Daniel chapter 1 (click the link to read the passages). The Character of Daniel - Bible Hub Daniel's Training in Babylon - In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And for good reason. General Editor. King Nebuchadnezzar had a second dream. The reading of the story of the fiery furnace, including the song, is prescribed for the vesperal Divine Liturgy celebrated by the Orthodox on Holy Saturday. Appearings of Christ in the Old Testament. The key to Daniels truly successful and prosperous life can be traced to an important decision he made as a young man: Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself (Dan. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia and put in the treasure house of his god. Nebuchadnezzar successfully besieges Jerusalem and carries off some of the treasure from the temple of God to Babylon. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 3.26; 4.2,17; 5.18; 7.18). I took the reins myself and went to graduate school so I could possibly get ahead. Daniel therefore experienced the commencement of the "times of the Gentiles" (Lk 21.24). God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. He then Interprets the handwriting on the wall for King Belshazzar (Dan. 9:23 with Matt. We want to help you study the Bible, obey the Bible, and teach the Bible to others. She teaches a womens Bible study at her church and runs the sound for worship. Rahab Interpreting the forgotten dream of the king. He commanded that they use the gold and silver that the exiles took from the temple when the siege happened of Jerusalem under Nebuchadnezzar. Because Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel the gracious hand of his God was on him (Ezra 7:9-10). He reveals mysteries and it wasnt wisdom that Daniel had from within him that made it possible to know it. One of these visions foresaw the future reign of Jesushundreds of years before Jesus was born: In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. It is used at Lauds for Sundays and feast days. Maybe you will reach deeper depths than ever before. In 605 B.C., the dynasty was in its twilight years. The archangel Gabriel is sent to assist Daniela man "greatly beloved" (9:23)to explain and interpret the visions. I do. Chapter 1: Induction into Babylon Chapter 2: Nebuchadnezzar's Dream Chapter 3: The Fiery Furnace Chapter 4: Nebuchadnezzar's Madness Chapter 5: Belshazzar's Feast Chapter 6: Daniel in the Lions's Den Chapter 7: The Four Beasts Chapter 8: The Ram, He-Goat and Horn Chapter 9: The Seventy Weeks Chapters 10-12: Daniel's final vision Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem and besieged it. It has all the makings a great storymemorable characters, cliff-hanger drama, and science fiction-like visions. They brought home some vessels from Gods house and kidnapped some of the sons of Israel royal family and nobles. David Encouragement for the Elderly: Growing older and colder is a sad feature of many Bible characters but not Daniel! A law was even passed forbidding the worship of anyone/anything except the Persian king. The Personality of Daniel - Bible Hub Who wrote the book? So the first characteristic of Daniel was his fidelity to religious convictions. There have been those days where I would be gazing into the closet, picking out my, Not Daniel. A steady diet of Scripture reading and study is essential for spiritual growth, so we encourage you to make use of the resources we offer at Bible Gateway including tips for fully engaging Scripture, Bible reading plans, and other tools for growing deeper in your knowledge of Gods Word. The Character of Godly Teens - Daniel 1:1-21 | Grace Bible Church As a result, the King immediately gave him the gifts he mentioned above. Then Daniel proceeded to go into the king and to request time to declare the interpretation of the kings dream to him (vs 14). On hearing the dream and simultaneously receiving the interpretation from God, Daniel is alarmed because the dream predicts the kings temporary madness. [6] Modern scholarship agrees that Daniel is a legendary figure. This God is not one of the man-made idols that Nebuchadnezzar served. [13], The Chaldean names are related to the Hebrew ones, with the names El and Yah replaced by Babylonian theonyms: Doctrinal: Daniel is used to Jehovah being extolled as "the Most High God" (e.g. TGC Course | Knowing the Bible: Daniel | 12-week Bible Study Then he tells how God sent an angel to shut the lions mouth as he was found innocent before God and also towards the king (vs 22). Peter Name:Daniel- God is Judge (Belteshazzar)- May Bel protect his life. and taken to Babylon after the siege of Jerusalem ended (it started in 605 B.C.) It is definitely said in a public place that others could have heard him humbly declaring God was the one who gave him the answers the king needed. Joel Hawthorne Bible Characters The book of Daniel starts in 605 BC, the 3rd year of Jehoiakim, king of Judahs reign. And my health is so much better now too. Paperback Book You can alsoorder a paperback version of the Character Studies book from Amazon. These youth had no defects, were good looking, showed intelligence in every branch of wisdom, understanding, knowledge and were brought to serve in the Kings court. Daniel is a Hebrew name meaning "God is my judge" (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, "Daniel"). CONTEXT. I have some friends that I can text and they will begin praying right away. Rebekah This great prayer of Daniels was prompted by his diligent reading of the Scriptures. Do you ask permission, so to speak, to do it in a different way? Daniel therefore experienced the commencement of the "times of the Gentiles" (Lk 21.24). [12] When the three are thrown into the furnace the king sees four men walking in the flames, the fourth like "a son of god," a divine being. Had the foreign spouses committed themselves to the God of Israel, there would not have been a problem. God's sovereignty is indicated in the introduction, Daniel 1:1-2. When he is removed the next day, Daniel is gracious and says, O king, live forever! (Dan 6:21). As with Joseph, he resisted the danger of conforming to the culture of his day (cp. [3] It forms a pair with the story of Daniel in the lions' den, both making the point that the God of the Jews will deliver those who are faithful to him. It is therefore important to consider the character in sequence. Elijah He also proclaimed him the third highest ruler in the kingdom. Daniel knew that he needed Gods divine intervention to help understand this dream. God gave him the answer so that the king could know it. Is this what burdens the people of God today? Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, With my job change, I learned I had not been, When Daniel didnt want to defile himself with the Kings food during his three year training, he asked permission from the commander of the officials to have vegetables and water (Daniel 1:8). [4], King Nebuchadnezzar set up a golden image in the plain of Dura (meaning dwelling) and commanded that all his officials bow before it. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted God (Dan 6:23 ESV). In the lions' den miracle, Daniel's trial resembles that of Jesus before Pontius Pilate, and Daniel's escape from certain death is like Jesus' resurrection. Daniel 1 Daniel Removed to Babylon 1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. Still, Solomon is remembered for the wisdom of his writings and the temple he built for the worship of the true God. My husband hearing my question would answer, Clothes. Haha, thanks. 2. He pronounced the true meaning of dreams and visions, even when those would be negative and unpopular (4:19,27; 5:22,25-28). We should therefore choose our friends carefully as they will influence our outlook as Christians. Noah Cindy is a writer from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Peer pressure was strong to get him to conform. After Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar his dream and its interpretation he was made the overseer over the province of Babylon and all the wise men and magicians in the Babylonian kingdom. Instead, a year and a half later, I was removed from my position and given a choice of leaving my company or taking another position. Solomon succeeded his father, David, as king of Israel. Esther Daniel lived in the same world we live in. Despite his advanced years, Daniel remained sensitive to the plight of Gods people note his description in 10.19. I have always appreciated the humility of the prophets when they pray for the people and include them in the prayers of repentance. Do you ask your friends for prayer help? Being wise, even at the age of 15, Daniel knew the Jewish law and that this food was not to be eaten and would defile him (Lev 3:17 ESV). . That night, the mystery of the dream was revealed to Daniel. You can read my business story on my site, GodsPlanGuidedSteps. These alone comprise numerous lessons. Select all the topics you most frequently turn to the Bible to get help with: The Bible Gateway Blog features the latest news, announcements, and reflections from Bible Gateway. Note the references in 5.11-12 and 6.23 and consider how Daniel remained true to God. Daniel was about 80 when Persia conquered Babylon. We have Daniel and his friends appointed as leaders over a nation that enslaved them, the escape from the fiery furnace and the escape from the lions' den, perhaps the most well-known of the stories, as well as Nebuchadnezzar's 7 year long madness! I wanted to get promoted in my department but the Lord had other plans. 4 Legendary Lessons in Leadership from Daniel - 95.9 The Fish They tricked the king to establish and sign a rule that anyone who makes a petition to any god or man besides King Darius, they should be thrown into the lions den. They were ordered to learn the language of the Chaldeans, given a daily ration of the Kings food and wine and trained for 3 years. They text me and if I can look at my phone right away, I will be praying at that moment while I am going about my day. Would you stand up for what is right? Daniel | Lesson 12 in Character by Character, series 2 - UB David Darius is now king of Babylon, and Daniel is in his eighties. Even though it isnt what I thought Id be doing during the day, it has lessened my stress and I work mostly from home. In fact, it reminds me of an old joke: You invite a philosopher into the room and ask, What is integrity? After Daniel obtained some time from the king to give him the interpretation of the dream, he went home, explained the situation to his friends, Hananiah, Mischael and Azariah and asked for their help. 5. Gabriel names the world powers from Babylon up until the coming of Gods Kingdom on earthpictured in an earlier vision as the stone cut out without hands. Would you be ready to meet Him if Christ came today? The Five Attributes of Daniel - Biblically Responsible Insider J Grant, Building for God in Difficult Days (2) Jonathan Boaz This was fulfilled in Daniels day as Gods people returned to a position of slavery. He gives King the interpretation that he is to be removed from his office and would dwell among the beasts of the field until he recognizes that God is the Most High is ruler over earth and He is the one who gives it to whom he wills (vs 20-25). Barnabas Solomon Solomon succeeded his father, David, as king of Israel. Laws may change, morality does not. He then Interprets the handwriting on the wall for King Belshazzar (. (5:131) Daniel interprets the handwriting on the wall for, A'. Daniel is from David's royal family For hundreds of years, a descendant of David had been on the throne in Jerusalemwell, besides one imposter queen ( 2 Ki 11:1-3 ). Lessons for today from the life of Daniel. He made up his mind to not defile himself with the King's food. you have far exceeded the report I heard (1 Kings 10:1-7). I do. When one is overwhelmed with the stress of work, taking care of the kids and/or the house, that little joke is not helpful. Book of Daniel, chapter 1", "Commemoration of the Prophet Daniel, and his Companions STS. But how could I bow to some other god besides the LORD our God?? They brought home some vessels from Gods house and kidnapped some of the, Do you have days like I do where it seems life is so overwhelming that I cant make a simple decision? He approached the Ancient of Days [i.e., God] and was led into his presence. (According to the Talmud (Sanhedrin 93a), Daniel was out of the country at the time of the incident. While Daniel was in the kings court, he wanted Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego to be appointed administrators over the province of Babylon (. . While the best known Daniel is the hero of the Book of Daniel who interprets dreams and receives apocalyptic visions, the Bible also briefly mentions three other individuals of this name: The Book of Ezekiel (14:14, 14:20 and 28:3) refers to a legendary Daniel famed for wisdom and righteousness. [4], The legendary nature of the story is revealed by the liberal use of hyperbole the size of the statue, the use of every kind of music, the destruction of the executioners, and the king's rage followed by his confession of the superiority of the God of Israel. The Lutheran ChurchMissouri Synod also includes Daniel and the three youths in the Calendar of Saints on 17 December. It is hard to think about being thrown into a den with bloodthirsty lions. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life, declared the sign on the side of the bus. He took responsibility for his part in the sins of the people. Copyright 1998-2023 UB David & I'll B Jonathan, Inc. Gen 39.7-9 & Dan 1.8). You may know their Babylonian or Chaldean names as Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego. It was certainly not an easy life or an easy time in the history of Israel for Daniel to live. Consider, for example, his: Ancestry: Daniel came from a family background that was noble in character (1.3). He was never one to act hastily, but he was patient and prayerful. Chaps. Special traits:God gave the Daniel (like Joseph) the gift to understand dreams and visions and give the correct interpretation (1:17, 2:24). You just cant tell what depth of prayer you might reach after meditating in the Word of God. Many believe this refers to the coming of Christ, who will arrive in the days of the ten kings (Dan. Daniel begins by telling the king that no wise man can answer this but there is a God in heaven who can. BIO: Christopher Reese (MDiv, ThM) (@clreese) is a freelance writer and editor-in-chief of The Worldview Bulletin. Abraham Daniel speaks respectfully and tells King Belshazzar about how God bestowed honor on his grandfather Nebuchadnezzar. Importantly, Solomon acknowledges in his prayer that even though God had chosen to dwell among his people in a special and localized way, he far transcended being limited by anything in all creation, including the temple. Amid the scorn and ridicule of the world, we can stand with our heads held high. He was an important prophet for the nation of Israel and for the whole world. Understanding the mystery would prevent Daniel, his friends and all the other wise men from being killed (Dan 2:17-18 ESV). As he mourns and fasts, Gabriel once again appears to him to comfort him and reveal further details of the future which awaits Gods people and the world. Daniel, as many other authors of the antiquity and the Bible, writes of himself in the third person throughout the first part of the book. Daniel is given several visions which relate to the events which will happen in the future, including the setting up of Gods Kingdom on the earth. He did the same for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and offered sacrifices to their gods (1 Kings 11:7-8). (Daniel 1:8) Daniel knew, deep within his heart and soul, that this was not something he should do. If you canafter your reading todayspend some time in prayer. If they could tell him the dream first, then hed know that their interpretation was true. They are apt to take the glory to themselves rather than give it to God. Samson He knew that delicious entertainments, however pleasant to the senses, often . This led Nebuchadnezzar to declare, Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery (Daniel 2). How easy it would have been for Daniel to have stubbornly refused to eat the kings meat, and forced an unnecessary confrontation. A recurring theme throughout the Bible is the importance of reading, studying, and meditating on Gods Word. But to say that publicly in front of a lot of people would be hard to do. God is always at work in the history of mankind. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego", "From Prophecy to Apocalypticism: The Expectation of the End", "The Danilic Son of Man in the New Testament", "Millennialism, Scripture, and Tradition", "Stages in the Canonization of the Book of daniel", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Shadrach,_Meshach,_and_Abednego&oldid=1162986861, A. 1. Supplications: Prayer should be part and parcel of the Christians daily routine (6.10). Daniel and three of his companions decide not to compromise their religious beliefs by eating the food provided by the king, and request a vegetarian diet. Mailbox Club lessons The Mailbox Club International; used by permission with adaptation for the Internet. In a mournful prayer to God, Ezra lamented, Shall we then break your commands again and intermarry with the peoples who commit . Getting to Know the Major Characters of the Old Testament: Getting to Know the Major Characters of the New Testament. Daniel could have told Belshazzar to take a flying leap after he read the inscription on the wall. God allowed Daniel to know the mystery so that he could tell the king the dream and its purpose (, Giving God the glory in small ways or in front of, At this point, Daniel made a request of the king. Naturally Daniel refuses to accept this decree and openly prays to God, whereupon he is thrown into a lions den. He is called blameless. 12 Biblical Facts about the Prophet Daniel - OverviewBible 1:28-29, NIV). His visions offer hope that God will bring all nations under His rule. Jacob This is a complex, and at the same time exciting, book. Getting to Know the Major Characters of the Old Testament: Part 3 The Babylonians did not observe the Jewish food laws nor prepare kosher meat (Lev. The stakes were high. The starting-point in studying a Bible personality is to consider the setting. Not Daniel. Even though this study focused on Daniel, I also hope that youve come to know Gods sovereignty over history. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. (1 Cor. With that same power within us, we can do more than we could ever ask or imagine (. Scriptures: If Daniel read and studied the Scriptures (9.1-2), then we too must read them regularly and systematically. WEB: But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king's dainties, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. 4:7-8 ESV). 3 Lessons from Daniel about Living a Life of Integrity He was faithful and prayed to God three times a day, every day (Dan 6:10). After Babylon fell to the Persians, the Persians began allowing the Jews to return to their homeland. Mordecai and Haman He was young, likely 16-18 at this time, good-looking, intelligent, and wise. The first, chronologically, occurs in the book of Daniel, where the ruler is called Darius the Mede (Daniel 6:1).This Darius ruled for only two years (538-536 BC) and is best known as the ruler who promoted Daniel to a high position in the kingdom and then cast him into the lions' den, much against his better judgment. In the Armenian Apostolic Church, one of the Oriental Orthodox or ancient non-Chalcedonian churches, the feast day of the three youths, along with Daniel, is commemorated on the Tuesday after the fourth Sunday of Pentecost.[18]. All the rest of his life he lived in a pagan and sinful culture. His faithfulness to that early decision can be seen on at least four important occasions. The captivity of Israel ended under the reign of Cyrus (10.1; Ezra 1) and, by this stage, Daniel would be in his mid to late 80s. Daniel was deeply thankful to God for imparting to him the wisdom by which he could interpret Nebuchadnezzars dream. Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself, That God would bring them out of Babylon as He once did out of Egypt (9:15), That God would allow the Temple to be rebuilt in Jerusalem (. In his prayer he confesses the transgression of his nation, acknowledges the justice of divine punishment, and seeks God for mercy and restoration. V. HIS WONDERFUL DELIVERANCE. He was. He calls for the sacred vessels which Nebuchadnezzar had brought from the Temple in Jerusalem to be set on his table so that his lords and ladies might drink from them. Martha Interpreting The Character Of Daniel In The Book Of The Bible He had a very high education and was trained in all the branches of wisdom of the day. Belshazzar, the son of Nabonidus, decides to hold a great feast in the city of Babylon, and in the course of the preparations does something which greatly displeases the Lord. You may know their Babylonian or Chaldean names as Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego. She is a wife to Dave for 33 years, a mother of two grown kids who serve the Lord, one son-in-love, one daughter-in-love, 3 wonderful grandchildren and one on the way. King Belshazzar, who reigned from 553-539 BC, had a feast with over 1000 nobles. It is so comforting to know that these sisters in Christ pray for me when I ask. Daniel asked them to pray that God would have mercy on them and reveal the mystery of this dream. So, 70 sabbath rest years were missed and that accounted for the 70 years that they were being held in captivity! When Daniel appears before the king who asks him if he is ready to tell him about the dream and what it means. My hope is that as you have read this and do further study on Daniel, you will see why Daniel was called a man of high esteem (Dan 10:11,19). Dependency: Daniel was a man of prayer, and not just when he faced opposition note the conclusion to 6.10. This happened in three separate waves, and Ezra led the second wave back to Jerusalem. Home | Youth World | Kids World | Advanced | Bible Exploration | Franais | Espaol | About Us | Contact Us. This page/post may contain affiliate links. Every time he had an opportunity to praise himself he gave all the credit, glory, thanks, and praise to God (2:28-30, 4:19). He knew that God is all-powerful and sovereign! In the narrative, the three Jewish men are thrown into a fiery furnace by Nebuchadnezzar II, King of Babylon for refusing to bow to the king's image. The book of Daniel is also a most popular book for the students of eschatology (studies . Spiritual: Moses had previously warned the nation of Israel that failure to obey God would bring certain judgment (Deut 28.15-68). 1. In addition to having compassion, Daniel respectfully gives him advice on how he could respond to this dream. The Orthodox also commemorate them on the two Sundays before the Nativity of Christ. Daniel (3304-3399 / 457-362 BCE) was a celebrated Jewish scholar and master interpreter of dreams who was exiled to Babylon after the destruction of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. Daniel was merely a boy when he was forced to leave everything he knew. Note:It would have been easy for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego to fall down and worship the true God and merely appear to worship the image, but they didnt want to even give the appearance of this sin. Firstly we can learn from Daniels example in all the areas of his strengths. After Daniel was taken to Babylon, the Babylonians once again attacked Jerusalem and many citizens of the region were deported to Babylon. Daniel is so alarmed that he wished that the dream would apply to anyone else but the king he was standing in front of. Welcome back to Ouachita. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Hebrew names Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah) are figures from the biblical Book of Daniel, primarily chapter 3. Morality, on the other hand, is Gods law it is decreed by Him and finds its basis in His character. It was during King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon's first of three attacks against Jerusalem that he and his three friends (their Chaldean or Babylonian . Although there are two other men named Daniel in the Biblea son of David (1 Chronicles 3:1) and a priest (Ezra 8:2; Nehemiah 10:6)the focus of this article is on the man who was a prophet and who wrote the Old Testament book of . Not only was this great for Daniel to share the accolades that were given to him by the king, but it also allowed Daniel to focus on his work in the kings court while the affairs of the province were being cared for. See these scriptures about this for more study (Jeremiah 29:1-14, 2 Chronicles 36:20-23 and Leviticus 25:1-7 ESV).*. He is a general editor of the Dictionary of Christianity and Science (Zondervan, 2017) and Three Views on Christianity and Science (Zondervan, 2021). He didnt care about gifts (5:17). The Jews had not given the land a Sabbath rest for 490 years. None of them can interpret it so Daniel comes in to see him (, King Belshazzar, who reigned from 553-539 BC, had a feast with over 1000 nobles. When Daniel is brought into the king, he tells Daniel about all he has heard of his talents of interpreting dreams. [17] The song is alluded to in odes seven and eight of the canon, a hymn sung in the matins service and on other occasions in the Eastern Orthodox Church. Her focus is helping women understand Gods Plan for their life and knowing their true identity in Christ. Joseph He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. This God is not one of the man-made idols that Nebuchadnezzar served. Of course, none of the magicians or astrologers can interpret it. This reflects the apostle Peters advice to Christians that we should live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God . . We hope what you find here will add to your understanding of and appreciation for the Bible. But Daniel makes it clear that this defeat was in fulfillment of God's purposes and promises. In spite of Solomons great wisdom, he made the destructive mistake of allowing the worship of false gods in Israel, primarily through the influence of his many wives from other nations. He was a wise man, an adviser in the personal service of Nebuchadnezzar (1:19-20). In Daniel chapter 4, Nebuchadnezzar is given another dream by God. God allowed a foreign force (Babylon) to take captive His people (the Jews) (1.1-2). Angry at their inability to explain his dream, the king pronounces the death penalty on all his wise men, including Daniel and his friends. The Character of Daniel - Bible Hub Psalm 1, for example, says that the person who meditates on Gods Word is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not witherwhatever they do prospers.. The king reassures Daniel to not let himself be alarmed (vs 19). Ostensibly "an account of the activities and visions of Daniel, a noble Jew exiled at Babylon", it combines a prophecy of history with an eschatology (a portrayal of end times) both cosmic in scope and political in focus, and its message is that just as the God of Israel saves Daniel from his enemies, so . The whole situation causes the king great distress, but he is consoled when, after a sleepless night, he visits the lions den and finds Daniel alive and unharmed.