Active Christians Today University of Toledo
Bible Study ~ Daniel 1:1-21
The Book of Daniel is one of the most thrilling books in the Bible! It has all the elements of great stories: cliff-hanger drama, memorable characters and science fiction-like visions. Come join us for this challenging study on someone who chose to stand up in the midst of a culture that wanted him to stand down!
Locations & Times
Delta Church of Christ
2018 Bretton Pl, Toledo, OH 43606, USA
Wednesday 5:30 PM
ACT UT - Daniel 1:1-21 "You Are What You Eat"
Group Bible Study - January 16, 2019
Group Bible Study - January 16, 2019
Introduction:
The book of Daniel is a favorite for Sunday school teachers and students alike. And for good reason. It has all the makings of a great story—memorable characters, cliff-hanger drama, and science fiction-like visions. It’s like Harry Potter meets Lord of the Rings with a dash of Star Wars thrown in! (Knowing the Bible – Daniel: A 12-Week Study)
Daniel’s Time: The prophet Daniel lived in the sixth century before the birth of Jesus.
During this approximate period:
• Construction on the Acropolis in Athens began
• Mayan civilization flourished in Mexico
• Aesop wrote his fables
• Confucius and Buddha lived
• Greek art began to truly excel
• The Phoenicians made the first known sea journey around Africa
• The Greeks introduced the olive tree to Italy
The book of Daniel is a favorite for Sunday school teachers and students alike. And for good reason. It has all the makings of a great story—memorable characters, cliff-hanger drama, and science fiction-like visions. It’s like Harry Potter meets Lord of the Rings with a dash of Star Wars thrown in! (Knowing the Bible – Daniel: A 12-Week Study)
Daniel’s Time: The prophet Daniel lived in the sixth century before the birth of Jesus.
During this approximate period:
• Construction on the Acropolis in Athens began
• Mayan civilization flourished in Mexico
• Aesop wrote his fables
• Confucius and Buddha lived
• Greek art began to truly excel
• The Phoenicians made the first known sea journey around Africa
• The Greeks introduced the olive tree to Italy
CONNECT WITH EACH OTHER:
What are stories you remember from the life of Daniel?
Who are Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah?
What is their famous story?
Other tales apocryphal tales attributed to Daniel (but not included in our Scripture):
Susanna tells how Daniel saves the reputation of a young Jewish girl when two lecherous Jewish elders condemn her to death, supposedly for unchastity, but actually because she resisted their advances. Daniel's clever cross-examination unmasks their evil and leads to their deaths. The story is unique in that the villains are Jews instead of heathens; it may have been written as a polemic by the Pharisees against the Saducees, who, according to their opponents, were abusing their control of the courts.
Bel and the Dragon consists of two episodes. In the first Daniel exposes the deceptions of the heathen priests, who have been pretending that their idols eat and drink (in fact it is the priests who have been consuming the food set out for the false gods). In the second Daniel destroys a giant serpent that Cyrus believes to be a god; the Babylonians revolt, Cyrus imprisons Daniel without food, the prophet Habakkuk miraculously feeds him, and Cyrus repents.
What are stories you remember from the life of Daniel?
Who are Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah?
What is their famous story?
Other tales apocryphal tales attributed to Daniel (but not included in our Scripture):
Susanna tells how Daniel saves the reputation of a young Jewish girl when two lecherous Jewish elders condemn her to death, supposedly for unchastity, but actually because she resisted their advances. Daniel's clever cross-examination unmasks their evil and leads to their deaths. The story is unique in that the villains are Jews instead of heathens; it may have been written as a polemic by the Pharisees against the Saducees, who, according to their opponents, were abusing their control of the courts.
Bel and the Dragon consists of two episodes. In the first Daniel exposes the deceptions of the heathen priests, who have been pretending that their idols eat and drink (in fact it is the priests who have been consuming the food set out for the false gods). In the second Daniel destroys a giant serpent that Cyrus believes to be a god; the Babylonians revolt, Cyrus imprisons Daniel without food, the prophet Habakkuk miraculously feeds him, and Cyrus repents.
CONNECT WITH THE BIBLE:
Daniel and his three friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were born around 619 BC in the land of Judah during the reign King Josiah.
What was it like during the time of Josiah?
Daniel and his three friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were born around 619 BC in the land of Judah during the reign King Josiah.
What was it like during the time of Josiah?
Based on 2 Kings 23:21–25 and 2 Chronicles 34:33, what does this tell us about Josiah's reign and the early years of Daniel's life?
Josiah was a godly king. Their parents and relatives would have known much about the joy of Josiah's leadership in the land. In response to the revelation of the Word of God, Josiah removed the wicked elements of idolatry from the land. His reign was one of the greatest in the history of Israel, first of all because of his own whole-hearted seeking of the Lord and secondly, because of his desire to follow all the Law of Moses. He followed the Lord and led the people to follow Him throughout his lifetime. Daniel would have spent his childhood in that kind of atmosphere. In addition, the prophets Jeremiah and Habakkuk ministered during these days and doubtless had an impact on the families of Daniel and his friends.
Daniel is now a teenager - everything has changed.
Josiah was a godly king. Their parents and relatives would have known much about the joy of Josiah's leadership in the land. In response to the revelation of the Word of God, Josiah removed the wicked elements of idolatry from the land. His reign was one of the greatest in the history of Israel, first of all because of his own whole-hearted seeking of the Lord and secondly, because of his desire to follow all the Law of Moses. He followed the Lord and led the people to follow Him throughout his lifetime. Daniel would have spent his childhood in that kind of atmosphere. In addition, the prophets Jeremiah and Habakkuk ministered during these days and doubtless had an impact on the families of Daniel and his friends.
Daniel is now a teenager - everything has changed.
When the king came to Jerusalem, what happened? (1:1-2)
What is the "atmosphere" of these verses?
Who was responsible for the defeat of Judah (the Jewish people)?
Where did Daniel place the ultimate responsibility for Judah’s capture?
Why would Daniel say this?
What does this teach us about Daniel’s view of God?
How does this mirror the book of Habakkuk (for those who attended Sunday night)?
Why do you think this happened?
What is the "atmosphere" of these verses?
Who was responsible for the defeat of Judah (the Jewish people)?
Where did Daniel place the ultimate responsibility for Judah’s capture?
Why would Daniel say this?
What does this teach us about Daniel’s view of God?
How does this mirror the book of Habakkuk (for those who attended Sunday night)?
Why do you think this happened?
Take a close look at verse 2. Given all the things that could have been mentioned, why draw attention to the fate of the temple vessels? Note as well where they end up—in the house of Nebuchadnezzar's god, "the treasury of his god" (v. 2). What is the significance of this?
From the very beginning of this record, it is made clear that Nebuchadnezzar's success was not through his prowess alone; it was the work of the one true God (Yahweh of hosts), who brought about the complete collapse of the Judean monarchy and the deportation of the people of Jerusalem into exile. Thus the theme of God's absolute sovereignty is here implied. It continues to dominate the entire Book of Daniel, along with the accompanying theme of God's unwavering purpose to bring his people back to repentance through disciplinary suffering, so equipping them spiritually for restoration to the Land of Promise.
(The Expositor's Bible Commentary – Volume 7: Daniel and the Minor Prophets.)
From the very beginning of this record, it is made clear that Nebuchadnezzar's success was not through his prowess alone; it was the work of the one true God (Yahweh of hosts), who brought about the complete collapse of the Judean monarchy and the deportation of the people of Jerusalem into exile. Thus the theme of God's absolute sovereignty is here implied. It continues to dominate the entire Book of Daniel, along with the accompanying theme of God's unwavering purpose to bring his people back to repentance through disciplinary suffering, so equipping them spiritually for restoration to the Land of Promise.
(The Expositor's Bible Commentary – Volume 7: Daniel and the Minor Prophets.)
Daniel is a teenager. But how are teenagers viewed in the culture and time of this writing?
How might the conditions have affected Daniel after having grown up in completely different conditions?
How do you think Daniel felt as his life was surrounded by Babylonian culture?
What were the characteristics of the captives? (1:3-4)
How might the conditions have affected Daniel after having grown up in completely different conditions?
How do you think Daniel felt as his life was surrounded by Babylonian culture?
What were the characteristics of the captives? (1:3-4)
Why does Nebuchadnezzar go to all the trouble of deporting some of the Jews to Babylon? What strategy might he have in deporting members of “the royal family and nobility” in particular (v. 3), and then training them in the culture and customs of the Babylonians (v. 4), as well as providing for them materially (v. 5)?
Somewhat like Alexander the Great at a later time, Nebuchadnezzar adopted an enlightened policy of enlisting the most promising young men of his new empire into government service, whatever their nationality. Rather than reserving leadership for the Chaldeans alone, or even for the ethnic Babylonians whose cultural traditions reached back to the age of Hammurabi, Nebuchadnezzar resolved to pool the best brains and abilities discoverable in the ranks of the nations he had conquered. Since the hostages from Judah included the finest of the royalty and nobility, it was reasonable to open up special opportunities for gifted young Jews at the royal academy in Babylon. The court official named Ashpenaz was put in charge of these students, once they had qualified.
(The Expositor's Bible Commentary – Volume 7: Daniel and the Minor Prophets.)
What did the king order Ashpenaz to do? (1:3-5)
Their Babylonian captors gave them new names. Why?
So why is it we know Daniel as Daniel and not his new name “Belteshazzar” while we rarely hear Shadrach, Meschah and Abednego’s real names
Somewhat like Alexander the Great at a later time, Nebuchadnezzar adopted an enlightened policy of enlisting the most promising young men of his new empire into government service, whatever their nationality. Rather than reserving leadership for the Chaldeans alone, or even for the ethnic Babylonians whose cultural traditions reached back to the age of Hammurabi, Nebuchadnezzar resolved to pool the best brains and abilities discoverable in the ranks of the nations he had conquered. Since the hostages from Judah included the finest of the royalty and nobility, it was reasonable to open up special opportunities for gifted young Jews at the royal academy in Babylon. The court official named Ashpenaz was put in charge of these students, once they had qualified.
(The Expositor's Bible Commentary – Volume 7: Daniel and the Minor Prophets.)
What did the king order Ashpenaz to do? (1:3-5)
Their Babylonian captors gave them new names. Why?
So why is it we know Daniel as Daniel and not his new name “Belteshazzar” while we rarely hear Shadrach, Meschah and Abednego’s real names
What was Daniel’s resolve? (1:8)
Why did Daniel believe eating the king’s food or drinking his wine would defile him?
How did the chief official respond to Daniel’s request? (1:9-10)
Why did Daniel believe eating the king’s food or drinking his wine would defile him?
How did the chief official respond to Daniel’s request? (1:9-10)
Isn't Daniel making a big deal over a little thing? Why or why not?
The only way to go on with God is by being faithful in little things. We might ask, "Daniel, why bring religion into it?" But Daniel realized that his relationship with God touched every area of his life, even what he ate. Significantly, the very root of sin goes back to eating forbidden food.
Should they not accept the royal diet and thus avoid giving needless offense to their classmates or to the officials of the king himself? Worldly wisdom pointed in that direction. By their compliance they would please everybody. But they would not please God, to whom they were surrendered body and soul. So at the start of their career, they faced squarely their priorities and determined to trust God to see them through the perils of noncompliance and possible forfeiture of all that they had gained. By their early refusal to disobey God, they prepared themselves for future greatness as true witnesses for the one true God in the midst of a degenerate pagan culture. It is significant that precisely in the matter of forbidden food, in which Satan successfully tripped up Adam and Eve, these four Hebrew youths passed their first test with flying colors.
(The Expositor's Bible Commentary – Volume 7: Daniel and the Minor Prophets)
The only way to go on with God is by being faithful in little things. We might ask, "Daniel, why bring religion into it?" But Daniel realized that his relationship with God touched every area of his life, even what he ate. Significantly, the very root of sin goes back to eating forbidden food.
Should they not accept the royal diet and thus avoid giving needless offense to their classmates or to the officials of the king himself? Worldly wisdom pointed in that direction. By their compliance they would please everybody. But they would not please God, to whom they were surrendered body and soul. So at the start of their career, they faced squarely their priorities and determined to trust God to see them through the perils of noncompliance and possible forfeiture of all that they had gained. By their early refusal to disobey God, they prepared themselves for future greatness as true witnesses for the one true God in the midst of a degenerate pagan culture. It is significant that precisely in the matter of forbidden food, in which Satan successfully tripped up Adam and Eve, these four Hebrew youths passed their first test with flying colors.
(The Expositor's Bible Commentary – Volume 7: Daniel and the Minor Prophets)
What did Daniel say to the guard? (1:11-13)
What did the guard do about Daniel’s request? (1:14)
What is Daniel’s attitude and response to authority?
What personal applications do you see?
What was the result of the test? (1:15-16)
What did the guard do about Daniel’s request? (1:14)
What is Daniel’s attitude and response to authority?
What personal applications do you see?
What was the result of the test? (1:15-16)
Why did the four youths succeed in school?
The youths were successful because "God gave them knowledge and intelligence" in their studies. Daniel carefully recorded the fact that God is above the kingdoms of this world and can guide and give success as it pleases Him for His purposes. He had not forgotten, does not forget, nor will He ever forget His people. Daniel was able to follow God even in the city of Babylon, the heart of the Babylonian Empire and the center of the established pagan religious system of that land.
The youths were successful because "God gave them knowledge and intelligence" in their studies. Daniel carefully recorded the fact that God is above the kingdoms of this world and can guide and give success as it pleases Him for His purposes. He had not forgotten, does not forget, nor will He ever forget His people. Daniel was able to follow God even in the city of Babylon, the heart of the Babylonian Empire and the center of the established pagan religious system of that land.
This first chapter climaxes when King Nebuchadnezzar tests Daniel and his three friends in their learning. And the text isn't bashful about telling us they pass the test with flying colors; in fact, it says they were "ten times better" than anyone else. Why, though, do you think this point is emphasized?
In evaluating the four men at the end of their training, what did Nebuchadnezzar conclude concerning them? (1:18-20)
In evaluating the four men at the end of their training, what did Nebuchadnezzar conclude concerning them? (1:18-20)
Verse 21 looks, at first glance, to be an incidental historical detail tacked onto the end of the story: "And Daniel was there [in the court of the King of Babylon] until the first year of King Cyrus."
Who is King Cyrus? And why do you think this is mentioned?
What does it say about Daniel? What does it say about God?
Who is King Cyrus? And why do you think this is mentioned?
What does it say about Daniel? What does it say about God?
PARTNERS: Plan of Action
As a Believer, where are some areas in your life where you can take a stand that mirrors what David and his friends chose to do?
If you chose to do something like this, how can you avoid making it about yourself and keeping the focus on God?
What are ways you can be “in the world but not of the world?”
As a Believer, where are some areas in your life where you can take a stand that mirrors what David and his friends chose to do?
If you chose to do something like this, how can you avoid making it about yourself and keeping the focus on God?
What are ways you can be “in the world but not of the world?”
CONNECT TO GOD:
When have you taken a Christian stand in a non-Christian setting?
In what ways do your Christian beliefs clash with the culture around you?
In what ways do your Christian beliefs affect your view of people of other cultures?
If you were a missionary overseas, what strengths and abilities would you bring to your calling?
How can food and drink affect your spiritual life?
How did Daniel demonstrate both flexibility and strength in an unfamiliar setting?
What sacrifices have you made that reflect your dedication to the Lord?
How would a non-Christian acquaintance describe you?
When have you taken a Christian stand in a non-Christian setting?
In what ways do your Christian beliefs clash with the culture around you?
In what ways do your Christian beliefs affect your view of people of other cultures?
If you were a missionary overseas, what strengths and abilities would you bring to your calling?
How can food and drink affect your spiritual life?
How did Daniel demonstrate both flexibility and strength in an unfamiliar setting?
What sacrifices have you made that reflect your dedication to the Lord?
How would a non-Christian acquaintance describe you?
Apply it:
Starting this week, what is one change you can make in your personal habits to show commitment to the Lord?
In what setting do you want to remember to stand up for your Christian convictions?
Starting this week, what is one change you can make in your personal habits to show commitment to the Lord?
In what setting do you want to remember to stand up for your Christian convictions?
Praises & Prayer Requests:
Take time to reflect on the implications of Daniel 1:1-21 for your own life today. Consider what you have learned that might lead you to praise God, repent of sin, and trust in his gracious promises.
What are the concerns you need prayer for right now?
Share them with the group and the Lord.
Share any other prayer requests, and close by thanking God for his comfort and promise to be with us.
Take time to reflect on the implications of Daniel 1:1-21 for your own life today. Consider what you have learned that might lead you to praise God, repent of sin, and trust in his gracious promises.
What are the concerns you need prayer for right now?
Share them with the group and the Lord.
Share any other prayer requests, and close by thanking God for his comfort and promise to be with us.