Daniel— the Consistent Prophet
09.07.22
But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile Himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank. (Daniel 1:8a)
“For sheer interest this Book of Daniel surely stands first among the writings of the prophets. It is full of supernatural marvel, both in the events it records and in the visions it describes. But its interest is eclipsed by its importance; for it preserves to us not only unique links in the chain of history, but also vital keys to the interpretation of prophecy.” [Baxter]
Daniel belonged to a high-ranking family in Israel. When he was perhaps 17 years old, he, along with other young men, was taken captive to Babylon in 605 BC by Nebuchadnezzar.
There they were taught the learning and language of the Chaldeans. He lived and served as a statesman in that land until he was about 90 years old. He saw the Babylonian empire fall and be replaced by the Medo-Persian kingdom. Ezekiel, Jeremiah and Ezra lived during that same era.
His name means ‘God is Judge.’ Ezekiel thought much of him and mentioned him three times in his writings. Jesus quoted him three times in the Olivet Discourse.
Skeptics attack the book of Daniel because of its miracles and predictions. As always, these skeptics minimize God’s ability to predict and the accuracy of the fulfilments.
He wrote to encourage the exiled Jews by revealing God’s sovereign plan for Israel during the years of domination by Gentile powers [Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome]. One day Messiah’s Kingdom will become a great mountain and will fill the earth.
The key verse above shows Daniel’s purpose of heart. He settled the question of honoring God before great temptations and pressures came his way in a strange land. He was consistent in this his entire life. They could change his name to Belteshazzar (Bel’s prince) but they could not change his character.
Daniel’s often refrain was “That the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to whomever He wills.”
The book contains many memorable portions, not the least of which are Daniel’s experience in the lion’s den, and his three friends in the fiery furnace. Grand visions are seen and interpreted, including Nebuchadnezzar’s image, the four beasts, and the writing on the wall.
Most importantly, the Lord Jesus Christ is seen in several ways. First, he is pictured by the fortitude of Daniel and his friends. They stood for God and principle even in the face of imprisonment and death. Before being taken captive to Babylon, they had seen the godly examples of King Josiah and the prophet Jeremiah.
Christ is pictured as the great stone which will crush the kingdoms of this world one day (2:34, 35). It was He who appeared with the three friends in the furnace, none of whom were touched or singed by the fire (3:25).
He is referred to as ‘the Son of Man.’ (7:13) There is a clear prophecy of His crucifixion in an important prophetic section (9:25, 26). And finally, He appears as Himself in Daniel (10:5-9) in much the same way He did to John the Apostle (Revelation 1:12-16). He is glorious, wonderful, majestic, powerful, able to save all who come to Him, and ready to judge those who refuse Him as Lord and Savior. What have you done with Jesus?