Making the Right Choices Part #1

Making the Right Choices

Wednesday November 30, 2011

Daniel 1-3

The Context

1:3-7: King ordered that certain young men of the Israelites from the royal family to be brought suitable for instruction in all wisdom, knowledgeable and to teach them the Chaldeans language and literature.

He gave these young men new names:

Daniel (God is my judge): Belteshazzar (Lady protect the king)

Hananiah (The Lord is Gracious): Shadrach (I Am fearful of the God)

Mishael (Who is what God is?): Meshach (I am of Little Account)

Azariah (The Lord has helped Me): Abednego (Servant of the god Nebo)

2:46-49: Appointed these men to manage province of Babylon.

The Journey

3:1-2: King set up an image to symbolize rule the king has over Babylon.

3:3-7: Decree/command issued that all the officials of the province gather for the dedication of the statue and bow down to worship.

3:8-12: Some of the people came to the king to tell him about the ones who he set up to manage the province of Babylon were Jews who do not serve his gods or worship them.

3:13-15: The king was furious and ordered these men to be brought to him. He gave them a choice: bow down and worship this statue or be thrown in the furnace.

3:16-18: These three young men made their decision based only on the promises of the God they serve.

3:19-23: The king in his increased fury ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than before. It was so hot that the four soldiers that took Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to the furnace were all killed.

3:24-30: The king later became alarmed at the sight of not three men, but four men unbound and walking freely in the furnace. The fourth looked like a son of the gods. So he called these men out of the furnace and seeing that the fire had no effect on their bodies or clothes, the king issued a decree to the God of these man that no one say anything offensive to the God that these men risked everything to serve.

Application

Whose voice did S, M, A choose listen to?  Whose voice are you listening to?

What were the consequences that S, M, A faced if they chose not to heed to their God?  What were consequences that they faced if they chose to heed to their God?

What consequences if any have you faced lately b/c of your choices you had to make?

Are there good and bad consequences?

Why do you think most young people choose to not follow God’s commands?

What connections do you see between the Bible study and the drama?

Erin is pressured by Tim to skip school.  How would you

respond to Tim?

The nurse died with regrets.  If you were trading places with the nurse, what would you regret about your spiritual life and relationships?

How did S, M, A stand the test of their faith?

1) They understood the character of God.

(Quote from Ravi Zacharias)

2) They were bold in their faith (3:16-18).

3) They exercised their faith.

(Quote from enemies of the heart)