Introduction* Daniel is a new type of prophet in a new type of situation. We can learn a great deal about God doing 'new things' from him and his companions.* Before watching this class you might like to view a summary of the book here: https://bibleproject.com/guides/book-of-daniel/
Chapter 1* Youth no barrier: “young men without physical defect and handsome,” (Daniel 1:4 NRSV)* Pick your battles: “But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the royal rations of food and wine; so he ask...
Introduction
* Daniel is a new type of prophet in a new type of situation. We can learn a great deal about God doing 'new things' from him and his companions.
* Before watching this class you might like to view a summary of the book here: https://bibleproject.com/guides/book-of-daniel/
Chapter 1
* Youth no barrier: “young men without physical defect and handsome,” (Daniel 1:4 NRSV)
* Pick your battles: “But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the royal rations of food and wine; so he asked the palace master to allow him not to defile himself.” (Daniel 1:8 NRSV)
* Recognition of God: “To these four young men God gave knowledge and skill in every aspect of literature and wisdom;” (Daniel 1:17 NRSV)
Chapter 2
* God’s wisdom superior:
* “The thing that the king is asking is too difficult, and no one can reveal it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with mortals.”” (Daniel 2:11 NRSV)
* ““No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or diviners can show to the king the mystery that the king is asking, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries” (Daniel 2:27-28 NRSV)
* Recognition of God
* “The king said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery!”” (Daniel 2:47 NRSV)
Chapter 3
* Never Compromise: (Daniel 3:17-18 NRSV)
* Faith-inspired resistance is the victory, not a specific outcome
* Recognition of God: (Daniel 3:29 NRSV)
Chapter 4
* God is Sovereign: (Daniel 4:25 NRSV)
* (Daniel 4:27 NRSV)
* (Daniel 4:33 NRSV)
* Pride can be Redeemed:
* “When that period was over, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me.” (Daniel 4:34 NRSV)
* Recognition of God: (Daniel 4:34 NRSV)
Chapter 5
* Convictions in Old Age: “There is a man in your kingdom who is endowed with a spirit of the holy gods. In the days of your father he was found to have enlightenment, understanding, and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods.” (Daniel 5:11 NRSV)
* Be a prophet:
* (Daniel 5:22-23 NRSV)
* (Daniel 5:26-28 NRSV)
* Unwilling recognition of God: (Daniel 5:30-31 NRSV)
Chapter 6
* Who is really trapped? (Daniel 6:13-15 NRSV)
* Integrity & Trust in God: (Daniel 6:22 NRSV)
* Recognition of God: “I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people should tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: For he is the living God, enduring forever. His kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion has no end. He delivers and rescues, he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth; for he has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.”” (Daniel 6:26-27 NRSV)
Summary
What do we learn about God?
God: to His Servants
* Inspires Daniel to test regime (Ch 1)
* Gives Daniel wisdom (Ch 1, 4 & 5)
* Gives Daniel boldness (Ch 4, 5 & 6)
* Strengthens Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego (Ch 3)
God: for His Servants
* Improved appearance (Ch 1)
* Promotion (Ch 2, 3, 5, 6)
* Rescue (Ch 2, 3, 6)
God: to His Opponents
* Stuns with his Power (Ch 3, 5, 6)
* Humbles them (Ch 1, 3, 4, 5, 6)
God: for Himself
* Causes Gentiles to honour His chosen people (Ch 1, 2, 3, 5, 6)
* Causes Gentiles to worship Him (Ch 2, 3, 4, 6)
What do we learn for ourselves?
1. New things are often fear-inducing and uncomfortable -- even dangerous or risky
2. New things put us in a place where we experience the power of God in new and more profound ways
3. New things give us the opportunity to grow in our relationship with God
4. New things reveal new gifts in us and our community
Conclusion
* God doing new things in his people almost always results in those people experiencing fear.
* when his people deliberately choose faith in the midst of fear they experience God at work.
* When God is at work in these people experiencing a new thing he becomes visible to the world and receives glory.
* When God has an impact on this world and gets the glory he deserves, the memory of such events passes down from one generation to another.
Questions to stimulate discussion
* Who do you relate to most and why? Daniel, Shadrach, Misheck, Abednego, Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius?
* What do you think the main lesson is that God wants you to take from Daniel chapters 1 to 6?
* How do the experiences of these chapters relate to any new thing in your life?
* Similarly, how do the experiences of these chapters relate to anything new in your faith community?
Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.
Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: malcolm@malcolmcox.org.
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God bless, Malcolm
