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 gold-the 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)

“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 Handwriting on the Wall

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)

“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)

The Lion’s Den

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.