Daniel

Readers of the book of Daniel are blessed with a number of major prophecies and an abundance of exhortations. Daniel was a man greatly beloved of God (9:23). He is also the hero of many a Sunday school lesson through his courageous insistence to keep praying in the face of the order of the Persian king, Darius. As God subsequently rescued him from the power of the lions, he has caught the imagination of many a disciple. Beside the account of his experiences in the book of Daniel, he is acclaimed for his wisdom and righteousness by the contemporary prophet Ezekiel (Ezk. 28:3; 14:14,20).

Daniel’s three companions, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah (Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego) display an integrity toward God akin to his own. Although Nebuchadnezzar threatened them with certain death in a fiery furnace, they took a fearless stand and refused to worship the king’s image (3:18).

God rules

The book describes several other major events in Daniel’s life covering the period of 605 to 535 B.C. The prophecies concern the Babylonian era but extend to the kingdom age and beyond (12:1-3). The consistent emphasis of the prophecies is that “the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will” (4:25). History is truly “His story” since God’s influence is ever present.

Chapters 1 through 7 are written in the Chaldean tongue and focus on Jews in a foreign land and the fate of Gentile nations. Chapters 8 through 12 are written in Hebrew and concentrate on events related to the holy land.

Skeptics proven wrong

Over the years, much criticism has been leveled at the book of Daniel. Critics denied that there was such a ruler as Belshazzar. Archaeological evidence has disclosed, however, that king Belshazzar was indeed co-ruler of Babylon. This confirms the validity of Belshazzar’s promise to make Daniel “the third ruler in the kingdom” (5:16).

Daniel displays an exceptional knowledge of Babylonian and Persian customs. For example, Nebuchadnezzar is able to change a Babylonian law that he had previously made (2:13,46) while Darius is not able to do this (6:15). These and additional archaeological discoveries show the historical accuracy of the book.

Critics have also suggested that some of Daniel’s prophecies were written by others hundreds of years after he died. Yet the detailed historical accuracy of his writing demands that his book be written in the 6th century B.C. Other scholars have noted that even the language of Daniel confirms an early date of writing.

Brother Thomas and Daniel

In 1833, when John Thomas was called upon by Mr. Campbell to give his first public address, he chose to explain the prophecy of Daniel 2. It is said that he was astonished to hear afterward that the people were taken by his discourse.

Since that day, many expositions on this prophecy have been published in our literature. In 1869, Bro. Thomas published an exposition of the entire book which is still available (Exposition of Daniel, Christadelphian office). It presents a concise explanation of Daniel’s prophecies.

Lessons for us

The book of Daniel begins by describing Nebuchadnezzar’s taking captives from Jerusalem. The king instructed the master of his eunuchs to take the best of the populace for training in public service: “Children in whom was no blemish, but well favored, and skillful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldean’s ” (1:4). Daniel and his companions were people who met these qualifications.

From a spiritual point of view, these qualifications are ones that should exist in those chosen to serve God now. We are exhorted by Peter to be “without spot, and blameless” and the Psalmist indicates how we should be skillful in wisdom: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good under­standing have all they that do his commandments.” “Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies…” (2 Peter 3:14; Psa. 111:10; 119:98). Nebuchadnezzar demanded that his servants be “well informed and quick to understand” (NIV). In like manner, we should be of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord. Our service to God must include careful reading and application of His written word.

In the days of Ezra and Nehemiah, the Levites caused the people to understand the law by reading it carefully and giving the sense (Neh. 8:7,8). If we are well informed and quick to understand God’s word, we can help others by guiding them to scriptural verses that will help them in their questions and problems.

“Those chosen for service needed to have the “ability to stand.” We, too, must have strength to endure to the end if we are to be in the kingdom. We use that strength to serve others as did the apostle Paul: “Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory” (2 Tim. 2:10). We hear our Master’s exhortation: “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved” (Matt. 24:13).