DANIEL CHAPTER 5

[JLG]

Here we are told about the next king of Babylonia. There is a big feast and everybody drinks in the vessels taken from the God’s temple in Jerusalem. Suddenly, a man’s hand appears and writes on the wall. Once again, Daniel is called to interpret the three words. So he tells the king that he has behaved haughtily like his father. As a consequence, his kingdom goes to the Medes and Persians. Daniel becomes the third most important person in the kingdom. But that same night, Babylon is taken by the Medes and Persians.


As usual, human beings never understand, they don’t care. They do as they like and they pay the price. Daniel keeps faithful to God like Job and God gives him the possibility to interpret dreams and visions and so on. And he grows in wisdom and whatever king is in place, he plays an influencial part. He doesn’t change, he always follow God and he is blessed like Job.

 

[JLG]

At the difference of Job, Daniel appears as a calm strength. Of course, he didn’t have such a traumatic experience. But when we read his book, we see him getting through the exodus to Babylon and the invasion of Babylon by the Medo-Persian empire. He keeps being faithful and acting as usual whatever may happen.

 

[JLG]

When the king of Babylon wants to kill all the wise men because they can’t guess his dream and thus its interpretation, it is interesting to think about Daniel’s attitude: he discreetly and cautiously speaks to the chief of the king’s bodyguard who must kill all the wise men of Babylon to know what’s on. Then he goes to the king and asks him to grant him time to tell the interpretation to the king. Then he asks his three companions to pray God like him to be able to know the king’s dream and its interpretation. Then he praises God. Then he goes to the king and tells him that God makes him know the king’s dre am and its interpretation. Daniel is well organized and he knows how to do things properly with calm. We don’t perceive any fear or stress because he is confident in God.

 

[JLG]

Who was the master of the Kings eunuchs and what did he do for the King? (Daniel 1:3)

His name is Ashpenaz and he is the king’s chief court official. He is responsible for selecting the best young Israelites to go to Babylon and serve in the king’s palace. He must make sure that they will learn the langage of the Chaldeans. And he is in charge of everything and also their food. Not doing properly his job would mean getting in trouble with the king.

 

[JLG]

What was the name of the eunuch that was placed in charge of the three young children? (Daniel 1:11)

Strange question because the name is not mentionned. We only know that Ashpenaz was the chief court official and he appointed a guardian over them.

What test did Daniel ask the prince of the eunuchs to let them perform for ten days? (Daniel 1:12)

He asks hom to let them eat vegetables and drink water and then compare their appearance with the other youngsters.

 

[JLG]

What did the King say to the Chaldeans that they would receive from him, if they could show him the dream and its interpretation? (Daniel 2:6)

Gifts and a reward and great honor. It is pure business, no feelings, no trust, no confidence, human action opposed to God’s action.

 

[JLG]

What effect did this wonderful interpretation have on the King Nebuchadnezzar? (Daniel 2:46-47)

He was impressed because the dream has many details and its interpretation has also many details, I would say PRECISION. The king pays homage to Daniel and gives him many fine gifts and makes him the ruler over all the province of Babylon.

 

[JLG]

When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were bounded and cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace were they hurt? (Daniel 3:25)

No they were unharmed

8) Who was the fourth person that King Nebuchadnezzar saw walking in the midst of the fire? (Daniel 3:25)

He looked like a son of the gods.

 

[JLG]

What was the final result of the King’s vision in verses thirty-two and thirty-three? (Daniel 4:32-33)

He starts behaving like a bull eating grass.

Who did King Nebuchadnezzar give praise and honor to at the end of his days? (Daniel 4:37)

God

 

[JLG]

Who took control of the kingdom after the death of Belshazzar and how old was he at this time? (Daniel 5:31)

The Medes and the Persians. As you can see below the Babylonian empire was the one which lasted a much shorter time!

http://plymouthbrethren.org/article/2836

1. Egyptian (3000 BC – 858 BC)
2. Assyrian (858 BC – 612 BC)
3. Babylonian (605 BC – 539 BC)
4. Media-Persian (539 BC – 331 BC)
5. Grecian (331 – 31 BC)
6. Roman (31 BC – 476 AD)

 

[JLG]

Who commanded that Daniel be brought and cast into the lions den? (Daniel 6:16)
It was the king according to the law.

 

[JLG]

What was the decree that King Darius made to all the people in his kingdom? (Daniel 6:26)
They had to fear Daniel’s God.

 

[JLG]

How did Daniel describe the fourth world empire of Rome? (Daniel 7:7), (Daniel 2:40-43), (Daniel 7:23-24), (Daniel 9:26)
- It will be strong like iron
- It will crush and shatter all the other kingdoms
- Fearsome and terrifying and unusually strong
- It has ten horns : ten kings will rise up out of that kingdom
- And the people of a leader who is coming will destroy the city and the holy place

 

[JLG]

How did Daniel describe the vision that he saw by the river of Ulai? (Daniel 8:3-8)

He spoke about a powerful ram with two different horns and a male goat with one horn and they engaged in a fight and the male goat won but its great horn was broken and four other horns came up.

 

[JLG]

Who is the he-goat in this verse twenty-one, who is the one between his eyes? (Daniel 8:21)

- The king of Greece.
- The first king.

 

[JLG]

What happened to Daniel, when he was speaking in prayer to his God? (Daniel 9:21)

He saw the man Gabriel he had previously seen in the vision and he was extremely weary at about the time of the evening gift offering.

 

[JLG]

When the three Kings of Persia stand up what will the fourth King have in verse two of this book of Daniel? (Daniel 11:2)

He will amass greater riches than all others and he will rouse up everything against the kingdom of Greece. That’s human history, when men get powerful, they have never enough, they always need more and they get into trouble. That’s why we are where we are today and where we will be tomorrow, unfortunately, man never learn the lessons of history !

 

[JLG]

What is in the hearts of both of these Kings and what will they speak of at the table in this verse? (Daniel 11:27)

They will be inclined to do what is bad and they will sit at one table speaking lies to each other. But nothing will succeed, because the end is yet for the time appointed.

- History shows that kings are inclined to do what they want meaning they work for their own interests like the religious leaders and the lies are called today modern diplomacy !

- Only words change but actions stay the same !

 

[JLG]

What happened when Daniel was told to shut up the words, and seal the book in this verse? (Daniel 12:4)

Many will rove about, and the true knowledge will become abundant.

 

[JLG]

Looking for Daniel

Daniel 1
And the true God causes the principal court official to show Daniel favor and mercy.

- Here we are: God is with Daniel!

- Daniel is walking with God and God is taking care of Daniel!

- Quite different from the Israelites!

- Remember that with God it is always a story between God and a faithful man!

- It means you need to get closer to God if you want him to get closer to you!

- It is all day long and all the time: it is a state of mind!

- Not once in a while or not when you need it: it doesn’t work!

- It is like drinking and eating and sleeping and breathing!