In chapter 5 we saw one of the greatest empires in history fall. Babylon; with walls more than 350 feet
high, over 80 feet thick with another secondary wall as an added measure of protection with more than
200 towers placed on the main wall strategically in order to bring an additional added measure of
security. Inside the city there was over ten years of stored provisions. This would allow them to simply
close the gates; safely sealing themselves inside from a siege by any enemy army. The city seemed to be
invincible; the walls were impregnable but remember what we saw in our last study? Belshazzar,
(Nebuchadnezzar's grandson) was king and even though the Medes and the Persians were gathering on
the outside of Babylon's walls; he was not worried-instead he threw a huge party for all of his leaders.
He was a fool: he either was unaware or did not care that sixty years earlier God had spoken through
His prophet Jeremiah:
“It is I who by my great power and my outstretched arm have made the earth, with the men and animals
that are on the earth, and I give it to whomever it seems right to me. 6 Now I have given all these lands
into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, my servant, and I have given him also the beasts
of the field to serve him. 7 All the nations shall serve him and his son and his grandson, until the time of
his own land comes. Then many nations and great kings shall make him their slave. Jeremiah 27: 5-7
(ESV)
Remember what the prophet Isaiah prophesied 200 years before Babylon fell? Please read Isaiah 44:2445:5 and answer question #1.
Question #1: What can we learn from these prophecies and how do they apply to our lives today?
Question #2: What caused Daniel to find so much favor with the different kings that he served?
For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose
heart is completely His... 2 Chronicles 16:9 (NASB)
Stop and consider this: God never changes; Hebrews says He is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Just like in Daniels day Father God is looking for men and women that He can fill and flow through.
Question #3: What does it mean to have a heart that is "completely His"?
Please read Daniel 6: 1-9
Now Daniel no longer serves the Babylonians: the Medes and Persians are now ruling under Darius.
They we are constitutional monarchy; meaning they obeyed written laws. Once a king signed his name
to a law it could not be changed-even the king was bound to keep that law. Please read Daniel 6: 10-12
and Psalm 55: 16-17
Question #4: What can we learn from these Scriptures?
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Please read Daniel 6: 13-24
Remember in chapter 3 when Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were thrown in the fiery furnace? We
wondered where was Daniel? Here in our story; where were the boys? We cannot answer either one
of those questions; God simply did not tell us; however what we can see is that we all will have trials to
face and in those trials the Lord is there with us; if we keep our eyes on Him. Please read John 21: 17-22
I think it is important to note that the Bible does not tell us how Peter died. However Eusebius (a
Roman historian) wrote, "Peter preached...and having come to Rome he was crucified, head downward,
for so he himself had asked to suffer." Tertullian (an early church father (160-220) from Carthage, a
Roman province in Africa) wrote, "At Rome, Nero was the first who stained with blood this rising faith.
Then Peter girt (meaning bound by a belt or girdle) by another when he is made fast to the cross."
Question #5: What can we learn from this passage of Scripture and the lives of Peter and John?
Another important point: it seems a bit extreme to have the children and their wives thrown into the
den with the men that accused Daniel. This was an oriental custom of the Mede's and Persian's.
However it is important to note that whenever you and I sin quite often our sin will affect those that are
closest to us.
Read Daniel 6: 23-28
This story is one of the most well-known stories in God's Word. The essence of this story is this: Be of
sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone
to devour. 1 Peter 5:8 (NASB)
Satan has a two pronged fork-temptation and accusation. He wants to get us involved in sin and once
he does he will continue to accuse us (Rev. 12:10). If he cannot catch us in big sins he will continue to
accuse us to neutralize us.
Think about Darius not wanting to put Daniel in the pit. Pontus Pilate did not want to accuse Jesus.
Both had the pits sealed by the rulers in both cases. In both cases Jesus broke the seal of the world by
the authority given to Him.
Question #6: How does the story of the lion's den be applied in our lives?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Next week we enter into the second half of Daniel and some incredible prophecy. As you read chapter
seven it is important to note that much of the book of Daniel does not take place chronologically.
Chapter seven actually takes place historically between chapters four and five. With that in mind it may
be helpful to you to read chapter four once again before you read chapter seven.
In Daniel 7 we meet a person who I believe is alive today. We meet the Antichrist. Through the
centuries Bible scholars have been trying to identify who he is; from the pope to Cromwell, Hitler even
John Kennedy and Henry Kissinger...at some point in history were thought to be this charismatic, clever
and even cultic leader. As you read Daniel 7 let me encourage you to peek at Revelation 13!
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