Daniel

DANIEL

Scripture references:
The Book of Daniel;
Ezekiel 14:14, 20; 28:3;
Matthew 24; 25; Mark 13:14

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DANIEL’S ROLE IN SCRIPTURE

Daniel is perhaps best known to Bible students for the prophecies that compose the last half of the Book of Daniel. Fulfilled prophecies in this section outline the history of the East until the appearance of Jesus, and one stunning prophecy even relates Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Daniel’s prophecies concerning events associated with history’s end are yet to be fulfilled (Matt. 24 and Mark 13).

Boys and girls in Sunday School are more familiar with Daniel the man whose adventures, such as being thrown in the lion’s den, have captured children’s imaginations for centuries. As a young teen, Daniel and three Jewish friends were taken from Judah to Babylon and enrolled in the school where future administrators of the Babylonian empire were trained. Daniel and his friends remained faithful to God’s law while in Babylon and excelled in their studies. After Daniel successfully interpreted King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, Daniel became an influential advisor and administrator in his kingdom. Daniel also was influential when the Medo-Persians supplanted the Babylonians as rulers of the vast eastern empire.

Throughout his long life, Daniel remained totally committed to God despite serving a secular state. He was mentioned by Ezekiel, a contemporary, as one of three men noted for their righteousness (Ezek. 14:14, 20), an unusual accolade for a still-living person. In a sarcastic remark addressed to the king of Tyre (Ezek. 28:3), Ezekiel also held up Daniel as the premier example of a truly wise man.

EXPLORING DANIEL’S RELATIONSHIPS

Daniel’s relationship with pagan rulers (Dan. 1–6). Daniel served three different rulers of what was initially the Babylonian Empire.

Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar (Dan. 1; 2; 4). Nebuchadnezzar’s first recorded exposure to Daniel was when Daniel and his friends graduated from the king’s school. Graduation involved an interview with the great ruler himself, and Nebuchadnezzar found Daniel and his friends “ten times better” (Dan 1:10) than not only the other graduates but also his official advisers.

In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had a troubling dream. When he awoke, he had forgotten it. The king demanded that his wise men tell him both the dream and its meaning. When none could, the king determined to put all of his advisors to death. When Daniel heard of the king’s decree, he prayed and God revealed the dream and its meaning. Daniel gave full credit to the Lord, and Nebuchadnezzar was deeply impressed, affirming that “your God is the God of gods” (Dan. 2:47). Nebuchadnezzar then “promoted Daniel and gave him great gifts. He made Daniel ruler of the whole province of Babylon and chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon” (2:48).

Some time later Daniel interpreted another dream that warned Nebuchadnezzar against arrogantly giving himself credit for what God had done in exalting him. Nebuchadnezzar ignored the warning and God drove the ruler mad. For a time, he lived as a wild beast eating grass. When Nebuchadnezzar recovered he “blessed and honored the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever” (Dan. 4:34). Many see this response of Nebuchadnezzar as evidence of a true conversion to the Lord—a conversion in which Daniel’s faithful witness played the critical part.

Daniel and Belshazzar (Dan. 5). After Nebuchadnezzar’s death, Daniel’s influenced waned. Belshazzar was regent in Babylon under his father Nabonidus when Medo-Persian forces attacked the city of Babylon. When writing miraculously appeared on a wall during a banquet, Belshazzar was urged to send for Daniel to interpret it. Daniel did interpret it, though it was a message of doom. That night the city fell to the invaders, who diverted a river that flowed through Babylon and entered it through the riverbed.

Daniel and Darius (Dan. 6). Cyrus the Great conquered Babylon, but the Bible identifies a man named Darius subsequently governing the empire from Babylon city.

Darius reorganized the administration of the empire into 120 districts and set Daniel over these high officials. The honest Daniel frustrated the governors, who traditionally relied on graft to enrich themselves, and they set out to rid themselves of Daniel. Through a clever trap they maneuvered Darius into ordering Daniel thrown in a den of lions. The deep concern Darius obviously felt for Daniel indicated how close Daniel had become to the ruler. When God delivered Daniel, Darius ordered all those who had plotted against Daniel to be thrown to the lions.

What is significant about these stories is that we see in Daniel a person of great integrity and faith whose utter honesty and loyalty won him the respect and affection of powerful pagan rulers. Daniel modeled one who lived his faith in the political arena.

Daniel’s relationship with God.Daniel’s story clearly reflects a lifelong and total commitment to the Lord.

Daniel in the king’s school (Dan. 1). Daniel and his friends were Jews and thus subject to the Old Testament dietary laws. Daniel refused to eat the nonkosher diet served in the school, and respectfully requested the privilege of eating only that which was lawful. His commitment to God while still a young teen set the course of the next eighty or so years of Daniel’s life.

Daniel and the king’s dream (Dan. 2). When Daniel heard that all the kings’ advisors were to be executed, he asked Nebuchadnezzar for time. Daniel returned to his three Jewish friends, and they went to prayer. When the secret was revealed, the first thing Daniel did was to praise God. Only then did he go to the king.

Daniel’s confidence that God could do the humanly impossible, Daniel’s reliance on prayer, and his emphasis on praise tell us much about the man. They also help us understand how Daniel could have functioned so effectively in a pagan environment.

When Daniel revealed the answer to the king, he made sure that God received all the credit. This true humility was part of the secret of Daniel’s success.

Daniel’s concern for Nebuchadnezzar (Dan. 4). When Daniel interpreted the dream that warned Nebuchadnezzar against his pride, Daniel was deeply concerned. Daniel’s expression and his words showed that he cared about Nebuchadnezzar as a person (Dan. 4:19). Daniel also showed his concern by taking the risk of giving unsolicited advice to the king, something most rulers did not welcome (Dan. 4:27). Nebuchadnezzar accepted this from Daniel, for he knew that Daniel was not trying to manipulate him for personal gain but did truly care about him.

How important to care about people who have the power to benefit us—not because of what we can get from them, but because the Lord loves them.

Daniel’s faithfulness in prayer (Dan. 6).Daniel made it a practice to pray three times daily with his window open facing Jerusalem. As his religion was the only possible “flaw” his enemies could find, they tricked Darius into promulgating a decree that no one could make a request to any god or man other than Darius for 30 days. The decree did not deter Daniel. Daniel continued his practice of daily, faithful prayer. He was rightly convinced that God could and would deliver him, and was unwilling to abandon time with the Lord for even a few days.

Daniel’s prayers and prophecies (Dan. 9; 10). These chapters show a close link between prayer and prophecy. They make it clear that Daniel, intent on understanding Scripture, dedicated himself to “make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes” (9:3). The most striking of Daniel’s prophecies were revealed as responses to the prophet’s commitment to prayer. Daniel’s prayer recorded in 9:4–19 is one of the most beautiful and powerful in the Bible.

DANIEL: AN EXAMPLE FOR TODAY

Daniel was an exceptional individual. Throughout his life, he was a powerful and influential individual, unusually close to mighty rulers. Yet Daniel remained a humble believer whose honesty and integrity were unalloyed with greed or a lust for personal power. The intensity of Daniel’s relationship with the Lord enabled him to live uncorrupted at the very center of worldly power.

Daniel was a man with essential lessons to teach us.

•     Daniel teaches us to put God first, both privately and publicly. Daniel’s commitment to the Lord and to nurturing a healthy relationship with Him was indispensable to the role he played in the government of world empires.

•     Daniel reminds us to view every person as an individual, however exalted a position he or she might have. Much of Daniel’s influence resulted from the fact that mighty rulers were aware that Daniel cared about them rather than what they could do for him.

•     Daniel inspires us to remain faithful to the Lord whatever the difficulty. If our relationship with God is the only basis on which others can attack us, let them do so. But we are to remain faithful to the Lord in deed and in word.

•     Daniel encourages us to be involved in government. True believers can have a role in politics without compromising their convictions. Such a person may impact an entire nation as well as influence many who need to know the Lord.

•     Daniel encourages us to give prayer a central role in our lives. Daniel did not pray only in emergencies. Daniel prayed daily. Daniel not only brought his requests to the Lord; Daniel brought praise. When we see the impact Daniel had on those of his own time, we can hardly discount the role of prayer in his life or in ours.

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