A New Thing - Bible Characters | Daniel | Malcolm Cox

'A New Thing' Lessons from chapters 1-6
Introduction
* Daniel is a new type of prophet in a new type of situation. We can learn a great deal about God doing 'new things' from him and his companions.
* Before watching this class you might like to view a summary of the book here: https://bibleproject.com/guides/book-of-daniel/


* In this class we will look at the first 6 chapters of the book
* Normally I would not cover so much material in one class, but we are doing this because in this way we will see themes emerge.
* When it comes to discussing the points afterwards you may wish to focus on one or two of the points rather than everything
Chapter 1
* Youth no barrier: “young men without physical defect and handsome,” (Daniel 1:4 NRSV)
* Pick your battles: “But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the royal rations of food and wine; so he asked the palace master to allow him not to defile himself.” (Daniel 1:8 NRSV)
* Recognition of God: “To these four young men God gave knowledge and skill in every aspect of literature and wisdom;” (Daniel 1:17 NRSV)
Chapter 2
* God’s wisdom superior:
    * “The thing that the king is asking is too difficult, and no one can reveal it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with mortals.”” (Daniel 2:11 NRSV)
    * ““No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or diviners can show to the king the mystery that the king is asking, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries” (Daniel 2:27-28 NRSV)
* Recognition of God
    * “The king said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery!”” (Daniel 2:47 NRSV)
Chapter 3
* Never Compromise: “If our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire and out of your hand, O king, let him deliver us. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods and we will not worship the golden statue that you have set up.”” (Daniel 3:17-18 NRSV)
    * Faith-inspired resistance is the victory, not a specific outcome
* Recognition of God: “I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that utters blasphemy against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins; for there is no other god who is able to deliver in this way.”” (Daniel 3:29 NRSV)
Chapter 4
* God is Sovereign: “You shall be driven away from human society, and your dwelling shall be with the wild animals. You shall be made to eat grass like oxen, you shall be bathed with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you, until you have learned that the Most High has sovereignty over the kingdom of mortals, and gives it to whom he will.” (Daniel 4:25 NRSV)
    * “O king, may my counsel be acceptable to you: atone for your sins with righteousness, and your iniquities with mercy to the oppressed, so that your prosperity may be prolonged.”” (Daniel 4:27 NRSV)
    * “He was driven away from human society, ate grass like oxen, and his body was bathed with the dew of heaven, until his hair grew as long as eagles’ feathers and his nails became like birds’ claws.” (Daniel 4:33 NRSV)
* Pride can be Redeemed:
    * “When that period was over, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me.” (Daniel 4:34 NRSV)
* Recognition of God: “I blessed the Most High, and praised and honoured the one who lives forever. For his sovereignty is an everlasting sovereignty, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation.” (Daniel 4:34 NRSV)
Chapter 5
* Convictions in Old Age: “There is a man in your kingdom who is endowed with a spirit of the holy gods. In the days of your father he was found to have enlightenment, understanding, and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods.” (Daniel 5:11 NRSV)
* Be a prophet:
    * “you, Belshazzar his son, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this! You have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven!” (Daniel 5:22-23 NRSV)
    * “MENE, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end; TEKEL, you have been weighed on the scales and found wanting; PERES, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”” (Daniel 5:26-28 NRSV)
* Unwilling recognition of God: “That very night Belshazzar, the Chaldean king, was killed. And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.” (Daniel 5:30-31 NRSV)
Chapter 6
* Who is really trapped? ““Daniel, one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the interdict you have signed, but he is saying his prayers three times a day. When the king heard the charge, he was very much distressed. He was determined to save Daniel, and until the sun went down he made every effort to rescue him. Then the conspirators came to the king and said to him, “Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no interdict or ordinance that the king establishes can be changed.”” (Daniel 6:13-15 NRSV)
* Integrity & Trust in God: “My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no wrong.”” (Daniel 6:22 NRSV)
* Recognition of God: “I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people should tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: For he is the living God, enduring forever. His kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion has no end. He delivers and rescues, he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth; for he has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.”” (Daniel 6:26-27 NRSV)
Chapter 6 Chiasm
Daniel emerges as best satrap
His enemies plot
King makes a fatal decree
Daniel arrested & sentenced to death
DANIEL DELIVERED-GOD WINS!
Daniel released to a “new” life
King makes a saving decree
The enemies are destroyed
Daniel confirmed as best satrap
Summary
What do we learn about God?
God: to His Servants
* Inspires Daniel to test regime (Ch 1)
* Gives Daniel wisdom (Ch 1, 4 & 5)
* Gives Daniel boldness (Ch 4, 5 & 6) 
* Strengthens Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego (Ch 3)
God: for His Servants
* Improved appearance (Ch 1)
* Promotion (Ch 2, 3, 5, 6)
* Rescue (Ch 2, 3, 6)
God: to His Opponents
* Stuns with his Power (Ch 3, 5, 6)
* Humbles them (Ch 1, 3, 4, 5, 6)
God: for Himself
* Causes Gentiles to honour His chosen people (Ch 1, 2, 3, 5, 6)
* Causes Gentiles to worship Him (Ch 2, 3, 4, 6)
What do we learn for ourselves?
1. New things are often fear-inducing and uncomfortable -- even dangerous or risky
2. New things put us in a place where we experience the power of God in new and more profound ways
3. New things give us the opportunity to grow in our relationship with God
4. New things reveal new gifts in us and our community
Conclusion
* God doing new things in his people almost always results in those people experiencing fear.
* when his people deliberately choose faith in the midst of fear they experience God at work.
* When God is at work in these people experiencing a new thing he becomes visible to the world and receives glory.
* When God has an impact on this world and gets the glory he deserves, the memory of such events passes down from one generation to another.
Questions to stimulate discussion
* Who do you relate to most and why? Daniel, Shadrach, Misheck, Abednego, Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius?
* What do you think the main lesson is that God wants you to take from Daniel chapters 1 to 6?
* How do the experiences of these chapters relate to any new thing in your life?
* Similarly, how do the experiences of these chapters relate to anything new in your faith community?
Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.
Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: malcolm@malcolmcox.org.
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“Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” (Psalms 100:2 NIV11)
God bless, Malcolm