General Questions:
1. When did Daniel live?
2. Why was this book written?
3. Find out information concerning Jehoiakim (see II Kings 24:1-6; II Chron. 36:5-8).
4. Find out information on Nebuchadnezzar (Scripture, Bible Dictionary, etc.)
5. Where is the land of Shinar (vs. 2)? What might be its significance here (see Gen. 11:4)?
6. What might be the purpose of Nebuchadnezzar in bringing temple vessels into the house of his god?
7. What was the purpose of Nebuchadnezzar in bringing the youth to be trained by the king? Was he being kind and generous in providing what he did? How does this fit with a passage as Proverbs 12:10?
8. Why the change of names in verse 7? What do you make of the meaning of those names?
9. What was Daniel’s concern in verse 8? How could he defile himself? Was there any Scriptural basis for his concern?
10. How might Babylon’s rulers be attempting to destroy the “ancient landmarks?”
11. How would you account for what happens in verse 9?
12. How might Daniel be in greater danger in the King’s dining room than in the lions’ den?
13. How does this event serve to prepare Daniel later in the lions’ den?
14. How does Daniel approach the matter of changing diet? What might we learn from this?
15. What is “pulse” in verse 12?
16. How did God provide for Daniel and his friends? Do you think there were others who did not go along with what Daniel and his friends did? Should not there have been others who agreed with Daniel?
17. Is verse 20 an exaggeration (ten times more wisdom than the others)?
18. What is the significance of the reference to Cyrus in verse 21?
Principles and texts:
1. What similarity might there be between Daniel’s position and ours today?
2. Why are we not now limited in what we may eat?
3. Does not Daniel make too much of small matters (food)?
4. What does faith have to do with eating and drinking?
5. Are there now also things which are “out-of-bounds” for the Christian? Explain.
6. Find Scriptural references which express what is “out-of-bounds.” (see James 1:27; I Cor. 10:31)
7. Does God still today reward faithful Christians by making them much wiser than the wicked? Explain and prove.
8. How does this passage portray the great warfare of the ages.
Personal applications:
1. Can you give instances in your life where personal sacrifices were required to maintain Scriptural principles?
2. How have others about you known of your commitment to Christ and His Word?
3. Would your faith be strong enough to do as Daniel did?
4. Does the world still try to gain our youth first of all? If so, how?
5. How does the world now seek to gain your youth? What ought the Christian to do about this?
6. Do we have changed names as Christians? Explain. (It might be interesting also to discuss the practice of “name changing” as that has been done in the churches in Singapore.)
The above is presented not to stifle discussion but to direct it; not to prevent questions which might arise, but to generate additional questions. With that in mind, study also commentaries, Bible dictionaries and encyclopedias for answers.