Studies in the Book of Daniel:Studies in the Book of Daniel:Chapter 1: “What’s on the Menu?”Chapter 1: “What’s on the Menu?”

Forest Hills Bible ChapelForest Hills Bible Chapel

8 January 20068 January 2006

AmosAmos

The Prophet of Social JusticeThe Prophet of Social Justice

610 600 590 580 570 560 550 540 530

Kings of Judah

Obadiah?

Jeremiah

Daniel

Ezekiel

Zephaniah

Habakkuk

Joel? Jerusalem & Temple Destroyed

ReturnfromExile

Babylonian Captivity

Daniel 1:1-2Daniel 1:1-2In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the vessels of the house of God; and he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and he brought the vessels into the treasury of his god.

AmosAmos

The Prophet of Social JusticeThe Prophet of Social Justice

610 600 590 580 570 560 550 540 530

Kings of Judah

Obadiah?

Jeremiah

Daniel

Ezekiel

Zephaniah

Habakkuk

Joel? Jerusalem & Temple Destroyed

ReturnfromExile

Babylonian Captivity

Jerusalem

Carchemish

BabylonNebuchadnezzar

PharaohNeco

Dream of the image of the four kingdoms (2)

Rescue of Daniel’s friends from the fiery furnace (3)

Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the tree Daniel’s interpretation Nebuchadnezzar’s humiliation (4)

Belshazzar’s feast and handwriting on wall Daniel’s interpretation Belshazzar’s death (5)

Rescue of Daniel from the lion’s den (6)

Night vision of four beasts (7)

Because of its brevity and literary nature, the book of Daniel can be described as:

“A Handbook for Life in Captivity.”

Daniel 1-6: “Court Tales”

Daniel 7-12: “Daniel’s Visions”

Some Principles from Daniel 1Some Principles from Daniel 1

The Babylonian Exile of the people of Judah The Babylonian Exile of the people of Judah was inevitable, and it was necessary for was inevitable, and it was necessary for Daniel and his three friends to accept that – Daniel and his three friends to accept that – Daniel 1:1-2; cf. also Jeremiah 25:1-14; Daniel 1:1-2; cf. also Jeremiah 25:1-14; 29:1-9.29:1-9.

Daniel and his friends could participate in Daniel and his friends could participate in Babylonian culture – provided they did not Babylonian culture – provided they did not violate the law of God – Daniel 1:3-8.violate the law of God – Daniel 1:3-8.

Some Principles from Daniel 1Some Principles from Daniel 1

God was not averse to providing God was not averse to providing “protection” within the culture for Daniel “protection” within the culture for Daniel and his three friends – Daniel 1:9-14.and his three friends – Daniel 1:9-14.

God was faithful to Daniel and his three God was faithful to Daniel and his three friends for their obedience – Daniel 1:15-21.friends for their obedience – Daniel 1:15-21.

ApplicationsApplications This period from the history of Judah (Daniel; This period from the history of Judah (Daniel;

Ezra-Nehemiah; Esther) best mirrors the situation Ezra-Nehemiah; Esther) best mirrors the situation of the church today.of the church today.

Our loyalties are first and foremost to the Our loyalties are first and foremost to the kingdom of God; second, our loyalties are to the kingdom of God; second, our loyalties are to the nation in which God has placed us.nation in which God has placed us.

Simply put, we are Americans (or Romanians, or Simply put, we are Americans (or Romanians, or Mexicans, etc.) second; we are first and foremost Mexicans, etc.) second; we are first and foremost citizens of God’s kingdom.citizens of God’s kingdom.

We must never uncritically equate any political or We must never uncritically equate any political or cultural entity with the kingdom of God.cultural entity with the kingdom of God.