Click Arrow To Start Audio

DANIEL- LESSON THREE

I. NEBUCHADNEZZAR’S GOLDEN IMAGE: FAITH AND PRINCIPLE TESTED IN A FIERY TRIAL (3:1-30)

A. The golden image and the king’s command (v. 1-7)

1. the size of the image: 60 cubits high (90 feet) and 6 cubits wide (9 feet)

2. Placed in Dura in the province of Babylon

3. Dedication command: the herald cries out the command for all to bow down and worship the image.

B. Daniel’s three friends charged with disobedience to the king’s command to worship the image (v. 8-12)

C. Daniel’s three friends have their character of living according to principle and by faith challenged (v. 13-18).

1. King gives the three another opportunity to submit to the now angry king’s command to bow down to the                  image (v. 13-15).

2. Daniel’s three friends refuse king’s second threat with conviction of principle and strong faith (16-18).

D. Confidence of faith tested (v. 19-23)

1. Angry king commands the furnace to be heated seven times hotter.

2. Angry king commands that Daniel’s three friends be bound and to be cast into the fiery furnace.

E. Living according to principle and by faith vindicated – Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego miraculously spared and not                 harmed by fire (v. 24-27)

1. Astonished king sees Daniel’s three friends walking about in the fire without being hurt by fire.

2. Astonished king sees a fourth man in the fire likened in glory to “a son of the gods.”

3. Fire left no mark on the bodies; hair not singed; clothes suffered no change; and not smell left upon Daniel’s friends.

F. The effect of the miracle on Nebuchadnezzar (v. 28-30).

1. King blesses the powerful delivering God of Daniel’s three friends

2. Commands that no one shall speak against the God of the three

3. King promotes Daniel’s three friends in Babylon

                  

QUESTIONS:

1. Give three descriptions of the image made by King Nebuchadnezzar:

2. Where was the image placed?

3. What do the seven classes of officers say about the government of Nebuchadnezzar?

4. What was commanded of all peoples, nations and language by the herald of the king?

5 What was the consequence of not obeying the king’s command?

6. What did Daniel’s three friend not do?

7. Who brought accusation against Daniel’s three friends?

8. Nebuchadnezzar dealt with Daniel’s three friends calmly. (T) (F)

9. When Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego answered the king by saying, “…we have no need to answer thee in this matter,” they were:

 (a). being rude and defiant to the king.

 (b). being resolved to their death, therefore not needing to speak further to the king.

 (c). being clear in explaining that their disobedience to the king’s command was on purpose without need of changing.

10. Daniel’s three friends were willing to face the death sentence because they knew God would save them from the fire. (T) (F)

11. How dangerously hot was the fire that Daniel’s three friends were cast into?

12. What three things did the king see in the fiery furnace that astonished him?

13. While Daniel’s three friends lived through the fire, what affects of the fire remained on their bodies and clothes immediately following their release?

14. Nebuchadnezzar saw Daniel’s three friends yielding their __________________, that they might not ____________ nor ____________________ any god, except their own

            ________________ .

15. How did Nebuchadnezzar praise God?

16. What did Nebuchadnezzar do to Daniel’s three friends following their miraculous survival of the fiery furnace?

DANIEL- LESSON FOUR

I. NEBUCHADNEZZAR’S SECOND DREAM: A GREAT TREE CUT DOWN    (4:1-37)

A. The king’s well wishes to all under his rule and praise to the Most High God      (v. 1-3)

B. The king troubled by a dream – the failure of the wise men to interpret it (v. 4-9)

C. The king’s dream (v. 10-18)

1. The great tree described (v. 10-12)

2. The watchful angel and his message (v. 13-18)

D. The effect of the dream upon Daniel (v. 19)

E. The interpretation of the dream (v. 20-27)

1. The tree (v. 23-24)

2. The message to the king (v. 25-27)

F. The dream’s interpretation comes true in Nebuchadnezzar (v. 28-33).

G. The king’s return to sanity (v. 34-37)

                  

QUESTIONS:

1. What was King Nebuchadnezzar’s desire for all in his kingdom?  

2. What did Nebuchadnezzar acknowledge about God?   What did Nebuchadnezzar not acknowledge about God?

3. Describe the times in Nebuchadnezzar’s rule when he has his dream:

4. Daniel was asked first to interpret Nebuchadnezzar’s rule when he has his dream. (T) (F)

5 What three ways does Nebuchadnezzar identify Daniel when he calls him to interpret the dream?

6. Give three characteristics of the tree in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream that aptly apply to Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom:

7. Who is the “watcher” and “holy one” in the dream?

8. The tree in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream was completely uprooted by the command from heaven. (T) (F)

9. What decree came from heaven in the dream?  

10. What was the purpose of the decree from heaven?

11. What does the watcher and holy one mean when he says, “let seven times pass over him?”

12. What two visible responses did Daniel have when he heard the details of the dream?

13. How did having a heart of the beast in the dream apply to Nebuchadnezzar?

14. Daniel counseled King Nebuchadnezzar to do what in order that there be a lengthening of his tranquility?

15. Describe Nebuchadnezzar’s speech when the dream came true?

16. How “timely” was it for the dream to come true?

17. Nebuchadnezzar’s _________________ was grown as eagle’s feathers, and his nails like ___________________   _____________________.

18. Where was Nebuchadnezzar looking when his understanding returned to him?

19. How does Nebuchadnezzar emphasize that God is the Most High God?

20. How was Nebuchadnezzar blessed in his kingdom when his understanding returned to him?

21. What lessons did Nebuchadnezzar learn about God from his dream coming true in his life?