Characters Of The Bible: Daniel

Characters of the Bible

—by Dr Victor Kuligin

kings like Nebuchadnezzar the Persian ruler Cyrus the e (Dan 6:28). While pagan d as God’s chosen man. aniel, we see Daniel move in Babylonian rule, to the advisor and administrator nce of Babylon, to the third gdom, to the prime minister st empire to ever rule the time. The one constant ruction of Jerusalem and wish prisoners, to Babylon’s ear renaissance, to the rise fall of Babylon, was Daniel nistrator, the Jew. And his

ng in churches today. “I’m and it’s all about you. It’s all d for the thing I’ve made it. all about you, it’s all about us.” often, we think that church Christian faith are all about ainly, God has promised r us, and He sent His Son rescue mission to save us. we tend to look at things —what does this have to —God often has a bigger d.

The Neo-Babylonian Empire

While Babylon has played an important role in the history of the Middle East since 2000 BC, it rose to its greatest power around 600 BC during what is called the NeoBabylonian Period or the Chaldean Empire. At the time of King Nebuchadnezzar, Babylon was the greatest city the world had ever seen. The 5th-century Greek historian Herodotus reports that the city straddled the great river Euphrates and was 24 kilometers’ square. Upon conquering the Assyrian Empire, the Babylonian Empire became the superpower of the Middle East. However, its renaissance was short-lived as a coalition of Medes and Persians led by Cyrus the Great conquered Babylon in 539 BC.

The lion’s den

Daniel is perhaps best known for his trial in the lion’s den. What shouldn’t be lost on us is the e ect that situation had on the Medo-Persian rulers. In fact, that appears to be the point when we read the story in context. It is because of Daniel’s faithfulness in the den, and God’s deliverance of him, that the pagan Darius praises Yahweh (Dan 6:25-27).

Do you think the miracle in the lion’s den had anything to do with King Cyrus’ inclination of heart in allowing the Israelites to return to Jerusalem that same year (Ezra 1:1-4)? This story is not simply about God saving an individual, it is about God saving His chosen people Israel. Constant reliance on God Daniel prayed three times a day because he knew that he couldn’t serve adequately without constant reliance upon God. The faithfulness of Daniel was matched by the faithfulness of God, while the God often allows us to go world around the prophet consistently through the lion’s den so changed. This re ects the promises of we can minister to the lost. God to His people. God will deliver on His promises; we must simply trust Him.

A bene t to others

Sometimes God orchestrates our trying circumstances so we can be a bene t to others. Think of the woman who, twenty years ago, was physically abused but now has a vibrant ministry to women facing similar trauma. Think of the man who went through substance abuse for years, with the loss of his employment and possessions, now ministering to others with similar addictions. God often allows us to go through the lion’s den so we can minister to the lost around us.

Work on the basics Sovereign Lord

The Daniel story serves as an important reminder that even during the exile of God’s chosen people, Yahweh was fully in control. After seven decades, some might be tempted to think that God’s plans for His people had been thwarted. Surely God had forgotten that little Israelite tribe. But no. Nebuchadnezzar the Great had come and gone. Some of his sons and grandsons attempted to rule the neo-Babylonian empire for six years but were abysmal failures. Then came Nabonidus, then his son Belshazzar. Then the Persian Cyrus.

As Daniel himself sung, “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are His . . . He removes kings and raises up kings”—Daniel 2:20-21. Daniel had rsthand experience of this.

Daniel was a man of unwavering integrity and devotion to the Lord, something that even the pagans around him recognised (Dan 5:11; 6:3-5). He prayed regularly (6:10; note his prayer in 9:419), he read God’s Word (9:2), and he fasted (9:3; 10:3).

God calls His children to behave similarly today, in a world often hostile to Christ and His church. In this way we seek God’s counsel and direction. Without it, we will be left to our own shortsighted ways. While there are so many self-proclaimed prophets, charlatans, and misled Christians looking for a spiritual quick x, the basics of the faith are the slow and steady route to progress in our walk with Christ.

God is in control

If we learn anything from the account of Daniel, it is that God is in complete control. Kings come and go. Kingdoms rise and fall, but God’s will remains. His plans never fail. Whether the king is evil or good, a believer or a pagan, God gets His way. The overall message of Daniel is this: despite present appearances, God remains committed to His promises and His people. 