Objectives for leaders
To examine how God speaks to us.
To explore how to remain true to our convictions now and later on.
To encourage deep thought.
Introduction:
Daniel is now an old man – more than 80 years old. The successors to Nebuchadnezzar’s throne have ignored him. He has now been placed in some obscure office in the Babylonian government. But when the king finds himself in trouble, he calls for God’s man. Daniel shows us how to keep standing for God over the long haul.
1. Daniel had a reputation for "insight and intelligence and wisdom. How do you think he acquired that? Will being in lectures help you be like Daniel?
Read Daniel 5
Tip 3
Tip 3
EXEGESIS: http://ncbible.org/resources/DanielComm05.html is an example of an exegesis of the text.
HERMENEUTICS: In Daniel 2, we talked about the problems with biblical interpretations or hermeneutics, here in Daniel 5 God's words confuse Belshazzar until Daniel arrives. God's word is not always clear. If you are interested in the different methods of biblical interpretations, this is a summary http://www.theologue.org/Introhermeneutics-Kulikovsky.htm Interpretation is often best done in a community of believers of authors, church leaders and other christians through the work of the Holy Spirit. If you find this confusing pick up a copy of How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth by Gordon D. Fee (Author), Douglas Stuart (Author).
In TSCF studies, we focus on exegesis through inductive or manuscript bible study, in order to apply the Word of God to our lives. In this study, we focus on how we hear God and continue to walk with God like Daniel did. In other words, PRAXIS,i.e. applying all we know about God to our lives together on campus.
HERMENEUTICS: In Daniel 2, we talked about the problems with biblical interpretations or hermeneutics, here in Daniel 5 God's words confuse Belshazzar until Daniel arrives. God's word is not always clear. If you are interested in the different methods of biblical interpretations, this is a summary http://www.theologue.org/Introhermeneutics-Kulikovsky.htm Interpretation is often best done in a community of believers of authors, church leaders and other christians through the work of the Holy Spirit. If you find this confusing pick up a copy of How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth by Gordon D. Fee (Author), Douglas Stuart (Author).
In TSCF studies, we focus on exegesis through inductive or manuscript bible study, in order to apply the Word of God to our lives. In this study, we focus on how we hear God and continue to walk with God like Daniel did. In other words, PRAXIS,i.e. applying all we know about God to our lives together on campus.
2. This chapter begins with a party!
A little background: The events in this chapter take place in 539 B.C., the year (and the very night) of the fall of Babylon to the Medo-Persian army led by Cyrus the Great. The Babylonians considered their city impregnable. They had twenty years of food supplies on hand and fresh-water from the Euphrates River flowed through the heart of the city.
With that background, what do you think motivated Belshazzar to have this feast?
3. What actions and attitudes on the part of Belshazzar and his guests do you think would have provoked the Lord’s anger (vv1-4)?
4. Sometimes our campus lives seem very far away from the subject of miracles. However, God is still very much a miracle worker today as He was in Daniel’s day. Have you witnessed or experienced any miracles that you would life to share with the group?
Miracles can be defined in the broadest sense of the word, not just supernatural or unexpected events or incidents that do not conform to natural laws, time or space. Some may have stories about miraculous healing, conversions and exorcisms...be careful not to brush these away if this is not part of your Christian tradition. In some cultures, the spiritual realm is very real. However, you might like to consider the natural miracles of creation ie mountains, acts of great kindness and selflessness, awe-inspiring mysteries of birth, timeless sacraments, moving biblical passages that encourage, still silence in the midst of stress, positive marked change in lives, ideas in the instant that they cohere into meaning, results of contemplating the bible, etc....challenge each other to see how God is at work in the world--Practice the Presence of God.
5. How has this chapter demonstrated that seventy years of life under Babylon’s influence had not broken down Daniel’s convictions? How does this encourage you?
6. In what ways can you keep your passion for God alive even through seemingly “mundane” everyday life?
Think of Daniel what did he do as a young man and by implication continue doing into old age.
Two interesting videos
Video1 Through the dry times
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zi3nNj1xHBo&feature=relmfu
Video 2 Hearing God
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGqQBnCdRVs&feature=youtu.be
Interesting book quote
Eugene Peterson's book A Long Obedience in the Same Direction is a translation of the fifteen Psalms of the Songs of Ascents, Psalms 120-134. The Psalms has always been the ‘primary means by which Christians learned to pray everything they lived, and live everything they prayed over the long haul." The supposition is made that the Psalms of Ascents were "likely sung by Hebrew pilgrims as they went up to Jerusalem to the great worship festivals." The title implies the upward journey to Jerusalem, as well as the upward journey toward God. Click the links to see two psalms projects. One to prayerfully meditate on the psalms for 7 years and other to revive the singing of the psalms.
7. The story ends abruptly with the foolish removed. What do you think of Belshazzar's response to Daniel's interpretation?
Pray for the wisdom of Daniel.
Two interesting videos
Video1 Through the dry times
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zi3nNj1xHBo&feature=relmfu
Video 2 Hearing God
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGqQBnCdRVs&feature=youtu.be
Interesting book quote
Eugene Peterson's book A Long Obedience in the Same Direction is a translation of the fifteen Psalms of the Songs of Ascents, Psalms 120-134. The Psalms has always been the ‘primary means by which Christians learned to pray everything they lived, and live everything they prayed over the long haul." The supposition is made that the Psalms of Ascents were "likely sung by Hebrew pilgrims as they went up to Jerusalem to the great worship festivals." The title implies the upward journey to Jerusalem, as well as the upward journey toward God. Click the links to see two psalms projects. One to prayerfully meditate on the psalms for 7 years and other to revive the singing of the psalms.
7. The story ends abruptly with the foolish removed. What do you think of Belshazzar's response to Daniel's interpretation?
Pray for the wisdom of Daniel.
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