1 / 18

Keeping THE FAITH THE BOOK OF DANIEL CHAPTERS 1 - 6

Keeping THE FAITH THE BOOK OF DANIEL CHAPTERS 1 - 6. The Book of Daniel. The book begins during the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar and ends during the reign of Cyrus from Persia. Chapters 1 - 6 = Historical events (narrative) Chapters 7 – 12 = Apocalyptic visions (future)

julie
Download Presentation

Keeping THE FAITH THE BOOK OF DANIEL CHAPTERS 1 - 6

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Keeping THE FAITHTHE BOOK OF DANIELCHAPTERS 1 - 6

  2. The Book of Daniel • The book begins during the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar and ends during the reign of Cyrus from Persia. • Chapters 1 - 6 = Historical events (narrative) • Chapters 7 – 12 = Apocalyptic visions (future) • Themes of the book of Daniel: • God’s sovereignty (what does this mean?) • Faithful worship of God alone • Judgment and deliverance

  3. A Little Bit of Babylonian History… • The reign of Nebuchadnezzar was the height of Babylon’s power. After he died the empire slipped into chaos and weakened. • Much of the infighting within the empire was due to fighting about rival gods (Marduk & Sin). • The next three kings were not able to consolidate power before being pushed aside. • Nabonidus, the last of three, was never around. He was always excavating temples and left his son, Belshazzar in charge. (Dan. 5) • Babylon fell to the Persians in 539 B.C.

  4. Who Was Daniel? • Daniel was deported in the first group of exiles during King Jehoiakim’s reign—when Judah became a vassal state of Babylon. What does this tell us about where Daniel came from? • He is described as young, talented and handsome. For these reasons, he was selected to receive special training for three years with other youths in the king’s court. • After this training, Daniel would enter the king’s service. Which king are we talking about?

  5. Life in Babylon for an Exile • Living as a conquered people in an unfamiliar place was disorienting and discouraging. People felt abandoned and hopeless. • The exiles were permitted to build houses and live together in settlements—so they had some form of community. • Babylon was one of the great centers of world culture. Technological and architectural advances were to be found all throughout the Babylonian empire. Do you think this made it harder or easier for the exiles to hold onto or throw away their customs and beliefs?

  6. Babylon: An Amazing City • Towering arches decorated with blue-glazed tile. • Massive walls around the city—strong & wide enough for two chariots to ride next to each other on the top! • Air vents in homes that brought cool breezes in but kept the rats out. • Goat skins used as rafts and floatation devices for getting across the Euphrates River. • Irrigation systems and advancing farming skills. • Cuneiform (writing system) • Mathematics (numbering by 60s)—still used today! (i.e. our concept of time and circles)

  7. Daniel, Chapter 1 • Main Characters - Daniel - Three friends - Ashpenaz (king’s official) - King Nebuchadnezzar • Conflict with God Daniel and his friends believed in keeping God’s law. The king wanted them to eat defiled (unclean) food. Side note: What made food “unclean”?

  8. Daniel, Chapter 1 Theme = Obedience, God’s sovereignty • God’s Triumph The official allowed them to eat their own food, God gave Daniel and his friends great wisdom and understanding. • Human Reaction King Nebuchadnezzar accepted the eating habits of Daniel and his friends and was blessed by their talents and their counsel.

  9. Daniel, Chapter 2 • Main Characters - Daniel - His friends • Arioch (the commander) - Astrologers - King Nebuchadnezzar • Conflict with God God’s people were threatened by the king’s decree to kill all of the wise men in Babylon. Why was the king killing all the wise men?

  10. Daniel, Chapter 2Theme = God’s sovereignty, judgment • God’s Triumph God gave Daniel the vision and the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the four kingdoms (Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome). • Human Reaction King Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged God’s power. He bowed before Daniel and promoted him to be in charge of all the wise men in Babylon.

  11. Daniel, Chapter 3 • Main Characters • King Nebuchadnezzar • Herald • Astrologers • Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego • Angel • Conflict with God The king wanted to be worshiped in place of the Lord God. But Rack, Shack and Benny refused to bow down in worship before the statue of Nebuchadnezzar.

  12. Daniel, Chapter 3Theme = Worship, deliverance, God’s sovereignty, obedience • God’s Triumph God’s angel saved the three friends from death in the fiery furnace. • Human Reaction King Nebuchadnezzar praised God and ordered others to honor God.

  13. Daniel, Chapter 4 • Main Characters • King Nebuchadnezzar • Daniel • Conflict with God The king did not honor God but walked in great pride.

  14. Daniel, Chapter 4Theme = God’s sovereignty, worship Judgment • God’s Triumph God humbled him by driving him insane and making him act like a beast. • Human Reaction King Nebuchadnezzar praised God and again acknowledged God’s power.

  15. Daniel, Chapter 5 • Main Characters • King Belshazzar • Daniel • Conflict with God The king defiled the temple goblets and scorned God.

  16. Daniel, Chapter 5Theme = God’s sovereignty, judgment • God’s Triumph The king was killed by invading Medes (Persians). • Human Reaction King Nebuchadnezzar praised God and again acknowledged God’s power.

More Related