Daniel

This opening chapter talks of Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon being used of God to conquer Jerusalem and Judah. Daniel, Hananiah (Shadrach), Mishael (Meshach), and Azariah (Abednego) are you nobles of Judah chosen to be developed and serve in Nebuchadnezzar’s court. Due to God’s favor they were favored by the king’s coordinator and by the king himself. This shares the famous story of Daniel and his friends choosing to honor God through what they ate and doing better on vegetables and water alone.

Principles: God honors those who honor Him.

In this chapter Nebuchadnezzar has a dream that he wants interpreted by his wise men. However, in order for his wise men to prove that they are not just making things up, he requires the wise men to also tell what the dream was. They can’t and so Nebuchadnezzar orders all the wise men to be put to death. They go to execute Daniel and his friends and Daniel asks to let he and his friends pray for the information. God tells him the dream and its interpretation. The dream tells Nebuchadnezzar about the future kingdoms and their strength. Nebuchadnezzar falls before Daniel and says the God is the most powerful. He puts Daniel over the province of Babylon. Daniel asks that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be put in charge and Daniel serves in the court of the king.

Principles: God knows all things. He orders the affairs of men.

This chapter is the story of the gold statue that Nebuchadnezzar set up to be worshipped when music was played. In the story Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refuse to bow to the idol and are reported to the king. Nebuchadnezzar brings them in and gives them another chance or they will be thrown in the fire. They tell the king that God can rescue them but even if He doesn’t they won’t bow. In his rage at their answer, Nebuchadnezzar makes the fire seven times hotter, has them bound tightly, and had them thrown into the fire. However, Nebuchadnezzar then sees for men in the fire walking around and one looks like God himself. Nebuchadnezzar calls to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to come out of the fire. They are not burned and don’t even smell like smoke. Nebuchadnezzar declares that anyone who speaks against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego would be destroyed. He also promoted the three of them to higher positions.

Principles: Standing for God may take you through difficult times but God will deliver you through them.

This chapter details another dream that Nebuchadnezzar has that Daniel interprets. Nebuchadnezzar dreams of a tree that filled the earth and had fruit and as he shade for people and animals. But then someone from Heaven has it cut down, leaving the stump. It is covered with dew and is left for 7 years. Daniel is given the interpretation by God that due to his pride and sin, Nebuchadnezzar would lose his kingdom for 7 years and live as a wild animal. Then he would be returned to his senses and regain his kingdom. All this came true and he learned that God is the most high and deserves praise for everything.

Principles: God is in control even in “secular” settings.

This chapter has moved on from the reign of Nebuchadnezzar to Belshazzar. Belshazzar is giving a feast with his wives, concubines, and nobles and calls for golden cups of the Jewish temple to be brought in and used. They also praised false gods while drinking from them. A large hand appeared and began writing in the plaster wall. Belshazzar called for his magicians and wise men to interpret it promising them riches and power but none of them could. The queen mother heard what was going on and told the king about Daniel. Belshazzar called for Daniel. Daniel told him to keep his riches and position. He told the king plainly that Belshazzar knew how Nebuchadnezzar had been driven from human kind and lived as an animal due to his arrogance and yet Belshazzar still lived in the same arrogance. Mene mene tekel parsin was what was written on the wall and it meant “numbered” (mene), “weighed” (tekel), and “divided” (parsin). Belshazzar days of reign had been numbered and had come to an end. Belshazzar had been weighed on the balance and not measured up. His kingdom would be divided between the Medes and the Persians. That very night, Darius the Mede invaded and conquered them.

Principles: Learn from what has happened previously.

This chapter is the well known story of Daniel in the lion’s den. Due to Daniel’s competence and faithfulness as an administrator, others in Darius’ kingdom were jealous of him. They had a law set that would attack Daniel in his point of faithfulness to God. They appealed to the king’s vanity to have only him be the source of prayer. But Daniel continued in his practice of serving God. Then those trying to trap Daniel caught him doing what he normally did: serve God. They then reported him to the king. Because the law was in place, the king could not reverse it. They had Daniel put in a lion’s den. But God saved Daniel from the lions. In the morning, Darius came to the lion’s den hoping that Daniel was still alive. God had saved Daniel. The king brought him out. Then the king had the men and their entire families thrown into the lion’s den. Before they even hit the ground, the Lions had killed them.

Principles: Your faithfulness to your work/calling will intimidate others. Let God manage your reputation. God’s faithfulness is greater than your faithfulness.

Daniel has a vision of four beasts that represent the powers of the world. God rules against the beasts in favor of His people. This chapter is apocalyptic/prophetic in nature.

Principles: Despite the powers that arise in this world, God maintains control.

Daniel has another vision about end times. In it kingdoms are represented by rams horns and goat horns. The timeline of 2300 mornings and evenings is given. Several notes about power outside human power are noted.

Principles: God is in control of history but allows things to play out in human history.

After his vision with Gabriel, Daniel goes into a time of fasting, praying, and repenting for his sins, and those of the Jews. He asks God to restore the Jews and Jerusalem for His namesake. After some time of this Gabriel comes to him to explain the “70 weeks” and let him know that a command was given as soon as he started praying.

Principles: God hears and responds to our prayers. God has a plan for time.

Daniel has a visit from another Angel that only he can see. The men with him can’t see the Angel but are terrified in his (the Angel’s) presence and flee. The Angel tells Daniel that he had been on his way to answer Daniel’s prayer as soon as he started praying but had been delayed by the spirit prince over Persia. He also was going to have to fight back against the spirit prince of Greece next. He had come to explain the vision Daniel had. Daniel was overwhelmed and lost his strength at the angel’s appearance. But the Angel touched Daniel and his strength returned.

Principles: God answers our prayers when we pray. There are spiritual wars taking place that we are unaware of in our humanly realm.

This chapter is a continuation of chapter 10. In it, the Angel that visited Daniel walks him through the history to come.

Principles: God ordains history for His purposes.