the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Understanding the mystery would prevent Daniel, his friends and all the other wise men from being killed (Dan 2:17-18 ESV). The Latin canticle Benedicite Dominum is based on the "song of the three youths". Scripture passages referenced and linked in this lesson are written out for your convenience on this page. And what first presents itself to us is that HE WAS A MAN OF AN ABSTEMIOUS LIFE, AND OF THE GREATEST TEMPERANCE. It was certainly not an easy life or an easy time in the history of Israel for Daniel to live. He made up his mind to not defile himself with the Kings food. General Editor. Gift: During His earthy ministry, the Lord upheld the historicity of Daniel as a "prophet" (Mt 24.15). He will make whomever can do it the 3rd ruler in the kingdom. 9:23 with Matt. Daniel was humble and told the King that it wasnt his doing or any knowledge that he had on his own. But you may ask, what can we learn from Daniel? As Daniel talks with the king, he is given supernatural understanding of the dream, and interprets it to the kings satisfaction. Had the foreign spouses committed themselves to the God of Israel, there would not have been a problem. Paperback Book You can alsoorder a paperback version of the Character Studies book from Amazon. . When He takes a moment to hear our prayer, the least we can do is thank Him. The stakes were high. 2. Joel Hawthorne Bible Characters Daniel Follow us: Home Resources Insights on the Bible The Major Prophets Listen to Chuck Swindoll's overview of Daniel in his audio message from the Classic series God's Masterwork. Hes remembered most for building the temple in Jerusalem, which would stand for several hundred years. The three were brought before Nebuchadnezzar, where they informed the king that God would be with them. But that kind of with isn't a distant and far off kind of presence; no, God is with us in the minutest details of our lives. He pronounced the true meaning of dreams and visions, even when those would be negative and unpopular (4:19,27; 5:22,25-28). 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. Getting to Know the Major Characters of the Old Testament: Part 3 (Solomon, Daniel, Ezra), Getting to Know the Major Characters of the Old Testament: Part 1 (Adam and Eve, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph), The Cities That Built the Bible: Guest Post by Robert Cargill, Idolatry: The One Great Sin that All Others Come From, How to Live the Bible Losing Your Sanctuary, New Devotional: Learn the Prayer That Changed a Nation with The Daniel Prayer. (According to the Talmud (Sanhedrin 93a), Daniel was out of the country at the time of the incident. In this past year, the Lord has taught me so much about pride and humility. Daniel was honored by God to the extent that God gave him many sensitive visions and mysteries regarding the future. 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]. His record is without blame. Named after its writer, Daniel's book is a product of his time in Babylon as a Jewish exile from Israel. 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 (, Daniel stuck to his belief in God. Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem and besieged it. He was a wise man, an adviser in the personal service of Nebuchadnezzar (1:19-20). Daniel also distinguished himself wherever he turned (6:3). ). Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem and besieged it. Many important things were revealed to Daniel because God knew what kind of person Daniel was. You can read my business story on my site, GodsPlanGuidedSteps. Remember what we said earlier about Daniels wisdom in avoiding an unnecessary confrontation? He served some of the most powerful leaders in the history of the world. 1. Daring to Believe Daniel | Bible.org 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 had a very high education and was trained in all the branches of wisdom of the day. It is therefore important to consider the character in sequence. God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. [9] Chapter 3 is unique in that Daniel does not appear in it. Not Daniel. Learn how your comment data is processed. Used with permission: Character by Character compiled by Selwyn Hughes and Trevor Partridge. Daniel was deeply thankful to God for imparting to him the wisdom by which he could interpret Nebuchadnezzars dream. For Daniel, note the following: Historical: Daniel lived at a time of momentous change. Men of principle are also men of power! ). I Lewis, The Christophanies Her focus is helping women understand Gods Plan for their life and knowing their true identity in Christ. How easy it would have been for Daniel to have stubbornly refused to eat the kings meat, and forced an unnecessary confrontation. We learn from this that the moment we have an answer, we need to stop and thank God for His answer and provision. 1. Daniel stuck to his belief in God. There are no prophets today but God still gifts His people to serve Him (1 Cor 12). King Belshazzar, who reigned from 553-539 BC, had a feast with over 1000 nobles. 3.26; 4.2,17; 5.18; 7.18). 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. Laws, therefore, can be good or evil. How would you fare? 1. Then he shares how the kings pride had resulted in his throne being taken away. 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. 1.17; Ps 75.6-7). Daniel - Bible Study - BibleWise [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. He made up his mind to not defile himself with the Kings food. Steadfast/uncompromising Daniel lived in a foreign culture and was continually pressured to give in to sinful customs and practices (peer pressure). Consider, for example, his: Ancestry: Daniel came from a family background that was noble in character (1.3). order a paperback version of the Character Studies book from Amazon. After studying this, Daniel fasted, prayed and asked for forgiveness. This great prayer of Daniels was prompted by his diligent reading of the Scriptures. There have been those days where I would be gazing into the closet, picking out my clothes for work the next day, and ask outloud, Oh, what should I wear?. Mailbox Club lessons The Mailbox Club International; used by permission with adaptation for the Internet. The King asked the conjurers (enchanters), sorcerers and Chaldeans (astrologers) to tell him the dream first so they could declare the interpretation (Daniel 2:9). There is probably no God. Isaac He was famously visited by the Queen of Sheba who came to test Solomon with hard questions (1 Kings 10:1). Daniel - Smith's Bible Commentary - StudyLight.org This is a complex, and at the same time exciting, book. Interpreting The Character Of Daniel In The Book Of The Bible He is famous for successfully interpreting the proverbial "writing on the wall" and miraculously surviving the lions' den. He knew that God is all-powerful and sovereign! As an Amazon Associate, as well as an affiliate of other programs, this means if you purchase something using these links, I will receive a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you! But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank. Character Study E-book Study Guide For the people AND for himself. A law was even passed forbidding the worship of anyone/anything except the Persian king. Daniel replies, My, lord, if only the dream applied to those who hate you and its interpretation to your adversaries! (vs 19). Certain officials informed the king that the three Jewish youths Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, who bore the Babylonian names Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and whom the king had appointed to high office in Babylon, were refusing to worship the golden statue. D Newell, An Introduction to Bible Prophecy (5): The Great Tribulation (2) Now onto diving in. 12 Biblical Facts about the Prophet Daniel - OverviewBible Sentence is carried out the same night, when Darius invades the city and Belshazzar is put to death. 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). Book of Daniel Overview - Insight for Living Ministries Daniel the Prophet - Life, Hope and Truth Daniel, also known Belteshazzar, his Babylonian or Chaldean name, and his three friends, Shadrach, Meschad and Abednego were among these men. When you have someone in authority over you, do you ask questions? Solomon Important acts and events:Interpreting the dreams for Nebuchadnezzar on two occasions. He is a general editor of the Dictionary of Christianity and Science (Zondervan, 2017) and Three Views on Christianity and Science (Zondervan, 2021). Copyright 1998-2023 UB David & I'll B Jonathan, Inc. The book of Daniel is also a most popular book for the students of eschatology (studies . He didnt care about gifts (5:17). Margaret Feinberg says, "When it comes to relying on God, we find comfort in knowing that God is with us. 1:28-29, NIV). . You may know their Babylonian or Chaldean names as Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego. Daniel: Gods Blueprint for BIble Prophecy. At the end of this period of trial, Daniel and his companions appear wiser and healthier than the others. The Theology of Work Bible Commentary explains, Daniel managed to walk the tightrope of partial cultural assimilation without religious and moral compromise. Bible Characters: Daniel | Understanding the Gospel James reminds us, we should not merely hear Gods word, but also act on it. Yes, it was 2,500 years ago. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Hebrew names Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah) are figures from the biblical Book of Daniel, primarily chapter 3.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 three are preserved from harm and the king sees four men walking in the flames, "the fourth . 5:1-5 ESV). As a result, the King immediately gave him the gifts he mentioned above. You may enjoy this sermon on Daniels end-time prophecy. He was an important prophet for the nation of Israel and for the whole world. Daniel tells Belshazzar, point-blank, how his heart was not humble and that bringing Gods sacred vessels, originally from the temple, out to drink from exalted himself against the God of heaven. Sign up for our newsletter to receive your free 36 lesson Bible study E-book of Revelation. Solomon was well aware God hated idolatry, but persisted in it for the sake of political alliances through his marriages. Occupational: Irrespective of the world power (Babylon, Medes & Persians), Daniel was elevated to various positions of importance (1.19; 2.48; 5.31-6.1-3). (Maybe he was fearful of Daniel's authoritative speech.) He did the same for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and offered sacrifices to their gods (1 Kings 11:7-8). Daniel also had four visions that predicted how future world kingdoms would unfold, all the way to the end of time (Daniel 7-12). Daniel (biblical figure) - Wikipedia I have made things in my life an idol. The Believer and the Bible (10): Study of a Character - Daniel Daniel was humble and obedient and God honored him by raising him to positions of leadership, giving him long life, entrusting visions and dreams to him, as well as with materials. [13], The Chaldean names are related to the Hebrew ones, with the names El and Yah replaced by Babylonian theonyms: One key lesson we can learn from Daniels life is what it looks like to be faithful to God in the midst of a culture that worships false gods and doesnt recognize Gods authority. The Five Attributes of Daniel - Biblically Responsible Insider 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! Seeing this, Nebuchadnezzar brought the youths out of the flames, and the fire had not had any effect on their bodies. Piety, moral integrity, and the favour of God, he preferred to the pleasures and prizes of life. . (1 Peter 2:12). Character Studies E-book Get ourCharacter Studies E-book, with 8 practical lessons on important Bible heroes of the faith. The king is alarmed and wants an interpretation. Even though Daniel heard about the new law, he still went to his house to pray. He wasnt brash or prideful or rude about his beliefs, but he stood by his convictions with courage and boldness (1:8, 6:10-11). Daniel 1 NIV - Daniel's Training in Babylon - In the - Bible Gateway 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. Daniel could have told Belshazzar to take a flying leap after he read the inscription on the wall. Daniel the Prophet of the Bible, His Life and Accomplishments Daniel is the only man in Scriptureother than our Lordwho was called beloved in a message sent from heaven (compare Dan. ), The Hebrew names of the three youths were Hananiah (.mw-parser-output .script-hebrew,.mw-parser-output .script-Hebr{font-family:"SBL Hebrew","SBL BibLit","Taamey Ashkenaz","Taamey Frank CLM","Frank Ruehl CLM","Ezra SIL","Ezra SIL SR","Keter Aram Tsova","Taamey David CLM","Keter YG","Shofar","David CLM","Hadasim CLM","Simple CLM","Nachlieli",Cardo,Alef,"Noto Serif Hebrew","Noto Sans Hebrew","David Libre",David,"Times New Roman",Gisha,Arial,FreeSerif,FreeSans} nanyh), "Yah is gracious", Mishael ( Ml), "Who is what El is?" Author and Time of Writing. M C Davis, Notebook: The Olivet Discourse - Matthew 24-25 (1) 1. He asks for all the magicians, conjurers and Chaldeans to come and interpret it to him. WEB: When Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house (now his windows were open in his room toward Jerusalem) and he kneeled on his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did before. Perhaps in doing so, the king will still have a time of prosperity (vs 27). However, he was a man of integrity, and respectfully told the king what he requested. Then he gave Daniel gifts and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon. The king was smart in asking this. 2:19-23 ESV). We can call on the same power that raised Jesus from the dead. Whether they were there or not, Daniel told the king it wasnt me but God. Daniel breaks the news as sensitively and as tactfully as he can, and advises the king to repent and live righteously so that Gods judgment upon him might be suspended. 5:18-29 ESV). The three are preserved from harm and the king sees four men walking in the flames, "the fourth like the Son of God". Besides the well-known story of Daniel and the lions den, there are 11 characteristics of Daniel, a man of high esteem, that both women and men can learn from him today. That pride and humility is at the root of my business story. Is this what burdens the people of God today? He waited for the right time and opportunity to act and then he did so with modesty. He who testifies to these things says, Yes, I am coming soon. Amen. But how could I bow to some other god besides the LORD our God?? 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. Home | Youth World | Kids World | Advanced | Bible Exploration | Franais | Espaol | About Us | Contact Us. The book of Nehemiah tells more of Ezras story, including how he read Gods Word to an assembly of the people, and how the Levitesthe temple workersassisted him by reading from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read (Nehemiah 8:8). They brought home some vessels from Gods house and kidnapped some of the sons of Israel royal family and nobles. 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). They deserve to have the accolades or credit given to them too. Understanding the mystery would prevent Daniel, his friends and all the other wise men from being killed (, Do you ask your friends for prayer help? 2 And the Lord delivered into his hand Jehoiakim king of Judah, along with some of the articles from the house of God. Angry at their inability to explain his dream, the king pronounces the death penalty on all his wise men, including Daniel and his friends. Education: As with Moses (Acts 7.22), Daniel was taught the ways of a foreign people, but the ultimate source of his "knowledge" (reasoning skills and thought processes) was Jehovah (1.17). After Babylon fell to the Persians, the Persians began allowing the Jews to return to their homeland. 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. Daniel is then appointed as the chief over all the wise men of Babylon. Man of high esteem (10:19). His Honesty: He spoke the truth to authorities, regardless of its unpopularity. Daniel was a Jewish prophet whose story is told in the Old Testament book that bears his name. Mordecai and Haman This allows me the opportunity to write in the evening. Daniel in the Lions' Den Bible Story and Lessons - Learn Religions 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. Lot When Nebuchadnezzar confronts the defiant Jewish youths who refuse to submit to his will he asks them what god will deliver them from his hands.