Daniel "Be Resolved"

If you were to think of someone, anyone who had uncompromising faith, besides Jesus, who would you think of? We are preparing ourselves for a fascinating trip through some of the most revealing and thought provoking scripture we can find in the bible. Who do you think of when it comes to uncompromising faith? May we offer up Daniel as an example.

There are lots of things that can said about Daniel and the book of Daniel, including did he write it, did he write it all or are there many authors. There are even questions on the time frame of the writing, but there is one thing that is known, Daniel is a man who was resolved and had uncompromising faith.

This is a fascinating book in which we will see

Chapters 1-6 we will see the uncompromising faith of Daniel

Chapters 7-12 we will see the prophesies and apocalyptic visions of Daniel

This is a book that has been attacked and even abused

Attacked by liberals who deny it’s inspiration

Abused by many who have taken the visions out of context and have build entire belief systems behind it.

Our aim, our goal for study of Book of Daniel:

A good understanding of the scripture that should

Inspire us to greater resolve and faithfulness in serving God

Strengthen our faith, our resolve in the inspiration of the Bible

A basic understanding of apocalyptic literature in context of the bible

Importance of the book of Daniel; some important facts

History and the Prophesies

Foretelling of the kingdoms and the kingdom

Display, example of uncompromising, resolved faith.

Not written in chronological order

Chapters 1-4 (606-562)

Chapter 7 (553)

Chapter 8 (550)

Chapters 5, 6, 9 (539-536)

Chapters 10-12 (536)

Authorship is challenged by some because

Written in two languages (Hebrew and Aramaic)

Claims some historical inaccuracies

Proof of authorship

First person claims in the book

Testimony given in (1Mac2:60)

Dead Sea Scrolls reference (200BC)

Writing of Josephs (Antiquities XI)

Time of writing has been disputed

Some believe written in 2nd Century

Most believe written in 6th Century (between 539-536)

Purpose of Book: To Magnify God!

His justice

His protection

His Sovereignty

His eternal kingdom

His eternal blessings

His prophesy to unveil the future

So, now on with more in our introduction today, may we look at the book as a whole and what we can start to know.

Daniel the man and the times

Even in the hard times, where people are unfaithful, God is not and is in control and He is faithful to keep covenant. Daniel and his times will help us to understand that about God.

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Daniel 1:1–2 NASB95

1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 The Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the vessels of the house of God; and he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and he brought the vessels into the treasury of his god.

Daniel the man

His name means “God is my judge”

He was a man of deep, abiding, relentless, uncompromising faith (Dan1:8)

He was faithful throughout life (Dan6:10)

God blessed Daniel because of his faith (Dan2:48; Dan6:1-3)

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Daniel the man

His name means “God is my judge”

He was a man of deep, abiding, relentless, uncompromising faith (Dan1:8)

Daniel 1:8 NASB95

8 But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s choice food or with the wine which he drank; so he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself.

Or maybe look at a different version

God blessed Daniel because of his faith (Dan2:48; Dan6:1-3)

Daniel 1:8 ESV

8 But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself.

So what do we know about Daniel the man from this verse? - he made up his mind, he was resolved not to defile himself. He was not willing to compromise!

Daniel the man

His name means “God is my judge”

He was a man of deep, abiding, relentless, uncompromising faith (Dan1:8)

He was faithful throughout life (Dan6:10)

God blessed Daniel because of his faith (Dan2:48; Dan6:1-3)

Daniel 2:48 NASB95

48 Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts, and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon.

Daniel because of his faith, his relentless faith, God blessed him and promoted him through the king in both Babylon and in Persia

Daniel 6:1–2 NASB95

1 It seemed good to Darius to appoint 120 satraps over the kingdom, that they would be in charge of the whole kingdom, 2 and over them three commissioners (of whom Daniel was one), that these satraps might be accountable to them, and that the king might not suffer loss.

Daniel 6:3 NASB95

3 Then this Daniel began distinguishing himself among the commissioners and satraps because he possessed an extraordinary spirit, and the king planned to appoint him over the entire kingdom.

He served as a statesman, a counselor to kings and was a prophet of God.

Daniel and his contemporaries

Daniel prophesied from Babylonian capital (605-586)

Jeremiah prophesied from Jerusalem during the Babylonian exile (626-528)

Ezekiel prophesied in Babylon among the exiles (592-570)

There is nothing really known about Daniel outside of the scripture what we can know is:

He is from prominent family if not a royal (Dan1:3)

He was taken captive to Babylon to be trained (Dan1:3-4)

Daniel 1:3–4 NASB95

3 Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, the chief of his officials, to bring in some of the sons of Israel, including some of the royal family and of the nobles, 4 youths in whom was no defect, who were good-looking, showing intelligence in every branch of wisdom, endowed with understanding and discerning knowledge, and who had ability for serving in the king’s court; and he ordered him to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans.

Daniel and his times:

612: Fall of Nineveh (Assyria capital)

Assyria had taken the northern kingdom into captivity some time before and they ruled the world from 845) on.

Ruler by name of Nabopolassar came to the throne in Babylon and rebelled against Assyria (625)

Nebuchadnezzer (son to Nabopolassar) lead the Babylonian army as a general in 612 to defeat the Assyrians

605: Battle of Carchemish, Babylonian domination; first group of captives taken (Dan1:1-4)

An Egyptian Pharaoh by name of Necho rose to fight the Babylonians in 605, well that did not work too well and that lead to a chase to the south into Jerusalem where the first group were taken captive then.

The best of the best were taken to be retrained in the their ways, Daniel was a part of this group

Nebachadnezzar was only a general when the siege on Jerusalem took place but 3 months later his father dies and he goes back to assume role as King

597: Second group of captives taken

Under the kingship of Jehiakim’s son, Jehoiachin 10,000 Jews were taken into captivity to Babylon

This group would includes Ezekiel (Eze1:1-3)

586: Third group of captives taken, Jerusalem and temple destroyed.

Zedekiah was named king of Israel but was a vassal for Babylon, but he was weak

536: First remnants return under authority of Cyrus (Ezra1:1-5)

A Vassal by name of Zedekiah was named as king of Jerusalem and by end of 11 years Jerusalem was totally destroyed including the temple (2Kn24:8-16)

Jeremiah was part of who stayed behind in Jerusalem and continued his work (Jer39:11-14)

536: First wave of the remnant return to Jerusalem

536: First remnant returns to Jerusalem under authority of Cyrus (Eza1:1-5)

457: Second remnant returns (Ezra7:1-8:36)

Under the authority of Cyrus the king of Persia a decree was issued allowing the Israelites to return under the leadership of Zerubbabel (Ezra1:1-5)

444: Third group of remnants return led by Nehemiah (Neh1:1-2:20)

Daniel’s life span show in scripture at minimum (605-534)

We can know that Daniel survived 70 years of captivity (Dan1:21, 9:1-2)

Under the authority of Cyrus the king of Persia a decree was issued allowing the Israelites to return under the leadership of Zerubbabel (Ezra1:1-5)

Foundation of the new temple is started, but not going to be completed until 516

444: Third group, remnant return (Neh1:1-2:20)

457: Second remnants return to Jerusalem with Ezra (Ezra7:1-8:36)

Ezra the priest brings back the next group of the remnant

Revival starts and is much needed for there was much discouragement in the older people who knew the old Jerusalem and temple and there was much resistance from others from keeping the temple and the walls being built back.

444: Third group of remnants return led by Nehemiah (Neh1:1-2:20)

The walls were completed in record time under the leadership and inspiration of Nehemiah

Working hand in hand with Ezra much of what was taken from the people, their heritage, national pride, their religion was restored.

Daniel’s life span show in scripture at minimum (605-534)

We can know that Daniel survived 70 years of captivity (Dan1:21, 9:1-2)

We can know that Daniel spent 70 years in captivity (Dan1:21,

Taken at young age (Dan1:21)

Was alive at end of captivity (Dan9:1-2)

Daniel without a doubt was remarkable and was resolved in his faith and that will develop more as we look at chapters 1-6. You can also read more about hi in( Ezek14:14, 20; 28:3)

The book of Daniel

There is no more exciting history book and book of prophesy than Daniel and it is clearly seen God’s providence, God’s rule and yes God’s judgment on rebellious people than in the book.

God would rather have his people living in shameful captivity in a pagan land, than live as pagans in a holy land and disgracing His name. And that is where this book starts, but there is much to see in the book.

God rules in the kingdom’s of men (Dan2:21; Dan4:17; Dan5:21)

Daniel 2:21 NASB95

21 “It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men And knowledge to men of understanding.

and then look at

Daniel 4:17 NASB95

17 “This sentence is by the decree of the angelic watchers And the decision is a command of the holy ones, In order that the living may know That the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind, And bestows it on whom He wishes And sets over it the lowliest of men.”

The Most High is ruler, and it says the same in Dan5:21 too.

God rules in the kingdoms of men

In days of Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius and Cyrus.

In the kingdoms of Babylonians, Medes and the Persians

Foretold of the kingdoms of Persians, Greeks, and the Romans

In this book we see God’s rule manifested

With the establishment of God’s Kingdom (Dan2:44)

Daniel 2:44 NASB95

44 “In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever.

Also with the vindication of the cause of His saints (Dan7:27)

Daniel 7:27 NASB95

27 ‘Then the sovereignty, the dominion and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest One; His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him.’

In trying to briefly outline this book, which again is not in chronological order, but still is orderly.

God’s providence in history (Dan1:1-6:28)

Daniel and his desire to be pure, undefiled, his being resolved (1:1-21)

Daniel and his promotion because of his devotion (2:1-49)

Daniel interprets Nebuchadnezzar's dream and that leads to his promotion withing the kingdom

Faith in the face of fire by Daniels friends (3:1-30)

More than a children’s bible story is of 3 faithful friends who were willing to trust God in the heat of all things.

Insanity with a purpose (4:1-37)

Nebuchadnezzar is made to live with the animals, like an animal for a period of time to realize God is God and he is not and issues a decree to the people to worship the God of Daniel.

Writing on the wall (5:1-31)

Belshazzar has a disturbing dream and Daniel interprets the dream and the kingdom is found lacking, it was not good news.

A den of lions is no match for Daniel (6:1-28)

Under Darias a decree demanding statue worship is issued and Daniel is resolved and does not do it and ends up in the lions den.

God closed the mouth of the lions for God always has a way.

God’s purpose in history (Dan7:1-12:13)

Daniel has a dream of four beasts

Daniel has a dream of the ram and the goat

Daniel’s prayer and the vision of the seventy weeks

Finally, Daniels vision of the time of the end.

In this powerful piece of literature, this inspired word of God that is profitable there is much that we can glean from it.

May we glean about faith and being resolved and uncompromising when it comes to our faith

May we come to a better understanding to scriptures used in the New Testament (Mk1:14-15; Mt24:15-16) and the Lord’s references there.

Mark 1:14–15 NASB95

14 Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

Time, the time is fulfilled is where Jesus started his ministry

Matthew 24:15–16 NASB95

15 “Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains.

And in just a few years from when Jesus spoke these words this was fulfilled in AD70.

There are some difficulties and challenges when looking at the book, there is tough scriptures to try to gain understanding on, but when we look in context of he book itself you will find it consistent with the rest of the bible and not confusion and speculation about it and the correlation to the book of Revelation.

May we approach this book with an open bible, an open heart and with all humility as we try to learn about “Be resolved: the book of Daniel.”

Moral decay, corruption, lack of understanding, diligence, study, application lead to the judgment that we see here in Daniel. May we not let the moral decay of our day detour us from our walk with Christ, may we be people of resolve and not compromise our beliefs, may we be like Daniel and man of resolve!