setting conflict climax resolution

• Setting• Conflict• Climax• Resolution

Parts to a Story

• 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: 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

Daniel: Cliff’s Notes Version

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

• 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

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

Daniel: Cliff’s Notes Version

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

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

1. Daniel knew his true identity.

Lessons from Daniel

dan = judgei = my

el = God

dan-i-el

“God is my judge.”

1. Daniel knew his true identity.2. Daniel recognized God’s sovereignty.

Lessons from Daniel

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

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

“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

1. Daniel knew his true identity.2. Daniel recognized God’s sovereignty.3. Daniel let God rule his actions.

Lessons from Daniel

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

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

God gave [him] learning and skill in all letters and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

Daniel 1:17

God Involved in His Talents

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

“Daring, defiant, disciplined prayer.”

John Piper

God Involved in His Prayers

• 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’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)

Daniel’s Positions of Power

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

1. He didn’t act in ignorance.

Six Things Daniel Showed in Verse 10

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

• “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!”

He could have said…

1. He didn’t act in ignorance.2. He didn’t go to the woods to pray, he went to his

house.

Six Things Daniel Showed in Verse 10

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

1. He didn’t act in ignorance.2. He didn’t go to the woods to pray, he went to his

house.3. He didn’t go to the secret inner chamber of his house.

Six Things Daniel Showed in Verse 10

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

1. He didn’t act in ignorance.2. He didn’t go to the woods to pray, he went to his

house.3. He didn’t go to the secret inner chamber of his house.4. He didn’t pray only once, early in the morning, when

nobody’s looking.

Six Things Daniel Showed in Verse 10

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

1. He didn’t act in ignorance.2. He didn’t go to the woods to pray, he went to his

house.3. He didn’t go to the secret inner chamber of his house.4. He didn’t pray only once, early in the morning, when

nobody’s looking.5. He didn’t use words that were vague.

Six Things Daniel Showed in Verse 10

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

1. He didn’t act in ignorance.2. He didn’t go to the woods to pray, he went to his house.3. He didn’t go to the secret inner chamber of his house.4. He didn’t pray only once, early in the morning, when

nobody’s looking.5. He didn’t use words that were vague.6. He didn’t change the way he prayed or do anything

different to yield to the pressure of the law Darius made.

Six Things Daniel Showed in Verse 10

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

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

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

“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

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

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

1. On what do you base your identity?2. How much does God influence your life?3. Is God your judge?

Three Questions