Daniel 7-8

 Homiletics                                                       Study:        Exile & Return                               

Lesson    06                                                     Passage:    Daniel 7-8

Content (List of Topics or Events)

Daniel’s Vision of 4 winds and 4 beasts (Daniel 7) 1.  Belshazzar 1st year dream of 4 winds churning up sea with 4 beasts out of sea (1-3) 2. 1st Beast like lion with wings of eagle; wings torn off, lifted from ground, two feet and mind of human (4) 4. 2nd Beast like bear with 3 ribs in mouth; told “get up and eat your fill of flesh” (5) 5. 3rd Beast like leopard with 4 wings and 4 heads with authority to rule (6) 6. 4th Beast terrifying, frightening powerful with iron teeth crushing, devouring victims underfoot remaining; had 10 horns (7-8) 7. Ancient of Day takes seat; He and court described as books opened (9-10) 8. Horn with boastful words thrown in fire; others lived for a time (11-12) 9. Son of Man from heaven; given authority, glory, power and everlasting dominion (13-14) 10. Daniel given interpretation with emphasis on 4th king (beast) who will be defeated and holy people delivered (15-28)

Daniel’s Vision of Ram and Goat (Daniel 8:1-14) 1. Daniel see another vision in Belshazzar 3rd year (already seen) of a ram with 2 horns with great power (1-4) 2. A goat with prominent horn knocked ram to the ground and became great; great horn knocked off and 4 grew in place toward heaven (5-8) 3. Out of one cam another horn growing in power beautiful land and to heavens taking away daily sacrifice; because of Lords people rebellions; no truth (9-10) 4. Daniel hears holy one speaking and another holy one asks how long will it take for vision to be fulfilled (11-13) 5. Holy one tells Daniel 2,300 evenings and mornings; then sanctuary will be consecrated (14)

Gabriel shares End of Time Vision (Daniel 8:15-27) 1. Daniel watching a one looking like a man. He hears a voice saying tell the vision’s meaning (15-16) 2. Daniel falls prostrate hearing “Son of man understand that the vision concerns time of the end” (17) 3. Daniel is touched, raised to feet, and told dream is about wrath appointed at time of the end (18-19) 4. Meaning told: (20-25) a. 2 horn ram is Media and Persia b. Goat is Greece c. 4 horns replacing are kingdoms emerging not having same power d. Latter part wickedness with fierce-looking king will arise causing devastation, deceit, considering himself superior; yet destroyed 5. Daniel told the vision of evenings and mornings is true, but seal it up for it is distant future (26) 6. Daniel is worn out and exhausted being appalled by vision; beyond understanding (27)

Divisions (Main Blocks of Thought)

Daniel’s Vision of 4 winds and 4 beasts	Daniel 7
Daniel’s Vision of Ram and Goat	Daniel 8:1-14
Gabriel shares End of Time Vision	Daniel 8:15-27

Subject Sentence (Summarizes the contents of the Divisions – No more than 10 words)

Beast dream, ram/goat vision highlight destruction and Most-High victory

Aim (Main Teaching Point of the Passage)

CTATL kings may rule, cause pain but everlasting victory in in the Lord; the end is worth the journey.

Application Questions

Where does evil impact you? How can increase your trust in God for victory?

For what things is your patience being tested? How can you take them to the Lord to bring peace?

The journey is long, times are tough; how can deepen your time with the Lord realize His truth?

Principles to Remember           

God’s kingdom will not be destroyed.

Holy people will be in an everlasting kingdom

Glory and power belong to the Lord

Characteristic of God

Victorious

Theme

Daniel dreams of Beasts, has visions Rams, Goats each telling of the final victory of God and His people.

 

 

Daniel 5-6

 Homiletics                                                       Study:        Exile & Return                               

Lesson    05                                                     Passage:    Daniel 5-6

Content (List of Topics or Events)

Arrogance and Pride judged - Feast, Fingers, Fear (Daniel 5:1-17) 1.  King Belshazzar’s banquet for thousands of nobles drinking wine (1) 2. Goblets brought in and used taken from temple in Jerusalem praising their gods (2-4) 4. Fingers appear writing on wall causing king to fear (5-6) 5. Kings wise men can’t interpret causing increased fear with a promise of reward (7-9) 6. Queen enters banquet hall; saying what’s your problem. Your father knew Daniel’s characteristics and capabilities; call him for the meaning (10-12) 7. Daniel brought before king; where king declares wise can’t interpret writings, but heard you, from Judah, can solve difficult problems. (13-15) 8. King promises a reward of purple clothes, gold chain and third highest ruler (16) 9. Daniel refuses reward but will read and interpret writing (17)

Castigation declared - Father, Failure, Findings (Daniel 5:18-31) 1. Daniel shares God’s provision for Nebuchadnezzar (18-19) 2. Daniel describes God’s chastisement of Nebuchadnezzar (20-21a) 3. Nebuchadnezzar restored as he acknowledged God’s sovereignty(21b) 4. Belshazzar failed to knowledge God setting yourself up against God did not honor Him. (22-23) 5. Inscription translated: (24-28) a. Mene – number of days of your reign b. Tekel – weighed on scales and found wanting. c. Peres – Kingdom is divided and given to Medes and Persians 6. Belshazzar’s reward to Daniel (29) 7. Belshazzar’s punishment – slain and Darius the Mede took over kingdom (30-31)

God protects – Deception, Den, Declared (Daniel 6) 1. Darius ruling organization outlined (1-2) 2. Daniel’s distinguished qualities cause Darius to plan to set him up over kingdom (3) 3. Administrators/satraps look for charges against Daniel and find none (4-5) 4. Administrators deceptive plot for king to give unalterable written decree regarding prayer only to Mede or Persian god; penalty lion’s den (6-9) 5. Daniel learns of decree and prays 3 times a day for help (10) 6. Daniel found praying and it’s reported to king (11-12) 7. Daniel identified to king as one breaking command (13) 8. King in distress tries to save Daniel (14) 9. King pressured to throw Daniel in lion’s den and give order (15-17) 10. King has restless night gets up, hurries to den where Daniel points to God as savior (18-22) 11. Daniel released and false accusers consumed meeting Lyons (23-24) 12. Daniel’s God declared living God (25-28)

Divisions (Main Blocks of Thought)

Arrogance and Pride judged - Feast, Fingers, Fear	Daniel 5:1-17
Castigation declared - Father, Failure, Findings	Daniel 5:18-31
God protects – Deception, Den, Declared	Daniel 6

Subject Sentence (Summarizes the contents of the Divisions – No more than 10 words)

Belshazzar denigrates and judged; Daniel’s den salvation declares God’s hand

Aim (Main Teaching Point of the Passage)

CTATL prideful arrogance can lead to destruction, while humble submission brings glory to God

Application Questions

Where do you stretch the bounds?  What attitude needs to change?

What truths you’ve experienced that need focus to reflect God in you?

How do you allow God’s hand to bring glory to Him? In what ways would your increased humility point to Jesus?

Principles to Remember           

Pride can lead to destruction

Humility recognizes God’s hand

Joy comes through faithful trust

Characteristic of God

Protection

Theme

Daniel boldly declares “humility before Lord” to Belshazzar and is protected through the Lion’s den, bringing glory to God

 

Daniel 3-4

 Homiletics                                                       Study:        Exile & Return                               

Lesson    04                                                     Passage:    Daniel 3-4

Content (List of Topics or Events)

Faith Victory – Faithful Protected Rejecting False Worship (Daniel 3-4:3) 1.  Nebuchadnezzar builds, sets up and dedicates idol (1-3) 2. Herald proclaims required worship of idol at playing music or penalty of furnace (4-7) 4. Astrologers denounce Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego for failure to worship idol to Nebuchadnezzar (8-12) 5. Furious Nebuchadnezzar summons three to say… if don’t worship, it’s the furnace; can any god rescue? (13-15) 6. Three respond “The God we serve can rescue… we will not worship your idol” (16-18) 7. Furious kings has three tied and thrown in (7x) furnace (19-23) 8. King sees 4 walking in furnace unharmed 4th like son of gods (24-25) 9. King calls for three to come out; they were unharmed (26-27) 10. King praised and ordered no one to disparage God; His kingdom is eternal (3:28-4:3)

Terrifying Vision – Daniel’s Dream Interpretation Requested (Daniel 4:4-18) 1. Nebuchadnezzar has dream that terrifies but wise of Babylon (1-3) 2. Astrologers fail to interpret dream and king calls Daniel to tell and interpret dream (4-8) 3. Daniel is told king’s dream of enormous tree with voice saying cut down the beautiful, plentiful tree and reason for dream (9-12) a. The tree physical characteristics described (13-15a) b. Loss of tree impact to birds, animals, change to animal mind until 7 times (15b-16) c. Decision and verdict to know the Most high who is sovereign over all (17) 4. King’s request to Belteshazzar to interpret dream because spirit of gods is in you (18)

Truth Revealed – Broken King Praises Most High (Daniel 4:19-37) 1. Daniel perplexed and terrified is assured by king “don’t be alarmed” (19) 2. Daniel tells vision; the subject is Nebuchadnezzar… he is tree (20-23) 3. Daniel describes dream’s meaning (24-27) a. Driven away and live with animals eating grass b. Seven times will pass until you acknowledge Most High sovereign. c. Advice renounce sins, do good, and be kind. 4. It happened 12 months later with a voice from heaven (28-33) 5. At the end of time, he raised eyes to heaven, sanity restored and praised Most High (34-35) 6. At this time, sanity, honor and splendor restored being restored to throne while praising King of heaven (36-37)

Divisions (Main Blocks of Thought)

Faith Victory – Faithful Protected Rejecting False Worship	Daniel 3-4:3
Terrifying Vision – Daniel’s Dream Interpretation Requested	Daniel 4:4-18
Truth Revealed – Broken King Praises Most High	Daniel 4:19-37

Subject Sentence (Summarizes the contents of the Divisions – No more than 10 words)

Nebuchadnezzar builds idol, demanding worship broken to worship God Almighty

Aim (Main Teaching Point of the Passage)

CTATL God can use our faithfulness to bring Him glory in even the most difficult situations.

Application Questions

What things draw you away from God? How can you be victorious over those things?

What are you delaying that God wants handled?

How can God be praised for your victories?

Principles to Remember           

Faith is the Victory

God’s Truth demands Response

Victory is listening to God’s Voice

Characteristic of God

Most High

Theme

Victorious faith is demonstrated as we trust in God. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego did it, Daniel shared it, Nebuchadnezzar learned it.

Daniel 1-2

 Homiletics                                                       Study:        Exile & Return                               

Lesson    03                                                     Passage:    Daniel 1-2

Content (List of Topics or Events)

Daniel’s Holy Stand and Service (Daniel 1) 1.  Lord delivers Jehoiakim to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon (1,2) 2. Ashpenaz order to place into service royal Israelites and train for 3 years with kings’ food (3-5) 4. Chosen were Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego given new names (6-7) 5. Daniel resolved not to defile with royal food, approaching guard asked to eat vegetables (8-10) 6. The ten-day food test and result – healthier and better nourish than others (11-16) 7. God blessed these 4 with knowledge and understanding of literature and learning. Daniel could understand visions and dreams (17) 8. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Aariah were the best in kings service (18-21)

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream Challenge (Daniel 2:1-16) 1. Nebuchadnezzar troubling dream brings summons astrologers for meaning (1-3) 2. Astrologers ask king to tell them dream to interpret with king’s response to tell the dream and meaning; request made twice (4-8) 3. Astrologers tell king no one can reveal dream but gods (10-11) 4. King in anger orders execution of wise men with men look for Daniel and friends (12-13) 5.  Arioch located Daniel and Daniel asks why the death order (14-15) 6. Daniel goes to king requesting time to interpret dream (16)

Daniel God’s Messenger Interprets Dream (Daniel 2:17-49) 1. Daniel asks friends to join in prayer for mercy concerning mystery (17) 2. During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in vision with Daniel’s praise response (18-23) 3. Daniel approaches king to answer the dream giving create to God for revealing the dream (24-30) 4. Daniel first tells the dream (31-38a) 5. Daniel interprets the dream (38b-45) 6. Nebuchadnezzar falls prostrate before Daniel recognizing God revealed the mystery (46-47) 7. Daniel placed in high position over Babylon and in charge of wise men with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego administrators (48-49)

Divisions (Main Blocks of Thought)

Daniel’s Holy Stand	Daniel 1
Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream Challenge	Daniel 2:1-16
Daniel God’s Messenger Interprets Dream	Daniel 2:17-49

Subject Sentence (Summarizes the contents of the Divisions – No more than 10 words)

Daniel faithfulness visibly rewarded trusting God for king’s dream revelation

Aim (Main Teaching Point of the Passage)

CTATL God can used our faithfulness to bring Him glory in even the most difficult situations.

Application Questions

What thoughts and attitudes aren’t where they should be and need to be taken to God for cleansing?

Where can God bring new life to your relationship with Him?

What unsettling things do you have where unity and peace need to occur? God can bring peace.

Principles to Remember           

Truehearted faithfulness is our reward

Wisdom comes from God

Our faithfulness brings glory to God

Characteristic of God

Source of knowledge

Theme

Daniel faithfulness used to interpret kings dream bringing glory to God.

 

Ezekiel 36:16-37:28

 Homiletics                                                       Study:        Exile & Return                               

Lesson    02                                                     Passage:    Ezekiel 36:16-37:28

Content (List of Topics or Events)

Going Back (Ezekiel 36:16-38) 1.  Israel’ unclean conduct (16-18) 2. Israel dispersed and scattered judged according to conduct (19) 3. Israel profaned God’s holy name; God’s concern (20-21) 4. God will show holiness; in the great name Israel has profaned (22-23) 5. God will bring Israel back to your land a. Cleanse clean from idols (25) b. Give new heart of flesh and spirit to follow decrees and laws (26-27) c. Live in land of ancestors and be your God (28) d. Bring plenty and no longer be disgraced (29-30) e. You’ll remember your evil and wick deeds; be ashamed (31-32) 6. God will cleanse and resettle in your towns and they will be rebuilt; gardens and people plentiful… Know I am the Lord (33-38)

Life to Dead Bones (Ezekiel 37:1-14) 1. Ezekial brought by Lord to valley of dry bones with question… Can these bones live? Responding; Lord you alone know (1-3) 2. Lord tells Ezekial to prophesy to bones (4) a. Make breath enter you and come to life (5) b. Attach tendons and cover with skin cover you; breath and come to life (6a,b) c. You will know that I am Lord (6c) 3. Ezekial prophesied as commanded and bones came together, tendons, skin but no breath (7,8) 4. Lord instructed Prophesy come 4 winds into the slain to live; and they stood up a vast army (9,10) 5. Bones are Israel… tell them that God will put His Spirit in them and they will know that the Lord has spoken, and did it (11-14) “This is what the Sovereign Lord says”

One People; One God (Ezekiel 37:15-28) 1. Sticks of Wood with names Judah and Joseph written joined as one (15-17) 2. Telling the meaning “two as one in God’s hand” (18-20) 3. Hold sicks before there eyes saying “this is what the sovereign Lord says” a. I (God) will bring them back to their own land (21) b. Make one nation with one king over them all; never again 2 nations (22) c. No longer defile with idols and vile images or other offenses; save from backsliding and cleanse them; God’s people and their God (23) 4. David will be king and prince forever (24-25) 5. God will make covenant of peace and everlasting covenant and dwell with them forever (26-28)

Divisions (Main Blocks of Thought)

Going Back	Ezekiel 36:16-38
Life to Dead Bones	Ezekiel 37:1-14
One People; One God	Ezekiel 37:15-28

Subject Sentence (Summarizes the contents of the Divisions – No more than 10 words)

Ezekiel instructed in drybone prophesy bringing Israel life and unity

Aim (Main Teaching Point of the Passage)

CTATL God brings life, breath and cleansing to a sinful nation bringing holiness that reflects the Lord; He is our sanctuary for ever.

Application Questions

What thoughts and attitudes aren’t where they should be and need to be taken to God for cleansing?

Where can God bring new life to your relationship with Him?

What unsettling things do you have where unity and peace need to occur? God can bring peace.

Principles to Remember           

God our cleansing Lord

Spirit brings life

Everlasting covenant of peace is unity found with God

Characteristic of God

Sovereign Lord

Theme

Ezekiel directed to prophesy bringing life, unity and an everlasting “clean” relationship with Him

Ezekiel 1-2

Homiletics                                                       Study:        Exile & Return                               

Lesson    01                                                     Passage:    Ezekiel 1 & 2

Content (List of Topics or Events)

Word of God Comes (Ezekiel 1:1-4) 1.  Time & Place – 30th year, 4th month and 5th day by Kebar River – heavens opened and visions of God (1) 2. On 5th month and 5th year of exile of King Jehoiachin in Babylonia – hand of Lord was on him (2-3) 3. Ezekiel sees a windstorm from north a. Cloud with flashing lightning (4a) b. A brilliant light surrounds cloud (4b) c. Center of fire looked like glowing metal (4c)

Living Creature and Wheels (Ezekiel 1:5-21) 1. Living creatures body described (5-9) a. Form of human with four faces and four wings (5-6) b. Legs were straight, feet like calf and gleamed like burnished bronze (7) c. Wings on four sides had human hands and touched each other (8-9a) d. Moved straight ahead and didn’t turn as they moved (9b) 2. Human face, right-side-Lion, left-side -ox, eagle) (10-11) 3. Appearance (burning coals) and movement (straight as spirit moved) lightning-like movement (12-14) 4. Intersecting wheels beside creatures like topaz, high awesome rims with eyes all around them (15-18) 5. Creatures and wheels moved in unison as spirit led (19-21)

Voice of the Lord (Ezekiel 1:22-2:10) 1. Crystal vault above creatures (22) 2. Sound of wings like rushing water like voice of Almighty (23-24) 3. Voice coming from vault from a figure like a man who look like fire with brilliant light surrounding Him like rainbow 25-27) 4. Appearance like glory of Lord; seeing Him Ezekiel falls face down (28) 5. Lord says to Ezekiel standup; Spirit raise him (2:1-2) 6. Ezekiel sent as prophet to stubborn Israelites to say “This is what the sovereign Lords says” (2:3-4) a. Whether the listen or not they will know a prophet has spoken (2:5) b. “Son of Man” do not be afraid of them or their words (2:6) 7. Speak God’s words and don’t rebel… open mouth; eat what God’s given words of lament, mourning and woe (2:7-10)

Divisions (Main Blocks of Thought)

Word of God Comes	Ezekiel 1:1-4
Living Creature and Wheels	Ezekiel 1:5-21
Respond to the Words - Come to Jesus	Ezekiel 1:22-2:10

Subject Sentence (Summarizes the contents of the Divisions – No more than 10 words)

Exiled Ezekiel experiences angelic majesty with God’s instructions for Israelites.

Aim (Main Teaching Point of the Passage)

CTATL God cares for even stubborn and obstinate providing a voice to bring them back to Him. His word must be faithfully shared without fear.

Application Questions

In what ways are you being made aware of God’s presence in your circumstance?

How do you recognize our awesome God?

How do you commit to consuming God’s Word and making it part of yourself?

Principles to Remember           

God cares for us in judgment

Spirit leads to action

Voice of Lord is in God’s Word

Characteristic of God

Caring Father

Theme

God comes to Ezekiel with indescribable care with words for His stubborn and obstinate people.