I receive any compensation whatsoever.)

The book of Daniel covers the time period from about 605 BC to 536 BC, approximately 69 years, which lines up with the 70 years of Babylonian captivity. Daniel was a young person when he went into captivity, possibly 14-20 years old, which would place his birth as early as around 625-620 BC. He lived through all the Babylonian kings and was there the night Belshazzar was killed and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom (Daniel 5:30-31). It was Darius who had Daniel thrown in the den of lions, which Daniel survived. He went on to prosper during the reigns of Darius and of Cyrus the Persian (Daniel 6:28). This means Daniel lived probably well into his 80s or even into his 90s, making an estimated time of his death around 535-530 BC.

The lives of Daniel and Jeremiah overlapped, although Jeremiah was a little older than Daniel. Jeremiah began his years as a prophet probably around the time Daniel was born or maybe a few years before his birth. Scriptures do not say how old Jeremiah was at the time, but in Jeremiah 1:6, he tried to tell God he was too young to be His prophet, an excuse that didn’t work. He states in Jeremiah 1:2-3 that the word of the Lord came to him in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah, the king of Judah, and extended through the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah when the people of Jerusalem went into exile. (Remember that Daniel went into exile earlier, around 605 BC, when the first wave of captives were taken.) This would date Jeremiah’s calling around the year 627 BC.

So Jeremiah served as a prophet of God during the time directly preceding Babylonian captivity and until the Israelites were almost midway through those years. He acted as a mouthpiece of God, instructing and admonishing the people during this most tumultuous time in their history. He was also letting them know as they went along what was about to occur so they would know what to expect. Even though God was unhappy with His people and punished them with these years of foreign captivity, He kept in contact with them through His prophets and did not abandon them.

Scroll through the scriptures in Jeremiah that mention Nebuchadnezzar to see how Jeremiah kept the Israelites informed as to what was occurring or about to occur.

In Jeremiah 29 you can read the letter that Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the exiles living in Babylon. The body of the letter is in verses 4-23. In that letter, God instructs His people to build houses and to settle down. He tells them to have children and seek peace and prosperity in the city where they are living in exile. He admonishes them not to listen to the false prophets who play to their dreams of returning to Jerusalem any time soon. Even though God will bring them back, it’s going to be after the seventy years in Babylon are completed. Through this letter, God is instructing His people how to live while in Babylonian captivity.

An interesting aside is the account of the the false prophet Hananiah in Jeremiah 28. He tried to say that within two years God would break the yoke of the king of Babylon, bring His people back, and restore things like they were (verses 2-4). He even went so far as to break the wooden yoke off Jeremiah’s neck to symbolize how God would break Nebuchadnezzar’s yoke from off their nation (verses 10-11). God comes back strong against Hananiah’s prophecy and states, “‘I will put an iron yoke on the necks of all these nations to make them serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and they will serve him. I will even give him control over the wild animals.’” (Jeremiah 28:14, NIV) Because Hananiah tried to persuade the people to trust in his lies and preached rebellion, God said He would remove him from the face of the earth, and he died that same year.

Q2 - Compare Daniel’s demeanor with that of the acute anxiety of everyone else in the room, particularly the king. What gave Daniel his confidence? Why was he not worried he would be killed for delivering this devastating message?

A2 - Daniel is an old man at the time of this scripture. He has lived through being marched off into captivity, being reprogrammed to serve the king, and who knows how many death threats he has endured along the way. He has seen firsthand how God protects and delivers those who are faithful to Him, even while living in captivity in a foreign land. He has also served as God’s mouthpiece, interpreting Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams and delivering God’s messages to him. He could just as well have uttered the words that the Apostle Paul would proclaim several centuries later, “I know the one in whom I’ve placed my trust. I’m convinced that God is powerful enough to protect what he has placed in my trust until that day.” (II Timothy 1:12b, CEB) He did not fear what other people might do to him, because live or die, he would serve God.

Q3 - Why do you suppose God wrote “mene” twice in His message to Belshazzar?

A3 - God must have repeated this word for emphasis, so there could be no doubt as to the finality of His decision—the days of this kingdom were numbered, and this king’s number was up.

Of course, with words from God, once would have been enough, but the audience probably consisted of people who believed in false gods and not in the true God. Try to envision this whole scene. The people present saw the hand writing the message up on the wall, and they felt the fear envelop the room and themselves. Then it took awhile for the king to summon his wise men and let them try to figure out the meaning, for the queen to hear the outcry, come into the banquet hall and tell the king what to do, and for Daniel to be found and brought before the king. How long? It could have been hours, or maybe all day, as the scripture states in verse 30 that Belshazzar was killed that night.

If you had been there in that banquet hall, what would you have been doing during this time of what had to seem like an endless wait? Probably staring up at that wall, trying over and over to figure out what those words meant. You would definitely have noticed “mene” was written twice. And when Daniel finally interpreted the words, you would most certainly have felt this double impact and the absolute finality of God’s judgement.

Chapter 16: King Darius Regrets His Decree

Daniel 6:1-14

Q1 - What does it say about King Darius that he would go along with a decree that people could pray only to him?

A1 - First of all, who was Darius the Mede? Historians have had trouble finding out, and some point to the reference of him in the book of Daniel as an inaccuracy in the Bible. Remember that the scriptures you read today have been translated. Old Testament scriptures were written in Hebrew, and the New Testament in Greek. However, at least parts of Ezra, Daniel and Jeremiah were written in Aramaic. (Here’s a short, informative article entitled, "In What Language Was the Bible First Written?")

What difference does the language make? It’s highly possible that names in one language are different in another language and change upon translation. (Go pull up a map of the world that’s printed in a different language, like German or French, to see how the names of countries differ from English names.) It’s highly possible that Darius was known in secular history by a different name, or even that “Darius” referred to a title rather than a personal name. (Here’s an article that digs back into archaeological writings concerning "Belshazzar and Darius the Mede.")

So don’t let it throw you when you research Darius and certain references say there is no evidence he existed. This has been said in numerous other circumstances and then later discoveries will surface which support the Biblical documentation. According to information now available, Darius was the same person as the ruler, Gubaru.

Regardless of what he’s called, it’s evident that this new king was pretty egotistical. It’s also evident that he didn’t believe in the true God, or he would never have agreed to allow others to pray to him. He must not have really believed in any of their false gods either, or he would have been fearful of their wrath and retribution. And he certainly wouldn’t have made a good chess player, if the game had been in existence at the time, because he didn't think beyond the move at hand. He was dazzled by the proposal of the conspiring administrators and failed to consider the possible ramifications of his edict.

Q2 - What does it say about the other officials that they would even suggest such a decree be made?

A2 - Have you ever be subject to a hostile work environment? Maybe there’s a certain clique, the in-crowd, that controls things or manages to take the credit for other people’s work. Maybe you’ve even had others try to sabotage your efforts, make light of your suggestions, or smile to your face and then stab you in the back. Some things really haven’t changed through the centuries, have they?

These officials were mean spirited and obviously held no regard for human life. Of course, putting people to death in creative ways seems to have happened fairly frequently during these times. You lived or died at the pleasure of the king, and the reason for your death didn’t really need to make sense. These officials were simply trying to play to the king’s vulnerabilities in order to eliminate Daniel and get him out of their way.

Q3 - Why do you think the other officials wanted Daniel out of the way? Were they simply trying to advance their own political ambitions by tearing someone else down? Might they have been afraid of what Daniel would uncover about the way they had been handling government assets if he were placed in charge of the whole kingdom?

A3 - It could have been their own selfish ambition that drove these administrators to set this trap for Daniel. Maybe they wanted to be the ones on top. They were obviously not Jewish to have made such a proposal, so cultural conflict could well have played a part in their trying to get him killed.

However, because the scriptures state in verse 2 that the other officials would be accountable to the top three administrators in order to keep the king from being defrauded or suffering loss, it’s highly likely that somebody was helping themselves to the king’s wealth. Things weren’t disappearing solely because of accounting errors or not being used in the most efficient manner. In all probability, wealth was being pilfered, and that’s why the king wanted someone in charge who was honest as well as capable. These conspirators went to great efforts to snare Daniel because they could well have been part of the problem.

Chapter 17: God Saves Daniel from Death

Daniel 6:13-28

Q1 - If you were King Darius, what thoughts would race through your mind when you realized you had been trapped by your own decree?

A1 - The king must have immediately realized he had been manipulated by the very people whom he had entrusted with overseeing his kingdom. These administrators knew the king favored Daniel, and they purposely set about to have him killed—by means of the king’s own decree! The king must have felt not only anger, but also a deep sense of betrayal. Even though he was the ruler, these underlings had outmaneuvered him. They had played to his vulnerability, to his pride. This could not have set well with one of the most powerful leaders in the world at that time.

Q2 - If you were the other officials who had pulled this off, what would you be thinking and feeling when the king realized he had no choice but to follow through on his orders?

A2 - How smug these officials must have felt! With Daniel out of the way, they would enjoy greater freedom in accessing the wealth of the kingdom and peddling their influence. And they had accomplished all this by means of the king’s own decree, which no one, not even the king, could revoke.

These men thought they had outsmarted the king. But if the king would have made a poor chess player for his inability to think beyond the move at hand, these men would have been even worse. They had invoked the wrath of someone who held the power of life and death in his hands, and they had just given him great cause to seek retribution against them.

Q3 - Do you think it ever occurred to these officials that the tables would be turned and they would be the ones to suffer the gruesome fate they had planned for Daniel? Can you think of other instances where someone became ensnared by their own trap?

A3 - When these administrators made their proposal to Darius, they also suggested the punishment for disobedience—being thrown into the lions’ den. While execution with a sword would have been quicker, the thought of being torn apart by savage lions must have struck even greater fear in the hearts of the people. Execution by wild animals would later be used by the Romans, but it must have already been used for capital punishment in Daniel’s time because of the fact that the king had a lions’ den available, waiting and ready.

And these officials pulled off their scheme! They probably witnessed everything—Daniel being thrown into the den, the stone being placed over the opening, and the stone then being sealed with the king’s own signet ring and those of his nobles. They probably celebrated as they went to bed that night, absolutely confident that soon only a few inedible scraps would be left of Daniel.

Can you imagine the disbelief these same officials felt the next morning upon learning that Daniel was alive and he was also unharmed? That shock would soon be followed by a tremendous feeling of doom and dread as the king pronounced not only their fate, but also the fate of their entire family. The gruesome death they had planned for Daniel quickly became their own.

You may think of other instances, either in the Bible or from secular history, where the evil plotted by one person turned out to be their own fate. One notable example that comes to mind occurred in the book of Esther. Mordecai, the cousin who raised Queen Esther, incurred the wrath of Haman, whom King Xerses had elevated to a position higher than all the other nobles in his kingdom. When Haman would pass by, Mordecai refused to kneel down or pay him honor because he was a Jew.

Mordecai so infuriated Haman that Haman managed to get the king to issue an edict declaring that all the Jews in the kingdom were to be killed on a certain date in the future. In the meantime, Haman was still so vexed that Mordecai continued to not kneel or bow to him, that his wife suggested he erect a pole about 75 feet high (50 cubits or 23 meters) and have Mordecai impaled upon it. This suggestion delighted Haman, so he had the pole erected. (Assuming that each story of a modern building is about 10-12 feet high, this pole would have stood about 6-7 stories tall!)

Determined to at least try to save her people from annihilation, Esther arranged for a banquet where she, the king, and Haman would be the only attendees. At that banquet, she did not reveal her purpose, but simply asked that the king and Haman come back the next day for yet another banquet. As luck would have it, the king had trouble sleeping that night before the second banquet, so he ordered the book of chronicles, the record of his reign, be brought in and read to him. The reader came to the part about Mordecai having sent word to the king upon overhearing two officials who were plotting to assassinate him.

When the king realized nothing had been done to honor Mordecai for saving the king’s life, he snagged the only person hanging around his court at the time to help him with this task. That person was Haman, who had come to speak to the king about impaling Mordecai. Haman, thinking the king wanted to honor him, suggested providing the honoree with a royal robe, sitting him atop a royal horse, and having a prince lead the horse through the city streets proclaiming, “‘This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!’” (Esther 6:9, NIV)

When Haman realized the king wished to honor the despised Mordecai instead, and that Haman would be the one to lead the horse through the streets carrying out his own glorious suggestion, he was beyond humiliated. His wife and friends even warned him that he was doomed. Indeed, at the second banquet when Esther identified him as the evil person who wished to annihilate her people, the king was enraged. Then, when the king learned that Haman had erected a pole by his house for the purpose of impaling Mordecai, the king ordered Haman be impaled upon that pole instead.

But that’s not the end of the story. The king awarded Esther the estate of Haman, and she in turn appointed Mordecai to oversee the estate. Not only that, the king reclaimed the signet ring he had given to Haman and awarded it instead to Mordecai, making Mordecai second in rank with only King Xerxes over him.

The original edict from the king concerning the Jews in the kingdom being put to death on a certain day could not be rescinded. However, a new decree went out allowing the Jews to defend themselves and kill their aggressors. This turned the tables on the Jew’s enemies, and thousands were killed throughout the kingdom.

Among those slain were the ten sons of Haman, who were then impaled on poles as well. So in the end, Haman and his male descendants were all killed, Mordecai had taken his place of power in the kingdom, and his estate now belonged to the Jewish queen, with Mordecai in charge of his property.

Chapter 18: Daniel Glimpses Eternity

Daniel 7:1-14

Q1 - How was the fourth beast different from the other beasts in Daniel’s dream? How was its ultimate fate different?

A1 - As you read the descriptions of the beasts, notice that, unlike the first three, the fourth beast is not likened to any known animal. In addition to being terrifying, only three characteristics are named at first: huge iron teeth, feet, and ten horns. Then, when the small horn appeared and three of the original horns were torn out by the roots to make room for it, the characteristics of eyes and a mouth are mentioned. This beast was a destruction machine. It used it’s extra strong and powerful iron teeth to devour and crush its victims, and any pieces that remained were stomped and trampled under its feet. It was also the only beast that spoke.

The horns of the fourth beast figure prominently, while no mention is made of horns on the other three beasts. Horns are mentioned numerous times in the Bible. They typically symbolize strength, power, and authority. Animals which have horns use them to both aggressively fight others for control as well as to defend themselves. The alter of the burnt offering in the tabernacle was constructed with a horn at each of its four corners (Exodus 27:2), as was the alter of incense (Exodus 30:2-3).

While the fourth beast was the most terrifying and destructive of all the beasts, it was the only one killed, and its body was destroyed by fire. The other three beasts were allowed to live awhile longer, but their authority to rule was taken away.

Q2 - How are the words spoken by the mouth on the horn of the fourth beast described? (Compare several versions of the Bible to get a better idea.) When does this mouth finally stop uttering these words? Do you sense relief when the words cease?

Note: If you want to compare various versions side by side, biblehub.com is a good site to use. Type in “Daniel 7” in the search box and then click either the word “Parallel” to go through the chapter verse by verse using many versions, or right under that word is an icon for “Parallel Chapters” (hover over the icons to see what they mean). This view shows the whole chapter in five different versions at once.

A2 - In general, the various versions say the mouth was speaking great things, uttering great boasts, or boasting arrogantly. The ISV states the little horn “had eyes like those of a human being and a mouth that boasted with audacious claims.” (Daniel 7:8b, ISV)

So the mouth on the little horn of the fourth beast seemed to be uttering words of self-directed, over-exaggerated praise. Perhaps it was boasting of its great power and of its great ability to destroy. Perhaps it was making threats and accusations. The exact words it spoke are unknown, but they were greatly disturbing for Daniel to hear. This beast was already terrifying to look at, with its huge iron teeth that ruthlessly devoured its victims and feet that crushed to pieces whatever was left of them. You can imagine that the words it spewed from its mouth made it even more horrifying to behold.

While Daniel was observing these beasts, the judgement scene came into place. (Note the similarities with the judgement scene described in Revelation 20:11-15.) Although it’s not explicitly stated, you get the sense that the fourth beast has been continually uttering these boastful words the entire time: “‘Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking. I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire.’” (Daniel 7:11, NIV)

The fourth beast was silenced upon its death. Its reign of terror and destruction were over, and the beast itself was destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire. What a relief that must have been to Daniel, and what a relief to those who, through the centuries, have read Daniel’s account of this vision! We can know that ultimately evil will be destroyed.

Q3 - Describe the power represented by the beasts. Is their power peaceful? Is it lasting? Contrast their power with that of the Son of Man.

Note: Bible commentaries can be very helpful in studying the Bible. While they are not inspired writings, they offer insight and represent many years of study by Bible scholars. This site, Bible Study Tools, provides a collection of commentaries as well as many other useful Bible resources.

A3 - Recall Nebuchadnezzar’s first dream of the giant statue in Daniel 2. Each of the four parts of the statue represented the kingdoms which would come into power, one after the other. The head of gold was Nebuchadnezzar and his Babylonian empire, but the others were not explicitly named. However, the fourth was characterized with legs of iron and feet that were part iron and part clay. It would crush the other kingdoms with its sheer strength but ultimately would not hold together, as iron and clay do not mix.

Various Bible scholars believe Daniel’s dream in chapter 7 parallels Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in chapter 2. Indeed, when you read the remainder of chapter 7 and the explanation that was provided to Daniel, you learn that the four beasts do represent four early kingdoms (Daniel 7:17). You also see the commonality of what will ultimately happen, that in the end that “the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever…” (Daniel 7:18, NIV).

While the earthly kingdoms represented by the four beasts are not named, the general assumption seems to be that the first beast is the Babylonian empire and the second is the Medo-Persian, which took over when Belshazzar was killed and Darius came to power. Daniel lived during the time of these two kingdoms, so we have his historical record. The third kingdom is assumed to be Greece, and the fourth the Roman Empire. This would fit with the Romans being in power during the time of Christ and the ensuing great persecution of the early day Christians. (This article by John F. Walvoord entitled, “Daniel’s Vision of Future World History,” discusses Daniel Chapter 7 at length. He also presents an entire series on Daniel, which you may find interesting as well.)

Regardless of which world kingdoms these four beasts represent or how dreaded and oppressive their power, the good news in this whole vision is the coming of the “son of man.” Christians recognize this to be Jesus, who often referred to Himself in this manner. (Search biblegateway.com for this phrase and note the references in Matthew alone.) Having lived a life without sin, Jesus became the perfect sacrifice, once and for all. He fulfilled the Old Law and established God’s new, eternal kingdom which will never end or be destroyed.

New Testament scriptures affirm what Daniel saw in his vision in Daniel 7:13-14. In what is known as the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus stated that all authority has been given to Him in heaven and on earth. Other New Testament scriptures state that He now sits at God’s right hand (Ephesians 1:18-23 is one of several such references). Stephen, as he was being stoned, looked up and said he saw Jesus at God’s right hand (Acts 7:55-57).

So while we cannot know with absolute certainty who the beasts represent or the meaning of the various details of their descriptions, we can be certain of the most important part—Jesus Christ reigns eternal and God’s eternal kingdom will never be destroyed!

Chapter 19: Daniel’s Vision Interpreted

Daniel 7:15-28 

Q1 - What do you suppose is the significance of the most terrifying beast being the fourth? What other groups of four are mentioned in the Bible?

A1 - The fourth beast would be the last one in Daniel’s vision. If his vision parallels Nebuchadnezzar’s vision of the great statue, as some Bible scholars suggest, the kingdoms represented by the four beasts would become progressively inferior. In their treatment of God’s people, they would become progressively worse, with the fourth kingdom crushing them.

Why were there four kingdoms? Maybe that’s all that could be endured before the total annihilation of God’s people. Or maybe four was simply random and of no significance. However, the number four is often considered a symbol for completeness in the Bible. Below are some of the interesting fours mentioned in the Bible. What others can you name?

• The river flowing from the Garden of Eden separated into four head headwaters (Genesis 2:10).

• John saw the four angels standing at the four corners of the earth holding back the four winds of the earth (Revelation 7:1). Numerous other scriptures also refer to the four corners and the four winds.

• John also saw four beasts (or creatures, depending on the version) around the throne in heaven continually offering praise (Revelation 4:6-11).

• The rectangle, with its four sides and four corners, has been used through the ages as the common basis for buildings and other structures. For example, consider the shape of the tabernacle and later the temple, the shape of the alters with horns on the four corners, and even Peter’s vision of a sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners (Acts 10:11).

Bible.org offers this interesting article concerning numbers in the Bible entitled, “What is the significance of numbers in Scripture?”

Q2 - How powerful is this fourth beast? Can the holy people defeat this beast on their own?

A2 - “‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it…’” (Daniel 7:23, NIV). This verse tells us just how powerful and ruthless in its rule the fourth kingdom will be. For a period of time, the “holy people” will be under the control of the king who displaces three of the ten kings who rule this empire. Various Bible versions say he will oppress, persecute, or wear out the holy ones.

The grip of this king and his empire will be so powerful that it does not appear God’s people will be able to overcome him on their own. In fact, the beast will be allowed to continue to persecute the holy people for a period of time (see Daniel 7:25). Divine intervention will be needed to take away and destroy his power. “‘But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever….’” (Daniel 7:26, NIV).

This fourth kingdom represented by this formidable beast is not identified in scriptures. However, various scholars have suggested that the four beasts correspond to the kingdoms in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the giant statue (see Thoughts to Ponder in previous lesson). If that is true, then this vision could be showing Daniel what would transpire between his lifetime and the coming of Christ when He would establish God’s eternal kingdom by offering Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of mankind. We  know that following Christ’s death, the early Christians endured unimaginable persecution under the Romans. As a result, they scattered and preached the word wherever they went, thus spreading the good news of Christ (Acts 8:4).

Q3 - How do the holy people fare in the end?

A3 - Thankfully, good wins over evil. God’s everlasting kingdom will be established, and His holy people will be given dominion. But, as previously mentioned, it does take divine intervention, with the heavenly court having to pass judgment and take away the power of this evil king. Then, after he is completely destroyed, “The kingdom, dominion, and greatness of the kingdoms under all of heaven will be given to the people, the holy ones of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will serve and obey Him” (Daniel 7:27, HCSB).

So much is unknown concerning the details of this vision as to how and when all these events will occur. But it’s O.K. that we cannot know with certainty what all of this means, because when God wants to make things plain to us, he does. Rather than trying to identify the times of the occurrences or the kingdoms represented by the four beasts, we can take comfort in focusing on what is arguably the most important message of this vision—that God’s people will be delivered and exalted. After enduring the atrocities inflicted upon them, “… the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High” (Daniel 7:27, NIV).