Daniel // Week 1
Odds are, you’ve heard of Daniel and read parts of his story. Or, at least, you’ve heard that he had something to do with a den of lions. If you haven’t yet… we will get there.
Many have read Daniel and determined themselves to become more like Daniel. More faithful, more bold, more prophetic. However, if we approach this book with the intent to become like Daniel, we will miss the point. Daniel’s story is one story in the meta-story of scripture that shows us readers what it could like to live faithfully to God, full of His hope, in the midst of trial.
This story is set right after Babylon’s first attack on Jerusalem, between the end of the 6th century and the beginning of the 5th century. Daniel 1:1-2 says,
“ …Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia[a] and put in the treasure house of his god.”
In other words, Jerusalem and the temple were plundered. The holy things of Yahweh’s temple were taken to a foreign god’s temple, and the Israelites themselves were in exile. This means they were forced to be foreigners in Babylon, the nation that had just destroyed their home and their primary connection to their God.
Chapters 1-6 of this book are stories of Daniel navigating faithfulness to God in exile, while seeped in a culture that doesn’t honor Yahweh. Though we are not exiles in ancient Babylon, we, too, swim against the current as we follow Jesus in our culture. No, a power hungry monarch isn’t demanding our worship as the king of Babylon did. But everyday the gods of our culture – wealth, power, busyness, comfort, the American dream, lust, etc beg for our attention and worship. We must embrace faithfulness to God while surrounded by cultures and communities that worship these idols.
Chapters 7-12 contain Daniel’s visions of the future. These visions fit into an ancient genre called apocalyptic literature. This type of literature comes from the Greek word “apocalypse,” which means to “uncover” or “reveal.”
Daniel’s visions from God will help us see His perspective on the world and the trajectory of history. While they will be confusing or even overwhelming at times, ultimately, they are meant to give readers hope and anticipation for the uncovering of God’s eternal kingdom.
If you allow it to, this book will give you a hope for God’s future rule and present comfort in trial. It will show you what it could look like to live a faithful life full of trust in God regardless of your circumstances.
God speaks through His word and has something to say to you through this book. Take a moment and pray the following prayer to God. Listen for God’s response as you read Daniel.
