The last two posts have focused on the book of Daniel, and how the Lord God has positioned Daniel in relation to the king(s) and kingdom(s) of that day. In the first chapter, Daniel refuses to eat the king's meat, or to drink his wine. In the second chapter, Daniel reveals to the king his dream, while similarly interpreting the meaning of the dream.
But who is Daniel? Unlike the introduction of other prophets, the book of Daniel opens with king Nebucchadnezzar (king of Babylon) besieging the kingdom of Jehoiakim (the king of Judah). Daniel does not open with an introductory moment clarifying that the message the prophet is portraying is the Word of the Lord. Still, Daniel was a prophet in every sense of the role. Daniel is a descendent of David's royal family. Daniel was very faithful in his understanding of the Law of Moses. We see that in his refusal to eat the king's meat or drink his wine. (Daniel 1:8) Daniel was well read, and understood the prophecies written by contemporary prophets.
"In the first year of his reign, I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the Word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem ..." (Daniel 9:2)
Daniel gives thanks to the Lord God for his wisdom and understanding. Remember, in Daniel 1, the king found Daniel and the three companions to have had ten times more wisdom than all of the magicians and astrologers put together. (Daniel 1:20) This mattered, and in some ways, made Daniel legendary. For example, when Nebuchadnezzar's son saw a vision, it was his mother who referred him to Daniel, describing him this way: "Daniel was found to have insight and intelligence and wisdom like that of the gods." (Daniel 5:11) Yes, she missed the memo showing the One and Only God Daniel did worship, but I digress.
Daniel was originally from Egypt. He was the son of David that had sons born unto him in Hebron; the firstborn Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; the second Daniel, of Abigail the Carmelitess: the third, Absalom the son of Maachah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur: the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith: the fifth, Shephatiah of Abital: the sixth, Ithream by Eglah his wife. (I Chronicles 3:1-3)As Daniel found favour with God, he remained humble. That humility carried forward even when Daniel was made a great man by the king, who gave him many great gifts. As we learned, the king made Daniel ruler over the whole province of Babylon. (Daniels 2:48) Daniel also requested that his three companions Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be put in charge of the province of Babylon, which he did. (Daniel 2:49)
Nevertheless, Daniel willingly stood in the gap for others. The decisions he made saved the lives of many.
Daniel often set his face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fastings and sackcloth. "And I prayed unto the Lord my God, and made my confession, and said, "O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love Him, and to them that keep His commandments, we have sinned and committed iniquity and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing fromThy precepts and from Thy judgments Neither have we hearkened unto Thy servants the prophets, which spake in Thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land." (Daniel 9:6)
Daniel admits that to us belongs confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes and to our rulers, because we have sinned against Thee. But then Daniel gives praises to the Lord. Indeed, "to the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against Him. Neither have we obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in His laws, which He set before us by His servants the prophets." (Daniel 9:10)
Like many of the prophets from afore, Daniel does not hesitate in speaking the truth -- that Israel hath transgressed Thy law, even by departing -- that they would not obey Hs voice. (Daniel 9:11; Isaiah 1:4-6; Jeremiah 8:5-10)
Daniel is specifically mentioned by Jesus. In Matthew 24, for example, Jesus outlines what we can expect in the last days. Specifically, Jesus said, "When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, [whoso read, let him understand], then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains; let him which is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of the house; neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes ..." (Matthew 24:15-18)
Daniel is also referred to by the old testament prophet Ezekiel (not the wisest man of all time -Solomon!) who wrote, "Behold, you are wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that is a match for you." (Ezekiel 28:3)
In Babylon, Daniel's Chaldean name is Belteshazzar -- the Bel portion being the name of a Babylonian small-g god. (Daniel 4:8)
This should serve as a starting point for this in-depth study of Daniel. More to come. Stand in the offering plate.
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