Book of Daniel Pride

Come on, you knew that with so many lions running around this had to be theme, right? What's that? It's pride as in the emotion? Yeah… we knew that. It still works well here; pride is a theme that is closely tied into the power theme. Because what do kings take pride in? Their power. But ultimately, Daniel seems to be saying that, if you take pride in your power, you're going to lose it. Yet, if you're humble—like Daniel and Shadrach—and give everything up to a higher power, you're ultimately going to get promoted and can survive any catastrophe. You'll keep moving along. But pride sets up the various kings who have it for a nasty fall: "Pride comes before the fall," as the old saying goes.

Questions About Pride

1. Why won't Nebuchadnezzar tell his wise men and enchanters what his dream is, so they can interpret it? How does pride affect his way of seeing the world, and the things that he demands from people?
2. What is the antidote for pride? How do you get over it, and will the cure always work?
3. Why isn't Nebuchadnezzar able to permanently lose his pride after Daniel interprets his statue dream or after the conclusion of the "fiery furnace" debacle?
4. How is Antiochus IV Epiphanes' pride different from or more dangerous than that of the other kings (if it is different)? Could Antiochus IV Epiphanes lose his pride after a "seven years in the wilderness as an animal" experience?