Read Daniel 1-2 & 1
John 2
To discover:
As you read consider what
is commendable about Daniel’s interaction with his oppressors.
To ponder:
1v1-2 dates
Daniel’s exile to 605BC (see 2 Kgs 24v1-7). The book opens with a time of
despair for Judah .
Not only was her king exiled, but articles from the temple put in the treasure
house of the Babylonian god, implying his supremacy. Nebuchadnezzar also orders
some of the royal and noble Israelites to be brought to serve in his palace.
They were physically and intellectually the best, and were taught Babylonian
language and literature, assigned food and wine from the king’s table, and put
into a three year training program. Among these were Daniel and his friends,
who were also given Babylonian names that incorporated the names of Babylonian
gods (1v3-7). The point is that their Jewish identity was under threat, and it
would have been very easy to feel forsaken by God and embrace all things
Babylonian, forgetting him – just as can be the temptation in our culture. We
should note also that Babylon is “Shinar ”
(see footnote) where the tower of Babel
Yet Daniel had limits. Although he
accepted much of this, he refused to take the food and wine. He may have been
concerned the meat had blood in it, but his primary reason couldn’t have been
Jewish food laws as he was permitted wine. Rather, the stress on this being
royal provision suggests he felt taking the best from the king’s table would defile
him by implying friendship and allegiance with the king. We should note that
Daniel engages with the Babylonian official in charge of these things with
shrewd tact and not demanding triumphalism. And we immediately see God has not
abandoned the faithful amongst his people, as he caused the official to show
favour to Daniel and his friends. The official is however concerned that he
would be called to account if Daniel’s appearance suffered, so Daniel persuaded
him to test them by giving them only vegetables and water for ten days. This
was a bold act of faith. And, again, God proved faithful, as after this period
they looked healthier than all others (1v8-16). The lesson seems to be that
although we might have to work as part of a culture or organisation we don’t
wholly agree with, we can do it, but we should not compromise our faith, and
would be wise to ensure our activity doesn’t give the impression that we
condone what is wrong. Moreover, it encourages us that when doing so might put
our security at risk, God is well able to cause things to go smoothly.
1v18-21 records how the men were
presented to the king and found to be superior to all others, entering his
service and displaying a wisdom and understanding that was ten times better
than that of all the magicians and enchanters. Once more, God was showing
himself to be with the faithful from his people – just as he was with Joseph in
Egypt . Moreover,
this would encourage the Jews more generally to settle and serve Babylon
(as Jer 29v4-7). The note that Daniel remained there until the time of Cyrus
(539BC) shows that by God’s hand he even outlived the mighty Nebuchadnezzar.
Chapter 2 records the first of
Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams. In the ancient world, dreams were assumed to be means
of communicating with the gods. Nebuchadnezzar called in all his magicians, but
tested them by saying they had to both tell him what his dream was and
interpret it, promising reward and honour if they did, but death and
destruction if they didn’t (2v1-9). Their response is key: They claim no man
can do this, but only the gods who do not live amongst men (2v10).
Nebuchadnezzar therefore ordered the death of all his wise men, including
Daniel and his friends. But again, without panicking, Daniel engaged the guard
with wisdom and tact, ascertaining what had happened. He then urged his friends
to pray to God for mercy so they might not be executed, and it was in this
context that the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a night-time vision. Daniel
then praises God for his wisdom, power and sovereignty even over the rising and
falling of kings, stressing it is God alone who knows and reveals what is
hidden (2v11-23). It’s a reminder of the true nature of God, when it is also
assumed today that if there is a God, that he doesn’t communicate and doesn’t
govern all that happens. Like Daniel, we should engage with these
presuppositions with wisdom and tact, but glorifying God for coming to live
amongst us in Christ.
What follows displays a conflict of
worldviews. Daniel intercedes even for the other wise men, asking the
executioner not to kill them. And when facing the king, he takes no credit to
himself, stating he has not greater wisdom than others, but has the answer only
because there really is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries to men (2v24-30).
This would encourage the exiles as it should us, that our God is the true God.
The king’s dream was of an enormous
and awesome statute that represented four key kingdoms, implying to the reader
that like an idol they sought for themselves what was only truly God’s
(2v31-38). The gold head represents Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom. Daniel states
that he is supreme as king of kings, but only because God has given him this
dominion, power and glory. He is presented like Adam, ruling over mankind, beasts
and birds. Humanity’s descent from Adam is the basis for all human government,
but reminds us it was always to be exercised in a way that imaged and honoured
God. The other three kingdoms are said to come one-after the other (2v39-40).
So although a few think the inferior second kingdom (the chest and arms of
silver) could be Media, which existed concurrently with that of Babylon ,
it is most probably Medo-Persia under Darius (see 5v30-31, and explanation of
chapter 7). This makes the third Greece
(the belly and thighs of bronze) that is said to rule the whole earth. Many
think the fourth (the legs of iron with feet of iron and clay) is Rome .
But Daniel is speaking to Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon ;
and it was the Seleucid Empire, that stemmed from the Greek, which was the next
to have dominion over Babylon (see
the arguments in notes on chapter 7). This is said to break what remains of the
previous three, maintaining a degree of strength, but ultimately being marked
by division (2v41-43, just as many provinces eventually declared independence
of the Empire).
Nebuchadnezzar also saw a rock not
cut out by human hands, that demolished the whole statue by smashing the feet.
The pieces were then blown away without trace like worthless chaff, whilst the
rock became a mountain that filled the earth. Daniel states that this is an
everlasting kingdom from God will be established in some sense during “the
time” of the kings of these four kingdoms, and that will crush them all in
crushing the fourth (2v44-45). The sense here is unclear. But this action
towards even the kingdoms long superceded implies this may not be a reference
to Christ per se, but to God beginning to pave the way for Christ’s reign by
bringing these previous kingdoms to an end (as 7v11-14). Whatever the case, the
point in Daniel is that as God’s people suffer under the various kingdoms, they
can be confident that they will pass, and God’s eternal kingdom will be
established and eventually overcome whatever oppressive powers remain in the
world. They should therefore ensure they are part of it – just as we should.
Daniel stresses what he has said is trustworthy and true (2v31-45), and this is
confirmed as we read in hindsight. 2.4 billion people today (a third of the
world) confess faith in Christ, with a Christian presence in almost every
country.
Nebuchadnezzar responds by offering
Daniel what seems to be worship, but perhaps in acknowledgement of God, who he
affirms as the God of gods, Lord of kings and revealer of mysteries. He then
gave Daniel gifts, made him ruler over all Babylon
and its wise men, and appointed his friends as administrators. Again, we see
God is with his people, and proving he governs the hearts of even the greatest
kings,
Praying
it home:
Praise God that he
is sovereign over all, and reveals his will to us. Pray for wisdom in how you
engage with non-Christians in the workplace and in government.
Thinking
further:
To read
the NIV Study Bible introduction to Daniel click
here.
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