Please read Chapter 1-7 and Chapter 12 of Daniel. What do you see in the stories that might have helped Ancient Israel provide ethical guidance or emotional fulfillment? What do you see here that show something about how Ancient Israel taught the world "new ways to dream"?
Thursday, February 2, 2012
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You can see Israel had emotional fulfillment from their religoin and to be more specific their God. An example would be the three men in the furnace that lived. Word of this would have spread and increased the faith of the people from Israel. I think some ethical guidance could have came from Daniel trhough God as he would interpret dreams and what he said came true. The people of Israel would have seen this and it could have strengthened their belief. I think Israel taught the world a lot and a "new way to dream". This is seen in Daniel chapter 12. It talks about the end times. In previous kingdoms they didn't talk about and end time and just assumed they would reign forever, but God is telling Israel how their will be an end to their earthly kingdom and all kingdoms at some point. It says there will be an inheritance given in the end. This was a new thought for a nation to think.
ReplyDeleteAlex Droog
Jon Dunnick
ReplyDeleteNebuchadnezzar's full realization of God's power hits home when Shandrach, Meshach, and Abednego come out of the furnace unscathed. After this event, Nebuchadnezzar made a decree that anyone who would speak against God would be cut into pieces and their houses destroyed, because no other God could deliver them from anything like that. This decree that Nebuchadnezzar makes, although it does seem threatening, he lets his people know that no god is powerful enough to save them from things except God himself. This pushes for emoitional fulfillment because if the people hear about Nebuchadnezzar and his beliefs in God, they will be more inclined to believe in Him as well.
As for ethical guidance, when Nebuchadnezzar sees that Daniel has the power to interpret his dreams and his visions, he says, "Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets..." Seeing Daniel able to discern these, it helps open Nebuchadnezzar's eyes to God. When the people of the Neo-Babylonian empire set their king upon a pedestal, and when they see that he has humbled himself before God, it opens the eyes of the people to believe that God truly is powerful. It helps them rest assured and take refuge in their beliefs. If God can save three men from a furnace turned up seven times a as hot, then he could surely save them from any tribulations to come, and this helped people of the Neo-Babylonian times with their emotional fulfillment and ethical guidance.
In the stories Daniel and the Wise men of Babylon praised God and God fulfilled their needs every time. When Daniel ate the vegetables he was healthier than any of the men eating from the royal table, when the wise men did not praise the statue they were saved by God from the fiery furnace, and when Daniel did not follow the law of the Persian Law God saved him. This shows the emotional fulfillment that was given to these men after praising God, their needs and prayers were answered and they continued to worship God. In the story of the Kings dream, the King was shocked that Daniel survived. The King then learned of the true God that he should worship. This shows ethical guidance, because Daniel showed the people and kings that his God is powerful and will save him. From the stories the people learn of the powerful God of whom Daniel is worshiping, and others start to join in and believe him.
ReplyDeleteShelby Dwight
ReplyDeleteFrom the very beginning of the book of David you see points that could provide emotional fulfillment.
For one, Nebuchadnezzar's dream, as interpretted by Daniel, tells of the future and how eventually God will provide the world with a kingdom that will never be conquered. This would provide a sense of safety for the Israelites knowing that one day they or their ancestors will live in a land of no defeat. This is further fortified because the prior statements made about the dream all came true.
Secondly, emotional fulfillment in religion was shown when Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego return from the furnace unharmed and again when Daniel was thrown into the lions' pit. This provides faith in God and also adds to their feeling of safety. God will protect them.
Thirdly, the book of Daniel increases faith in God by showing that unjust rulers shall have consequences or be removed. With this, also, increases faith by stating that you must be humbled and believe that God is the almighty one or you too will be faced with consequences.
The stories of Daniel showed the people of Israel that if you worship God, he will answer to anything you need. In Daniel chapter 2, we are told that God will build a kingdom that will crush all other kingdoms and will stand forever. This can be a very fulfilling message to not only the Ancient Israelites, but also to us today. A new way to dream that was spread through the world was that of simply believing. They showed us that it was ok to completely put your trust into God, and he will always deliver. Something else that showed their way of dreaming, and living, was their way of doing good. Daniel chapter 12 tells us to do good and we shall be made white, but the wicked will do wickedly and won't understand. So those who do good will enter the gates of heaven at the end.
ReplyDeleteThe stories of Daniel give people a new way to dream of what the after life will be. God gives Daniel descriptions of four kingdoms. This gave believers something to look forward to. This was a reason not to be afraid of death. This gave an emotional fulfillment that there was a better life after this one. With the four kingdoms, God shows how heaven is and believers now have something to believe in the afterlife.
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