Why Daniel was not summoned does not appear. Childs B. S. Introduction to the Old Testament as Scripture, (Fortress Press, 1979), p614-615. That no one vision gives an exhaustive account demonstrates they are not trying to convey a ‘univocal truth that can be expressed precisely in one exclusive way’.»28 Rather we should expect the visions to have a cumulative impact.»29. In chapter 10, we were told that Daniel “understood the message and had an understanding of the vision” (verse 1). Daniel was a young man of Jewish nobility taken into captivity by Nebuchadnezzar in the third year of Jehoiakim and renamed Belteshazzar. Whenever the king consulted them on anything, on books or on life, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his kingdom put together. ‘Daniel: The Basic Issues’, Themelios, 2, 2, (1977), p51. So Davies says, ‘The message of visions is essentially that of the tales also: namely the triumph of the kingdom of God.’»18 We will assume an underlying unity of message while accepting that the different parts of the book may emphasise different elements of it. "Practical and enriching". This book is parts of the ever-growing series called "The Bible Speaks Today", produced by IVP Academic. Arnold W. T. ‘Theology of Daniel’, in EDBT, edited by W. A. Elwell, (Carlisle, Paternoster, 1996). A careful study of the text helps reveal the identity of this supernatural being. . It was not without struggle, and it cost him to do so. Three main themes are shown in the court stories with regard to God’s sovereignty.»19 Firstly he is the one who reveals what is unknown: this begins at 1:17 and continues in chapter 2, 4 and 5. The majority opinion is that the court stories stem are from the sixth century b.c. The Master handed King Jehoiakim of Judah over to him, along with some of the furnishings from the Temple of God. He didn’t use symbols to prevent us from understanding His messages. Prophet Daniel was trained in the king's court and then elevated to a high rank in the Babylonian and Persian kingdoms. Daniel was taken to Babylon as a young man—likely before he had finished puberty. The first half of the book is taken to be setting out a life-style for those in exile, while the second half to be encouraging those undergoing persecution. The supremacy of other nations both in the exile and even after the return would cause them to wonder if loyalty to the God of Israel was worthwhile. or the twenty-first century a.d. We can identify with God’s people suffering the persecution of the world, and we too must know that ‘the historical processes may sweep over and will scar the people of God but their reward is sure.’»48. Ancient of Days. This message grows out of the book’s primary theme: the kingdom of God — its king, its … Scripture: Daniel 10. The prophet Daniel wrote in symbolic language. Collins J. J. The book of Daniel is often read for its contribution to our understanding of end-times events, but sometimes Christians have been so obsessed with this that we have missed its main message: God is in control, no matter how things look, and his kingdom will one day fill the earth. ‘Daniel 7 and the Function of Old Testament Apocalyptic’. 8-10 But Daniel determined that he would not defile himself by eating the king’s food or drinking his wine, so he asked the head of the palace staff to exempt him from the royal diet. Daniel 4:27 12/4/16 This morning I want to use Daniel as a model evangelist. This ability to intervene and overrule in human affairs is the concluding note of both these chapters.»22, Thirdly God’s sovereignty is seen in his dealings with secular rulers: Nebuchadnezzar is humbled because of his pride until he acknowledges God’s sovereignty;»23 and the removal of Belshazzar, who failed to learn from Nebuchadnezzar, reinforces this message.»24 There is also repeated reference through the Aramaic section to God’s everlasting kingdom in comparison to the transience of earthly kingdoms.»25, In addition the use of particular names for God in this section stress the fact that he is the sovereign Lord of all the earth and not simply the covenant God of Israel.»26 As a result the stories present a sovereign God who rules over all humankind.»27, The visions of chapters 7-12 are overlapping and complementary pictures of subsequent ANE history. Was he still faithful? This is when the whole lions’ den episode takes place. Collins J. J. His people were in exile in Babylon. While this hardship comes more intensely in different times it is generally true for all God’s people throughout time.»47 In that sense the predictions of second century history have relevance for those living in the sixth century b.c. Goldingay J. E. ‘Daniel’, WBC, (Dallas, Word, 1989), p334. Daniel disobeyed the edict, of course, and continued to pray openly to the true God. Goldingay J. E. ‘The Book of Daniel: Three Issues’, Themelios, 2, 2, (1977), pp45-49. Baldwin J. G. ‘Is There Pseudonymity in the Old Testament’. And he solves all mysteries, I know, because you’ve solved this mystery.” 48-49 Then the king promoted Daniel to a high position in the kingdom, lavished him with gifts, and made him governor over the entire province of Babylon and the chief in charge of all the Babylonian wise men. by Ronald S. Wallace God had allowed the unthinkable to happen. While the dream of chapter 2 has clear predictive value with regard to ANE history, the immediate focus is not so much on the content of the revelation as the fact of it.»21, Secondly God’s sovereignty means he is able to act to save his people. As a result we should expect this to play into the message of the book as a whole. God’s sovereignty is seen in the visions in his ability to predict the future, and the correlate assumption that he is in control of the historical processes. while the visions come from the second, with some kind of incorporational theory hypothesised about the relationship between the two.»11 So, for example, Childs sees chapter 2 as true prophecy but chapters 7-12 written vaticinium ex eventu as a midrashic filling out of the details.»12 The arguments for and against second century material is summarised by Wenham.»13 The position taken here is for a complete sixth century writing, and the influence on the message of the book will be discussed below. And of course has already been anticipated in chapter 2. Follow Desiring God on Facebook. Dumbrell W. J. It is accepted that Daniel comprises two genres: historical narrative and apocalyptic prophecy.»14 With regard to the apocalyptic sections it is important to recognise that  the mythical allusions serve to give expressive value to the particular powers referred to. It is no surprise then that Revelation picks up many motifs from Daniel and encourages believers to stand firm because of God’s final victory. The number “seventy” appeared earlier in chapter 9 when the prophet was reading in the book of Jeremiah about the desolations of Jerusalem ending after “seventy years… None were a match for Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. So let’s say he was between 10 and 18 years of age. At the end of the ten days they looked better and more robust than all the others who had been eating from the royal menu. Daniel 11 The Message (MSG) 11 “‘And I, in my turn, have been helping him out as best I can ever since the first year in the reign of Darius the Mede.’ The Kings of the South and the North Goldingay J. E. ‘The Book of Daniel: Three Issues’, Themelios, 2, 2, (1977), p49, and Goldingay J. E. ‘Daniel’, WBC, (Dallas, Word, 1989), p183. Then compare us with the young men who eat from the royal menu. Baldwin J. G. ‘Daniel: Theology of’, in NIDOTTE, edited by W. A. VanGemeren, (Carlisle, Paternoster, 1996). did he still care? See Gooding D. W. ‘The Literary Structure of the Book of Daniel and its Implications’. He said to Daniel, “Your God is beyond question the God of all gods, the Master of all kings. Chapters 2 and 7 have visions of four kingdoms followed by God’s kingdom, chapters 3 and 6 have rescues from execution and chapters 4 and 5 have Gentile kings exalting themselves against God. I highly recommend this book! He put the furnishings in the sacred treasury. The Apocalyptic Imagination: An Introduction to Jewish Apocalyptic Literature, (Grand Rapids, Eerdmans, 1998), p108. Collins J. J. 1.8 Faithfulness in the court stories This is seen in the stories by way of reward or rescue for those who are faithful. See Goldingay J. E. ‘Daniel’, WBC, (Dallas, Word, 1989), p330, and Lucas E. C. ‘Daniel’ in. Not probably in general, but as Daniel 3:12 states, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Daniel’s prayer and thanksgiving»20 on the first of these occasions should be seen a paradigmatic of them all: God knows and controls all human events and can reveal them if he so wishes. His promises seemed shattered. The book of Daniel differs from the majority of Hebrew prophecy: it contains literature of an apocalyptic genre, focuses on political powers in the Ancient Near East (ANE), and does not mention the fall of Jerusalem or return from exile.»1 The characters of the book are the first exiles from Jerusalem and it is the issues which confront them which form the heart of its message.»2 Their life in exile raises questions about the relationship between God’s people and foreign nations, and, by implication, the relationship between God himself and those nations. The message of Daniel is that because God is sovereign and his eternal kingdom will reign, his people should and must be faithful to him. 6-7 Four young men from Judah—Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah—were among those selected. Jan 12, 1992. Daniel the prophet was the hero and traditional author of the book of Daniel. Prophet was the standard practice ofinvading rulers, Nebuchadnezzar deported theJewish intelligentsia forced. 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