Transcript Old Testament Survey: The Book of Daniel

Old Testament Survey:
The Book of Daniel
Three
different
waves:
605 BC
597 BC
586 BC
Background of the Book
• Daniel –”God is my Judge”
• Wrote the book in Babylon near the end of his life
• In the first group of captives taken in 606 BC;
probably 17-18 years old. (9 years before Ezekiel
was taken in the second group)
• Daniel had unwavering commitment and dedication
to God.
Carried off into Captivity
• King Nebuchadnezzar invaded Judah
during the reign of King Jehoiakim.
• Took the temple vessels and certain royal
youths who would serve in the royal court.
– Daniel
– Shadrach
– Meshach
– Abed-nego
Remained Faithful During Captivity
• King Nebuchadnezzar wanted these youths to be
physical specimens in his court.
• Gave them the choicest foods and wines, but some
were unclean and forbidden for the Hebrews.
• The four young Hebrew men refused the food.
• At the end of the educational and training period,
they were in better shape than the others (1:13-15).
• The four were given positions of honor in the
Babylonian Empire (1:18-20).
Nebuchadnezzar's Dream
• In the second year of
Nebuchadnezzar’s reign,
he had a dream
• He wanted his counselors
to tell him both the dream
and its interpretation.
• When they were unable to
do so, the king threatened
to slay all the wise men!
Daniel Gives God’s Interpretation
• There would be Four
world kingdoms.
– Babylon—head of gold
– Medes/Persians—
breast and arms of
silver
– Greece—belly and
thighs of bronze
– Roman—legs of iron
and partly of clay
Daniel Gives God’s Interpretation
• A stone cut without
hands would crush all
the kingdoms.
• Stone grew into a
large mountain.
• This kingdom would
come in the days of
the Roman kings (4th
empire) and would
NEVER be destroyed!
Key Passage
“And in the days of these kings the God of heaven
will set up a kingdom which shall never be
destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other
people; it shall break in pieces and consume all
these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. Inasmuch
as you saw that the stone was cut out of the
mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces
the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the goldthe great God has made known to the king what will
come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its
interpretation is sure.” (2:44,45)
The Fiery Furnace
• The King made a
large image. When
music played, the
people were to bow
down and worship the
image.
• Those who refused
would be cast into the
fiery furnace.
• Shadrach, Meshach
and Abed-nego
refused!
The Fiery Furnace
“If that is the case, our
God whom we serve is
able to deliver us from the
burning fiery furnace, and
He will deliver us from
your hand, O king. But if
not, let it be known to you,
O king, that we do not
serve your gods, nor will
we worship the gold image
which you have set up.”
(3:17,18)
The Chopped Tree
“He cried aloud and said thus:
'Chop down the tree and cut off
its branches; strip off its leaves
and scatter its fruit. Let the
beasts get out from under it, and
the birds from its branches.
Nevertheless leave the stump
and roots in the earth, bound
with a band of iron and bronze, in
the tender grass of the field. Let
it be wet with the dew of heaven,
and let him graze with the beasts
on the grass of the earth.’”
(4:14,15)
The Insane King
“That very hour the word
was fulfilled concerning
Nebuchadnezzar; he was
driven from men and ate
grass like oxen; his body
was wet with the dew of
heaven till his hair had
grown like eagles' feathers
and his nails like birds'
claws.” (4:33)
The King Returns
“At the same time my reason
returned to me, and for the glory of
my kingdom, my honor and
splendor returned to me.
Counselors and nobles resorted to
me, I was restored to my kingdom,
and excellent majesty was added
to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar,
praise and extol and honor the
King of heaven, all of whose works
are truth, and His ways justice.
And those who walk in pride He is
able to put down..” (4:36,37)
The Handwriting on the Wall
“In the same hour the fingers
of a man's hand appeared and
wrote opposite the lampstand
on the plaster of the wall of the
king's palace; and the king saw
the part of the hand that wrote.
Then the king's countenance
changed, and his thoughts
troubled him, so that the joints
of his hips were loosened and
his knees knocked against
each other.” (5:5,6)
The Handwriting on the Wall
“And this is the inscription that
was written: MENE, MENE,
TEKEL, UPHARSIN. This is the
interpretation of each word.
MENE: God has numbered your
kingdom, and finished it.
TEKEL: You have been
weighed in the balances, and
found wanting.
PERES: Your kingdom has
been divided, and given to the
Medes and Persians. (5:25-28)
The Lion’s Den
“Now when Daniel knew that
the writing was signed, he
went home. And in his upper
room, with his windows open
toward Jerusalem, he knelt
down on his knees three
times that day, and prayed
and gave thanks before his
God, as was his custom
since early days.” (6:10)
The Lion’s Den
“My God sent His angel and shut
the lions' mouths, so that they
have not hurt me, because I was
found innocent before Him; and
also, O king, I have done no
wrong before you. Then the king
was exceedingly glad for him, and
commanded that they should take
Daniel up out of the den. So
Daniel was taken up out of the
den, and no injury whatever was
found on him, because he
believed in his God.” (6:22,23)
Daniel Dreams About the Beasts
• 1st year of Belshazzar
• Dreams of four beasts.
Again, the prediction of the
four world empires
(chapter 7)
– Babylon
– Medes/ Persians
– Greece
– Rome
Daniel’s Dream About the
“Ancient of Days”
“I was watching in the night
visions, And behold, One like
the Son of Man, Coming with
the clouds of heaven! He came
to the Ancient of Days, and they
brought Him near before Him.
Then to Him was given
dominion and glory and a
kingdom, that all peoples,
nations, and languages should
serve Him. His dominion is an
everlasting dominion, which
shall not pass away, and His
kingdom the one which shall
not be destroyed.” (7:13,14)
Second Part of Daniel
• Chapters 7—12 contain more detail about
the four world empires.
• Discussion of the Medes/Persia era
• Discussion of Greece and Alexander the
Great
• Discussion of Rome’s rise and fall
Great Lessons From Daniel
• Character exhibited, even under difficult
circumstances; remained loyal to God!
• Spiritual courage to remain committed to God, even
while facing death!
• The never-ending kingdom—the church—that arose
during the Roman Empire!
• God rules in the kingdoms of men!
• Historical accuracy strong evidence of inspiration—
especially chapter 11.