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Objective

In this lesson, we’ll see that God’s power and wisdom were demonstrated in the ministry of Daniel.

Key Verse

Daniel 2:22: He reveals deep and secret things; he knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with him.

Introduction

Imagine being torn from your homeland as a teenager and forced to live in a foreign country that worships false gods. This was Daniel’s reality when Nebuchadnezzar captured Jerusalem around 605 BC, about six hundred years before Christ was born. Daniel would spend the rest of his long life serving under several different foreign rulers, yet he never compromised his faith in the one true God.

Daniel prophesied during Israel’s exile, before the Jewish people returned to their homeland. He served God faithfully during the same period as the prophet Ezekiel, who mentions Daniel three times as an outstanding example of righteousness. Ezekiel places Daniel alongside Noah and Job as men known for their godly character—quite an honor from a fellow prophet of God.

One of the great themes that runs through the book of Daniel is this powerful truth: God rules the world. No matter how mighty earthly kingdoms may appear, God remains in control of all nations and sovereign over all history. Kings may rise and fall, empires may come and go, but our God reigns forever. This message was exactly what God’s people needed to hear during their darkest hour in exile.

In this lesson, we’ll focus on six dramatic events from the first six chapters of Daniel’s book. Each story reveals something important about God’s character and His faithfulness to those who trust Him:

• Daniel’s dedication to God
• Nebuchadnezzar’s first dream
• The fiery furnace
• The pride of Nebuchadnezzar
• The writing on the wall
• Daniel in the lion’s den

Daniel’s Dedication to God

Daniel stands as one of the greatest examples in all of Scripture of a person completely dedicated to God. We see this dedication from his very first days in Babylon, when he was still a young man facing enormous pressure to abandon his faith.

Daniel came from a royal Jewish family, which is why Nebuchadnezzar selected him for special training in the king’s court. The Babylonians had a clever strategy for dealing with captives from conquered nations—they would take the brightest young people from noble families and train them to serve in government positions. These young men would receive the finest education, eat the best food, and learn the ways of Babylon. The goal was to make them loyal Babylonian citizens who would forget their homeland and their God.

But Daniel refused to be corrupted by the world around him. When he was expected to eat the king’s rich food and drink his wine, Daniel made a decision that would define his entire life.

Daniel 1:8: But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.

Why was this such a big deal? The food from the king’s table had been offered to idols before it was served. By eating it, Daniel would be participating in idol worship, even if only indirectly. More than that, Daniel understood something that many of us struggle with today—how easily we can begin to love the things of this world more than we love God. The apostle John warns us about this very danger.

1 John 2:15-17: Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

Daniel was not alone in his stand for righteousness. His three friends—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—joined him in refusing to compromise their faith. Together, these four young men determined to keep themselves pure from the corrupting influences around them.

(Notebook Moment: What kinds of pressures do you face today that might tempt you to compromise your faith? How can Daniel’s example encourage you to stand firm?)

God honored their faithfulness in a remarkable way. Instead of being weakened by their simple diet of vegetables and water, these four young men grew stronger and wiser than all the others in the king’s program.

Daniel 1:17: To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.

However, we must understand an important truth: being blessed by God does not mean we will never face persecution. In fact, Jesus told us to expect the opposite.

2 Timothy 3:12: In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

Each of these four faithful men would soon discover that their dedication to God would lead them into life-threatening situations. But they were willing to face any danger rather than dishonor the God they loved.

Nebuchadnezzar’s First Dream

God used Daniel in a dramatic way to reveal His power to the greatest king on earth. Nebuchadnezzar had received a troubling dream from God, but when he woke up, he could not remember what he had dreamed. This was no ordinary forgetfulness—God had deliberately hidden the dream from the king’s memory to create an opportunity to display His power.

The king summoned all his wise men, magicians, and astrologers, demanding that they tell him both what he had dreamed and what it meant. These men had always been able to interpret dreams when the king could remember them, but this time they were helpless.

Daniel 2:10-13: The astrologers answered the king, “There is no one on earth who can do what the king asks! No king, however great and mighty, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or astrologer. What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among humans.” This made the king so angry and furious that he ordered the execution of all the wise men of Babylon. So the decree was issued to put the wise men to death, and men were sent to look for Daniel and his friends to put them to death.

When Daniel learned that he and his friends were about to be executed along with all the other wise men, he did not panic. Instead, he did what he had learned to do in every crisis—he turned to God in prayer.

Daniel 2:17-18: Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

Notice Daniel’s response to this life-threatening situation. He gathered his faithful friends together for prayer, knowing that God hears and answers when His people cry out to Him. That very night, God revealed the dream to Daniel in a vision, and Daniel’s first response was to praise God for His wisdom and power.

Daniel 2:21-22: He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him.

When Daniel stood before the king to reveal the dream, he was careful to give all the glory to God. He made it clear that he had no special power of his own—the revelation came entirely from the God of heaven.

Daniel 2:47: The king said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.”

The dream itself was a prophecy about the future of world history. Nebuchadnezzar had seen a great statue made of different metals, representing the kingdoms that would rise and fall throughout history. The head of gold represented Babylon itself. The arms of silver represented the Medes and Persians who would conquer Babylon. The thighs of bronze represented Greece under Alexander the Great. The legs of iron represented the mighty Roman Empire. The feet of mixed iron and clay represented the divided remnants of the Roman Empire that would continue until the end times.

But the most important part of the dream was what happened to this great statue. Daniel prophesied that God would establish His own kingdom that would never be destroyed.

Daniel 2:44: In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever.

This prophecy points us directly to Jesus Christ and His eternal kingdom. All the earthly kingdoms represented in the statue have come and gone, just as Daniel predicted. But the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ will last forever.

The Fiery Furnace

You might think that after witnessing God’s power so dramatically, Nebuchadnezzar would have become a humble worshiper of the true God. But pride has a way of making people forget even the most obvious lessons. Despite acknowledging that Daniel’s God was supreme, Nebuchadnezzar remained proud and idolatrous.

The king constructed a massive golden statue—ninety feet tall and nine feet wide—and commanded all the officials in his kingdom to bow down and worship it when they heard the sound of musical instruments. Anyone who refused to worship the statue would be thrown into a blazing furnace.

Daniel 3:4-7: Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “Nations and peoples of every language, this is what you are commanded to do: As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.” Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the nations and peoples of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

But three young men refused to bow. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego would not worship anyone or anything except the living God, no matter what the consequences might be. (Notebook Moment: How do you think these three men felt when they saw everyone around them bowing down to the statue? What gave them the courage to stand when standing meant certain death?)

When the king learned of their defiance, he was furious. He had the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual and had the three men thrown in fully clothed. The fire was so intense that it killed the soldiers who threw them in.

Daniel 3:24-25: Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?” They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.” He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”

The fourth man in the fire was the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, appearing in His pre-incarnate form to deliver His faithful servants. Throughout the Old Testament, we see Christ appearing as “the Angel of the Lord” to help God’s people in their times of greatest need. This miraculous deliverance showed everyone present that the God of Israel is more powerful than any earthly king or kingdom.

The Pride of Nebuchadnezzar

Chapter 4 of Daniel reveals the ongoing struggle with pride in Nebuchadnezzar’s heart. Despite seeing God’s power demonstrated repeatedly, the king continued to struggle with the sin that has destroyed more leaders than any other—the sin of pride.

Proverbs 16:18-19: Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.

God gave Nebuchadnezzar a second dream, this time about a great tree that provided shelter and food for many creatures. In the dream, a holy messenger commanded that the tree be cut down, leaving only a stump. Daniel interpreted this dream as a warning that Nebuchadnezzar would lose his kingdom and his sanity if he did not humble himself before God.

Tragically, the king did not heed the warning. Exactly one year later, as Nebuchadnezzar was walking on the roof of his palace and boasting about his achievements, God’s judgment fell upon him.

Daniel 4:30: He said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?”

The pride of Nebuchadnezzar reminds us of the original sin of Satan himself, who was cast out of heaven for his pride.

Isaiah 14:12-15: How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” But you are brought down to the realm of the dead, to the depths of the pit.

For seven years, Nebuchadnezzar lived like a wild animal, eating grass and losing his sanity, until he finally acknowledged that God rules over all earthly kingdoms. When he humbled himself, God restored his reason and his throne.

Daniel 4:36-37: At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

The Writing on the Wall

Chapter 5 tells us about the fall of Babylon to the Persian Empire, just as Daniel had prophesied years earlier. Belshazzar, who ruled after Nebuchadnezzar, held a great feast using the sacred vessels that had been stolen from the temple in Jerusalem.

Daniel 5:3: So they brought in the gold goblets that had been taken from the temple of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines drank from them.

This was not just a matter of using fancy dishes for a party. By drinking from the sacred temple vessels while praising their false gods, Belshazzar was deliberately mocking the God of Israel. It was an act of supreme arrogance and blasphemy.

God’s response was immediate and terrifying. During the feast, a human hand appeared and wrote mysterious words on the palace wall.

Daniel 5:5: Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. The king watched the hand as it wrote.

Once again, the wise men of Babylon were helpless to interpret God’s message. Daniel, now an elderly man, was called to explain the writing. Before revealing the meaning of the words, Daniel reminded Belshazzar of what had happened to Nebuchadnezzar when he became proud.

Daniel 5:22-23: But you, Belshazzar, his son, have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this. Instead, you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines drank from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways.

Daniel interpreted the writing on the wall as a message of judgment. That very night, Belshazzar was killed and his kingdom was conquered by Darius the Mede, exactly as God had declared. (Notebook Moment: What does this story teach us about God’s patience and justice? How should knowing these truths affect the way we live each day?)

Daniel in the Lion’s Den

Daniel was now a very old man, but his long life of faithfulness had earned him great respect. The new ruler, Darius, appointed him to a high position in the government. This made the other officials jealous of Daniel’s influence and reputation.

Daniel 6:3-4: Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. At this the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent.

These jealous men could find no fault in Daniel’s character or work, so they devised a trap that would force him to choose between obeying God and obeying the king. They convinced Darius to sign a law forbidding anyone to pray to any god or human being except the king for thirty days. The penalty for breaking this law was death in the lions’ den.

When Daniel learned about this law, he faced the same choice that had confronted him as a young man in Babylon—would he compromise his faith to save his life? His response shows us that a lifetime of faithfulness to God had only strengthened his resolve.

Daniel 6:10: Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.

Daniel was thrown into the lions’ den, but the Angel of the Lord—Jesus Christ in His pre-incarnate form—protected him just as He had protected Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace.

Daniel 6:21-23: Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.” The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.

This miraculous deliverance led Darius to acknowledge the power and greatness of the God of Israel.

Daniel 6:26-27: I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.

Conclusion

The six stories we have studied from Daniel’s life teach us powerful spiritual truths that apply directly to our lives today. We learn that God honors the dedication and faithfulness of His servants, even when that faithfulness leads to persecution and hardship. We see that God always gives people opportunities to repent and turn to Him, showing His patience and mercy even with proud kings like Nebuchadnezzar. Most importantly, we discover that God is always greater than the kingdoms and laws of human beings.

Daniel lived through the reigns of multiple kings and the rise and fall of empires, but he never wavered in his devotion to the eternal King. His life demonstrates that it is possible to serve God faithfully even in the most difficult circumstances, even when surrounded by people who do not share our faith.

The book of Hebrews remembers Daniel as one of the great heroes of faith, a man who trusted God even when facing death.

Hebrews 11:33: who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions.

Daniel’s faith was not a weak, passive hope—it was an active, conquering faith that trusted God’s power and goodness even in the most desperate situations. This is the kind of faith that God wants to develop in each of us today.

As we face our own challenges and pressures to compromise, we can look to Daniel’s example and remember that the same God who delivered him from lions and fire is still with us today. The kingdoms of this world will rise and fall, but the kingdom of our God will endure forever. Our calling is to remain faithful to Him, no matter what the cost, knowing that He will never abandon those who trust in Him.

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✅ Apply

We have learned that the Old Testament reveals three aspects of God’s character: His power (through creation), His holiness (through the law), and His love (through His promise of a Redeemer). Think about your life right now. What do you need most?

• Do you need to remember God’s power? Perhaps you are facing problems that seem too big to solve, or circumstances that feel completely out of your control.
• Do you need to understand God’s holiness? Maybe you have been ignoring sin in your life, or you have forgotten how serious it is to disobey God’s commands.
• Do you need to experience God’s love? Are you struggling with guilt, feeling abandoned, or doubting whether God truly cares about you?

Choose one area of your life where you most need God’s help right now. Write a short prayer asking God to help you apply these truths to your specific situation. Be honest about your struggles and ask Him to make His power, holiness, or love real in your life today.

🔍 Explore

This lesson teaches that Christ appears in the Old Testament in “pictures”—people, events, and ceremonies that are previews of what Christ would later accomplish. The New Testament writers help us see these connections. Look up each pair of verses below, read them carefully, and then describe the picture of Christ’s work that is being revealed:

• Exodus 17:6 and 1 Corinthians 10:4
• Numbers 21:8-9 and John 3:14-15
• Exodus 12:21-23 and 1 Corinthians 5:7

🔗 Connect

Make connections to other lessons across the ABC curriculum.