Daniel

A Brief Introduction 

Global Message for Today 

Daniel’s being taken captive to Babylon illustrates the mystery and divine wisdom of providence. The captivity was the consequence of and chastisement for the nation’s sin. It is clear from Daniel’s character that he was not guilty of the sins that precipitated the judgment, but he was nonetheless affected by it. God made the event that was judgment for the nation to be a means of testing, purifying, and using Daniel for His glory. What Daniel did in service to the Lord could not have been done if he had remained back in Judah. It had to have been a traumatic experience for the young teen to be snatched from home and taken to a strange and foreign land, but God used the trauma for ultimate good. This should be a lesson in trusting the providence of God that sometimes leads to difficult and uncertain situations. But, His way and purpose is always best. It often takes the hard providences to bring us to the place of our best opportunities to be used by God for His glory and our good. 

The stand taken by Daniel and his companions regarding their diet is a powerful example to young people. They were teenagers in a strange place. For teenage boys to refuse a hearty meal for a plate of vegetables was most remarkable. No one there would have suspected that their eating the king’s provision would have been a compromise of their convictions. They were in a place far from home where it would have been easy just to do what everybody else was doing. But God’s law was written on their hearts, and they obeyed the Lord in the face of the pressure to conform. They were firm in their convictions but not obnoxious in their stand. First Timothy 4:12 sums up Daniel’s life as it should every Christian young person.  

The response of Daniel and his friends to the king’s threat provides a lesson in the importance and power of prayer. Seemingly without panic or a second thought, they immediately took the matter to the Lord casting their cares and concerns upon Him. It was a crisis prayer, and God answered them according to their need. Upon receiving the answer, Daniel was careful before doing anything else to return in prayer expressing his praise, thanksgiving, and worship to God who so graciously answered their specific request. This episode should remind us that prayer is never to be a last resort when all else fails but should be the first impulse when faced with any crisis. It also exemplifies the importance of thanksgiving for answered prayer. 

Daniel’s initial conversation with the king is a great example of godly humility. He could have immediately interpreted the dream to Nebuchadnezzar and taken all the credit for himself, posturing for some reward or recognition by the king. But rather, even though the king was pressing for the interpretation and much more delay would put all the wise men in jeopardy, Daniel took the time to give all the credit to God. We should always be more interested in God’s glory than we are in our own. 

It may be profitable to compare Nebuchadnezzar’s dream with Daniel’s vision in ch. 7. They are two revelations with a single message. Chapter 2 is a view of human power from man’s perspective. The four metals suggest value and strength, and an inanimate stone destroyed the statue for no apparent reason. Chapter 7 views the same from God’s perspective. The beasts have no moral conscience and are destroyed for their terrible acts by the Son of man. Together they demonstrate God’s absolute control in the rise and fall of kings. Governments are in His hands, and that is just as true today as it was in Daniel’s day. No matter how uncertain things seem, they are certain in God’s unfailing purpose. 

This familiar story of the fiery furnace, set in a world system that was both ignorant of and hostile to truth, teaches us that we must stand firm and faithful regardless of pressures to compromise. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego illustrate a kind of courage and resolve to stand firm that comes from faith in God and His Word. Knowing that whatever happened in time was God’s will enabled them to face their situation with confidence, resisting the world’s pressure and resting on the Lord. It is that kind of total dependence on God that empowers believers to stand on the promises. Courage alone is not a uniquely spiritual virtue, but when that courage flows from an unwavering conviction of the unchangeable truth of God’s Word and from the personal resolve to take God at His Word, it is the spiritual virtue of walking by faith. 

One way or another, God achieves His glory and His people’s good, but He doesn’t always do it the way we might expect. For Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego that purpose did not mean preventing adversity: they were thrown into the fire. Although it was God’s will to place His servants in the furnace, it was not His will to leave them alone. Their Savior was present with them. Regardless of how horrific the circumstances, God has promised to be the constant company of His people. Whereas the Lord’s presence with His people is a guaranteed promise, physical deliverance from danger is not (Heb. 11:36–38). The Lord’s presence may not be visible as in the case of the three youths, but it is always the reality of faith.  

Although Nebuchadnezzar’s manifestation of pride was unique, his self-absorbed pride is the common malady of all sinners. The unchanging spiritual law is that God “resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5). Nebuchadnezzar stood in need of grace. Without divine intervention to change his heart, the king’s prosperous time would surely lead to a tragic eternity. So it is for every sinner: divine intervention is necessary to change his destiny. 

Conversion is marked by faith toward God and repentance from sin. It is the first conscious response to the grace of God that irresistibly invades the heart, implanting spiritual life and enabling spiritual perception. The story of Nebuchadnezzar’s conversion illustrates Paul’s theological proposition that “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17) and that “there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him” (Rom. 10:12). The Lord graciously gave the Word and governed all the circumstances that led the pagan king to salvation. 

The opening scene stands as a warning against the dangers of drunkenness. The more the wine flowed, the more they abandoned themselves to sensual and irreverent debauchery. All sin is ultimately a direct affront against God. 

The immediacy of Belshazzar’s punishment is a most sobering lesson. A night that started with a party ended in death. When that night began, it is most certain that he had no idea it would be his last. It is a common human thought, even of believers, that death is way in the future, for now something that happens only to others. The Bible is explicit that death comes to all (Heb. 9:27). Only God knows the date, time, and place of that appointment, but notwithstanding our ignorance of those details, it will be an appointment that we will not miss. It is imperative, therefore, to take advantage of the time God has given us and to make sure that we are right with Him through Jesus Christ. 

In his old age as in his youth, Daniel is a model for living a consistently godly life in a hostile world. The temptation to conform to what everyone is doing is as much a temptation for the old as the young. Even at the risk of death, Daniel had the conviction that it was better to obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29). It is not surprising that Ezekiel, for a while Daniel’s contemporary, pointed to Daniel as a model of righteous living (Ezek. 14:14,20). The world today is no less hostile to grace and God as Daniel’s world. Regardless of consequences, we should learn from Daniel to maintain a consistent and God-honoring testimony. Every believer should dare to stand like Daniel. 

Daniel’s response after learning about the prayer injunction provides important lessons about prayer (6:10). Even though the temple in Jerusalem was no longer standing, his praying in that direction symbolically expressed his attitude of worship. His kneeling posture pictured the necessary humility before God. His doing it three times a day as he did aforetime shows that prayer should be a regular habit and not just the last resort in crisis. His praying and giving thanks indicates that prayer involves both petition and praise. 

Daniel’s preview of world history testifies to God’s absolute sovereignty. Kingdoms rise and fall according to His will, and each one accomplishes His purpose. Knowing that God is in control ought to produce comfort, hope, and purity in God’s people, even when it appears that powers hostile to God and His people seem to have the upper hand. God uses the wrath of man to get praise, and all is working without frustration to the ultimate manifestation of His glory and kingdom. 

The link between the little horn’s blaspheming God and his persecution of the saints is not surprising. Remember Christ said that the world would hate us because it hates Him (John 15:18) and that we would have tribulation in this world (John 16:33). The enemy cannot get to the Head so it attacks the body. But Christ has overcome the world (John 16:33). It is far better to share in the ultimate triumph of Christ than to be on the side of the world. Daniel’s vision assures us that saints will reign with Christ (Dan. 7:18). 

The precision with which Daniel’s vision predicts events hundreds of years in the future testifies to the uniqueness of the one true and living God who knows the end from the beginning. Isaiah records God’s challenge to the dead idols to prove they are gods by telling the future (Isa. 40:21–24). They, of course, are silent but the Lord repeatedly gives ample proof of His deity. Seeing how precisely His predictions have been fulfilled should increase our confidence that those prophecies yet to be fulfilled have the same certainty. Without fail, God will fulfill His Word. As Christ said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (Matt. 24:35). It is imperative, therefore, to heed His warnings and be prepared for the judgment ahead. 

Throughout His Word, God commands us to pray, invites us to pray, and shows us how to pray. Daniel’s prayer provides a pattern to follow. As you read through the prayer, note the following: (1) prayer is based on God’s Word; (2) it focuses on God’s person and character; (3) it involves the confession of sin; (4) it makes great supplications; and (5) it makes God’s glory the supreme motive. 

Praying God’s Word is a sure way to pray for God’s will to be done. Jeremiah prophesied that the captivity would last for seventy years, and it would have lasted for seventy years whether Daniel prayed or not. But Daniel’s praying that promise was an expression of his faith in God’s unfailing Word and his appropriation of the promise knowing that the time was at hand. His praying for the Word to be fulfilled corresponds to Christ’s model prayer, “Thy will be done (Matt. 6).” 

Notwithstanding the interpretational difficulties and disagreements regarding the seventy weeks, this prophecy, which was God’s answer to Daniel’s prayer, illustrates a wonderful truth: God is “able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Eph. 3:20). Daniel prayed that God might end the captivity; God answered by pointing him to Christ, who would accomplish far greater things than ending an exile. It is a wonderful thought that God’s purpose for His people is always greater than their expectations.  

The warfare in the spiritual realm is real even though it occurs beyond our natural sight. Although beyond our sight, believers are often in the field of battle. What Job experienced, for instance, was the consequence of the challenge between God and Satan. It is imperative, therefore, that we arm ourselves with the armor and weaponry that God has given to us because we do fight against unworldly foes (Eph. 6:10–18). But victory is assured because the battle is the Lord’s. 

That the prince of Greece followed the prince of Persia (10:20) is a reminder that we can never let down our guard in the spiritual war. Victory in one battle does not cause the next enemy to surrender. Sin does not have dominion over us, but we must resist every temptation that comes our way every time it comes.  

On the surface, it may appear that this prewritten history has little practical or devotional application. Yet, the fact that Daniel writes with such precision about things that would happen hundreds of years after him suggests two important thoughts that should be encouraging to believers. First, it teaches us that God is not just a distant observer or someone reacting to what happens on earth; rather, He is the orchestrator of all. Since He knows the end from the beginning, it is no difficulty for Him to reveal things prior to their occurrence. His will guarantees the fulfillment of His Word. Second, the precision with which some of the prophecies were fulfilled gives confidence that God’s will for what is still to come is just as certain. So even though the world at times would appear to be out of control, all is moving steadily to that time when the great enemy of God and His people will come to his end.  

The classic text on the resurrection (12:2) is occasion to reflect on this vital doctrine. For the believer, the resurrection is a glorious hope that the body will be delivered from sin as well as the soul, and that forever we will enjoy the completeness of our redemption in a body like Christ’s. For the unbeliever, the bodily resurrection is a terrible thought—to be in a body capable of being tormented forever. It is incentive to repent in order to be among the wise that will shine like stars in that day. 

Verse 12 sums up how the Christian is to live in the light of God’s certain revelation. After Daniel sealed up the book, life would go on as normal with people going about and knowledge advancing (v. 4). The passing of time, however, should not dull the spiritual senses. God promises blessing to those who wait and patiently endure the troubles of life in eager anticipation of God’s purpose. In spite of the uncertain meaning of the 1290 days versus the 1,335 days (vv. 11–12), the point, in part, is that sometimes the waiting may be longer than expected. But God is never late in His timing, and the end will come as He has purposed. Christians should always live with a view to the certain future.