DANIEL

Daniel was likely in his late teens when he was captured and taken to Babylon. The king at that juncture was Nebuchadnezzar, and the year was 605 BC. In about 603 BC, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams that interfered with his sleep, and, ultimately, Daniel (whom the chief of the eunuchs had renamed Belteshazzar), interpreted those dreams for Nebuchadnezzar. In fact, he even had to tell the king what the dream was, as part of the king’s demand.

But in living out the reality of what occurred, Daniel didn’t have the answer when he first asked the king to spare the lives of his wise men and give Daniel ‘a time’ to show the interpretation to the king.

The first thing he did was go ask for prayer! Daniel 2:17 tells us that he went to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah (renamed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego), and asked them ‘to seek mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery.’ God responded by making the vision and its interpretation known to Daniel!

Daniel’s response to God was,

“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,

to whom belong wisdom and might.

He changes time and seasons;

He removes kings and sets up kings;

He gives wisdom to the wise

And knowledge to those who have understanding;

He reveals deep and hidden things;

He knows what is in the darkness,

And the light dwells with him.

To you, O God of my fathers,

I give thanks and praise,

For you have given me wisdom and might,

And have now made known to me what we asked of you,

For you have made known to us the king’s matter.”

Daniel was, at the most, perhaps 20 years old at that point. When he heard the awful news that all of the wise men were going to be killed – himself and his companions included – he went and asked for time to respond – and God answered his plea. Daniel was God’s man in the right place at the right time – and because of him, we have both a wonderful model of one who followed God faithfully in spite of circumstances, and prophecy that took many years to be accomplished…but that comes later.

God is sovereign. Daniel was faithful! I’m loving reading the book of Daniel! (I'm actually further ahead in my reading - but have to catch up with writing!)