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NOTES
Daniel 1: The Introduction
Chapter 1 introduces the historical context of Daniel’s deportation
to Babylon following Nebuchadnezzar’s siege of Jerusalem in 605 BC. Daniel was
among the royal Jewish captives first extradited to Babylon.
Upon Daniel’s arrival, he and three companions were confronted with
a difficult choice between defiling themselves with the king’s appointed ration
of choice food and wine or risking their lives by abstaining from the food for
the sake of remaining undefiled in the sight of God. God rewards Daniel’s
righteous decision to abstain by granting him favor and compassion in the sight
of the commander of the officials. God also endows Daniel and his three
companions with exceptional knowledge, wisdom, and intelligence that results in
the honor of entering into the king’s personal service.
Daniel 2: Daniel’s Interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s First Dream
Chapter 2 explains God’s supernatural equipping of Daniel to reveal
Nebuchadnezzar’s first dream and its interpretation, demonstrating God’s
covenant attentiveness to His exiles. The dream reveals four successive Gentile
dominions preceding the establishment of God’s messianic kingdom that will
never be destroyed. After Daniel reveals Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and its interpretation,
Daniel is promoted as ruler over Babylon and chief prefect over all its wise
men.
Daniel 3: Nebuchadnezzar’s Command and the Courageous Response of
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego
Nebuchadnezzar erects a great image of gold, commanding peoples, nations and men of every language to fall down and worship the golden image when hearing musical instruments. The king’s decree includes the penalty of being immediately cast into a furnace of blazing fire for anyone refusing to worship the image.
After the Chaldeans report the refusal of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego to worship the image, Nebuchadnezzar gives urgent orders for them to be cast into a furnace of blazing fire. The three men are tied up and cast into the furnace. When Nebuchadnezzar and his high officials look into the furnace, they are astounded to see four men walking unharmed in the midst of the fire. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego exit the fire unsinged. Nebuchadnezzar then issues a decree forbidding an offensive word to be spoken against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, whom the king causes to prosper.
Nebuchadnezzar erects a great image of gold, commanding peoples, nations and men of every language to fall down and worship the golden image when hearing musical instruments. The king’s decree includes the penalty of being immediately cast into a furnace of blazing fire for anyone refusing to worship the image.
After the Chaldeans report the refusal of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego to worship the image, Nebuchadnezzar gives urgent orders for them to be cast into a furnace of blazing fire. The three men are tied up and cast into the furnace. When Nebuchadnezzar and his high officials look into the furnace, they are astounded to see four men walking unharmed in the midst of the fire. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego exit the fire unsinged. Nebuchadnezzar then issues a decree forbidding an offensive word to be spoken against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, whom the king causes to prosper.
Daniel 4: Daniel’s Interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s Second Dream
Predicting the King’s Insanity
Chapter 4 provides Nebuchadnezzar’s narrative of his second dream and
Daniel’s interpretation of the dream as a prediction of the king’s temporary
insanity. The dream is of a great spreading tree that a messenger from heaven
commands to be cut down. Daniel interprets the tree as Nebuchadnezzar himself,
predicting that Nebuchadnezzar would dwell among the beasts of the field for a
seven-year period before finally ascribing glory to God. Afterwards, his mental
health and kingdom are restored.
Daniel 5: Daniel’s Interpretation of the Miraculous Writing on the
Wall
Chapter 5 records Daniel’s interpretation of a mysterious
inscription on the palace wall of Belshazzar, the king of Babylon, coregent
with Nabonidus (556–538 BC), and son of Nebuchadnezzar. During a great feast on
the eve of the Persian conquest of Babylon (538 BC), Belshazzar was drinking
out of the gold and silver vessels that Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the
temple in Jerusalem when a hand emerged and began writing on the palace wall.
Seeing the hand, Belshazzar becomes alarmed and calls for the wise men.
After the wise men fail to interpret the inscription, Daniel is brought to Belshazzar, at the queen’s request. Daniel interprets the message to read, “‘MENE’ – God has numbered your kingdom and put an end to it. ‘TEKEL’ – you have been weighed on the scales and found deficient. ‘PERES’ – your kingdom has been divided and given over to the Medes and Persians” (Dan 5:26-28). Belshazzar is slain that same night and Darius the Mede receives the kingdom, fulfilling the words spoken by Daniel.
After the wise men fail to interpret the inscription, Daniel is brought to Belshazzar, at the queen’s request. Daniel interprets the message to read, “‘MENE’ – God has numbered your kingdom and put an end to it. ‘TEKEL’ – you have been weighed on the scales and found deficient. ‘PERES’ – your kingdom has been divided and given over to the Medes and Persians” (Dan 5:26-28). Belshazzar is slain that same night and Darius the Mede receives the kingdom, fulfilling the words spoken by Daniel.
Daniel 6: Daniel
in the Lion’s Den
Chapter 6 tells the familiar narrative of Daniel in the lion’s den.
As a result of the plotting of his political subordinates, Daniel is cast into
the lion’s den by King Darius the Mede for defying the injunction against
petitioning a god or man except the king. Just as God had miraculously
protected Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego in the furnace of fire, God closes
the lions’ mouths so that they do not harm Daniel. While Daniel is delivered
and enjoys success, his accusers are thrown into the den and crushed by the
lions.
Daniel 7: Daniel’s Vision of Four Beasts
Chapter 7 marks the transition from historical narrative (Dan 1–6)
to predictive prophecy (Dan 7–12). The predictions in Daniel 7–12 concern
events that extend from the days of Daniel to the coming of Messiah, including
predictions of his first and second advents. The predictive prophecy is revealed
through four visions of Daniel that occurred during the period of history
covered in the first six chapters.
Chapter 7 describes and interprets the first vision of Daniel which
occurs in the first year of Belshazzar (553 BC). Daniel is about 67-years old
when he receives the first vision of four beasts symbolizing Babylon (Lion),
Medo-Persia (Bear), Greece (Leopard), and Rome (Strong Beast). The vision
extends into the last days during the reigns of ten kings (ten horns) and the Antichrist
(little horn), culminating with the reign of Messiah to Whom the Ancient of
Days gives an everlasting dominion which will not be destroyed.
Daniel 8: Daniel’s Vision of a Ram and a Goat
Chapter 8 records the second vision of Daniel pertaining to a
portion of time within the previous vision. The Medo-Persian and Greek empires
are depicted respectively as a ram with two horns and a male goat with a single
horn that eventually breaks off and becomes four horns. The angel Gabriel
interprets the vision as pertaining to the time of the end. The king of Greece
who arises in the latter period of the reign of the four kings oppresses the
Jews, foreshadowing the Antichrist of future history. Daniel is exhausted and
sick for days because of the astounding vision about which he is told to keep
secret.
STUDY QUESTIONS
1. When does a subsequent
vision appear to Daniel? (8:1) When did Daniel see the previous vision? (7:1) Where
does Daniel see himself as he is looking in his subsequent vision? (8:2)
2.
What does Daniel see standing in front of the canal? Describe the
two horns. In what directions is the ram butting? Who could stand before him or
rescue from his power? Who does he magnify?
(8:3-4)
3.
What does Daniel see coming from the west over the surface of the
whole earth without touching the ground? Describe his horn. (8:5)
4.
What does the male goat do to the ram with two horns? Who does the
male goat magnify? What happens as soon as he becomes mighty? What comes in its
place? (8:6-8)
5. (PR) Write a brief principle regarding glorifying or magnifying God from the following verses:
Psalm 22:23
Psalm 86:9
Matt 5:16
Luke 2:20
John 8:54
John 11:4
John 12:28
John 13:31
John 14:13
John 17:4-5
Rom 15:5-6
1Cor 6:20
1Pet 4:11
Rev 15:4
6.
What comes out of one of the male goat’s four horns? In what
directions does it grow? What happens when it grows up to the host of heaven?
How does it magnify itself? (8:9-11)
7.
What will happen on account of transgression? What will it fling to
the ground? According to the words of one holy one to the other holy one, how
long will the transgression cause horror so as to allow both the holy place and
the host to be trampled? What happens afterwards? (8:12-14)
8.
When Daniel saw the vision and was seeking to understand it, what
is standing before him? What does the voice of the man say to Gabriel? How does
Gabriel respond to the command? How does Daniel react when Gabriel comes near? To
what time does the vision pertain? (8:15-17)
9.
What happens to Daniel while Gabriel is talking with him? What
does Gabriel do and say that he is going to let Daniel know? To what time
period does the vision pertain? (8:18-19)
10.
What does Gabriel say the following represent? (8:20-22)
Ram with two horns
Shaggy goat
Large horn between the eyes of the shaggy goat
Broken horn and four horns that arise in its place
Ram with two horns
Shaggy goat
Large horn between the eyes of the shaggy goat
Broken horn and four horns that arise in its place
11.
(P) (C) Who does Isaiah prophesy will
become God’s shepherd to perform His desire over a century before he conquered
Babylon in 539 BC and issued a decree to allow the Judean exiles to return to
Jerusalem and rebuild the temple at the end of the 70-year exile, as prophesied
by Jeremiah? (Isaiah 44:28; Jer 25:12; Jer 29:10; 2Chronicles 36:22-23; Ezra
1:1-2)
(A) What does this reveal about the sovereignty and covenant faithfulness of God?
(A) What does this reveal about the sovereignty and covenant faithfulness of God?
12.
Who will arise in the
latter period of the kings’ rule? Describe him. (8:23)
13.
Describe the power of the
king. What will he destroy to an extraordinary degree, prospering and
performing his will? (8:24) Through the king’s shrewdness, what will he cause
to succeed by his influence? Who does he magnify? Who will he destroy? Who will
he even oppose? How will the king be broken? (8:25)
14.
Write a brief principle regarding those who exalt themselves from the following verses:
Psalm 83:2
Prov 30:32
Isaiah 10:15
Matt 23:12
Write a brief principle regarding those who exalt themselves from the following verses:
Psalm 83:2
Prov 30:32
Isaiah 10:15
Matt 23:12
15.
What instructions is Daniel given concerning the vision? To what
days does it pertain? (8:26)
16.
What happens to Daniel after seeing the vision? (8:27)
17.
What do you learn about God in Daniel 8?
18.
How could you apply what you have learned about God this week?
Write
a prayer response to Daniel 8.
BIBLE TEXT: DANIEL 8 (NASB)
Dan. 8:1 In the third year of the
reign of Belshazzar the king a vision appeared to me, Daniel, subsequent to the
one which appeared to me previously. 2 I looked in the vision, and
while I was looking I was in the citadel of Susa, which is in the province of
Elam; and I looked in the vision and I myself was beside the Ulai Canal. 3
Then I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a ram which had two horns was
standing in front of the canal. Now the two horns were long, but one
was longer than the other, with the longer one coming up last. 4
I saw the ram butting westward, northward, and southward, and no other
beasts could stand before him nor was there anyone to rescue from his power,
but he did as he pleased and magnified himself.
Dan. 8:5 While I was observing,
behold, a male goat was coming from the west over the surface of the whole
earth without touching the ground; and the goat had a conspicuous horn
between his eyes. 6 He came up to the ram that had the two horns,
which I had seen standing in front of the canal, and rushed at him in his
mighty wrath. 7 I saw him come beside the ram, and he was enraged at
him; and he struck the ram and shattered his two horns, and the ram had no
strength to withstand him. So he hurled him to the ground and trampled on him,
and there was none to rescue the ram from his power. 8 Then the male
goat magnified himself exceedingly. But as soon as he was mighty, the
large horn was broken; and in its place there came up four conspicuous horns
toward the four winds of heaven.
Dan. 8:9 Out of one of them came
forth a rather small horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward
the east, and toward the Beautiful Land. 10 It grew up to the
host of heaven and caused some of the host and some of the stars to fall to the
earth, and it trampled them down. 11 It even magnified itself to
be equal with the Commander of the host; and it removed the regular sacrifice
from Him, and the place of His sanctuary was thrown down. 12 And on
account of transgression the host will be given over to the horn along
with the regular sacrifice; and it will fling truth to the ground and perform
its will and prosper. 13 Then I heard a holy one speaking, and
another holy one said to that particular one who was speaking, “How long will
the vision about the regular sacrifice apply, while the transgression
causes horror, so as to allow both the holy place and the host to be trampled?”
14 He said to me, “For 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the
holy place will be properly restored.”
Dan. 8:15 When I, Daniel, had
seen the vision, I sought to understand it; and behold, standing before me was
one who looked like a man. 16 And I heard the voice of a man between
the banks of Ulai, and he called out and said, “Gabriel, give this man
an understanding of the vision.” 17 So he came near to where I was
standing, and when he came I was frightened and fell on my face; but he said to
me, “Son of man, understand that the vision pertains to the time of the end.”
Dan. 8:18 Now while he was
talking with me, I sank into a deep sleep with my face to the ground; but he
touched me and made me stand upright. 19 He said, “Behold, I am
going to let you know what will occur at the final period of the indignation,
for it pertains to the appointed time of the end. 20 “The ram
which you saw with the two horns represents the kings of Media and Persia. 21
“The shaggy goat represents the kingdom of Greece, and the large horn
that is between his eyes is the first king. 22 “The broken horn
and the four horns that arose in its place represent four
kingdoms which will arise from his nation, although not with his
power.
23 “In the latter period of their rule,
When
the transgressors have run their course,
A
king will arise,
Insolent
and skilled in intrigue.
24 “His power will be mighty, but not by
his own power,
And
he will destroy to an extraordinary degree
And
prosper and perform his will;
He
will destroy mighty men and the holy people.
25 “And through his shrewdness
He
will cause deceit to succeed by his influence;
And
he will magnify himself in his heart,
And
he will destroy many while they are at ease.
He
will even oppose the Prince of princes,
But
he will be broken without human agency.
26 “The vision of the evenings and mornings
Which
has been told is true;
But
keep the vision secret,
For
it pertains to many days in the future.”
Dan. 8:27 Then I,
Daniel, was exhausted and sick for days. Then I got up again and carried
on the king’s business; but I was astounded at the vision, and there was none
to explain it.
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