Bible Study: Daniel

It's interesting John Calvin expounded on this.

Stephen Tong also did a specific character analysis on Daniel: https://www.fuyin.tv/content/view/movid/2212

This study will be a compendium of my church's Bible study as well as my own.

From The Bible Project Summary:

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11 Responses to Bible Study: Daniel

  1. timlyg says:

    Chapter 1

  2. timlyg says:

    Chapter 2

  3. timlyg says:

    Chapter 3

    I agree with Nick, as to why Daniel was not in the picture here with the fiery furnace: That Daniel was in the last chapter promoted to such a high position that nobody would dare to touch him at the time. He was basically the doorway to the king.

    Objection: But if Daniel was around, he would have tried to save his friends!
    Rebuttal: But would he? or ought he? Careful thinking suggest that we forget that we are living in a different era. If I were Daniel, in all seriousness and righteous responsibility, I would not stop it for it is not in my right to do so. Nor would I wish so from Daniel, had I been that godly as one of the three.

    I would weakly object to the explanation that Daniel was away and therefore he couldn't be involved in anyway.
    Objection: Daniel is role is too important to be sent away. It's wishful thinking and thus highly unlikely.

  4. timlyg says:

    Chapter 4
    v.7,10: This time Nebuchadnezzar tells the second dream himself.
    v.19: ...may the dream be for those who hate you..."
    The ancient's way of "I wish no harm to you, but..." hard truth telling directly those whom they respect.

    The resulting humility, praising God, may not necessarily be the same as repentance.

    v34~ Nebuchadnezzar's song is similar to that of King Darius' Daniel 6:26~

  5. timlyg says:

    Chapter 5

    v.17 It is argued that Daniel should not or did not take the material prize from Belshazzar. I think it is not relevant. Had Daniel taken them, it does not necessarily mean that he went against his own word. Accepting it could just be an innocent custom exercised by subjects before the ruler to show honor to the king. This age is not capable of fathoming the times of old by measurement of today's civility without study.

    v.25 Aramaic: Mene (numbered), Mene (numbered), Tekel (weighed), Upharsin/parsin/peres (divided)
    Believer's Bible Commentary: Upharsin, "U" means "and", Pharsin is the plural of Peres

    Why Mene, Mene (Twice)? Some say emphasis, some say quick occurrance, etc.
    I think though those seem valid, that it maybe that each numbering is for the Belshazzar's life and his kingdom respectively. "brought it to an end" in v.26 is a point of no return, it would not even live in Belshazzar's life.

  6. timlyg says:

    Chapter 6

    Debates concerning identity of Darius =? Cyrus.

    v6. The high officials and satraps by their wicked plot reveal how they actually see their own religion - a means to an end, using religion for their own profit, satisfaction, despite being aware of Daniel's true worship to God, as Calvin puts it: Worship of God is more valuable than life itself (verse 5 commentary).

    v7-8. Who is the real king/ruler? Darius or the officials? It is obvious here the officials are but the king fell for it.

    v10. Meditate upon James 5:13. There certainly is not out of joy from Daniel's reaction upon the news of the signing of the document. However, perceiving what has happened and will happen, he looked upon Jerusalem, upon God and perhaps giving thanks to God that he could still have the opportunity of sight and upper view towards his God's promise.

    v11. Intentionally invading Daniel's privacy to catch him. Also shows that these men have already known what is Godly for they predicted what a godly person would do, yet they schemed against what they know is good, making themselves gods, calling what is godly evil.

    v13. "who is one of the exiles from Judah", this discrimination is certainly needed of them to win their case. If only the king acted righteously against discrimination.

    v14. The king's love for Daniel is perhaps to own him, to own that skills which Daniel provided, that Darius labored so that he need not trouble himself to find another rare replacement of Daniel. Yet I am not saying that this does not cause the king to love the person. The question becomes do we love the person first and able to call out injustice done to him? Or his skills first and regret later of the injustice done to him?

    v15. It is shown here that this ruler placed himself under the sovereignty of his nation. Though the humility is honorable, it is not without being manipulated should one not be careful in wise handling.

    v16. The king's way of showing his love for the person now for certain. And reference to reverence in Daniel's God.

    v18. The king fasted...this is a peculiar one. Though it is a beginning of repentance, it is not enough as the king indulges himself being manipulated by the others perhaps for the sake of power, self glory. Respect of from others is given, not demanded by signatures and documents.

    v20. It is quite interesting that Darius recognize Daniel's God as the source of life "living God", perhaps the influence of the Jews if not Daniel. The king is well aware of Daniel's faithfulness to God, despite being tricked by the officials.

    v20,21: theme of "life", "live long and prosper" sentimentality, living God" emphasized.

    v26~ King Darius' praise contrasts that of Nebuchadnezzar's in Dan 4:34.

  7. timlyg says:

    Chapter 7
    Daniel's vision of the four beasts (possibly: Babylon, Medo-Persia, Alexander the Great, Rome).
    Vision he had during the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon.

  8. timlyg says:

    Chapter 8
    Daniels' vision of the Ram and the Goat
    Vision he had during the 3rd year of Belshazzar king of Babylon.

  9. timlyg says:

    Chapter 9

    v.5 In GCC Bible study, the pastor brought up the subject of prayer for corporate guilt in the sense that children shall not bear the sins of their father. I thought it maybe slightly off as David's prayer is closer to Lincoln's national prayer (>Proclamation 97): in the aftermath of the civil war and served as an influence towards the promotion of national prayers. He rejected my Lincoln reference saying that Lincoln is not a theologian. Although there is so much similarity between Daniel's and Lincoln's. The later allusion that Israel sinned against God as Daniel's prayer being appropriate as a prayer of corporate guilt is not wrong, but to narrow the application to only the chosen people of God in Israel in ancient time is just being too restrictive the application of this passage. I think Lincoln's prayer was beautiful and appropriate before God, regardless of the religious denomination Lincoln subscribed to.

    v.19 "Delay not" similar to Revelation's "Come Quickly"

    v.24 GCC Bible study: Seventy periods of 7 years. I think it's more apt to say 7 periods of 70 years instead. As a period of 70 years is a common language in the Bible. The 490 years is basically 10 jubilee (禧年) cycles (Lev. 25:8-13) where farmers in the land of Israel are commanded to let their land lie fallow (every 7th year/sabbatical year and Jubilee is the 7th sabbatical cycle).

    v.26-27 Allusion to Rev. 1:7 & Zech. 12:10 in GCC Bible study. Though Zech. 12:10 is talking about the Jews, it does not separate itself from Rev. 1:7, because Christians are the spiritual Jews.

  10. timlyg says:

    Chapter 10

  11. timlyg says:

    Chapter 11
    Today's GCC Bible Study had me looking up if there's a Reformed Jewish Christian group or famous Jewish Christian under the reformed influence instead of dispensationalism. Turns out there's this PCA approved group called chaim.org.
    Wasn't aware that amillennialists would be seen as antisemitic.

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