1. Who wrote this chapter of Daniel?
2. In Verse 4, the king said he was contented and prosperous. When things are going well in your own life, does this make you more or less vulnerable to various problems?
3. Thinking of yourself as a tree, have you ever been cut down to size? What were the circumstances? Do you think that God was involved? How did you feel afterward?
4. In Verse 19, Daniel is dismayed that he must give the king the bad news in his dream. If you had to give bad news to a tyrant with great power, would you do it with discretion or with valor? What other prophet had to give a pointed message to a powerful king? (2 Samuel 12:7-9)
5. What was the primary message of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream? (Proverbs 16:18-19)
6. Thinking about giving (or receiving) bad news, do you prefer bad news first, good news last or the other way around? Why?
7. Have you ever delayed discussing something painful? Did you regret it later? What were the results? How did you feel?
8. After Daniel explains Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, he tactfully offers the king some advice in Verse 27. Does this suggest that God’s plans may not be set in concrete and may be partially contingent upon our actions?
9. Why do you suppose that God allowed a year to pass before fulfilling the dream?
10. After seven years, Nebuchadnezzar’s sanity is restored and he testifies about the Supreme God. How does this testimony strike you: (a) sincerely penitent, (b) coaxed or coached by Daniel, (c) sanely rational, (d) miraculous turnabout?
11. How have you shown courage in declaring God’s word to others, both the good and the bad news? Which do you shy away from? Why?
12. If someone were to give you advice as Daniel did to Nebuchadnezzar in Verse 27, what would it be?
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