Mysty PfefferThe biggest impact the book of Daniel has on me as a bible student is: Unfailing character, faith, and resolve cannot be removed no matter what the circumstances are or who rules the world.
Judgement came to Israel and the fate of the people resulted in either captivity, famine, or death by the sword. Daniel is one of the captives taken to Babylon and entered into the king’s service. He and three of his friends have their names changed, learn a new language, and are taught the customs and laws of a new nation.
Since he is held accountable to the “chief of Eunuchs” I can assume he and his friends have also been made eunuchs. Just imagine the fear, trauma, and anxiety of leaving literally everything you knew as a young man and entering the service of this pagan ruler.
“Daniel resolved he would not defile himself with the king’s food or with the wine he drank. And God gave him favor and compassion in the site of the chief of Eunuchs.” Daniel 1:8
Daniel has no control over his life except in the area of food. All the choices of study, how he lives, the language he speaks, and even his name is dictated by a new king.
As followers of Christ, we can relate, can’t we?
We live in a culture that wants to dictate right and wrong with an evil lens. We can choose to go along with it or take a stand. The massively greedy retail giants control the airwaves and try to pollute our view of what’s good.
Daniel and his friends, made up their minds they would not defile themselves.
Later, God honors the three friends in one of the most spectacular displays of grace I’ve ever seen in the bible! You know this story from when you were a little child in Sunday School. The fiery furnace.
King Nebuchadnezzar creates a statue of himself and expects everyone to bow down and worship him.
“Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. So they brought these men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? 15 Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?”16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
Daniel 3:13-18
Daniel 3 ESV – Nebuchadnezzar’s Golden Image – Bible Gateway
Character, faith, and resolve in the face of death and being burned alive is before the three young friends of Daniel. Making a choice against everything honorable and holy takes extreme courage and faith. They are resolving in their hearts not to bow down to idols.
At the risk of death, they are not giving in to evil, and their core values shine a light on what really matters in life.
Remaining faithful to God.
It reminds me of Jesus in Luke 12:8-12 telling the disciples not to deny him before the authorities. He tells them “everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God”. He tells them not be anxious about what they will say, because the Holy Spirit will teach them what to say.
Time and again God is there for faithful believers. Daniel and his three friends escaped famine and sword and were shown favor. Today is no different. It is exactly how we as Christians can have bold faith and respond when we are attacked for our convictions.
We can graciously and respectfully refuse to bow down as evil rages in our culture and Christ will show up to strengthen us.
He was in the fiery furnace with Daniel’s three friends and he will be there for our fiery trials too.
What encouragement do you find in this today?
How is God using your circumstances to draw you closer to Him?
Daniel and The Writing on the Wall
Moving through the book of Daniel we see his life is long as her serves four kings of the Medo-Persian empire. In Daniel chapter 5, we meet Nebuchadnezzar’s son:
“Belshazzar, when he tasted the wine, commanded that the vessels of gold and of silver that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem be brought, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them. Then they brought in the golden vessels that had been taken out of the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. 4 They drank wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.5 Immediately the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace, opposite the lampstand. And the king saw the hand as it wrote. 6 Then the king’s color changed, and his thoughts alarmed him; his limbs gave way, and his knees knocked together.”
Daniel 5:2-6
Daniel 5 ESV – The Handwriting on the Wall – King – Bible Gateway
The queen mother remembers Daniel and his ability to interpret visions. I’m sure the picture of her deceased husband succumbing to his pride and eating grass like a wild animal is still etched in her memory.
I infer Daniel is put aside in this king’s court because the queen mother has to remind him who Daniel is. Nebuchadnezzar made him chief of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans and astrologers because of his ability to interpret his dream.
Here is what we can gather from the text:
- Belshazzar is in active rebellion against our holy God by purposely defiling the instruments used in the worship of God. His life is one of disbelief, revelry, and worship of wealth and false gods.
- When he sees the writing on the wall his merriment fades and the color drains from his face as his knees knock.
- He doesn’t even know what it says, but he is terrified to see a human hand appear and write on the wall.
- His mother remembers Daniel and urges for him to be called.
Friend, God sees the heart of everything we do. Daneil may have even felt forgotten when Nebuchadnezzar passed, but God still has plans for him. The unwavering favor of God over his life, I believe, is a result of his prayer life and unflinching character.
It is an example of faithful living I cherish and hope to live out myself.
The queen mother remembered the light and wisdom found in Daniel. May we too be remembered for trusting God humbly for answers.
How does Daniel’s vision make you think about our culture’s attitude towards God today? Are there similarities? How so?
What does the picture of revelry then fear in this king show you about his character?
What stands out to you in Daneil chapters 5 and 6?
Daniel, the Angels, & His Visions
In Daniel chapters nine, the aging prophet begins to reflect on the exile of his people and the time elapsed in captivity. He begins to pray, earnestly, fervently, and with great remorse for the sins of his nation.
If you’ll notice as we read the Bible in a Year, Daniel’s prayer is much like each prayer of his contemporaries. The prayer pattern of the prophets looks like this:
- They acknowledge the authority, love, and power of our mighty God and pay him the reverence and respect he is due.
- Then they confess their sins and the sins of their leaders and people. The lack of obedience, the greed, the idolatry, and intentional following their way instead of God’s way.
- Lastly, they ask for God to hear their prayer, listen to their pleas, and grant forgiveness, mercy, and redemption.
As he was speaking, the angel Gabriel came to him and assures him he is greatly loved. I did a three-day Bible lesson on this for the YouVersion Bible app a few years ago. It just amazed me the level of care and concern God showed Daniel.
I am convinced it is because of his unfailing character and unflinching faith.
Don’t you want that for yourself and your family today? I sure do. Fear can consume us if we take our eyes off the Lord and all he’s done for us.
Daniel 9:20-11
At the end of chapter nine and beginning of chapters ten and eleven, Gabriel explains to Daniel the spiritual battle taking place in the heavenly realms and gives him a vision of how this long battle will end. Kings and kingdoms will rise and conquer, and their power grows to plunder and spoil the lands they take over, but only to fall to the next king and kingdom.
Daniel is trembling and troubled for weeks at the site of this future vision of destruction and devastation. But low and behold, the final King, the messiah Jesus Christ will come to rule and reign forever!
Daniel Chapter 12
“At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation until that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book.” Daniel 12:1
The good news of the gospel is not good news until you and I understand the bad news. I think if people could just wrap their minds around their own sinfulness and falling short of our holy God, then they would understand why they need a Savior.
Jesus says, “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Mathew 10:28) There is a promise from Him encouraging us not to focus so much on this life and our bodies, but to really think about our souls and eternity.
In chapter twelve we see this promise come to life, for the people of Israel and for us, who place our trust in the Lord.
“And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3. And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above, and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. “ Daniel 12:2-3
If your walk with God and my walk with God, meaning our faith, words, action, and writing, turns others from their sin and towards the righteousness of Jesus, seeds of faith are sewn.
God waters them to make them grow! Someday, long after we leave this earth, those who listened and obeyed are wise and will shine like the brightness of the sky above.
Summary
Wow! Daniel’s life of unfailing character and unflinching faith is rewarded in a beautiful way. The assurance to go his way until the end is locked into place. He shall rest and stand in his allotted place at the end of days. (vs. 13).
Enjoy the book of Daniel this week my friend and let me know what nuggets you find there!
What do you learn about God in chapters 9-12?
What do you learn about the future?
How does knowing the future draw you closer to God?
What dos placing your faith and trust in God look like in your daily life?
I look forward to serving you here and on my podcast, Family Focused Health, where we tackle health topics each week and what God provides in His Word and the garden to sustain us body and soul, check it out on the podcast page!
