Week 18: Discovering the Character of God through Daniel
18.1 Invite the group to share and discuss who they most admire/influential people and why, ie: looks, acting ability, singing voice, intelligence, etc.
18.2 Read 2 Chronicles 36:5-7,15-21 and refer to last week; notice again how Jeremiah's prophecy came true. We see in this several aspects of God's character (as touched on last session): He shows who He is (the true God) by fulfilling prophecy, He carries out His threats and we can only push Him so far.
This is the scene we've been anticipating for a few weeks, now, as we've watched Judah go steadily downhill and witnessed God warn them over and over that there will be painful consequences for their actions. It's against this bleak backdrop that we encounter Daniel, one of the captured Jews.
18.3 Read Daniel 1:1-6 and notice how Nebuchadnezzar chooses a specific group of people to learn his language and history and to become his servants.
18.1 Invite the group to share and discuss who they most admire/influential people and why, ie: looks, acting ability, singing voice, intelligence, etc.
18.2 Read 2 Chronicles 36:5-7,15-21 and refer to last week; notice again how Jeremiah's prophecy came true. We see in this several aspects of God's character (as touched on last session): He shows who He is (the true God) by fulfilling prophecy, He carries out His threats and we can only push Him so far.
This is the scene we've been anticipating for a few weeks, now, as we've watched Judah go steadily downhill and witnessed God warn them over and over that there will be painful consequences for their actions. It's against this bleak backdrop that we encounter Daniel, one of the captured Jews.
18.3 Read Daniel 1:1-6 and notice how Nebuchadnezzar chooses a specific group of people to learn his language and history and to become his servants.
- What could his intentions have been?
- Why not choose the less well-educated, the poor and the underdog?
Maybe Nebuchadnezzar recognised that to exert his influence over the captive Jews, this would be best achieved by using their own men; particularly those who were already influential in their own right because of their looks, families, knowledge, etc. However, what he didn't count on was that they took their faith far more seriously than his rules; they were fast recalling God's instruction not to compromise their faith.
18.4 Read Daniel 1:8 and, as a group, think what food it could have been that Nebuchadnezzar was trying to force Daniel and his friends to eat (non-Kosher) and put ourselves in Daniel et al's shoes:
18.4 Read Daniel 1:8 and, as a group, think what food it could have been that Nebuchadnezzar was trying to force Daniel and his friends to eat (non-Kosher) and put ourselves in Daniel et al's shoes:
- Could we resist?
- Given the choice between going hungry and honouring God, which would we honestly choose?
Daniel, as we discover in verses 9-20, refuses to eat the King's food; asking instead for a diet of vegetables and water. God makes one of the guards compassionate toward Daniel and co., and he agrees. At the end of the period, Daniel and his friends are stronger and fitter than the other men Nebuchadnezzar had had in mind as servants so the King employs Daniel, Hananiah (Shadrach), Mishael (Meshach) and Azariah (Abednego) instead. God has cared for his people because of their obedience. Not only has he cared for them; He also rewards them. In verse 17, we see God gives them knowledge, understanding and learning and well as Daniel's gift of understanding dreams and visions.
It's important to notice that these Jews were not trying to earn God's favour; they simply knew that, in light of God's mercy they could not - and would not - compromise their faith and salvation for food. In Ephesians 2:10, Paul tells the church that we are saved by '...grace alone; not by works so that no-one can boast...' Just like Daniel, we need to remember we cannot earn God's grace; it is a gift. However once we recognise this, we should find our hearts changed; we ought not to want to sin or compromise our faith and salvation. When God sees this attitude of refusing to compromise out of sheer love for Him, we may find He rewards us with gifts, just like Daniel.
18.5 That's not to say that God necessarily makes everything easy (Jesus said that the road would be tough; long, narrow and steep!). Read Daniel 3:1,13-23 and share our reactions to Nebuchadnezzar's behaviour. Again, would we have that same uncompromising heart that Daniel's friends have? Without reading ahead, invite the group to guess/discuss what they think/know happens next.
Read verses 24-29 to see what actually does happen and again invite the group to share their thoughts on these events:
It's important to notice that these Jews were not trying to earn God's favour; they simply knew that, in light of God's mercy they could not - and would not - compromise their faith and salvation for food. In Ephesians 2:10, Paul tells the church that we are saved by '...grace alone; not by works so that no-one can boast...' Just like Daniel, we need to remember we cannot earn God's grace; it is a gift. However once we recognise this, we should find our hearts changed; we ought not to want to sin or compromise our faith and salvation. When God sees this attitude of refusing to compromise out of sheer love for Him, we may find He rewards us with gifts, just like Daniel.
18.5 That's not to say that God necessarily makes everything easy (Jesus said that the road would be tough; long, narrow and steep!). Read Daniel 3:1,13-23 and share our reactions to Nebuchadnezzar's behaviour. Again, would we have that same uncompromising heart that Daniel's friends have? Without reading ahead, invite the group to guess/discuss what they think/know happens next.
Read verses 24-29 to see what actually does happen and again invite the group to share their thoughts on these events:
- Are they fair?
- Are they realistic?
- Where was God when all this was going on?
- Why did God allow this to happen?
As a result of Shadrach's, Meshach's and Abednego's suffering, one key event occurs: Nebuchadnezzar recognises God and the true God and calls his people to acknowledge this, too. God is glorified in this and therefore the persecution and suffering of these Jews has a positive outcome.
Over and over, scriptures show us that God glorifies Himself through our sufferings, and as a result, others get saved. We can learn a valuable lesson from this: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says to be '...joyful at all times... thankful in all circumstances...' and, no matter what we are enduring, one thing we can be sure to give thanks for is that God will be glorified through our suffering.
18.6 We are all familiar - to some extent - of the 'story' of Daniel in the lions' den; lets take a closer look as we finish our study and see how God glorifies himself there, too.
Read Daniel 6:29-31. Daniel has had a privileged position in the royal household for many years and is now established as third highest ruler in Babylon. He has served two kings: Nebuchadnezzar and his son, Belshazzar and now, Darius takes the throne. By this time, the people have turned away for any interest in God that Nebuchadnezzar had previously recommended and now Daniel is again at odds with the Law and the question of 'should he compromise?' comes into play again. Read Daniel 6:1-18, where we see an almost-identical situation to that of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego; Daniel also refusing to compromise/break God's law in order to please a man (compare Galatians 1:10) and consequently being punished/persecuted for it. Just like his friend's earlier situation, it seems that God is nowhere to be seen; yet, again, He actually has everything under control and is, in fact, again glorified through Daniel's suffering. He protects Daniel who survives his ordeal unscathed and King Darius is converted due to God's protection and Daniel's witness. Read it all in Daniel 6:19-23, 25-27 and share any final thoughts.
Week 18: Summary
So much of the first 6 chapters of Daniel leave us thinking that God's out of the picture but, in fact, He is constantly at work and there is much we can learn about His character through these captured Jews:
Over and over, scriptures show us that God glorifies Himself through our sufferings, and as a result, others get saved. We can learn a valuable lesson from this: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says to be '...joyful at all times... thankful in all circumstances...' and, no matter what we are enduring, one thing we can be sure to give thanks for is that God will be glorified through our suffering.
18.6 We are all familiar - to some extent - of the 'story' of Daniel in the lions' den; lets take a closer look as we finish our study and see how God glorifies himself there, too.
Read Daniel 6:29-31. Daniel has had a privileged position in the royal household for many years and is now established as third highest ruler in Babylon. He has served two kings: Nebuchadnezzar and his son, Belshazzar and now, Darius takes the throne. By this time, the people have turned away for any interest in God that Nebuchadnezzar had previously recommended and now Daniel is again at odds with the Law and the question of 'should he compromise?' comes into play again. Read Daniel 6:1-18, where we see an almost-identical situation to that of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego; Daniel also refusing to compromise/break God's law in order to please a man (compare Galatians 1:10) and consequently being punished/persecuted for it. Just like his friend's earlier situation, it seems that God is nowhere to be seen; yet, again, He actually has everything under control and is, in fact, again glorified through Daniel's suffering. He protects Daniel who survives his ordeal unscathed and King Darius is converted due to God's protection and Daniel's witness. Read it all in Daniel 6:19-23, 25-27 and share any final thoughts.
Week 18: Summary
So much of the first 6 chapters of Daniel leave us thinking that God's out of the picture but, in fact, He is constantly at work and there is much we can learn about His character through these captured Jews:
- He shows He is the True God by fulfilling prophecy
- He provides, cares for and protects His people
- He rewards obedience
- Everything He does is for His glory
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