If you’ve popped over after reading today’s devotion, welcome! Let’s have bible study today. Below you’ll find Daniel’s story and some study questions. I hope they will challenge and inspire your faith in the midst of troubled times.
I will not answer the questions. Instead, I’d love to learn from you. Leave your answer, question, or comment to one or more of the questions on my blog. It will be fascinating what we’ll learn from each other! That is what makes study groups so cool…everyone’s a teacher and everyone’s a student!
Daniel 1:3 Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring in some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility– 4 young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians. 5 The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service. 6 Among these were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. 7 The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego. 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. 9 Now God had caused the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel, 10 but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.” 11 Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” 14 So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days. 15 At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. 16 So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead. 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. 18 At the end of the time set by the king to bring them in, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. 19 The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. 20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom. 21 And Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.
1.) Daniel’s faithfulness and life of prayer has been a challenge to Christian’s in the midst of trails in ages. Do you think Daniel was special in some way or was he just like me and you? Explain your answer.
2.) Though Daniel found himself in a foreign culture which was hostile to his faith, he determined not to lower the standard of his faith. In our culture today, do believers lower their faith or stand firm like Daniel? Explain.
3.) Daniel obeyed God in Babylon just as he did in Judah. Are there areas in your personal life that you compromise? Why do you think obedience across the board is so difficult? Or why is it easier to obey God in one situation but not the other?
4.) God honors those who honor Him. “In all matter of wisdom and understanding, Daniel and his friends were found ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers.” Have you gained any benefits from honoring God with your life? What are they? What have you lost or may have lost by not remaining faithful?
5.) Though king Nebuchadnezzr had many counselors, Daniel was unique in that he had a personal relationship with God. God wanted to speak to the king and He did so by positioning Daniel in his courts. When the king had a dream, Daniel was there to explain them. Do you think God places Christian counselors before our leaders of today? Why or why not. Does God have you positioned to speak truth and wisdom to an unbelieving neighbor, friend, or co-worker?
Ask God today to give you the faith of Daniel in times of trouble and the strength to obey when everyone else is worshiping idols. He just may have a planned position for you that could change a life.
Hey, Micca! This was a great and thought provoking post! I’m looking at your first question. I believe that Daniel was just like we are. Over and over again, God uses ordinary people in the Bible to do extraordinary things. I just think that Daniel had extraordinary faith! That’s what I’m striving for–faith that goes beyond! Since I slept in a little this morning, it’s time for my Holy appointment with Jesus! Hope you have a wonderful day!
Blessings,
Susan
Hi, Micca!
Thanks for a wonderful devotion a mini-Bible study here!
#2 – This is something we have been discussing in our home. Keeping the bar raised to God’s Biblical standards. Even though we may miss the mark daily, His ageless standards have to be our goal.
Our family prayer is to “Honor God”. Again, even when we miss the mark, He is gracious to forgive us and keep us moving forward in Him.
Looking forward to your new book! 🙂
Sunny blessings,
Sharon
Hi Micca,
Thank you for reaching my heart today. We are in the crossroads, from work to retirement, right now. God has been so wonderful in providing an income for our family these last 25 years through my husbands employment. As we look forward to the years ahead it is wonderful to KNOW that our God is our King and that He will supply all our needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus. I loved hearing how Daniel, above all else, stood strong in His faith; even to the point of his diet. I wonder, if he as a Jewish man always ate like this as a regular part of a kosher diet – vegetables and water, that is???? At any rate, the important thing is that he KNEW who his God was and He let others know who He was depending on. This is the true desire of my heart, that those around me know that my trust is in God also. May my faith in some way bring them to faith in Christ. To God be the glory. In His name, Linda K. Morales
From the great Island of Puerto Rico
Daniel had great faith he had been taught God’s way from a youth up.Ilike Daniel would like to have great faith again.I find that some how i have gotten off the path and have eatten at the kings table way to many times my mind is gluttered my waist line is round prey that i can find the strength to leave the sweets and the meat and brerad that has glogged up my ability to make wise decisions that i may here from God sayiny this is the way walk in it. Thanks for the bible study i really needed the boost of Faith.
Hi Micca!
I just read your devotion from this morning. It was an encouragement since we are in the job seeking process right now for my husband.
It has been a rough summer and I have been out of touch with reading blogs. Too stressed. Thanks for all you do.
Blessings,
Pearls
Hi Micca, thanks for the neat study on Daniel. I am amazed at how many times God uses food to teach us…must have some great significance. I believe Daniel was called according to His purpose and we are too just at Romans 8:28 says…What an exciting privilege it is to be able to put His truth to work in our lives to bless and challenge others…thanks again!
Hi Micca, I’m studying the book of Daniel and I’ve just finished chapter 10. I love this first chapter because it speaks of Daniel’s faithfulness and boldness. God responded to Daniel’s decision to follow God instead of the Babylonian king. In Chapter 9 and 10, God told Daniel that because he has made a decision to obey God, he is highly esteemed. God looked favorably at Daniel and answered his prayers, not because he is different from us but because he made a decision to remain faithful to the God he served.
I’m one who is hit hard with this economy, I find it hard to swim against the current, but God has been faithful and He rescues me daily. Putting my feet in the water is still a challenge to me. Acting in faith is my greatest challenge. I learned it, I hear it, and I preach it, but to act is a whole new ballgame. I believe this is a huddle we all have to cross at one time or another.
I’ve learned so much from Daniel. Daniel 10:12 “…Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them”(NIV). This gave me great encouragement that God has heard my prayers and He is responding. All I have to do is be still and listen.
Thank you for sharing Daniel’s story with us. It is uplifting to read the book of Daniel and to hear you challenge us with your questions.
I just completed the study on the book of Daniel a few weeks ago. This is very challenging to me. To answer one of your questions, I believe Daniel was just a man like us but had a strong faith in God and was not ready to compromise his faith. He knows the God that he serves. Like the Bible says “they that know their God shall be strong and will do exploits for him. I have a 19 year old daughter who just went back to College campus,my parting word for her is that she should never compromise her faith, and some times it might mean standing alone but God rewards our faiyhfulness.
Thanks for this study.
thanks for the devotional. God is talking to me…