READ Who is Daniel…in Additional Resources
Introduction: Daniel and certain Hebrews are trained in the court of Nebuchadnezzar—They eat plain food and drink no wine—God gives them knowledge and wisdom beyond all others.
READ Daniel 1:1-3
NOTE: Read the Definition of Eunuch…in Add’l Res
-Why were Daniel and his friends selected? Vs 4
We can trust in the Lord when our faith is tried.
Basically, the King gave them a 3 year “internship” during which they were fed the same food as the King, in preparation for the time that they would “stand before” him.
-What was Daniel’s response?
-What objections might Daniel have had with the King’s food?
READ Objections to the King’s food…in Add’l Res
-When Daniel requested a change in diet what was the objection of the prince of the eunuchs? v 10
-Did Daniel criticize those who ate the king’s food?
-What do learn from this as we strive to obey the Lord?
-Why was the prince of eunuchs inclined to listen to Daniel? v9
-What was Daniel’s response?
-What is “pulse?” (foods made of seeds, grains, etc.)
-At the end of 10 days what were the results?
READ verses 16 & 17 for the rest of their “internship” diet.
-How were they blessed for their faithfulness?
READ verses 19 & 20 to learn about being brought to the king.
-How did they do?
1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.
2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.
3 And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the princes;
4 Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.
16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.
17 ¶ As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
19 And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.
20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.
45-OT SS Lesson Oct 31-Nov 6 Daniel 1-6 “There Is No Other God That Can Deliver”
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the kingdom of God on earth.
SUMMARY CHAPTER 2 Nebuchadnezzar has a dream--he wants the meaning revealed to him and calls for his wise men.
-When he asks the meaning of the dream how do his wise men respond?
-What does he think of the response?
-Why does he do this?
-In his anger what does he threaten to do?
His actions would include Daniel and his friends--the dream is revealed to Daniel—
Daniel reveals the meaning to the king telling him that later earthly kingdoms would be lesser than his until the kingdom of God.
-How did the king feel about this interpretation?
SUMMARY Daniel 2:19-30 The king saw a great image, a stone cut from the mountain without hands destroyed the image, and the stone grew and filled the whole earth—The stone is the latter-day kingdom of God.Nebuchadnezzar’s dream is revealed to Daniel.
READ What Were the Kingdoms Represented…in Add’l Res
READ Daniel 2:34
-What does the phrase “cut out without hands” mean? (v2:34)
READ What does the phrase “cut out without…”
READ How Is It That the Kingdom Set Up by God Will Consume the Other Kingdoms?…in Add’l Res
Finally, in reference to the finality of this Kingdom,
READ President Brigham Young…in Add’l Res
READ Daniel 2:46-49
Daniel 2:34 Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.
What does the phrase “cut out without hands” mean?
“The new kingdom that Daniel envisioned would be ‘cut out without hands’ meaning that it would be of divine construction rather than human. Tis kingdom would subdue he nations of the world and over the course of time would be transformed from a small stone into an immense mountain that would fill the entire earth.” Jackson, “May the Kingdom of God Go Forth,” 254-55
Daniel 2:46 Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him.
47 The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.
48 Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon.
49 Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.
-How did this work out for Daniel and his friends?
-How can we stay faithful despite social pressure or other kinds of pressure?
-Why is it important to seek good friends who will support us in our standards?
-How have we seen Daniel’s prophecies fulfilled in our individual lives?
Receiving revelation requires spiritual preparation. READ Daniel 1:17
-What do we learn about how God prepared Daniel?
READ Daniel 2:16-18 How Daniel prepared for revelation.
President Kimball summarized the qualities that Daniel
possessed and the blessings his obedience to brought him.
READ President Spencer W. Kimball
When the outcome is uncertain, we can still choose faith.
SUMMARY CHAPTER 3 Nebuchadnezzar creates a golden image and commands all men to worship it—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refuse and are cast into the fiery furnace—They are preserved and come out unharmed
READ Daniel 3:8, 12
Daniel 1:17 As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
Daniel 2:16 Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation.
17 Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:
18 That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
President Kimball: “The gospel was Daniel’s life. … In the king’s court, he could be little criticized, but even for a ruler he would not drink the king’s wine nor gorge himself with meat and rich foods. His moderation and his purity of faith brought him health and wisdom and knowledge and skill and understanding, and his faith linked him closely to his Father in heaven, and revelations came to him as often as required. His revealing of the dreams of the king and the interpretations thereof brought him honor and acclaim and gifts and high position such as many men would sell their souls to get.” (CR, Mexico and Central America Area Conference 1972, p. 31.)
Daniel 3:8 ¶ Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.
12 There are certain Jews whom thou hast aset over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
-Why did the Chaldeans report the three to the king?
READ Daniel 3:16-18
-How did Daniel’s friends respond to the King?
READ The Fiery Furnace…in Add’l Res
READ What does verse 18 teach us about true…in Add’l Res
READ Daniel 3:24-25, 28 Why was the king astonished?
-Who did the king think that the fourth person was?
READ Who was the fourth man walking…in Add’l Res
-How did these three react to the pressure that was exerted?
-Can you imagine being in such a situation?
READ What important message can we…in Add’l Res
SUMMARY CHAPTER 6 Darius makes Daniel the first of his three presidents—Darius is manipulated by men envious of Daniel into signing a law that forbids prayer to anyone other than him--Daniel worships the Lord in defiance of a decree of Darius and is reported to Darius, who cannot reverse his decree—As he is cast into the den of lions the king tells him he believes his god will save him—early the next morning the king comes to the den and finds Daniel alive--His faith had saved him, and Darius rejoices and decrees that all people are to revere the God of Daniel. Darius casts Daniel’s accusers, and their families into the Lion’s den.
READ What does the king’s early morning visit indicate?
-Do you see a pattern in these chapters?
-What are we to learn here?
-Should we ever compromise our principles?
READ President Kimball and Harriet Beecher Stowe…in Add’l Res
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.
25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
28 Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and chave changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.
What does the king’s early morning visit indicate? “Darius’s devotion to Daniel is further evidenced by his early-morning visit to the lion’s den. His faith in God was confirmed when he heard Daniel’s voice. Doniel mad his reciprocal loyalty clear when he not only declared that he was innocent before God, but that he was also innocent before Darius. He made sure that Darius knew that Daniel was no threat to him.” Muhlestein, Scripture Study Made simple, 480.
How can we apply Daniel’s experience to our own lives? “By way of application is is worth noting that we have no promise that we will always be saved from the hurt our enemies seek to bring upon us. However, in the end, we--like Daniel--shall be elevated out of the hands of our enemies, without mar or scar. Similarly, like Daniell’s enemies, those who fight against God and His anointed servants shall ultimately be destroyed. Thus, there may be difficult days when we face the lions. However, the end result of the faithful will ever be the same, they shall be raised up and all earthly scars--whether they be physical, emotional, or spiritual--will be removed.” Gaskill, Miracles of the OT. 436-37
My Thoughts: We all have days when we feel like we are facing lions, or that the darkness is descending upon us. We will undoubtedly have more days in the future as the Second Coming approaches. But we can be comforted by the other experiences that Daniel had. The Lord was with him. I would like my thoughts to be a continuation comments on the upcoming elections. Last week on socialism, this time on abortion.
Imagine Daniel, the main subject of this lesson, being told that as a Babylonian leader and faithful supporter of the king that he must endorse a policy that is counter to his religious beliefs as a follower of Christ. Wait, we don't have to imagine that. It actually happened. And Daniel's choices were that he would not break his religious principles. He would eat what he had been brought up to eat,pulse, and he would worship not the king nor his gods, but the God of Israel. I would like to follow up my comments last week on socialism with a review of comments on abortion. In an address to BYU students in February of 1999, Elder Dallin H. Oaks said Church members must ensure their political and personal views on abortion are in harmony with the teachings of Jesus Christ.Elder Oaks framed his comments in the context that church members need to focus on "the weightier matters" of the gospel -- such as faith, obedience and love of God -- that lead to eternal life.He said concentrating on peripheral issues and methods -- such as choice and diversity -- clouds eternal perspective.
For instance, some church members know abortion is wrong yet believe laws should give women the freedom to choose abortion, Elder Oaks said: "If we say we are anti-abortion in our personal life but pro-choice in public policy, we are saying that we will not use our influence to establish public policies that encourage righteous choices on matters God's servants have defined as serious sins," he said.
"I urge Latter-day Saints who have taken that position to ask themselves which other grievous sins should be decriminalized or smiled upon by the law on this theory that persons should not be hampered in their choices. Should we decriminalize or lighten the legal consequences of child abuse? Of cruelty to animals? Of pollution? Of fraud? Of fathers who choose to abandon their families for greater freedom or convenience?"
Elder Oaks reaffirmed that the church justifies abortion only in cases of rape, incest or life-threatening situations involving the mother and the child. But, he declared, those circumstances are rare and bishop's counsel as well as divine guidance must be sought before that step is taken.
The pro-choice rallying cry is misleading and false, Elder Oaks warned. "Choice is a method, not the ultimate goal. We are accountable for our choices, and only righteous choices will move us toward our eternal goals. My young brothers and sisters, in today's world we are not true to our teachings if we are merely pro-choice. We must stand up for the right choice. Those who persist in refusing to think beyond slogans and sound bites like 'pro-choice' wander from the goals they pretend to espouse and wind up giving their support to results they might not support if those results were presented without disguise."
More than 95 percent of the millions of abortions performed each year eliminate the life of a fetus conceived by consensual relations, Elder Oaks said. "Thus, the effect in 95 percent of abortions is not to vindicate choice but to avoid its consequences. Using arguments of choice to try to justify altering the consequences of choice is a classic case of omitting what the Savior called the 'weightier matters of the law.' "
Focusing on diversity can also diminish eternal objectives, Elder Oaks said, and detract from the importance of unity.
"Jesus did not pray that his followers would be 'diverse,' " he explained. "He prayed that they would be 'one.' Modern revelation does not say, 'Be diverse; and if ye are not diverse, ye are not mine.' It says, 'Be one; and if ye are not one ye are not mine.' "
...In conclusion, Elder Oaks acknowledged church members are swimming against the tide of public opinion but that fact should not impede their progress.
"Though our belief and practice is unpopular, it is right and it does not require the blind obedience or the stifling uniformity its critics charge. If we are united on our eternal goal and united on the inspired principles that will get us there, we can be diverse on individual efforts in support of our goals and consistent with those principles."--
The Church’s Position on Abortion published june 24, 2022
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes in the sanctity of human life. Therefore, the Church opposes elective abortion for personal or social convenience, and counsels its members not to submit to, perform, encourage, pay for, or arrange for such abortions.
The Church allows for possible exceptions for its members when:
Pregnancy results from rape or incest, or
A competent physician determines that the life or health of the mother is in serious jeopardy, or
A competent physician determines that the fetus has severe defects that will not allow the baby to survive beyond birth.
Even these exceptions do not automatically justify abortion. Abortion is a most serious matter. It should be considered only after the persons responsible have received confirmation through prayer. Members may counsel with their bishops as part of this process.
The Church’s position on this matter remains unchanged. As states work to enact laws related to abortion, Church members may appropriately choose to participate in efforts to protect life and to preserve religious liberty.
Where would Daniel be on these issues. While you might wonder, I don’t. I hope you follow the advice to participate in the upcoming elections. I hope that you carefully examine the issues and vote for the person or party whose plans endorse the constitution, religious freedom, protection from injustice and our other God given rights.
I am grateful for past prophets who have met and conquered the challenges of their times, and for current prophets who continue to do the same. I am grateful for you and the good that you do.
Have a good week----------wait, did I just hear a lion?
Greg
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
Who is Daniel: An Introduction
Like many of his brethren the prophets, Daniel was prepared and raised up as a minister to kings and emperors. At the time that Nebuchadnezzar first carried the Jews captive into Babylon (about 605 B.C.), Daniel was chosen as one of the choicest Jewish youths to be taken to Babylon and trained for service in the king’s court. Because of his righteousness and sensitivity to the promptings of the Spirit, he was greatly favored of God. The Lord blessed him with the gift of interpreting dreams and visions. This endowment soon made him an object of greater attention from the emperor, and he was raised to positions that enabled him to spend his life in service to the kings of the land. He became the Lord’s minister to those rulers. He was made chief of the wise men, chancellor of the equivalent of a national university, ruler of all the Hebrew captives, and, as governor of the province of Babylon, one of the chief rulers in both the Babylonian and Persian Empires. Though at times his life was endangered because of the jealousy of evil men, yet he lived so perfectly that the Lord continually protected and preserved him.
The Book of Daniel has two divisions: Chapters 1-6 are stories about Daniel and his three companions; chapters 7-12 are prophetic visions that Daniel saw. (Guide to the Scriptures, “Daniel.”)
A Definition of Eunuch: The word eunuch is “the English form of the Greek word which means bed-keeper. In the strict and proper sense they were the persons who had charge of the bed-chambers in palaces and larger houses. But as the jealous and dissolute temperament of the East required this charge to be in the hands of persons who had been deprived of their virility, the word eunuch came naturally to denote persons in that condition. But as some of these rose to be confidential advisers of their royal masters or mistresses, the word was occasionally employed to denote persons in such a position, without indicating anything of their proper manhood.” (Smith, Dictionary of the Bible, s.v. “eunuch.”)
“This word eunuchs signifies officers about or in the palace, whether literally eunuchs or not” (Adam Clarke, The Holy Bible … with a Commentary and Critical Notes, 4:563).
Objections to the king’s food:
What Were the Kingdoms Represented in Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream?
President Rudger Clawson elaborated on Daniel’s interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream: “The … world of today is witness of the fact that the very things which the great image stood for have occurred so far as time has gone. History certifies to the fact that King Nebuchadnezzar was the head of gold. The Medes and Persians, an inferior kingdom to Babylon, were the arms and breast of silver. The Macedonian kingdom, under Alexander the Great, was the belly and thighs of brass; and the Roman kingdom under the Caesars was the legs of iron. For mark you, later on the kingdom, or empire of Rome, was divided. The head of the government in one division was at Rome and the head of the government in the other division was at Constantinople. So these two great divisions represented the legs of iron. Finally, the Roman empire was broken up into smaller kingdoms, represented by the feet and toes of iron and clay.” (CR, Apr. 1930, p32)
President Spencer W. Kimball: “This is a revelation concerning the history of the world, when one world power would supersede another until there would be numerous smaller kingdoms to share the control of the earth.
“And it was in the days of these kings that power would not be given to men, but the God of heaven would set up a kingdom—the kingdom of God upon the earth, which should never be destroyed nor left to other people.
“The Church was restored in 1830 after numerous revelations from the divine source; and this is the kingdom, set up by the God of heaven, that would never be destroyed nor superseded, and the stone cut out of the mountain without hands that would become a great mountain and would fill the whole earth.” (CR, Apr. 1976, p. 10)
How Is It That the Kingdom Set Up by God Will Consume the Other Kingdoms?
The coming forth of the kingdom on the earth is what Daniel saw when the stone rolled forth and smote the image, eventually filling the whole earth.
Section 65 of the Doctrine and Covenants tells of the fulfillment of the rest of Daniel’s prophecy. The Prophet Joseph Smith prayed that the ecclesiastical kingdom of God, which was established on the earth in his day, might roll forth that the future kingdom of heaven might come.
“During the millennium the kingdom of God will continue on earth, but in that day it will be both an ecclesiastical and a political kingdom. That is, the Church (which is the kingdom) will have the rule and government of the world given to it.” (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 416.)
That millennial kingdom can also be properly referred to as the kingdom of heaven, as Joseph Smith did in his inspired prayer recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 65. The establishment of that kingdom is what the Lord taught the Saints to pray for in the Lord’s Prayer when He said, “Thy kingdom come” (Matthew 6:10; see also Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:230).
Harriet Beecher Stowe: "When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hold on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn." (Source unidentified)
Brigham Young: It may be considered treason to say that the kingdom which that Prophet [Daniel] foretold is actually set up; that we cannot help, but we know it is so, and call upon the nations to believe our testimony. The kingdom will continue to increase, to grow, to spread and prosper more and more. Every time its enemies undertake to overthrow it, it will become more extensive and powerful; instead of its decreasing, it will continue to increase, it will spread the more, become more wonderful and conspicuous to the nations, until it fills the whole earth.” ( Journal of Discourses, 1:202–3.)
The Fiery Furnace: “[Their] response cast no double on Tod’s ability to save; the men responded that if God desired to save them he could. But whether or not he did, the idol was still nothing and they would not worship it…..
The details of the attempted execution magnify the power of God and the helplessness of the king….The furnace was heated seven times hotter than usual and….the guards who threw the Jews into the fire died before they could get away from the heat.” Draper,”Book of Daniel,” 326-27
President Spencer W. Kimball: "When we see the depravity of numerous people of our own society in their determination to force upon people vulgar presentations, filthy communications, unnatural practices, we wonder, has Satan reached forth with his wicked, evil hand to pull into his forces the people of this earth? Do we not have enough good people left to stamp out the evil which threatens our world? Why do we continue to compromise with evil and why do we continue to tolerate sin?" (Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p267)
What does this verse teach us about true devotion to God?
After retelling the story of the three, President Howard W. Hunter taught “The ability to stand by one’s principles, to live with integrity and faith according to one’s belief--that is what matters, that is the difference between a contribution and a commitment. That devotion to true principle--in our individual lives, in our homes and families, and in all places that we meet and influence other people--that devotion is what God is ultimately requisition of us.” Standing as Witnesses of God, 61
Who was the fourth man walking in the fire: The king knew he was looking at a supernatural being, though his son of the gods description reflected his belief in many gods. Later the king described the man as an angel (v 28). Some believe the figure was an angel; others feel he was literally the Son of God--Christ making an appearance more than five centuries before His earthly birth.” Quest Study Bible, 1994, 1216
What important message can we learn from the three men in this story? “Clearly our individual exit routes from this life vary; so does the timing. There are many who suffer so much more than the rest of us: some go agonizingly: some go quickly: some are healed: some are given more time: some seem to linger. There are variations in our trials but no immunities. Thus, the scriptures cite the fiery furnace and fiery trials. Those who emerge successfully from their varied and fiery furnaces have experienced the grace of the Lord, which He says is sufficient. Maxwell,”From Whom All Blessings Flow,” 11