A Study of

Daniel

“God Is Sovereign”

 

“…the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom He will and sets over it the lowliest of men.” Daniel 4:17b

 

I.                     Introduction

A. Daniel 1:1-2          Jerusalem meets its destroyer.

B. 2 Kings 20:12-19       Hezekiah learns a lesson the hard way.

C.  It was 100 years later when the son of this Merodach-Baladan, Nabopolassar, joined forces with Cyaxeres, the Median King, to attack Assyria at their capital, Nineveh.  To get an idea how big that city was, see Jonah 3:1-4.  It would take two more such attacks at two more established capitals, Haran and then Carchemish, over eight years and the son of Nabopolassar, Nebuchadnezzar, before Assyria finally fell and those who tried to help her were driven home, most notably, Egypt.

D. 2 Kings 23:30-24:2      The beginning of the end.

II.     God’s Will is Made Known

      A. Jeremiah 24:1-7        The exiles are favored in God’s sight.

      B. Jeremiah 29:1-14       A letter from God for the instruction of the exiled.

C. Verse 10 is expanded upon in Jeremiah 25.  Babylon is the tool of God and God will put away this tool in 70 years.  Read Jeremiah 25 for your homework!

III.    Daniel 1:3-7

      A. Why did Nebuchadnezzar take these people?    Ezekiel 17:1-6, 12-14

      B. Why did Nebuchadnezzar want these people in his palace?

      C. What did the Chaldeans know?    Isaiah 47:9-10

In the history of mathematics, the Babylonians are credited with many discoveries and great knowledge of numbers and geometry.

      D. Why did the King “spoil” these people with such “good” food?

 

 

IV.    Daniel 1:8-16

A.                                 At least one would not defile himself.  God always has a “remnant” of His people.              1 Kings 19:18.

B.                              God always responds to His people who seek Him. Matthew 7:7

C.                               What kinds of food would come from the King’s table that could “defile?” Lev. 3:17; ch 11

D.                              Why would Daniel look worse than the others not eating the King’s food?

E.                              How is Daniel’s wisdom displayed in this “test?”

V.                            Daniel 1:17-21

A.   God is the One who gives all things to all men. 1 Kings 3:12

B.   These four were the BEST because God caused it to be so.

C.   Daniel was there until the end of this kingdom and to start the next.