Making Sense of Daniel pt1

How are people of faith, people who believe in Jesus, how are we supposed to deal with all this outside pressure to compromise what we believe? How does God expect us to handle the constant bombardment of bad news, sickness, frustration, suffering, evil, and pain this life throws at us? What’s the point of being a Christian if all this bad stuff is going to happen to us anyway? Ever have thoughts like that while you’re watching the news? Or when the phone rings late at night? 

Today we’re looking at the Book of Daniel. I think it was written with these exact questions in mind.

In most of the Bible, the chapter divisions are pretty random, but in Daniel, almost every chapter is a stand-alone story. It’s pretty easy to follow what’s happening, although it might not be obvious what it all means. That’s why we’re here.

Daniel was captured and taken into exile when he was young, probably a teenager. It was during the first raid on Jerusalem by the Babylonians, they also took a bunch of the gold and treasure from the Temple, things that were supposed to only be used in worship—this was the same timeframe as Jeremiah and Ezekiel. Like I said when we talked about those books, Jeremiah is like our reporter in Jerusalem, Ezekiel is like a psychedelic, street performer version of a cable news channel letting the Hebrews in Babylon know what was going on back home. Daniel was one of those exiles, but as we’ll find out today, he gives us a glimpse into the palace and what was going on behind the scenes—both with king Nebuchezzer and with God in heaven. 

So in chapter one, we learn that Daniel was taken to Babylon along with all the prominent citizens of Judah. The king had his chief official choose some of the Israelites from the royal family and nobility who were

“young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians.” Daniel 1:4

They would be re-educated for three years, so they could serve the king and help him rule his strange new population of Hebrew immigrants.

So Daniel and his three friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were chosen. All their names mean in one way or another “we are worshipers of YAHWEH.” But they were given new Babylonian names: Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—which were all names that had to do with pagan gods.

Oh, your name is Faith? How about if we call you Doubt instead. Christian, eh? Well, we’re going to call you Satan? That’s pretty much what was going on. Surprisingly, they didn’t make a big deal out of their new names.

There’s a miracle in every chapter.

In chapter one, young Daniel didn’t want to defile himself eating disgusting Babylonian food. He asked the chief official if he and his friends could skip the weird food and just eat vegetables and drink water—a very strange request for a teenager. Ha. God had already caused the chief official to show favor to Daniel but he was like, “I’ll get in a lot of trouble if you and your friends get skinny and sick because I feed you rabbit food.” But Daniel talked him into it by saying, “just give it ten days—see what happens.” God intervened and in ten days they looked more healthy than all the guys eating royal food. 

This wasn’t just about being picky eaters. God had given the Hebrews a strict diet to keep them ceremonially clean for worship. Daniel didn’t want to break any of those rules. It might seem like a petty thing, but God rewarded them for their faithfulness. 

Maybe we should be faithful in little things and God will bless us in surprising ways.

During their three-year training it says,

“To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams.” Daniel 1:17

They graduated at the top of their class with the highest honors. The king himself noticed them and personally interviewed them. It says

“In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.” Daniel 1:20

Pretty high praise.

Chapter two, Daniel puts his dream superpower to work. Nebuchadnezzar had a bad dream that kept him from sleeping. He brought in his magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers to tell him what he had dreamed and what it meant. Maybe he just woke up with a bad feeling and couldn’t remember the details of the dream or maybe he thought if he told them his dream, anyone could make up a possible meaning. But he said,

“Tell me what I dreamed and what it meant or I’ll have you all cut into pieces and your houses demolished.” Daniel 2:5

He was not a nice man.

The astrologers said what everyone was thinking,

“No one on earth can do what you ask. No one but the gods could do this and they’re not talking.” Daniel 2:10

So the king ordered the execution of all of them. All the wise men of Babylon—including Daniel and his friends. When the commander of the king’s guard showed up at Daniel’s house, once again, God gave Daniel favor. He asked the commander what the deal was and Daniel went to see the king and asked for a little time so that he could interpret the dream for him. Pretty bold.

He went back to his house and told his roommates to pray with him—God was either going to tell him the dream and what it means or they were going to die. They prayed and that night God gave Daniel a vision of the dream.

So he went to the king and described the strange dream in detail. Daniel said,

“There was a large statue with a head of gold, chest and arms of silver, belly and thighs of bronze, legs of iron, and feet partly of iron and partly of clay. Then a rock was cut out, not by human hands, it was thrown from heaven and struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them. The whole thing was destroyed and blown away by the wind. The rock that struck the statue grew into a huge mountain and filled the whole earth.

Was that your weird dream, king?” Daniel 2:31-36

It was, so Daniel told him what it meant. He starts with flattery,

“Your majesty, you are the king of kings. The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory—your kingdom is impressive.” Daniel 2:37

The head of gold is you. Then he told him the bad news: The other four parts of the statue are the four kingdoms that will come after your kingdom—this is a vision of the future.

That could have been a dangerous thing to say to a megalomaniacal king who pretty much thought he was a god. Surprisingly, the king gets down from his throne and bows before Daniel. He says,

“Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries.” Daniel 2:47

The pagan king praises the true God—it won’t be the last time.

Maybe we should be bold in speaking the truth, gently and in love, and God will bless our words in surprising ways.

Daniel was promoted to ruler over all the wise men of Babylon. He remained in the royal palace and he appointed his three friends to be his administrators. From death row to being in charge—this won’t be the last time.

Chapter three happens some years later. King Nebuchadnezzar has a giant statue of gold set up where everyone could see it. I can’t help but think it was inspired by his dream. He made a law that whenever the royal musicians play his theme song, everyone has to bow down and worship it.

This is going to be awkward for the Hebrews who are to have no other gods—that whole 1st Commandment thing.

So the band would play, and faithful Jews would be the only ones standing. The astrologers, probably with hurt feelings about Daniel and his friends being put in charge of them—they went to the king and complained. 

“You know how everyone is supposed to worship your statue, O great king?” “The Jews aren’t doing it.” “Not even the ones who are supposed to be enforcing it! Your administrators Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are ignoring you.” Daniel 3:11-12

The king was furious, of course, and had the three guys brought in. He gave them one more chance,

“If you agree to worship my statue when the music plays from now on, we’ll call it good. If not, I’m going to throw you into the blazing furnace.” Daniel 3:15

Their answer is amazing. We should take note. This should be our answer when we’re asked to deny our faith or face consequences:

They said,

“We do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” Daniel 3:16-18

But even if he does not!

That did not go over well. Nebuchadnezzar fumed. He had the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual, had the guys tied up and thrown into the fire. When they opened the top door of the furnace the flames leaped out and killed the soldiers—Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego fell into the fire.

But even if he does not!

The king looks into the side door of the furnace to watch the horrors of men being burned alive.

“We only threw three men into the fire, right?” 

“Yes, your majesty. Three.”

“Then why are there four men in there? Why are they walking around like it’s no big deal? Why is there a fourth man in the fire who looks like a son of the gods?” Daniel 3:24-25

There was another in the fire.

He shouted for the men to come out of the furnace—everyone is astonished. The three men were unharmed. Their clothes, their hair—they didn’t even smell like smoke.

The pagan king who had just order the execution of three men for not worshiping his golden statue says something remarkable. He says,

“Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.” Daniel 3:28-29

Maybe amazing things will happen if we’re faithful.

Chapter four, jump ahead several years, Nebuchadnezzar has another perplexing dream, this time he remembers it. He calls his wise men to tell him what it means but they can’t do it. So Daniel shows up and the king tells him about his dream.

In the dream, there was an enormous tree. It was strong and its top touched the sky, it was visible to the ends of the earth. It was beautiful and gave fruit to feed all the creatures. But then a holy one, a messenger, comes down from heaven and orders the tree to be cut down. Only the stump and roots, bound with iron and bronze, remain in the ground. The messenger says,

“Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him live with the animals, let his mind be changed to the mind of an animal until seven times pass by for him.”

“So what does it mean, Daniel?” Daniel 4:16

Daniel didn’t want to tell him. He was quiet for a bit. The king said,

“go ahead, don’t be afraid, just spit it out.” Daniel 4:19

Daniel was like,

“Well, I wish the dream was about your enemies. It’s not good. The tree is you, You’ve grown great and powerful—your dominion reaches to the distant parts of the earth. But you’ve also been merciless and cruel. God is telling you to humble yourself or He’s going to humble you by making you live like a wild animal. Stop being a jerk and start showing kindness to the people you are oppressing. If you do, your prosperity will continue. If not, I hope you like the taste of grass.” Daniel 4:19-23

We’re not told how the king responded.

A year later he’s standing on the roof of his royal palace, pretty much thinking about how awesome he is—how powerful and glorious his kingdom is.

Then it happened. A voice came from heaven,

“you were warned.” Daniel 4:31

Immediately he was transformed into a beast. Not exactly a werewolf—more like a werecow with feathers and bird feet. He’s driven away from people and lives in the wild eating grass, drenched with the dew of heaven. I don’t know exactly how long “seven times” is but it seems to be a while. 

The number seven represents completeness in the Bible—so it was a complete time. Maybe seven years, maybe seven seasons. It was seven somethings.

Then one day he comes to his senses and raises his eyes toward heaven. He praises God and seems to live the rest of his days as a true believer. Wouldn’t you?

Chapter five is another time jump. Nebuchadnezzar’s son Belshazzar is on the throne now. He’s throwing a big, wild party—drinking from those golden goblets that were taken from the Temple when Jerusalem was sacked. They’re making toasts to the pagan gods and having a really nice time.

If the werecow wasn’t scary enough for you, this should make up for it. Suddenly a disembodied human hand appears and writes a message on the wall. Everyone turns pale in terror.

They can’t read what it says. Maybe God has handwriting like a doctor.

You know the drill, the king brings in his wise men, but they can’t read it either. The queen reminds the king about Daniel who could solve mysteries.

So they get Daniel and promise to give him a purple robe and a gold chain—make him the third highest-ranking person in the kingdom—if he can read the writing on the wall.

Daniel says the king can keep his gifts and give the rewards to someone else.

He pulls no punches speaking to Belshazzar,

“God made your dad a great king with a mighty kingdom—but he was proud and cruel. God stripped him of everything, made him live like an animal until he humbled himself and acknowledged that God is the true sovereign king over all the earth. You knew all this, and you still used the golden goblets of the True God to get drunk and worship your pagan idols. God is not pleased, here’s what He wrote on the wall…

”Mene, mene, tekel, parsin.”

Meaning: “Your reign is over. You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. Your kingdom is divided and given to Medes and Persians.” Daniel 5:19-28

Daniel got his purple robe, gold chain, and rank in the kingdom anyway. Maybe we shouldn’t be so hesitant to speak the truth.

That night Belshazzar was killed and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom.

One more story, Chapter six starts off with Darius in charge. He’s appointing new leaders. Daniel is one of the top three officials. King Darius was really fond of him and the other leaders were jealous.

They wanted to find something they could use against him but Daniel was above reproach—a really good guy. They finally realized the only way they were going to get him was by using the Bible against him. So they set a trap. They knew Daniel prayed three times a day.

They went to the king and said,

“O great king. We think you should issue a decree that anyone who prays to any god other than you should be fed to the lions.” Daniel 6: 6-7

Darius thinks this sounds like a great idea. The danger of “yes men” and the pride of kings.

So, the decree was made. No praying for thirty days. That wouldn’t even be a challenge for most people, right?

Daniel heard about the decree, went home, and in front of an open window that faced Jerusalem, just like he always did, he prayed three times a day. 

God tells us to honor and obey the authorities He puts over us unless they tell us to sin. It would have been a sin for Daniel to stop praying.

The jealous leaders tattle to king Darius.

“Hey, you know that new law about not praying? Daniel’s praying anyway.” Daniel 6:13

Darius is bummed. He likes Daniel but he’s trapped—a king can’t go back on his word. As Daniel’s being thrown into the pit with the lions, the king says,

“I really hope that God you insist on serving rescues you.” Daniel 6:16

He couldn’t sleep and the next morning Darius goes to the lion’s den,

“Daniel? Did your God save you?” Daniel 6:20

Daniel answers.

“May the king live forever. My God sent His angel and he shut the mouths of the lions.” Daniel 6:21

The stone is rolled away and Daniel is lifted out of the den. Then the king has the men who set the whole thing up thrown in—along with their wives and children. Yikes! The hungry lions rip them apart before they even reached the floor. Daniel didn’t have a scratch on him.

King Darius issued a new decree that in every part of the kingdom, people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.

Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and also king Cyrus who came after him. Cyrus is the ruler who allowed the exiles to return to Judea.

Maybe people are watching to see how faithful we’re going to be. Maybe little things like praying and going to church regularly will make a big difference in the world.

The book of Daniel is a chiasm. A lot of the Bible is written as a chiasm. You probably don’t know what that is. They don’t really make sense to us western, linear thinking, modern people—but something written as a chiasm puts the main point in the middle. Not at the end. A chiasm works like this. 1, 2, 3, MAIN POINT, 3, 2, 1.

The central point of Daniel happens in chapter seven.

So, what’s the main point of Daniel? You’re going to be really surprised. His initials are J.C.

In chapter seven, Daniel, the interpreter of dreams, starts to have his own visions. The rest of the book is a bunch of his weird apocalyptic descriptions of strange animals with horns attacking each other. 

But here’s what happens in chapter seven that is the main point of the book of Daniel, verse 9:

“As I looked, “thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool.” Daniel 7:9

This is heaven. There are thrones—two thrones. The Ancient of Days is God the Father. 

Daniel continues:

“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” Daniel 7:13-14

Son of Man, coming with the clouds, going into the throne room of heaven, into the presence of The Ancient of Days. This is Jesus returning from His mission on earth—where He lived, died on a cross, and came back from the dead. He established His new kingdom. The Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of Heaven. This is right after Acts chapter one, the disciples are still looking up at the sky wondering what just happened. On the other side of those clouds, God the Father is giving God the Son all authority, glory, and sovereign power over all the nations and people of the earth.

This is the point of the dream of the statue with the head of gold. Jesus was the rock thrown from heaven that destroyed it. Jesus was the fourth man in the fire. Jesus was the one who shut the mouths of the lions. The kingdoms of this world are temporary. The Kingdom of God will never end. Daniel wanted the people.

It doesn’t matter how bad things get in this world. And they will get bad. Jesus has been given all authority and power. This is the message of Daniel. It’s a message of hope. It should fill us with the courage to stand up, to not compromise, to be people of integrity. 

You, like Daniel and his friends, are highly favored. The God you serve is able to deliver you from any trouble in this life. But even if he doesn’t, He will deliver you in the life that is to come. AMEN.

Next week we’ll talk about the freaky visions that make up the rest of Daniel. It’s going to get apocalyptic.