Bible Stories for Adults
God Saves Daniel's Three Friends
Daniel 1-3
Welcome and Announcements
Next Week - God Saves Daniel from the Lions (Daniel 3-6)
Bible Words to Remember:
Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18
Opening Prayer
The Babylonian Empire (Genesis 11)
How old was the city of Babylon?
Genesis 10:8-10 (1, 6)
What famous building was supposedly built in Babylon?
Genesis 11:2, 4-5, 8-9
Located on Euphrates River, 50 miles south of Baghdad, Iraq
Surrounded by 60 miles of walls up to 300 feet tall & 87 feet wide
Old Babylonian dynasty - Amorites in 2000-1600 BC
Then ruled by Hittites, Kassites, Assyrians
Neo-Babylonian Empire founded in 625 BC by Nabopolassar, a Chaldean
Allied with Medes (under Cyaxares) to conquer Assyria
Sent his son, Nebuchadnezzar, to lead battles
Nebuchadnezzar took throne when his father died in Sept 605 BC
Built empire into top world power
Very successful conqueror, builder, administrator
Where did Nebuchadnezzar get his power and what was his reputation?
Habbukuk 1:6-7
Nebuchadnezzar was succeeded by son, Nabonidus (Evil-Merodach) in 562 BC
Nabonidus retired to Teima in Arabia, left his son Belshazzar in charge
Cyrus the Mede (Persian) conquered Belshazzar & Babylon in 539 BC
Although powerful, expansive & famous, Babylonian Empire only lasted 86 yrs
The First Deportation (2 Kings 24)
When did Judah first become subject to Babylon?
2 Kings 24:1
How did Nebuchadnezzar respond when Jehoiakim revolted?
Daniel 1:1-2
What did Nebuchadnezzar take back to Babylon with the first exile?
2 Kings 24:13-16
What prophet was taken into exile with Jehoiachin?
Ezekiel 1:2-3
Israelites began speaking Aramaic in Babylon, Spoke Hebrew before exile
Nebuchadnezzar's Advisors (Daniel 1:1-7)
What did Nebuchadnezzar do with the well-educated and capable men he captured?
Daniel 1:3-5
Who were some of these men in the group of Judah captives?
Daniel 1:6-7
What did their names mean?
Daniel
Belteshazzar
Hananiah
Shadrach
Mishael
Meshach
Azariah
Abednego
Picky Eaters (Daniel 1:8-21)
What problem did the four from Judah have with their special treatment?
Daniel 1:8
Why was this a problem?
Exodus 34:15
Ezekiel 4:13
Do we need to be careful about eating defiled food?
Romans 14:14-15 (1 Cor. 10:25-28)
Did the official just tell Daniel to eat what is put in front of him?
Daniel 1:9-10
How did Daniel convince the official to let him eat what he wanted?
Daniel 1:11-16
How did the four from Judah test out after the 3 year training?
Daniel 1:17-20
How long did Daniel remain in Babylon?
Daniel 1:21
A Dream for the Wise Men (Daniel 2:1-12)
What troubled Nebuchadnezzar during his second year?
Daniel 2:1-3
Why did the wise men have trouble explaining the dream?
Daniel 2:4-6, 10-11
How did Nebuchadnezzar respond when the wise men said they couldn't do it?
Daniel 2:7-9, 12
Daniel's Opportunity (Daniel 2:13-28)
Who was included in the group to be put to death?
Daniel 2:13-15
How did Daniel stop the mass execution?
Daniel 2:16-19
How did Daniel reply when Nebuchadnezzar asked him to reveal the dream?
Daniel 2:26-28
Daniel's Interpretation (Daniel 2:31-49)
What was the dream?
Daniel 2:31-35
What did the dream mean?
Daniel 2:36-40, 42
What was the rock?
Daniel 2:44
What kingdom was this referring to?
2 Peter 2:11
How did Nebuchadnezzar respond to Daniel's explanation?
Daniel 2:46-49
What kind of reputation did Daniel get among the Judah exiles?
Ezekiel 14:13-14 (20)
Ezekiel 28:3
Nebuchadnezzar's Statue (Daniel 3:1-23)
How proud of himself was Nebuchadnezzar?
Daniel 3:1-2
Could he think of anything else that would give himself more limelight?
Daniel 3:4-6
How did this help the wise men who were jealous of the four from Judah?
Daniel 3:8-9, 12
Did Nebuchadnezzar accept the accusation?
Daniel 3:13-15
Did the three save themselves by bowing to the statue?
Daniel 3:16-18
How did Peter later summarize the reply of Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego?
Acts 5:29
Did Nebuchadnezzar change his mind about his egotistical law?
Daniel 3:19-23
Hananiah, Mishael & Azariah in the Fiery Furnace (Daniel 3:24-30)
Furnace was probably a lime kiln
Walkway to opening in top for adding raw materials
Opening at the bottom for extracting the fused lime
What happened to the three men in the blazing furnace?
Daniel 3:24-27
How did Nebuchadnezzar interpret what he saw?
Daniel 3:28
Did Nebuchadnezzar give up his other gods and turn to God?
Daniel 3:29
How did he deal with Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego?
Daniel 3:30
Closing Prayer
Copyright © 1997 by Kurt Rosenhagen
Use of this material is provided free of charge for use in personal or group Bible Study, no permission needed.
The author reserves all rights for use in published material or in uses where fees are involved.
For permission, or to provide your comments, insights and feedback, contact the author at:
kurt@biblestoriesforadults.com