Viewing Daniel from a broad perspective, we see in this book the way God’s kingdom always clashes with this world’s kingdoms. 7:13–14) and Jesus draws on the language of Daniel 7 to describe himself as the “Son of Man” in the Gospels.Ī cosmic war.
For example, Daniel speaks of one “like a son of man” who comes in great power and glory ( Dan. Rather, God governs all world events through his sovereign power and good pleasure, and he is determined to bring his saving presence to all the ends of the earth.įinally, the book of Daniel plays its role, along with every other Old Testament book, in preparing us for the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ. Third, we see in Daniel that God’s plan to bring blessing to all the nations has not been foiled, despite the disobedience of his people. Suffering through exile does not prevent faithfulness. Second, we learn that wherever God’s people are in the world, God provides them the means to be faithful to him. Rather, for those who trust the Lord, despite their sin, he will prove faithful to redeem and finally restore them. This does not mean God keeps covenant only with those who never sin-the very next verse of Daniel’s prayer acknowledges his and others’ sin ( 9:5). In a long prayer Daniel declares that Yahweh is “the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments” ( Dan. First, Daniel reminds us that God will not abandon his people. Yet the book of Daniel confronts such discouragement in at least three ways. Exiled from this land, Israel seems to have forfeited their relationship with God through their persistent faithlessness. What was especially painful was the apparent end of Israel’s special covenant relationship with God-including their presence in the long-awaited and hard-won Promised Land ( Numbers-Joshua). It was a tumultuous time for God’s people.
As with other prophets such as Jeremiah and Ezekiel, Daniel lived and wrote in the swirling events associated with the exile of Judah to Babylon in the sixth century b.c. He first served under Babylon’s King Nebuchadnezzar, and then under the Persian king Cyrus.
Daniel was a Jew who lived far from his homeland, about six hundred years before Christ. The book of Daniel recounts events of worldwide proportion in Daniel’s own day that continue to have decisive significance for the global church today. The Global Message of Daniel Daniel in Redemptive History
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