Bible+Culture 2015: 2. Daniel 1 – 2
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Transcript of Bible+Culture 2015: 2. Daniel 1 – 2
A God vindicates his faithful servants (1) B Nebuchadnezzar’s dream: 4 kingdoms (2) C God rescues his faithful witnesses (3) D Warning for king; redemption (4) E Warning for king; judgment (5)
F God rescues his faithful witness (6) G Daniel’s dream: 4 kingdoms (7) H Details of post-Babylonian kingdoms (8) I Jerusalem restored (9)
J More on post-Babylonian kingdoms (10–12)
2 Nebuchadnezzar’s dream: kingdoms
10–12 Writing of truth
1 Daniel refuses to compromise
5 Writing on the wall
9 Jerusalem: discipline/restoration
4 Nebuchadnezzar: discipline/restoration
8 ‘None can deliver out of his hand’
7 Daniel’s dream: kingdoms
6 Daniel refuses to compromise
3 ‘No god can deliver out of his hand’
• Why do you think there is so much narrative in the Bible?
• How are Hebrew narratives different from contemporary narratives?
Scene 1: Jerusalem (1:1–2)characters: Nebuchadnezzar and God
Scene 2: Babylon: Daniel & friends (3–17)characters: Daniel/friends and (a) chief official; (b) guard
Scene 3: King’s palace, 3 yrs later (18–21)characters: Daniel/friends and the king
climax
settingoccasioning
incident
preliminary
incidents
rising tension
beginning of resolution
outcome
conclusionresolution
c Refusing to be defiled; a test (8–16)
a’ Historical conclusion: triumph of Cyrus (21)
a Historical introduction: triumph of Nebuchadnezzar (1–2)
b’ The young men excel in their training (17–20)
b The young men taken for training (3–7)
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And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God. And he brought them to the land of Shinar . . .
Daniel 1:2, ESV
?What do you think the Babylonians’ intentions were? What would they have wanted Daniel and his friends to learn? (Daniel 1:1-7)
Importance of namesDaniel = God is my judge
Belteshazzar = May Bel protect his life
Hananiah = the Lord shows grace
Shadrach = command of Aku
Mishael = Who is what God is?
Meshach = Who is what Aku is?
Azariah = The Lord helps
Abednego = servant of Nabu
• The king faces a problem he cannot solve
• The king’s sages fail to resolve it
• The hero is called in and succeeds
• The hero is rewarded
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It was a remarkable process and one which challenges all of us. Rather than avoiding or running from their second-choice world they pursued it and gave it their very best. They headed for the centre of the volcano, the heart of the storm, the vortex of all their fears…
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For these men, the way to face Babylon was to become skilled and powerful insiders – not ‘separated’ outsiders. When they chose this way they rejected pouting, self-pity, resentment and self-consumption…
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The fact that Babylon was a place of dislocation, pain and disappointment did not compel them to make a negative response to this pagan world. Being servants of God in Jerusalem or Babylon alike demanded living well before him.
Viv ThomasSecond Choice (Paternoster, 2000) p. 22
Ephraim’s glory will fly away like a bird —no birth, no pregnancy, no conception. Even if they rear children,I will bereave them of every one.
Hosea 9:11
Cursed be the day I was born! May the day my mother bore me not be blessed! Cursed be the man who brought my father the news, who made him very glad, saying, ‘A child is born to you – a son!’
Jeremiah 20: 14–15
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The sovereign Lord, who guided the faithful Daniel and his friends to positions of power in Babylon, will guide his faithful people even in exile.
Sidney Greidanus Preaching Christ from Daniel