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Making a Difference in a Heathen Land

Daniel 1:1-7

INTRODUCTION: Daniel and his companions could have been absorbed into the Babylonian culture. Instead, they overcame the dangers and made a difference in the heathen land.

I. THE BABYLONIANS’ DESIRE (Daniel 1:1-7)

A. The Besieging of Jerusalem (Daniel 1:1-2)

1. Those besieging (Daniel 1:1)
2. Those endangered (Daniel 1:2)

B. The Plot of the Babylonians (Daniel 1:3-5)

1. Bring certain of the children of Israel (Daniel 1:3-4)
2. Teach them (Daniel 1:4)
3. Have them stand before the king (Daniel 1:5)

C. The Identified Subjects (Daniel 1:6-7)

1. Their Hebrew names (Daniel 1:6)
2. Their Babylonian names (Daniel 1:7)

II. DANIEL’S STAND ON DIET (Daniel 1:8-21)

A. The Provisions for Victory (Daniel 1:8-16)

1. Daniel requested a different diet (Daniel 1:8-14)
2. Daniel’s request was more permanently granted (Daniel 1:15-16)

B. The Change in the Kingdom (Daniel 1:17-21)

1. The superiority of the Jews (Daniel 1:17-21)
2. The promotion of the Jews (Daniel 1:19)

III. DANIEL’S INTERPRETATION OF THE IMAGE DREAM (Daniel 2:1-49)

A. The Provisions for Victory (Daniel 2:1-45)

1. Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (Daniel 2:1)
2. The failure of Nebuchadnezzar’s men (Daniel 2:2-11)
3. The threat on the lives of the men (Daniel 2:12-13)
4. The intervention of Daniel (Daniel 2:14-18)
5. The interpretation by Daniel (Daniel 2:19-45)

B. The Change in the Kingdom (Daniel 2:46-49)

1. The ignorant worship of Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 2:46)
2. The enlightenment of Daniel (Daniel 2:47)
3. The promotion of the Jews (Daniel 2:48-49)

IV. THE HEBREWS’ STAND ON IDOLATRY (Daniel 3:1-30)

A. The Provisions for Victory (Daniel 3:1-23)

1. The call to idolatry (Daniel 3:1-7)
2. The refusal of the Hebrews to bow (Daniel 3:8-18)
3. The Hebrews were cast into a fiery furnace (Daniel 3:19-23)

B. The Change in the Kingdom (Daniel 3:24-30)

1. Nebuchadnezzar saw the power of God (Daniel 3:24-27)
2. Nebuchadnezzar blessed God (Daniel 3:28)
3. Nebuchadnezzar made a law against speaking ill of God (Daniel 3:29)
4. The Hebrews were promoted (Daniel 3:30)

V. DANIEL’S INTERPRETATION OF THE TREE DREAM (Daniel 4:1-37)

A. The Provisions for Victory (Daniel 4:1-33)

1. Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (Daniel 4:1-5)
2. The failure of Nebuchadnezzar’s men (Daniel 4:6-7)
3. The interpretation by Daniel (Daniel 4:8-27)
4. The king’s pride and fulfillment of the dream (Daniel 4:29-33)

B. The Change in the Kingdom (Daniel 4:34-37)

1. Nebuchadnezzar’s humility (Daniel 4:34-36)
2. Nebuchadnezzar’s praise (Daniel 4:37)

VI. THE CONDEMNATION OF BELSHAZZAR (Daniel 5:1-31; Daniel 6:1-3)

A. The Provisions for Victory (Daniel 5:1-29)

1. The idolatrous feast of the king (Daniel 5:1-4)
2. The writing on the wall (Daniel 5:5-6)
3. The inability of the king’s men (Daniel 5:7-9)
4. The interpretation of Daniel (Daniel 5:10-29)

B. The Change in the Kingdom (Daniel 5:30-31; Daniel 6:1-3)

1. The death of Belshazzar (Daniel 5:30)
2. The rule of Darius and promotion of Daniel (Daniel 5:31; Daniel 6:1-3)

VII. DANIEL’S PRESERVATION IN THE LION’S DEN (Daniel 6:4-28)

A. The Provisions for Victory (Daniel 6:4-17)

1. The hatred for Daniel (Daniel 6:4-5)
2. The institution of a decree (Daniel 6:6-9)
3. The danger for Daniel (Daniel 6:10-17)

B. The Change in the Kingdom (Daniel 6:18-28)

1. The king’s concern (Daniel 6:18-20)
2. The preservation of Daniel (Daniel 6:21-24)
3. The new decree by Darius (Daniel 6:25-28)

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