KEYS OF THE KINGDOM STUDY GUIDES

Daniel One • “Giving of the Heart”

powers are seen promising to ‘give’ things. One power is the true God of heaven, the
Introduction other the false ‘gods’ of Babylon.

The book of Daniel has intrigued many throughout the centuries. Famous states- Read Daniel 1:3-7
men, philosophers, educators, religious leaders have been drawn, captivated, and
motivated through a study of this book. Examples of these men and women in- 1. What did Nebuchadnezzar (who considered himself a god) give the captives
clude: Sir Isaac Newton, the founder of modern physics; Christopher Columbus, from the land of Israel and why?
one of the first to discover America; Anne Bradstreet, America’s first poet; and (Verse 3,4) ________________ (Verse 5) ________________ (Verse 6,7)
Timothy Dwight, the first president of Yale University. Study of the book of ______________
Daniel has moved monarchs, challenged skeptics of the Bible, and shaken conti-
Note: Through his giving, the king of Babylon was attempting to steal the hearts of these
nents. But perhaps most importantly, it has changed individual lives and drawn
young men. In addition, He wanted to discredit the sanctuary of their God as well as the
them to Jesus. idea that they were special in any way. He sought to make them ‘successful’ by giving
them an education, by giving them his own food (remember the people saw him as a
Read Matthew 24:15 god). Finally he even wanted to give them new names.
1. Whose recommendation regarding Daniel deserves special attention? What 1. Can you notice the not-so-subtle change in meanings?
three things does Jesus say about the book?
Hebrew meaning Babylonian meaning
a. Daniel is a __________. b. We are to __________ the book of Daniel. c. The
reader is to be able to __________ what the prophet is saying. Daniel - God is my Judge Belteshazzar - Bel protect his life
Mishael - Who is what God is Meshach - Who is what Aku is
Read Daniel 12:4,10
Azariah - Whom Jehovah helps Abednego - Servant of Nebo
1. Who will really be able to understand the book of Daniel? Hanniah - God has favored Shadrach - Command of Aku
Note: The wise shall understand, but how does one become wise? One Bible writer
indicates that wisdom can be had by asking God (James 1:5) and another indicates Read Daniel 1:8
that it comes through searching and studying the Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:15).
2. What did Daniel do to protect himself from this attack?
Read Daniel 12:9 Note: The phrase, ‘Daniel purposed in his heart’ is a very important one. What does it
mean to purpose something in your heart? It means to give self over to a task, situation or
1. What time in earth’s history does the book of Daniel focus on? idea. Actually one of the meanings of the Hebrew word “purpose” is the English word
Note: The first six chapters of Daniel are stories that show how to live in the last “give”. To say that Daniel ‘purposed’ is to say that Daniel ‘gave’ his heart to God.
days. In the last six prophetic chapters of the book we find the phrase “time of the Throughout the book of Daniel we will find the same decision being made again and
end” or “latter days” again and again. The book looks down through history from again. Daniel never sought conflict for conflict’s sake. But when tested concerning obe-
Daniel’s day to our day and beyond, adding detail after detail to God’s prophetic dience to God, Daniel always chose God because Daniel had given Him his heart. We
timeline. will see that this was a key that led to each of Daniel’s successes. He was a man of faith.

Read Daniel 1:1-2 Read Daniel 1:9

1. What happened to Jerusalem and who allowed it to happen? 3. What was God able to do as a result of Daniel’s exercise of faith?
Note: As one reads the major prophets of Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel, they will dis- Note: The Bible tells us in Ephesians 2:8 that people are saved ‘by grace, through faith’.
cover the reasons God ‘gave’ His people into the hands of the Babylonians. Denial In other words, we receive grace from Him through the exercise of faith. Daniel had
and disobedience are the reasons God allowed His people to be conquered by the given his heart to God and demonstrated this by exercising the faith God had given him.
Babylonians. The word ‘gave’ or ‘give’ is a very important word in this chapter. Two As a result, God brought him into favor (the word “favor” also means “grace”) with this
Page 2 Keys of the Kingdom Study Guides • Daniel 1

Babylonian official. This will be a pattern that we’ll see throughout the story of “Opportunity” True Success
Daniel and in every godly life. God will bring us into situations where we are re-
quired to exercise faith. As we do so, He is able to pour more grace into our lives. The attempts of the devil to steal their hearts and bring disgrace on God’s people and
His sanctuary had been stopped. The key to success was in giving their hearts to
Read Daniel 1:10 God. This is what laid the foundation for true success. This key allowed them to
be used by God to unlock other hearts and thus influence the entire kingdom con-
4. How were the Babylonian officials in charge of the captives tested? cerning the real truth about God’s sanctuary, His people and His plan for their lives.
Note: Many times as we exercise faith and experience God’s grace, others around us
are tested as a result of their association with us. In this case, Ashpenaz was afraid Suggested Memory Text
that Daniel and his friends would not look physically well if they didn’t eat the food
that the king had provided for them. Ashpenaz lacked faith in the God of Daniel. “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of
the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the
Read Daniel 1:11-17 prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.” Daniel 1:8

5. What did Daniel do to help the Babylonian officials in charge of him exer- Next Time
cise faith and experience a display of God’s grace? What happened at the
end of the ten day test? In our next study we will outline the course of human history affecting God’s people
from Daniel’s day until Jesus’ second coming. We will see how God precisely pre-
Note: Do you see the wisdom in Daniel’s dealings with his superiors? By allowing dicted over 2,500 years of history until the end of time. More than that, we will dis-
them to test him and his friends for ten days, Daniel was really allowing them to see cover how the prayers of God’s faithful affected the course of Babylonian policy,
God’s grace first-hand. Daniel was again stepping out in faith, but this time he was
and how this brought to the entire world a knowledge of God and His love. You will
leading them to do the same. What an awesome experience it must have been to ex-
perience God’s grace physically and spiritually. learn how to apply effective prayer into your life.

Read Daniel 1:18-21 Do You Desire…

6. What ultimately happened as a result of the faith of Daniel? a. To give (or rededicate) your heart fully to God?

Note: As a result of their faith, God was able to give them more and more of His b. To exercise the faith God has given you and experience more of His grace?
grace. Daniel was able to influence the most powerful monarch of the world. As a re- c. To resist the devil’s attempts to give you things to control you?
sult, God’s power and might was seen throughout the Babylonian kingdom.
d. To accept the gifts that God desires to give you?
Read John 3:16
e. The Holy Spirit to guide you as you study Bible prophecy?
7. Who is brought to your mind by Daniel’s example?
Note: Jesus is the ultimate example of faith and grace. He gave His life that we might
have eternal life and He came to save the entire world. Though offered many things
by the devil, He resisted all such gifts and thus gave us the greatest gift of all, the op-
portunity for eternal life.

Let Us Summarize
Babylon gave God gave
World’s education Ten times the ability of the other students
Names to change them The grace needed to live up to their names
Food of their gods Food that would honor Him