Daniel and His Friends
Daniel 1:1-7

Among the captives in Babylon was a young man named Daniel. God prepared him to become a great prophet of Israel. King Nebuchadnezzer wanted young Jews to serve in his palace. They were to be bright, handsome, strong young men. Each must learn the Babyloian language and read it's books. Wise men would teach them for three years. Then they would have jobs in the royal palace. Among them were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. These men were from Judah. The king ordered they be given Babyloian names. They were then called, Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

The Virtue of Daniel
Daniel 1:8-21

Daniel and his friends came to Nebuchadnezzar's palace. But their food had been offered to idols. Daniel went to the palace master. "Please don't make me dishonor myself by eating food given to idols." The king himself has given you this food. If you don't eat it you won't be healthy. Then my life could be in danger of the king's anger." "Let's try it for ten days," Daniel suggested. "Just give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then see if we're healthy." The palace master agreed. After ten days, Daniel and his friends looked healthier than the others. So they never ate the idol's food . God gave these four wisdom and skill in Babyloian knowledge. Daniel also could understand dreams and visions. After three years' training they were brought to Nebuchadnezzar. The king spoke with them. No one could compare with Daniel, Hananiah, Mishail, and Azariah. They became part of the king's own court. The king was pleased. These four were ten times better than his own magicians and psychics.

Daniel's Good Judgment
Daniel 2:1-24

King Nebuchadnezzar dreamed a troubling dream. So he called his magicians and psyshics. "I must know the meaning of my dream." "Tell us the dream, o king. We'll show you it's meaning." "No. You must tell me both the dream and its meaning. If you don't I'll have you killed; if you do. You'll be wealthy. Fearful, the magicians and the psychics said, "No one on earth can do what you ask. Only our gods could tell you your own dream." The king flew into a violent rage. "Destroy all the wise men in babylon," he commanded. This order included Daniel and his friends. Daniel used good judgment talking with the king's executioner. He was able to gain time from the king. The four friends prayed to God about the dream. They asked that they and the Babyloian wise men wouldn't die. That night the Lord gave Daniel the secret of the dream. "Don't kill the wise men," He told the executioner. "I'll show the king his dream and its meaning."

King Nebuchadnezzar's Dream
Daniel 2:17-49

"No pyschis can tell the mystery of your dream." Daniel spoke to King Nebuchadnezzar. "But there's a God in heaven who opens mysteries. You saw a huge shining statue. Its head was made of gold. Its chest and arms were silver. Its middle and thighs were bronze. Its legs, iron. Its feet, part iron, part clay. "As you watched a stone hit the statue's feet of iron and clay. They broke into pieces. Then the entire statue broke into tiny pieces and blew away. The stone became a great mountain, filling with earth. "Here is the dream's meaning: Your kingdom is the gold head. Later another kingdom will come-the statue's silver shoulders and arms. Then a third kingdom of bronze will come. After that a kingdom strong as iron will rise. Finally a divided kingdom that is partly strong will rule. In those days God will set up his eternal kingdom. It will end all the earth's kingdom's and grow to fill the whole earth." Nebuchadnezzar cried in awe, "Your God is the God of gods!"

The Furnace of Blazing Fire
Daniel 3:1-23

Nebuchadnezzar made a golden statue, ninety feet tall. An announcement was made to everyone to worship the statue or be thrown into the furnace. Everyone worshiped the idol Nebuchadnezzar had set up. Everyone except Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; the friends of Daniel. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stood before the angry king. "You must worship the golden statue I set up. If not, you'll be thrown into the furnace." "O Nebushadnezzar, we can only say: We beleive our God can save us from the furnace. If he doesn't, we still won't serve your gods. Nor will we worship your golden statue." Nebuchadnezzar was so filled with rage that his face became hideous. "Heat the furnace seven times hotter than ever before," he commanded. His strongest guards tied up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. The furnace raged with heat and killed the guards. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego fell into its flames.

Four Men Walk in the Fire
Danile 3:25-30

Nebushadnezzar was amazed looking into the furnace. "Didn't we tie three men and throw them into the furnace?" "This is true O king." "But I see four men, untied, walking through the fire. They aren't hurt at all. One of them looks like a god." Then the king called. "Shadrach, Meshach,Abednego, servants of the most high God, come out!" The three men came out to the king. They weren't burned nor did they smell of fire. "The God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego is blessed!" The king declared. "No one may ever speak against their God."

God's Lesson to Nebuchadnezzar
Part 1
Daniel 4:1-18

I, Nebuchadnezzar was living at peace. One night I had a frightening dream. So I called the wise men to Babylon to my palace. They were to tell me the meaning of my dream. But they had no idea of what it meant. "At last Daniel came to me. He's the man who has been given the spirit of the holy gods. This is the dream I told to Daniel: "There was a very tall tree on the earth. It grew strong and it's top reached to heaven. Everyone on earth could see its beautiful leaves and fruit. This tree gave food to all the people. Animals rested in its shade and birds nested in its branches. As I looked on, a holy one from heaven came. This is what he cried aloud: "'Cut down the tree and cut off its branches. Strip off its leaves and scatter is fruit. Let the animals run and fly away from it. Leave the tree's stump and its roots in the ground. Give him the mind of an animal and let seven years pass. Then everyone will know that god rules over the earth. "Now Daniel, tell me waht this means."

God's Lesson to nabuchadnezzar
Part 2
Danile 4;19-37

"I hope this dream is for your enemies," Daniel said. "the tall beautiful tree you saw; the tree that fed the whole earth; that tree is you, O king! You've grown great and strong. Your greatness reaches to heaven and your power covers the earth. "The words of the holy one from heaven are God's command. You'll be driven away from everyone and live with wild animals. Seven years will pass. The stump means that your kingdom will return.This will happen when you learn that God is king. Take my advise. Leave your sins, care for others.Then God will give you more days of peace." All this happened to Nebuchadnezzar. One day, he boasted of his power; the next day it was gone. Nebuchadnezzar was driven away from everyone. He ate grass like an ox. His body was bathed in dew. His hair grew long like eagle's feathers. His fingernails were like bird's claws. After seven years, Nabuchadnezzar celebrated and honored God: "All his works are truth, his ways are just. He is able to bring low those who walk in pride."