Bible Stories for Adults

God Saves Daniel From the Lions

Daniel 4-6

Next Week - Judah Returns from Captivity (Ezra & Nehemiah)
Bible Words to Remember:
Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18

Who was Nebuchadnezzar and what was his relationship with the Jews?
Jeremiah 39:1, 4-9
Why did he do this?
Jeremiah 25:4, 8-9
How did the Jews feel about Nebuchadnezzar?
Jeremiah 51:34-35
Did the Jews ever see the vengeance they wanted?
Jeremiah 25:12-14

How did Daniel and other Judah nobility become subject to Nebuchadnezzar?
Daniel 1:1-2
Did Nebuchadnezzar have these noble people killed like other kings would?
Daniel 1:3-4
Who were some of these best?
Daniel 1:6-7, 17, 19-20
How did Daniel become an official in the Babylonian kingdom?
Daniel 2:26-28, 48
What was the purpose of the dream?
Daniel 2:47

What was happening in Babylon when God gave Nebuchadnezzar a second dream?
Daniel 4:4-5
How did Daniel get involved?
Daniel 4:6-9
What was the dream?
Daniel 4:10-14
How did the dream change strangely for its finish?
Daniel 4:15-16
Was Nebuchadnezzar given any reason to think this dream had a special meaning?
Daniel 4:17

Did the dream have a good or bad meaning?
Daniel 4:19
What was the tree?
Daniel 4:22
What other nation had its greatness compared to an expansive tree?
Hosea 14:1, 5-7
What was meant by the man with the mind of an animal?
Daniel 4:24-25
Why was the tree stump left in the ground?
Daniel 4:26

Was there any way Nebuchadnezzar could prevent this from happening?
Daniel 4:27
Did Nebuchadnezzar turn to God or did the curses of the dream happen?
Daniel 4:28-31, 33
Did Nebuchadnezzar regain his sanity after the prescribed 7 years?
Daniel 4:34, 36

Did the dream & fulfillment have its desired effect of turning Nebuchadnezzar to God?
Daniel 4:37
How sincere and enthusiastic was Nebuchadnezzar's praise for God?
Daniel 4:1-3

Nebuchadnezzar was succeeded by son, Nabonidus in 562 BC
Nabonidus retired to Arabia, left his son Belshazzar in charge
Belshazzar meant Bel protect the king - Bel was Babylon's chief god
How faithful was Nebuchadnezzar's grandson, Belshazzar?
Daniel 5:1-4
How was Belshazzar suddenly sobered up?
Daniel 5:5-6

How did Daniel enter the scene?
Daniel 5:8-12
How did Belshazzar try to influence an interpretation and how did Daniel respond?
Daniel 5:16-17
How did Daniel use the story in chapter 4 to explain Belshazzar's problem?
Daniel 5:18, 20-24

What words were written on the wall?
Daniel 5:25



Word	Meaning	Coin / Weight	Ruler Symbolized
Mene	Numbered	Mina	Naboplasser
Tekel	Weighed	Shekel	Nebuchadnezzar
Parsin	Divided	Half-Shekel	Nabonidus / Belshazzar	Persia


What judgment on Belshazzar did God pronounce with these words?
Daniel 5:26-28
When was this judgment fulfilled?
Daniel 5:30-31

From historical records:
Persian army conquered Babylon in 539 BC (Judah exiled in 608 BC)
Soldiers temporarily diverted the Euphrates River & crossed dry bed
Led into city by 2 traitors during annual feast of the gods
Darius means Lord-King - Term used like Caesar or Pharaoh
Used later for Darius Hystapis (Ezra 4:5) & Darius Codomanus (Neh 12:22)

How did Darius organize his Median empire?
Daniel 6:1-2
How did God bless Daniel's work and what did others think of it?
Daniel 6:3-5
What plan did Daniel's enemies conceive to be sure they could catch Daniel?
Daniel 6:7-9

Did Daniel obey the new law or did he keep on praying?
Daniel 6:10
Was Daniel ever caught illegally praying?
Daniel 6:11-13
How did Darius respond to Daniel's blatant disregard for the law?
Daniel 6:14
Why didn't Darius just cancel the stupid decree?
Daniel 6:15
See also Esther 1:19 and 8:8

Was Darius able to find any way to save Daniel?
Daniel 6:16-17
How well did Darius sleep after putting Daniel in the lions' den?
Daniel 6:18-20

What had happened to Daniel in the lions' den?
Daniel 6:21-23
Could it have been that the lions just weren't hungry?
Daniel 6:24

How was God's name glorified through this story?
Daniel 6:25-27

How else was Daniel's life blessed by God?
Daniel 7:1 (2-28)
Daniel 8:1 (2-27)
Daniel 9:1, 21 (2-27)
Daniel 10:1 (10:2-12:13)