Who Said It?
"Let us test your servants for ten days. Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink."
Daniel (Daniel 1:12)
What characteristics was the King looking for in the prisoners they were to take captive? (Name 3)
- Strength
- Healthy
- Good-looking young men
- Well-versed in every branch of learning
- Gifted with knowledge and good judgment
- Suited to serve in the royal palace (Verse 4)
Why did King Nebuchadnezzar threaten to execute all the wise men of Babylon?
The king had a disturbing dream and demanded that the wise men tell him both the dream and its meaning. When they said it was impossible for any human to do that, the king became furious and ordered all the wise men to be executed.
What command did King Nebuchadnezzar give when the music played in front of the golden statue?
Everyone was commanded to fall down and worship the golden statue. Anyone who refused would be thrown into the fire immediately.
Which prophet in the Bible also interpreted dreams for a ruler while living in a foreign land, similar to Daniel?
Joseph, who interpreted dreams for Pharaoh in Egypt
“If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us.”
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Daniel 3:17)
The name of the king who ruled Babylon when Daniel was captured and taken away from Jerusalem.
Who is King Nebuchadnezzar?
When Daniel learned that he and the other wise men were going to be executed, what was the first thing he did?
Daniel asked the king for time and then immediately went to his friends so they could pray together and ask God for mercy to reveal the dream and its meaning.
Why did Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refuse to bow down to the statue?
They refused because they were faithful to God and would not worship any other god or idol, even if it meant being punished or killed.
Daniel and his three friends were taken to Babylon as captives from what nation?
They were taken from the nation of Judah, part of the people of Israel.
“Praise the name of God forever and ever, for he has all wisdom and power.”
Daniel (Daniel 2:20)
Why did the King change the names of Daniel and his friends?
Daniel and his friends received new names as a strategy to erase their identity and assimilate them into the Babylonian service.
What happened to the statue in the king's dream?
A stone that was cut out, but not by human hands, struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and completely destroyed it. The statue was crushed into pieces and blown away like dust, but the stone grew into a great mountain that filled the whole earth.
What happened when Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into the blazing furnace?
God protected them in the fire. When the king looked inside the furnace, he saw four men walking around unharmed in the fire, and the fourth looked like a divine being. Not even their clothes were burned.
How long were Daniel and his friends trained in Babylon before they entered the king’s service?
They were trained for three years
“Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you refuse to serve my gods or worship the gold statue I have set up?”
King Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 3:14)
Daniel felt like he did not want to contaminate/defile himself by eating and drinking what the king was offering. Why did Daniel say the food was unacceptable?
Daniel and his friends refused to eat the king's food and drink his wine. They did this to avoid getting unclean, as they thought the food might have been offered to Babylonian idols or might come from unclean animals. Instead, they chose to eat only vegetables and drink water to remain true to God's laws and avoid pagan beliefs.
What nations were represented in the statue?
What did Nebuchadnezzar do after the 3 men were taken out of the furnace?
The king made this decree: "If any people, whatever their race or nation or language, speak a word against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, they will be torn limb from limb, and their houses will be turned into heaps of rubble", then they were promoted to higher positions. (Verse 29 & 30)
What were the original Hebrew names of Daniel and his three friends, and what Babylonian names were they given?
Daniel → Belteshazzar
Hananiah → Shadrach
Mishael → Meshach
Azariah → Abednego
“There is no other god who can rescue like this!”
King Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 3:29)
Daniel and his friends remained faithful to God even while living as captives in Babylon. What does their story teach us about how God can work in our lives today?
Their story teaches that God is the one who gives wisdom, ability, and opportunities. Just like God gave Daniel and his friends knowledge and made them stand out above everyone else, God can also guide our lives, go before us, and use us when we choose to honor Him.
What important lesson do we learn from the way Daniel revealed the king’s dream to Nebuchadnezzar?
Daniel made it clear that the wisdom he had came from God, not from himself. This teaches us that only God knows the mysteries of the world and that when God works through us, we should give Him the credit instead of taking the glory for ourselves.
What important lesson do we learn from the way the trio responded when the king threatened them with the furnace?
They showed complete faith in God. They believed that God could save them, but even if He did not, they still would not worship the idol. This teaches us to stay faithful to God no matter the situation or pressure around us.
What is the definition of faith?
Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.