THIS WEEK’S study in the book of Daniel gives us a window into the polytheistic world of ancient Mesopotamia.
Nebuchadnezzar, the Chaldean king of Babylon, had personal encounters with Yahweh, the God of Israel. He witnessed the power of God as He saved Shadrach, Meshech, and Abednego from the fiery furnace. We explain why the giant golden statue was probably an image of Marduk, the chief god of Babylon, and how an archaeologist 150 years ago found what may have been the platform on which the statue stood.
We also note that chapter 4 of Daniel is the only place in the Bible where we find Watchers, angelic beings who carried out the will of God (or rebelled, as in Genesis 6:1-4). This is biblical confirmation that the Watchers were familiar to the pagans of Mesopotamia.
We also discuss the archaeological evidence for the madness of Nebuchadnezzar — a text in the British Museum called BM 34113, translated in 1975, that appears to refer to the king’s illness, and the lack of any records of his acts or decrees for the seven years between 582 and 575 B.C.
See:
The latest installment of Sharon’s Redwing Saga, King’s Gambit, is available now in paperback and Kindle! Visit Sharon’s author page at Amazon.com for more.
Click here for the complete archive of our New Testament Bible studies to date, click here for the Old Testament studies to date, and click here for our studies of the Book of 1 Enoch to date. Or go to www.spreaker.com/show/gilbert-house-fellowship for all of the audio.
Is the fire that Shadrach, Abednego, Mischach (sorry about misspellings) a Fire that was like the ones that the people sacrificed their children in to the god Molech ? Found it interesting that the children of God would be thrown into the fire. Thanks for your teachings. This was my first listen and I learned a lot.
Fascinating. I have always loved the book of Daniel and this in depth teaching is awesome. Thank you.