Daniel - Harborcreek Royal RangersOutpost 380harborcreekroyalrangers.weebly.com/uploads/4/4/3/0/4430201/daniel.pdf · show favor and compassion to Daniel, but the of cial told Daniel,

C AT E G O R Y T I T L E R E F E R E N C E

Cultural Issues Food Customs Daniel 1:8–16

DanielLEADERS LESSON OVERVIEW—Lesson 1

F O R T H E L E A D E R

“Royal Rangers,” the Royal Rangers Emblem, and Royal Rangers group names and group logos are registered trademarks of Gospel Publishing House. Permission for use is required.Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®,NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Offi ce by Biblica, Inc.™© 2011 by Gospel Publishing House, 1445 N. Boonville Ave., Springfi eld, Missouri 65802. All rights reserved worldwide. No part of this material may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means–electronic, me-chanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise–without prior written permission of the copyright owner, except brief quotations used in connection with reviews in magazines or newspapers.Handout material may be reproduced for use in teaching within your local outpost.We ask that our members set a good example for the young men that they lead by honoring this license agreement.

M AT E R I A L S & P R E P

Prepare a copy of the Student Handout for each boy.

Read the lesson in advance, taking note of the main points. Be prepared to present the lesson to your group, but avoid reading it word for word. Include discussion with the group to make it more enjoyable for everyone.

KEY POINTWith God’s help I will do the right thing in every situation.

KEY VERSEDaniel resolved not to defi le himself. Daniel 1:8

Note: Boys are not required to memorize the Key Point or Key Verse to receive completion credit for this lesson.

In Bible times, the Israelites believed that certain foods would make them unclean and unholy before God. Daniel was blessed because he sacrifi ced to follow God’s plan. For us today, food has nothing to do with holiness,

although sacrifi cing for God is always benefi cial.

For information on how to use Bible merits in a Royal Rangers meeting, refer to the TRaCclub Support section or the Royal Rangers Leader Manual.

REFLECT ANSWERSThese answers match the questions in the Refl ect section of the boys’ sheet. • He did not want to defi le himself. He did not want to disobey God.

• The king • Answers will vary. Emphasize the importance of prayer, having Christian friends, and avoiding tempting situations.

This license grants permission to Rich Schreiber to use and reproduce this sheet from Feb 05, 2013 to Feb 20, 2014 for use in a local outpost/group or self-study. Anyunauthorized use constitutes a violation of the agreement and may result in the revocation of TRaCclub membership.

©2010 by Gospel Publishing House. All rights reserved worldwide.


Cultural Issues Prayer Daniel 1:8–16

R E A D

K E Y T H O U G H T S

Do you ever have a hard time doing the right thing when others are doing the wrong thing? If you do, you’re not alone. Even adults are prone to follow the crowd. That’s true even when the crowd is wrong. People often act this way because of peer pressure. Peer pressure occurs when we are tempted to do things just because we know others want us to. Peer pressure is most often portrayed negatively. But, peer pressure can be a good thing, if you’re being pressured to do what’s right.

Daniel and his three friends were in a diffi cult position: They were captives in a foreign land. They were in a program that trained them for government service and their food was provided by the king. In fact, their food came from the king’s own table. But they had a problem. They didn’t want to eat the food the king provided.

But Daniel resolved not to defi le himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief offi cial for permission not to defi le himself this way. Now God had caused the offi cial to show favor and compassion to Daniel, but the offi cial told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.”

Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief offi cial had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.

At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young

men who ate the royal food. So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead. Daniel 1:8–16

KEY POINTWith God’s help I will do the right thing in every situation.

KEY VERSEDaniel resolved not to defi le himself. Daniel 1:8

DanielSTUDENT HANDOUT—Lesson 1



DA N I E L — Lesson 1

Their reason was simple. Daniel and his friends wanted to obey God. And God had given the people of Israel rules about what they could eat and how it should be prepared. The Bible does not say why God gave Israel those rules. However, some of those rules were benefi cial to their health.

The Bible doesn’t tell us what Daniel and his friend had been given to eat. But, Daniel and his friends must have believed eating the food would be breaking God’s commands. They may have seen some things they were not supposed to eat. Or maybe they worried that they would be eating food that had been used in pagan worship. They also asked for water instead of wine. Numerous Old Testament passages show the bad effects of drinking wine. Daniel probably knew these.

It is also likely that Daniel and his friends felt pressured to eat the food. Boys who were eating the food may have urged the Hebrews to eat it, too. Daniel and his friends probably knew the king picked the food. Rejecting the king’s choices could have been viewed as an insult. The offi cial over Daniel and his friends refused to change the king’s menu. The offi cial admitted that he was scared to make such a change.

However, Daniel didn’t give up. Instead, he asked a guard for help. He convinced the guard to test the matter by giving them vegetables for ten days. The guard agreed, and after ten days, Daniel and his friends looked healthier than those who were eating the other food.

Daniel and his friends honored God by obeying His laws. God honored them by making them healthier than all the others.

You, too, will face situations where you will have to choose between doing what everyone else is doing and doing what is right. The choice may not be easy, but if you are determined to obey God as Daniel was, God will help you. This may mean that

you need to stop engaging in certain behaviors. It may mean that you need to start doing other things. Resolve now to take whatever steps are needed. When you honor God, you can be sure He will stand with you.

R E F L E C T

As a group, discuss the following questions.

• Why did Daniel want only vegetables and water?

• Who chose the food Daniel did not want to eat?• What can you do when you’re tempted to go

along with the crowd?

Review the Key Point and the Key Verse.

P R AY E R : Father, I want to honor You. Help me to do only things that please you. Give me the strength and self-control to resist temptation when I want to do things that would displease you. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

R E S P O N D

For the next week, keep a record of the things you do in your spare time. Be specifi c about what movies and television shows you watch. Record the video games you play, and the books and magazines you read. Be sure to count your daily prayer time too. At the end of the week, review your log. Then, spend a few minutes in prayer asking God to show you anything He does not approve of.

Remember to read your Bible this week using the Bible reading plan of your choice. A recommended plan can be found in the Bible Reading merit or online at royalrangers.com. Review this lesson with a friend or parent as a way to help you remember it.







Biblical Worldview Dreams and Visions Daniel 1:17–19




KEY POINTGod has a plan for my life and desires to reveal it to me.

KEY VERSE“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11


Throughout the years, many political leaders have listened to dreams and visions and the people who could interpret dreams and

visions to help with decisions. God has plans for all of us, and they align with His Word. If we will be obedient to His Word, we will be obedient to God.


REFLECT ANSWERSThese answers match the questions in the Refl ect section of the boys’ sheet. • He was captured and taken to Babylon where he was put to work for the king.

• The king found no others equal to them. • Answers will vary.






Biblical Worldview Dreams and Visions Daniel 1:17–19

R E A D

KEY POINTGod has a plan for my life and desires to reveal it to me.

KEY VERSE“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.

At the end of the time set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief offi cial presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. Daniel 1:17–19

What do you want to be when you grow up? A fi refi ghter? A teacher? A professional athlete? A scientist? Some people know from the time they are very young exactly what they want to be for the rest of their life. Others have some idea of what they want to do and really fi gure it out later. There others who have no idea what they want to do. These people eventually stumble into something they like or jump from job to job. A lot of this depends on a person’s personality. But when they are young, most kids

want to be something. Some people follow that dream through their entire life.

The story we read was about Daniel, the guy who wrote the book. We were able to catch a little of his story. Daniel was a very wise fellow. He was a Hebrew who had been taken as a captive to Babylon where he was enslaved. Because Daniel was so bright, however, his captors put him into service of the king, along with three other Hebrews: Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. You may know them as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

One of the gifts that God gave Daniel was the ability to interpret dreams and visions. Throughout history, God has used dreams and visions to give guidance to some people. Can you imagine God speaking to you through one of your dreams? He may do that sometime.

You see, God has a plan for your life. He uses lots of things to help communicate that plan to us. Sometimes He uses dreams and visions.




Sometimes He speaks to our hearts and minds in quiet ways. There are even times when He will use prophets to give a direction straight from Him. However God communicates His plan for us, we know that He has a plan. We can also trust that it is a good plan!

God loves us more than we can imagine. Look at God’s plan for Daniel. God made Daniel and his three friends rulers when they were supposed to be slaves. God did that for Daniel. God has a great plan for you. He has probably already given you an idea of what He wants for your life. And on a smaller scale, there are things He wants from you right now.

When you feel a tug inside your heart to tell your friends about Jesus, that’s God showing you His plan. When you sense you need to say a kind word or help someone, that’s God showing you His plan. His plan is big and small, and it encompasses your entire life.

Choose to follow God’s plan for your life. It’s a great plan, and it will take you places you never imagined!

R E F L E C T


• What happened to Daniel?• Why were Daniel and his friends put to work

for the king?• What do you think God wants you to be?


P R AY E R : Father, show me Your plan for my life. I put my trust in You and Your plan. I know You love me and have my best interest in mind at all times. Thank You for giving me guidance and direction through life. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

R E S P O N D

Over the course of the next week, spend at least 3 minutes every day asking God to show you His plan for your life and that He would give you the strength, skills, and wisdom to accomplish it. Then, with the guidance of your parents or guardians, research online what it takes to do the job you think God wants you to do.







Integrity Standing against Temptation Daniel 3:8–30

“Royal Rangers,” the Royal Rangers Emblem, and Royal Rangers group names and group logos are registered trademarks of Gospel Publishing House. Permission for use is required.

Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®,NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights

reserved worldwide.

The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Offi ce by Biblica, Inc.™

© 2011 by Gospel Publishing House, 1445 N. Boonville Ave., Springfi eld, Missouri 65802. All rights reserved worldwide. No part of this material may be reproduced, stored

in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means–electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise–without prior written permission of the

copyright owner, except brief quotations used in connection with reviews in magazines or newspapers.

Handout material may be reproduced for use in teaching within your local outpost.

We ask that our members set a good example for the young men that they lead by honoring this license agreement.




KEY POINTI will trust in God to help me overcome temptation.

KEY VERSENo temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13


There is a peer pressure that comes along with sexual sin as well. Be strong and stand

fi rm against temptation, even if it means the destruction of your reputation.


REFLECT ANSWERSThese answers match the questions in the Refl ect section of the boys’ sheet. • Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego • People who are married to each other, a husband and his wife

• Answers will vary. Group leader, you may wish to discuss the roles of prayer, Bible reading, and the baptism in the Holy Spirit in resisting temptation. You may also want to talk about fl eeing temptation.






Integrity Standing against Temptation Daniel 3:8–30

KEY POINTI will trust in God to help me overcome temptation.

KEY VERSENo temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

R E A D

At this time some astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews. They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “May the king live forever! Your Majesty has issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, fl ute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold, and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—who pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.”

Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and

Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? Now when you hear the sound of the horn, fl ute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?”

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”




Most Christians know the story of the three Hebrews who were thrown into a furnace. The story is really about pressure to do something you shouldn’t. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego knew they could not do what the king wanted.

King Nebuchadnezzar had a huge statue of himself created. At certain times each day, music was played. When that happened, the people were expected to worship the statue. The three Hebrews would not. They knew they were to worship only God.

When people saw that they did not do it, they were taken to the king. The king liked them and had placed them in high positions in the kingdom. He gave them another chance. He told them to bow down and worship the idol, but they refused. He told them that if they did not do what he said they would be thrown into a furnace of fi re. That is some serious pressure!

We may never face pressure to sin to save our life. But, we will face some very strong temptations. Sexual temptation is one of

Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the fl ames of the fi re killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and these three men, fi rmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.

Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fi re?”

They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.”

He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fi re, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”

Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!”

So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fi re, and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fi re had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fi re on them.

Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defi ed the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.”

Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon. Daniel 3:8–30




these. It’s everywhere. It’s on TV, in movies, in magazines, and on billboards.

You may hear lots of people talking about sexual stuff. You may even begin to think you aren’t normal because you aren’t talking about it. That’s not true. It’s not time for you to be talking about sex.

God designed sex as a gift for a husband and a wife. Engaging in sex outside of marriage is sin. But most of society doesn’t see it that way. The older you get, the more pressure you face.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego resisted temptation, and God saved their lives. If you yield to temptation, you can expect trouble. Sin can destroy your life.

The Holy Spirit can help us resist sexual temptation. The Holy Spirit gives us strength to overcome all pressures the enemy may send our way. We just have to let the Holy Spirit be alive and active in our daily life.

Prayer is the key to allowing the Holy Spirit to work. Reading your Bible will wash out bad desires and thoughts from your life. When someone shows you something bad, or says things they shouldn’t, the Holy Spirit can help you walk away. And that’s what you should do. Don’t give in to the pressure.

R E F L E C T


• What were the names of the Hebrews who refused to worship the statue?

• Sex was designed by God for whom? • What can you do to resist temptation?


P R AY E R : Father, please send the Holy Spirit to help me avoid sexual temptation. I know You have great plans for my life. I don’t want to sacrifi ce that plan because I failed under pressure. Make me the man You want me to be. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

R E S P O N D

Next week spend a few minutes each day asking God to help you resist pressure at school. Also, ask a parent, children’s pastor, or Royal Rangers leader about the baptism in the Holy Spirit, if you have not already experienced this.











Biblical Manhood Courage in the Face of Penalty Daniel 6:1–22

KEY POINTObey God and He will help you.

KEY VERSENow Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. Daniel 6:3


Godly men will stand with courage for their principles, even when it could lead them into danger.


REFLECT ANSWERSThese answers match the questions in the Refl ect section of the boys’ sheet. • They were jealous. • He prayed to God anyway. • Answers will vary. Consider these possibilities: Ask God for help; ask others to pray; seek help from others.



R E A D



Biblical Manhood Courage in the Face of Penalty Daniel 6:1–22


It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss. Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to fi nd grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could fi nd no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. Finally these men said, “We will never fi nd any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.”

So these administrators and satraps went as a group to the king and said: “May King Darius live forever! The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors

have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den. Now, Your Majesty, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” So King Darius put the decree in writing.

Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human

KEY POINTObey God and He will help you.

KEY VERSENow Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. Daniel 6:3




Throughout history there are stories of people who bravely faced danger to please God. The story we read about Daniel is one of the most famous of these stories. Daniel wasn’t just another person on the street. He was a government offi cial. The only person in the kingdom higher than Daniel was the king himself.

This caused others to be jealous. So they devised a plan to get rid of Daniel. They convinced the king to create a law banning prayer to anyone except the king for thirty days. If anyone prayed to any god other than the king, that person would be thrown into the lions’ den.

Once the king made this decree, Daniel had two choices. He could choose not to pray, or he could pray and his enemies would tell the king. Then, the king would have to kill him. Daniel knew these were his choices, and he chose to do the right thing. In the face of danger, he prayed to God.

Because of this, the king had to throw Daniel in the lions’ den. The king was so worried about Daniel that he couldn’t sleep all night. As soon as the sun rose, the king ran to the lions’ den. When he got there, he called out to Daniel, hoping God had saved Daniel. And God had saved him! An angel had come and shut the lions’ mouths. Daniel was saved because he was innocent in God’s sight.

There will be times when it will be very tempting to ignore what is going on and say nothing. Maybe someone is talking bad about someone you know. Maybe some older, bigger

being except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the lions’ den?”

The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”

Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.” When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.

Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, “Remember, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.”

So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!”

A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.

At the fi rst light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?” Daniel answered, “May the king

live forever! My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.” Daniel 6:1–22




boys are picking on a smaller or weaker boy or girl. Maybe someone is making fun of God. In those situations and others like them, you have a choice to make. Are you going to do nothing and walk away? Are you going to laugh and try to hide your identity? Or are you going to try to stop it?

Trying to stop it doesn’t mean you have to fi ght. It means that you fi nd a way to stop what is going on. Sometimes, it may mean that you could get hurt or made fun of. But godly men stand up for God and for people who cannot stand up for themselves.

This doesn’t mean you run around pretending you are a superhero. It doesn’t mean you go looking for fi ghts. It means that when situations arise, you choose to be brave enough to do the right thing. That’s the decision God honors. And you will be surprised at how God will help you when you honor Him!

R E F L E C T


• Why did the other offi cials want Daniel to die?

• What did Daniel do when he learned that people were only permitted to pray to the king for the next thirty days?

• What can you do when doing the right thing is diffi cult?


P R AY E R : Dear God, please give me courage to face whatever comes my way. Send Your Holy Spirit to give me strength to be the man You want me to be. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

R E S P O N D

Swap stories of courage you have seen or stories about historical fi gures who displayed courage.








Doctrine The Greatness of God Daniel 7:9,10




KEY POINTGod is great.

KEY VERSEFor you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God. Psalm 86:10


God is greater than all things. His glory is immeasurable. His power is incomprehensible.


REFLECT ANSWERSThese answers match the questions in the Refl ect section of the boys’ sheet. • His own • The earth • Answers will vary.



R E A D



Doctrine The Greatness of God Daniel 7:9,10


What is the biggest thing you have ever seen? Is it a mountain, a waterfall? Have you been to the Grand Canyon? Have you seen supertall buildings in a big city? What is the biggest thing you have ever seen on TV? Is it a football stadium, the Great Wall of China, or Mount Everest? Things that are as big and grand as some of these things tend to inspire a sense of awe and sometimes fear. Their size alone is just overwhelming at times.

In the passage we read in Daniel, we glimpse the size and greatness of God. For Daniel, this

was unlike anything he had ever seen. God was dressed in all white and His throne was fl aming fi re! A river of fi re ran down from where He sat. No other king Daniel had ever seen could compare. No other king had this great a demonstration of power and authority. It also said that thousands upon thousands attended Him. Royalty have people who are called attendants. They are people who serve the royalty directly. Most kings would probably have a couple of dozen attendants to help him. But God has thousands upon thousands of attendants.

God’s attendants weren’t the only beings present. The passage also said that ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. Can you do the math of ten thousand times ten thousand? That’s a hundred million! Then He also has his court seated around Him. The court of the king would have been other royals, likes dukes, earls, and princes related to the king, but not as powerful. We learn in the Book of Revelation that John also saw God’s throne. There were twenty-four elders in the court of God.

“As I looked, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was fl aming with fi re, and its wheels were all ablaze. A river of fi re was fl owing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened.” Daniel 7:9–10

KEY POINTGod is great.

KEY VERSEFor you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God. Psalm 86:10




All of this is a demonstration of God’s power and authority. He is greater than any earthly king who will ever live. He has power over life and death. He controls every nation and every person in each of those nations. Look at what Psalm 104:5 says about God:

“He set the earth on its foundations; it can never be moved” Psalm 104:5.

God’s so powerful that He even controls where the earth is. That’s a powerful and awesome King!

God created us. He has the power to bend us to His will. However, He does not do that because He does want unwilling slaves following Him. He wants friends. When we give Him control of our life, He helps us be the people He wants us to be. And once in awhile, we’ll be aware of God doing something that gives us a glimpse of just how awesome He is.

R E F L E C T


• Whose vision did Daniel write about? • What did God set on its foundation? • Explain why God’s awesomeness matters.


P R AY E R : Father, You are an amazing God. You control all things, and I want You to have control of my life. Be the King and Lord of me. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

R E S P O N D

Write Daniel 7:9,10 on a piece of paper and post it somewhere you will see it regularly.




Documents

Daniel - Harborcreek Royal RangersOutpost 380harborcreekroyalrangers.weebly.com/uploads/4/4/3/0/4430201/daniel.pdf · show favor and compassion to Daniel, but the of cial told Daniel,