Setting Conflict Climax Resolution

3. Parts to a Story • Setting • Conflict • Climax • Resolution

4. Daniel: Cliff’s Notes Version • The king was tricked into making a law that said nobody could pray to any god except him for 30 days • Anyone who did not obey this law would be thrown into the lion’s den

7. Daniel: Cliff’s Notes Version • The king was tricked into making a law that said nobody could pray to any god except him for 30 days • Anyone who did not obey this law would be thrown into the lion’s den • Daniel ignored this decree and continued to pray to Yahweh God

8. Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just has he had done before. Daniel 6:10

9. Daniel: Cliff’s Notes Version • The king was tricked into making a law that said nobody could pray to any god except him for 30 days • Anyone who did not obey this law would be thrown into the lion’s den • Daniel ignored this decree and continued to pray to Yahweh God • The guys who tricked the king caught Daniel and turned him in

10. Daniel: Cliff’s Notes Version • The king was forced to punish Daniel by throwing him into the lion’s den • God sent an angel to shut the lion’s mouths • Daniel lived • The king threw the conspirators into the den instead • They did not fare as well as Daniel

13. The king ordered the chief of his court officials to bring in some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility – young men, without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians. The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, after which they were to enter the king’s service. Daniel 1:3-5

14. Among them were some fro Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Mesjach; and to Azariah, Abednego. Daniel 1:6-7

15. Lessons from Daniel Daniel knew his trueidentity.

17. dan-i-el dan = judge i = my el = God “God is my judge.”

19. Lessons from Daniel Daniel knew his true identity. Daniel recognized God’ssovereignty.

20. In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzer, king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim, king of Judah, into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. Daniel 1:1-2a

21. Daniel praised the God of heaven and said, “Praise be to the name of God forever and ever; wisdom and power are His. He changes times and seasons; He sets up kings and deposes them; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.” Daniel 2:19b-21

22. “You, O king, are the king of kings. The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory. In your hands He has placed mankind and the beasts of the field and the birds of the air. Wherever they live, He has made you ruler over them all.” Daniel 2:37-38a

23. Lessons from Daniel Daniel knew his true identity. Daniel recognized God’ssovereignty. Daniel let God rule his actions.

24. God Involved in Food But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. Daniel 1:8

25. But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. Daniel 1:8

26. God Involved in His Talents God gave [him] learning and skill in all letters and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. Daniel 1:17

27. Daniel replied, “No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come. Daniel 2:18

28. God Involved in His Prayers “Daring, defiant, disciplined prayer.” John Piper

29. Daniel’s Positions of Power • He was a ruler over the whole province of Babylon (2:48) • He was one of the three presidents over the 120 satraps of the entire empire (6:2)

30. Daniel’s Positions of Power • He was a ruler over the whole province of Babylon (2:48) • He was one of the three presidents over the 120 satraps of the entire empire (6:2) • Daniel “so distinguished himself” by his “exceptional qualities” that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom (6:3)

31. Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just has he had done before. Daniel 6:10

32. Six Things Daniel Showed in Verse 10 He didn’t act in ignorance.

33. Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just has he had done before. Daniel 6:10

34. He could have said… • “My influence would be so great if I held that position!” • “I can do more for God alive than dead!” • “It’s only 30 days, then I can pray to the real God again!” • “Legalism is such a terrible sin, I can fudge a little bit!”

35. Six Things Daniel Showed in Verse 10 He didn’t act in ignorance. He didn’t go to the woods to pray, he went to his house.

36. Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just has he had done before. Daniel 6:10

37. Six Things Daniel Showed in Verse 10 He didn’t act in ignorance. He didn’t go to the woods to pray, he went to his house. He didn’t go to the secret inner chamber of his house.

38. Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just has he had done before. Daniel 6:10

39. Six Things Daniel Showed in Verse 10 He didn’t act in ignorance. He didn’t go to the woods to pray, he went to his house. He didn’t go to the secret inner chamber of his house. He didn’t pray only once, early in the morning, when nobody’s looking.

40. Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just has he had done before. Daniel 6:10

41. Six Things Daniel Showed in Verse 10 He didn’t act in ignorance. He didn’t go to the woods to pray, he went to his house. He didn’t go to the secret inner chamber of his house. He didn’t pray only once, early in the morning, when nobody’s looking. He didn’t use words that were vague.

42. Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just has he had done before. Daniel 6:10

43. Six Things Daniel Showed in Verse 10 He didn’t act in ignorance. He didn’t go to the woods to pray, he went to his house. He didn’t go to the secret inner chamber of his house. He didn’t pray only once, early in the morning, when nobody’s looking. He didn’t use words that were vague. He didn’t change the way he prayed or do anything different to yield to the pressure of the law Darius made.

44. Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just has he had done before. Daniel 6:10

46. At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?” Daniel answered, “O king, live forever! My God sent His angel, and He shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in His sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king.” Daniel 6:19-22

47. Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You are justified when You speak and blameless when You judge. Psalm 51:4

48. “They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in His sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king.” Daniel 6:19-22 zakah = to be innocent, clean, clear, to count pure Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You are justified when You speak and blameless when You judge. Psalm 51:4

49. Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You are justified when You speak and blameless when You judge. Psalm 51:4

50. Three Questions On what do you base your identity? How much does God influence your life? Is God your judge?