1. CAPTIVES IN BABYLON Sun, Apr 5

a. How did Daniel come to be in Babylon? Daniel 1:1–7. b. What resulted from Daniel’s decision with regard to eating from the king’s table? Daniel 1:8–16. “[A] portion having been offered to idols, the food from the king’s table was consecrated to idolatry; and one partaking of it would be regarded as offering homage to the gods of Babylon. In such homage, loyalty to Jehovah forbade Daniel and his companions to join. . . .“Nor dared they risk the enervating effect of luxury and dissipation on physical, mental, and spiritual development.”—Prophets and Kings, pp. 481, 482.“As Daniel and his fellows were brought to the test, they placed themselves fully on the side of righteousness and truth. They did not move capriciously, but intelligently. They decided that as flesh meat had not composed their diet in the past, neither should it come into their diet in the future. And as the use of wine had been prohibited to all those who should engage in the service of God, they determined that they would not partake of it.”—In Heavenly Places, p. 261. c. Describe the experiment and the king’s examination. Daniel 1:17–21.

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2. TRIAL BY FIRE Mon, Apr 6

a. Under threat of death, how were the Hebrews tested in regard to their fidelity to the second commandment? Daniel 3:1–15. “Not all had bowed the knee to the idolatrous symbol of human power. In the midst of the worshipping multitude there were three men who were firmly resolved not thus to dishonor the God of heaven. Their God was King of kings and Lord of lords; they would bow to none other.”—Prophets and Kings, p. 506. b. How were they able to maintain their faith and obedience? Daniel 3:16–18; Isaiah 43:1, 2. “In vain were the king’s threats. He could not turn the men from their allegiance to the Ruler of the universe. From the history of their fathers they had learned that disobedience to God results in dishonor, disaster, and death; and that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, the foundation of all true prosperity. Calmly facing the furnace, they said, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so [if this is your decision], our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.’ Their faith strengthened as they declared that God would be glorified by delivering them, and with triumphant assurance born of implicit trust in God, they added, ‘But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.’ ”—Ibid., pp. 507, 508. c. How was God glorified in their deliverance? Daniel 3:19, 20, 24–28. “From his royal seat the king looked on, expecting to see the men who had defied him utterly destroyed. But his feelings of triumph suddenly changed. . . . In the form of the fourth in the midst of the fire the king recognized the Son of God. . . .“And now, his own greatness and dignity forgotten, Nebuchadnezzar descended from his throne. . . .“Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came forth before the vast multitude, showing themselves unhurt. . . . Forgotten was the great golden image, set up with such pomp. In the presence of the living God, men feared and trembled.—Ibid., pp. 509, 510.

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3. PRIDE AND HUMILITY Tue, Apr 7

a. How did God speak to Nebuchadnezzar the king? Daniel 4:4–7. “It is not surprising that the successful monarch, so ambitious and so proud-spirited, should be tempted to turn aside from the path of humility, which alone leads to true greatness. . . . In mercy God gave the king another dream, to warn him of his peril and of the snare that had been laid for his ruin.”—Prophets and Kings, p. 515. b. When Daniel was finally called to interpret the dream, what was his advice to the king? Daniel 4:20–27. “To Daniel the meaning of the dream was plain, and its significance startled him. . . . The prophet realized that upon him God had laid the solemn duty of revealing to Nebuchadnezzar the judgment that was about to fall upon him because of his pride and arrogance.”—Ibid., p. 517.“Having faithfully interpreted the dream, Daniel urged the proud monarch to repent and turn to God, that by rightdoing he might avert the threatened calamity.”—Ibid., p. 518. c. Compelled to learn by means of a hard and humbling experience, how was the king led to glorify God through Daniel’s ministry? Daniel 4:34–37. “For seven years Nebuchadnezzar was an astonishment to all his subjects; for seven years he was humbled before all the world. Then his reason was restored and, looking up in humility to the God of heaven, he recognized the divine hand in his chastisement. In a public proclamation he acknowledged his guilt and the great mercy of God in his restoration. . . .“The once proud monarch had become a humble child of God; the tyrannical, overbearing ruler, a wise and compassionate king. He who had defied and blasphemed the God of heaven, now acknowledged the power of the Most High and earnestly sought to promote the fear of Jehovah and the happiness of his subjects. . . .“God’s purpose that the greatest kingdom in the world should show forth His praise was now fulfilled. This public proclamation, in which Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged the mercy and goodness and authority of God, was the last act of his life recorded in sacred history.”—Ibid., pp. 520, 521.

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4. THE WRITING ON THE WALL Wed, Apr 8

a. What dramatic event abruptly halted Belshazzar, descendent of Nebuchadnezzar, in his blasphemous defiance of the God of heaven? Daniel 5:1–6. “Admitted in his youth to a share in kingly authority, Belshazzar gloried in his power and lifted up his heart against the God of heaven. Many had been his opportunities to know the divine will and to understand his responsibility of rendering obedience thereto. He had known of his grandfather’s banishment, by the decree of God, from the society of men; and he was familiar with Nebuchadnezzar’s conversion and miraculous restoration. But Belshazzar allowed the love of pleasure and self-glorification to efface the lessons that he should never have forgotten.”—Prophets and Kings, pp. 522, 523. b. How was Daniel brought once again to deliver God’s message to a heathen king? Daniel 5:8–16. “The prophet first reminded Belshazzar of matters with which he was familiar, but which had not taught him the lesson of humility that might have saved him. He spoke of Nebuchadnezzar’s sin and fall, and of the Lord’s dealings with him—the dominion and glory bestowed upon him, the divine judgment for his pride, and his subsequent acknowledgment of the power and mercy of the God of Israel; and then in bold and emphatic words he rebuked Belshazzar for his great wickedness.”— Ibid., p. 529. c. How was Daniel’s interpretation fulfilled that night? Daniel 5:17, 25–31. “While still in the festal hall, surrounded by those whose doom has been sealed, the king is informed by a messenger that ‘his city is taken’ by the enemy against whose devices he had felt so secure. . . . Even while he and his nobles were drinking from the sacred vessels of Jehovah, and praising their gods of silver and of gold, the Medes and the Persians, having turned the Euphrates out of its channel, were marching into the heart of the unguarded city. The army of Cyrus now stood under the walls of the palace; the city was filled with the soldiers of the enemy, ‘as with caterpillars’ (verse 14); and their triumphant shouts could be heard above the despairing cries of the astonished revelers.”—Ibid., p. 531.

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5. IN THE LIONS’ DEN Thu, Apr 9

a. Why did Daniel’s fidelity to God result in persecution? Daniel 6:1–5. “The honors bestowed upon Daniel excited the jealousy of the leading men of the kingdom, and they sought for occasion of complaint against him. . . .“Daniel’s blameless conduct excited still further the jealousy of his enemies. . . .“Thereupon the presidents and princes, counseling together, devised a scheme whereby they hoped to accomplish the prophet’s destruction.”—Prophets and Kings, pp. 539, 540. b. What happened because of Daniel’s refusal to waver? Daniel 6:11–17. “Although he knew full well the consequences of his fidelity to God, his spirit faltered not. Before those who were plotting his ruin, he would not allow it even to appear that his connection with Heaven was severed. In all cases where the king had a right to command, Daniel would obey; but neither the king nor his decree could make him swerve from allegiance to the King of kings.”—Ibid., p. 542. c. How was God glorified yet again through His servant? Daniel 6:19–23, 27. “God did not prevent Daniel’s enemies from casting him into the lions’ den; He permitted evil angels and wicked men thus far to accomplish their purpose; but it was that He might make the deliverance of His servant more marked, and the defeat of the enemies of truth and righteousness more complete. ‘Surely the wrath of man shall praise Thee’ (Psalm 76:10), the psalmist has testified. Through the courage of this one man who chose to follow right rather than policy, Satan was to be defeated, and the name of God was to be exalted and honored.”—Ibid., pp. 543, 544.

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS Fri, Apr 10

1. How can we model the wise choices of the four Hebrews today? 2. How might going through trials make us stronger and open the door for a testimony to the world? 3. What lessons did King Nebuchadnezzar learn which led to his conversion? 4. What can leaders of today learn from Belshazzar’s last night in Babylon? 5. How can the story of Daniel encourage God’s people facing persecution?