Read Dan 1:1-7. The opening verse sets the stage for Nebuchadnezzar’s conquest of Jerusalem (v. 1). But what comes next is a bit of a shocker: “And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand . . .” (v. 2). Why would Daniel ascribe ultimate responsibility for the capture of Jerusalem to the Lord? What does this teach us about Daniel’s view of God? And what does this imply about human agency?

In his sermon, Robb talked about displaced authority & displaced identity. How do you see these elements at play in these verses? How do you see these elements at play in our present era?

Read Dan 1:8-16. Verse 9 tells us that God gave Daniel “favor and compassion.” How does the Lord’s favor and compassion manifest itself in Daniel’s life in these verses? What concrete evidence could we point to? Where else do we witness God’s ‘giving’ in Dan 1? What do we learn from these instances about God’s relationship to exiles?

Read Dan 1:17-21. This first chapter climaxes when King Nebuchadnezzar tests Daniel and his three friends in their learning. And the text isn’t bashful about telling us they pass the test with flying colors; in fact, it says they were “ten times better” than anyone else. Why, though, do you think this point is emphasized?

Verse 21 looks, at first glance, to be an incidental historical detail tacked onto the end of the story: “And Daniel was there [in the court of the King of Babylon] until the first year of King Cyrus.” Who is King Cyrus? And why do you think this is mentioned? What does it say about Daniel? What does it say about God?

• Some questions adapted from Daniel (Knowing the Bible). Crossway. By Todd Wilson