Bible Stories for Adults

God Saves Daniel's Three Friends

Daniel 1-3

Next Week - God Saves Daniel from the Lions (Daniel 3-6)
Bible Words to Remember:
Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18

How old was the city of Babylon? = Maybe world's oldest city
Genesis 10:8-10 (1, 6) = Founded by Nimrod, Noah's great grandson
What famous building was supposedly built in Babylon?
Genesis 11:2, 4-5, 8-9 = Tower of Babel
Located on Euphrates River, 50 miles south of Baghdad, Iraq
Surrounded by 60 miles of walls up to 300 feet tall & 87 feet wide

Old Babylonian dynasty - Amorites in 2000-1600 BC
Then ruled by Hittites, Kassites, Assyrians
Neo-Babylonian Empire founded in 625 BC by Nabopolassar, a Chaldean
Allied with Medes (under Cyaxares) to conquer Assyria
Sent his son, Nebuchadnezzar, to lead battles

Nebuchadnezzar took throne when his father died in Sept 605 BC
Built empire into top world power
Very successful conqueror, builder, administrator
Where did Nebuchadnezzar get his power and what was his reputation?
Habbukuk 1:6-7 = God raised up Babylon; Ruthless, feared, self-promoting

Nebuchadnezzar was succeeded by son, Nabonidus (Evil-Merodach) in 562 BC
Nabonidus retired to Teima in Arabia, left his son Belshazzar in charge
Cyrus the Mede (Persian) conquered Belshazzar & Babylon in 539 BC
Although powerful, expansive & famous, Babylonian Empire only lasted 86 yrs

When did Judah first become subject to Babylon?
2 Kings 24:1 = Nebuchadnezzar invaded Judah during Jehoiakim, Judah made vassal 3yrs
How did Nebuchadnezzar respond when Jehoiakim revolted?
Daniel 1:1-2 = Nebuchadnezzar captured Jehoiakim & temple items and took to Babylon
What did Nebuchadnezzar take back to Babylon with the first exile?
2 Kings 24:13-16 = Anything & anybody of value were deported to Babylon
What prophet was taken into exile with Jehoiachin?
Ezekiel 1:2-3 = Ezekiel began prophesying while in exile in Babylon (5 yrs after exile)
Israelites began speaking Aramaic in Babylon, Spoke Hebrew before exile

What did Nebuchadnezzar do with the well-educated and capable men he captured?
Daniel 1:3-5 = Had them trained and put into service as advisors & officials
Who were some of these men in the group of Judah captives?
Daniel 1:6-7 = Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, Azariah (~16 yrs old)
What did their names mean? = Top 4 Babylonian gods: Chief-god, sun-god, earth-god, fire-god
Daniel = God is my judge
Belteshazzar = Bel's prince (Bel was chief god of Babylonians)
Hananiah = The Lord is gracious
Shadrach = Inspired by the sun god
Mishael = Who is what God is? (Who is comparable to God?)
Meshach = Kept first syllable, Added Shak for goddess Sheshack
Azariah = The Lord helps
Abednego = Servant of the fire god

What problem did the four from Judah have with their special treatment?
Daniel 1:8 = Didn't want to eat the royal food and wine
Why was this a problem?
Exodus 34:15 = Don't treaty with others, they'll invite you to eat their sacrifices
Ezekiel 4:13 = People will eat defiled food in places where I send them
Do we need to be careful about eating defiled food?
Romans 14:14-15 (1 Cor. 10:25-28) = No food is unclean, don't eat if bothers others

Did the official just tell Daniel to eat what is put in front of him?
Daniel 1:9-10 = No, but he was afraid Nebuchadnezzar would get mad
How did Daniel convince the official to let him eat what he wanted?
Daniel 1:11-16 = After 10 day test with veggies & water, the 4 were healthier than others

How did the four from Judah test out after the 3 year training?
Daniel 1:17-20 = Blessed by God, they were 10 times better than any other royal advisors
How long did Daniel remain in Babylon?
Daniel 1:21 = Until Cyrus of Persia (spanned Babylonian Empire)

What troubled Nebuchadnezzar during his second year?
Daniel 2:1-3 = He had a dream that troubled him, wanted its meaning
Why did the wise men have trouble explaining the dream?
Daniel 2:4-6, 10-11 = Neb also required them to tell him the dream
How did Nebuchadnezzar respond when the wise men said they couldn't do it?
Daniel 2:7-9, 12 = He distrusted them and sentenced all to death

Who was included in the group to be put to death?
Daniel 2:13-15 = Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego
How did Daniel stop the mass execution?
Daniel 2:16-19 = Got another day, prayed with friends, God revealed mystery to him
How did Daniel reply when Nebuchadnezzar asked him to reveal the dream?
Daniel 2:26-28 = Only God in heaven can reveal mysteries

What was the dream?
Daniel 2:31-35 = Statue of gold,silver,bronze,iron/clay broken by rock that filled earth
What did the dream mean?
Daniel 2:36-40, 42 = Four declining world powers (Babylonian, Persian, Greek, Roman)
What was the rock?
Daniel 2:44 = Kingdom that would last forever, never be destroyed
What kingdom was this referring to?
2 Peter 2:11 = The eternal kingdom of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ

How did Nebuchadnezzar respond to Daniel's explanation? = Praised Daniel's god,
Daniel 2:46-49 = Made Daniel governor & head advisor; Made S/M/A officials
What kind of reputation did Daniel get among the Judah exiles?
Ezekiel 14:13-14 (20) = In same righteous league as Noah & Job
Ezekiel 28:3 = Known for his wisdom

How proud of himself was Nebuchadnezzar?
Daniel 3:1-2 = Built 90'x9' gold statue of self, ordered important people to the dedication
Could he think of anything else that would give himself more limelight?
Daniel 3:4-6 = Ordered everyone everywhere to bow & worship his statue when band played

How did this help the wise men who were jealous of the four from Judah?
Daniel 3:8-9, 12 = They turned in S,M&A for not bowing to the statue
Did Nebuchadnezzar accept the accusation?
Daniel 3:13-15 = He gave the 3 a chance to be guilty or innocent before him
Did the three save themselves by bowing to the statue?
Daniel 3:16-18 = No, they stood up for their faith

How did Peter later summarize the reply of Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego?
Acts 5:29 = We must obey God rather than men!
Did Nebuchadnezzar change his mind about his egotistical law?
Daniel 3:19-23 = Had furnace heated 7x hotter & threw them in, soldiers killed by heat

Furnace was probably a lime kiln
Walkway to opening in top for adding raw materials
Opening at the bottom for extracting the fused lime
What happened to the three men in the blazing furnace?
Daniel 3:24-27 = They were protected and unharmed by God's angel

How did Nebuchadnezzar interpret what he saw?
Daniel 3:28 = That God had sent his angel to rescue the three
Did Nebuchadnezzar give up his other gods and turn to God?
Daniel 3:29 = No, he stayed polytheistic, prohibited offenses against god of Hebrews
How did he deal with Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego?
Daniel 3:30 = Promoted them