Israel was a small nation that was conquered by the empire of Babylon in 597 B.C. [1] Many Jews had been taken into other countries. Israel was unable to defend itself against the great powers of the world. Jerusalem was destroyed. Prayers for the nation seemed to be unanswered.
People struggled to keep faith. How could they continue to believe the promises God made to their nation? How could they believe that God still had authority over the world? Was there any reason to continue to pray? How could they explain the conditions of the world to their children? The book of Daniel was written to people in these conditions.
In modern times Christians are persecuted; more Christians died for their faith in the twentieth century than in all previous centuries combined. Nations seem to be under the control of men who do not respect God. It seems that the church cannot change the direction of society. The message of the book of Daniel is relevant today.
Principle for Bible Interpretation
When we understand the situation addressed by a Scripture passage, we can better understand how to apply the passage to our situation.
► What things are happening in the world today that are similar to the time of Daniel?
[1]“But while ancient empires were vanishing and a new empire was writing its brilliant but brief history, Daniel’s own people, the people of the promise, were passing through a dark night of trial. Exiled from their homeland of promise, servants in a pagan land, they hanged their harps on the willows and hoped for the dawning of the day.”
- Roy Swim, Beacon Bible Commentary
Themes of Daniel
The themes of Daniel are the themes of eschatology in general.
(1)God’s sovereignty over the world
God overrules kings when he chooses. Nobody can ultimately defy him. The actions of people cannot prevent him from accomplishing his purposes.
(2)God’s ultimate justice
Those who are faithful to God will ultimately be defended and honored. Those who fight against God will be punished.
(3)God’s eternal kingdom
God’s kingdom will take over the entire world and rule forever without rebels.
Literary Structure of the Book
Both parts of the book of Daniel establish the three themes listed above.
Chapters 1-6 describe events that occurred in the life of Daniel. God revealed his power and wisdom in those events, showing that he could do the same with the events in the distant future. These chapters include some prophecies.
Chapters 7-12 give prophecies, and do not have events in Daniel’s life except his experiences while receiving the revelations. Some of the prophecies were fulfilled in Daniel’s lifetime, some were fulfilled through centuries of time, and some refer to the last days and have not been fulfilled yet. Some people believe that almost all of Daniel’s prophecies are fulfilled in history, but the angel told Daniel that the words of the book were sealed until the time of the end, and that the wise would understand them then (Daniel 12:9-10). This statement would not make sense if most of the predictions were fulfilled in centuries before the last days.
The visions describe sequences of events. Some of them describe the same events with different details. The visions should not be considered chronological in the sense that a later vision gives later events than a previous vision. For example, the same series of empires is described in chapters 2 and 7. As we will see later, the book of Revelation follows a similar structure.
Principle for Bible Interpretation
A vision or illustration in the Bible usually puts events into chronological order, but the events in separate visions and illustrations are not necessarily in order. In other words, a later vision does not necessarily show events that will occur after the events shown in a previous vision.
Chapter Titles for the Book of Daniel
In most books of the Bible, the passages to study are not exactly the same as the chapters, but the chapter divisions of Daniel are convenient for study.
Note to class leader: You can read the chapter titles to the group to build interest. It is not necessary to explain any material from the chapters at this point.
Chapter 1: The Hebrews Exiled in Babylon
Chapter 2: The Dream of the Statue
Chapter 3: The King’s Statue and the Furnace
Chapter 4: A Beast for Seven Years
Chapter 5: The Writing on the Wall
Chapter 6: The Cage of Lions
Chapter 7: The Vision of the Beasts and Horns
Chapter 8: The Vision of the Ram and the Goat
Chapter 9: Daniel’s Intercession and God’s Answer
Chapter 10: The Angel’s Arrival
Chapter 11: Future Conflicts of Kings
Chapter 12: The River of Time
Chapter 1: The Hebrews Exiled in Babylon
A student should read Daniel 1 for the group.
Note to class leader: Because many students are already familiar with this story, to summarize the chapter, ask the questions below and let various students answer.
1. Where were Daniel and his friends from? Why were they in Babylon?
2. What difficult situation did they face immediately?
3. What did Daniel propose to the man who supervised them?
4. What was the result of the trial period?
5. How did Daniel and his friends compare to the king’s counselors in wisdom and knowledge? Why?
God promoted his faithful servants to positions of power and gave them wisdom above the highest wisdom of the heathen kingdom (1:15, 16, 19-20). The Babylonians believed that their important decisions should be guided by astrology and the interpretation of dreams. God gave his servants wisdom that was better than the best counselors in the empire.[1]
Verse 17 says that they excelled because God gave them knowledge and wisdom. God was in control even in a time when his people had been conquered by a pagan empire. He gave honor and influence to his faithful servants even in a heathen government.
[1]“When the captivity of Judah had been accomplished by the Babylonian power, the Babylonians would have thought that their gods were greater than the God of the people they had been able to capture.... God did not want this evaluation to stand, however, and worked through Daniel to change it.”
- Leon Wood, The Prophets of Israel
Chapter 2: The Dream of the Statue
A student should read Daniel 2:1-30 for the group.
► What was the problem that Daniel and his friends faced?
The Chaldeans could not interpret the dream. They thought that no man on earth could do it (10).
The Chaldeans said that only the gods knew the answer. Apparently, they did not believe anyone could get the answer from the gods (11).
Verses 20-22 could be considered the key verses of the book of Daniel. They clearly emphasize the primary theme of eschatology. God is in control of the periods of human history. He changes conditions and controls the promotion and removal of rulers. He chooses people to receive his wisdom so they understand what he is doing.
Daniel told the king, “There is a God that reveals secrets and shows ... what will be in the last days” (28).
A student should read Daniel 2:46-49 for the group.
The king said that God is greater than the gods and kings, and reveals secrets (47). The king promoted Daniel and his friends to the highest positions in the kingdom.
The description and interpretation of the king’s dream are in verses 31-45. The vision was of a statue with sections made of different materials. Each section represented an empire. Chapters 7-12 add more details about the empires.
The sections of the statue: Gold = Babylon; Silver = Persia; Brass = Greece; Iron = Rome; Iron and Clay = the final human empire. Some scholars believe that the last human empire will be the Antichrist’s kingdom in the last days before Jesus returns.
In the vision a great stone smashed the statue then became a mountain. The stone represents the kingdom of God. God’s kingdom is not just another section of the statue. The stone was “not made with hands” which means it is not human-made.
► What does the vision tell us about God?
God knows what great powers will arise on the earth long before they exist. He will remove the empires of the world and take permanent authority over the earth when he chooses.
Chapter 3: The King’s Statue and the Furnace
A student should read Daniel 3 for the group.
The king made this image after his dream. The gold part of the statue in the vision represented Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom. Nebuchadnezzar made his statue entirely of gold. He rejected the prediction that other kingdoms would come after his because he wanted to believe that his kingdom was established forever. He demanded that all people worship his greatness by worshipping the image. He denied God’s knowledge of the future kingdoms, and God’s power to establish an eternal kingdom. There is continual repetition of the phrase, “image that he had set up.”
Everyone should look at verses 14-15 together.
When the king confronted the Hebrews, he said, “Do you not serve my gods?” and “Who is the God that shall deliver you out of my hands?” (14-15).
The three Hebrews did not know whether God would rescue them or not, but they were committed to worship only God (17-18). The king remembered their unconditional loyalty to God, saying that they “yielded their bodies” (28).
The important officials the king had gathered for his glory saw God’s glory instead (27).
The heathen gods could not deliver their worshippers from such a death. God came to be with them in the furnace. The king said, “There is no other God that can deliver like this” (29).
► What faith should we have because of this history?
We cannot assume that God will prevent all harm from happening to us, but we should follow the example of the three Hebrews and be loyal to God. God will ultimately prove his power and reward those who are faithful.
Principle for Bible Interpretation
The direct quotations of the main people in the story usually emphasize the main purposes of the story. Notice that the king said, “Who is the God that can deliver you?” then later, “There is no other God that can deliver like this!”
Optional exercise: Look for other direct quotations in these stories and observe how they emphasize the main purposes of the stories.
Chapter 4: A Beast for Seven Years
Note to class leader: Rather than reading the whole chapter for the group, you could ask a student to summarize the story, then allow other students to add details.
The Chaldean magicians could not interpret the dream (7). When Daniel interpreted it, they said that he was one “in whom is the spirit of the holy gods” (8-9).
This chapter is unique in the Bible because it is the testimony of a king of Babylon.
The king’s basic problem was pride, and the lesson for the king was for him to know that God rules (17, 25, 26, 30-32, 34-35). The king could have avoided the experience by repenting (27).
In verse 2 the king stated the purpose of his testimony and the reason for the event that happened to him. The glory of God was revealed in the event.
Principle for Bible Interpretation
If the writer states his purpose, that purpose usually should guide our use of the writing.
Other examples include 1 John 2:2 and 5:13, and Luke 18:1. When the writer addressed a specific situation, we may not have the same situation, but the principles explained by the writer are relevant to us. For example, Paul wrote to ask Philemon to forgive a runaway slave. The principle he stated was that Philemon and Onesimus were Christian brothers, and that relationship was more important than their statuses as master and slave.
Verse 3 is a wonderful statement of God’s power and eternal sovereignty. Like 2:20-22, this verse states the theme of the book of Daniel and of all eschatology.
► How would you apply this passage in preaching?
Chapter 5: The Writing on the Wall
Note to class leader: A student could read the chapter for the group, or you could ask a student to summarize the story, then allow other students to add details.
Drinking wine from the vessels of the temple was a deliberate disrespect to the God of Israel (2-3). As they drank they honored idols (3). Within the same hour the hand appeared to write on the wall (5).
The wise men could not read the words on the wall (8). They said that Daniel had “the spirit of the holy gods” (11).
Daniel reviewed the story of Nebuchadnezzar’s humbling (chapter 4), showing that Belshazzar should have learned the same lesson (22). Belshazzar worshipped idols and ignored the God who controlled his breath (23). Belshazzar’s father was Nabonidus, who was still living, though not in Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar was not biologically the father of either of them but is called father as their predecessor.
Belshazzar was amazed at the revelation that came from Daniel, but still did not repent. He gave rewards and promotions as though his position would not fall (29). He maintained his composure in the presence of the 1000 rulers, but they all heard and later witnessed God’s judgment.
God showed his sovereignty over the powers of the world. He judges those who ignore his authority.
Chapter 6: The Cage of Lions
Note to class leader: A student should summarize the story for the group. Other students may add important details.
Daniel’s enemies could find no fault in him except that he was loyal to God above all other authorities (5).
They set up a trial that would test Daniel’s allegiance between the king and God (7). When they proposed the law to the king, he yielded to the same temptation that the previous ones had – to honor himself above the gods.
The key question was asked by the king: “Is your God, whom you serve continually, able to deliver you?” (20). There was no question about Daniel’s faithfulness. He was delivered “because he believed in his God” (23).
The king’s decree and honor of God (25-27) was similar to Nebuchadnezzar’s (4:3, 37).
God again showed that people should be loyal to him rather than to human powers that compete against him.
► What is an example of a similar test of loyalty that you have experienced or observed?
Assignments
(1) Writing Assignment: Prepare a lesson or sermon from one of the passages of Daniel. Don’t just tell the story. Explain the significance of the story. Explain the themes of eschatology and show how they are important today. Explain what the story should do for our faith.
(2) Reading Assignment: Before the next class session, carefully read Daniel 7-12.
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