Welcome back! If you’re new to this Bible Study, check out the first one here.
To kick off this week’s study with the students, we started off by writing a story together. We went around the circle each saying one word to create one big story (*Tip: have a scribe so that you can read the story again at the end and have the kids act out the story!).
While this activity is fun and easy to participate in, it gives a hint of both of our overall topics today – character and the concept of an editor.
Thanks so much to our wonderful volunteer and friend, Dan, for putting this lesson together!
We’re finishing the rest of chapter one of Daniel today; see the scripture below:
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. Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel, but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.”
Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.
At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.
To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.
At the end of the time set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom. And Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.
Daniel 1:8-21, New International Version
- How did Daniel know that the royal food was something he and his friends should avoid?
- Why do you think God had rules for what they could and couldn’t eat? Here are a few examples we came up with: health and safety standards of non-kosher items in this time, making them stand out, testing them
- How can you get to know what you should avoid and what provides nourishment in your life?
- How did Daniel negotiate with the guard in charge of him?
- What can you learn from Daniel about how better to communicate with those in charge?
- What character qualities were Daniel and his friends known for?
- What character qualities do you hope to be known for?
An editor is someone a writer trusts with a work in progress and values the editor’s suggestions for changes to that work. An editor helps get the very best out of a writer.
- What would you look for in an editor for your life, to bring out the very best in you?
- What are good qualities for a relationship between a writer and editor to have? – trust, vulnerability, honesty, openness
- What are a few examples of people who could be an editor in your life? – your parents, friends, volunteers with the youth program, the Holy Spirit
In this story, we see Daniel and his friends wanting to continue to follow the law that God has given them. Daniel learns the power of asking and trusting that God will show up. He is expectant of God and wants to let Him shine. How can you do the same this week?
Check back next week as we begin chapter two!
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