Daniel
Lesson 1Daniel 1
About 1000 years separates Moses from Daniel, and yet both had much in common. Moses would lead the slaves out of bondage in Egypt, where God would use the 40-year trip through the wilderness to create and mold His Chosen People, the Jews. Approximately 500 years later, God’s chosen people would be their own nation. The pinnacle of that time was indicated by David’s reign over a united nation, Israel. Fast forward another 500 years, and Daniel arrives on the scene as the last of God’s chosen people are taken into captivity by the Babylonians. It would be almost 2500 years later before the nation of Israel would once again be recognized as a nation, in 1948.
Both Daniel and Moses proved to be men of faith, and both were used by God not only lead, but also to witness to some of the most powerful men in the world. Our study of Daniel will cover a lot of history and a lot of prophesy; but more importantly, I want to focus on the man himself. Both Moses and Daniel were uncommon men. They were highly-educated, with a privileged background, and accustomed to living in the presence of kings and pharaohs. Furthermore, both lived during uncommon and rapidly-changing times, relying on their faith in God above all else.
There is much for us to learn from studying both men, but this study will focus on Daniel — an uncommon man living in an uncommon time. In our first lesson, we will focus on Daniel’s background and the book of Daniel itself, before fully beginning our chapter-by-chapter study.
Read Daniel 1:1-21, then consider the following questions:
- There are three figures mentioned in the first six verses of Daniel Chapter 1, and examining each of them independently will give us a deeper insight into understanding Daniel and God Himself. Who are these three figures?
- What can we learn and infer from these verses regarding Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon?
- What can we learn and infer from these verses regarding Daniel, the man?
- What can we learn or infer regarding God from these verses?
- Finally, what can we learn or infer regarding ourselves from these verses?
Daniel the man, and Daniel the follower of God has a lot to teach us; this lesson is just the beginning. Seeing Daniel as a man of God is one thing, but applying what we learn from it is another altogether. It’s not easy being a follower of Christ, but it is the only way that God wants us to live. Let’s pray for Daniel’s faith and commitment in our lives starting today, and see what God can do through each of us when we do.
Have a great week everyone, and thanks for studying with us.
In Christ,
Wes
[2012]