We have been reading through the Book of Daniel and thus far going through chapter by chapter. Therefore, if you have been to church over the previous five weeks you would have read and studied the first five and now 6 chapters with us. The first four chapters were ultimately about King Nebuchadnezzar’s salvation and included a couple of dreams and the famous Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego in the fiery furnace story. Last week there was one chapter dedicated to one of Nebuchadnezzar’s successors King Belshazzar. We read the story of the writing on the wall and the fall of the Neo-Babylonian / Chaldean Empire. Also in Chapter 5 we are introduced to a new king – Daniel's third leader whom he served under, King Darius the Mede. Chapter 5:30-31: “That very night Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians, was slain, and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom, at the age of sixty-two.” This is where today’s story picks up... but maybe I should do a sidebar first, before we read ...
Chapters 1-4 of Daniel are primarily about the salvation of Nebuchadnezzar, who was the brutal leader of a Superpower and as Susan said last week, maybe a megalomanic like maybe another world leader today that we all know. Daniel Chapter 4 is the final chapter in the Nebuchadnezzar story. Chapter 4 comes in 3 distinct parts: 1. God gives King Nebuchadnezzar another dream to inform him of the future 2. Nebuchadnezzar seeks Daniel to reveal God’s message 3. God’s message comes to fruition Part 1: God Gives Nebuchadnezzar a Dream (Daniel 4:1-18) 4 King Nebuchadnezzar sent this message to the people of every race and nation and language throughout the world: “Peace and prosperity to you! 2 “I want you ...