Daniel

by G. Prasher, Manchester | Category: Profiles Of The Prophets | Aug 1978

Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, addressed Daniel as a man greatly beloved, eloquent testimony to heaven's assessment of the life of this outstanding character. Throughout the record of his life no fault is charged against him. The esteem in which he was held by his contemporaries is reflected in Ezekiel 14:14: "Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it (the land of Israel), they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness". The Lord could link Daniel with such worthies as Noah and Job as a man of notable righteousness and power with God.

Daniel is introduced in Scripture as a young man, of the seed royal or of the nobles, taken captive from Jerusalem to Babylon when Nebuchadnezzar invaded the kingdom of Jehoiakim about the year 606 B.C. He is still on record in the third year of Cyrus as receiving the great prophetic revelation of the last two chapters of his book. This was about 533 B.C., so assuming Daniel to have been seventeen years of age when taken captive, he must have been about ninety when he received this vision. Perhaps his life was then drawing towards its close, for God's final message to him is: "Go thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and shalt stand in thy lot, at the end of the days". So we are able to review his character from youth to old age, a tableau of consistent fidelity to God's will. Neither the hardship and upheaval of being torn from his native land as Nebuchadnezzar's captive, nor the subtle temptations of privilege and luxury in the great Babylonian capital, disturbed his steadfast resolution to serve the Lord with all his heart.

That God strengthened His servant to maintain such high standards of dedication through a wide variety of trying circumstances is a source of great spiritual encouragement. We live in times of rapid and often revolutionary change. Ethical standards deteriorate around us. Many disciples in the more affluent countries are subject to the softening influences of material plenty. There is a development of knowledge which may cause some to fall prey to "philosophy and vain deceit after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ". Daniel experienced convulsive political changes, involving the crushing of kingdoms and the transfer of power from one world empire to another. He was given power and affluence. He excelled in the advanced learning of his day. Yet he walked with God through it all, maintained his spiritual standards, was available to serve in successive crises, and in a ripe old age was still glorifying the God he had served so well. The Scriptures give helpful insight into the spiritual attitudes which enabled Daniel to attain such eminence from youth to old age, one keynote of his experience being that he lived consistently in the fear of the Lord.

"By the fear of the LORD men depart from evil" (Prov. 16:6)

Young Daniel showed his true fear of the Lord in purposing not to defile himself with the king's meat (1:8). This sensitivity to observe the ceremonial requirements of the Law reveals Daniel's conscientious regard for the divine Word. It would have been easy in the circumstances to excuse himself from being unduly concerned, for he was in a strange land and under duress through the king's command. But he realized that the king's meat might include the flesh of animals prohibited by God's law to the Israelite, or the blood might not have been drawn from it, or it could have idolatrous associations. So he maintained his conscientious objection to the prescribed food, and was duly honoured by God for his loyalty to principle. This purpose to avoid defilement because of his fear of the Lord was foundational to all Daniel's achievement. It has been an example and inspiration to many, and challenges our hearts amidst all the defiling influences within and around us today. Vessels must be sanctified if they are to be meet for the Master's use.

"The reward of humility and the fear of the LORD is riches, and honour, and life" (Prov. 22:4)

For Daniel and his three companions this word was remarkably fulfilled. They, having honoured God in the matter of the king's meat and wine, were by God honoured in their physical condition, academic progress and "every matter of wisdom and understanding". Daniel particularly had "understanding in all visions and dreams". "The secret of the LORD is with them that fear Him" (Psa. 25:14), and a crisis was soon to arise which demonstrated this to Nebuchadnezzar and all the court of Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar's exacting demand that his wise men should make known his dream and its interpretation exposed the limitations of mere human wisdom, or the resources of magic and sorcery. Daniel and his companions besought the Lord concerning the secret, and Daniel later testified to the king that there is a God in heaven who revealeth secrets, the secret having been revealed to Daniel not for any wisdom that he had more than any living, but that the king might know the thoughts of his heart. Daniel's whole demeanour bespoke his humility and fear of the Lord who had revealed the secret, and to whom alone glory should be given. "Then the king made Daniel great, and gave him many great gifts, and made him to rule over the whole province of Babylon"

(2:48).

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom" (Prov. 9:10)

There is remarkable wisdom in Daniel's approach to successive problems which confronted him. In the matter of the diet prescribed by the king, his approach to the master of the eunuchs was exemplary. He did not brusquely assert his objection or condemn Babylonian custom, but proposed a reasonable trial period of ten days on an alternative diet. This appealed to the master of the eunuchs and solved the problem for Daniel and his friends. Similar wisdom becomes the Christian disciple "ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear" (1 Pet. 3:15). Again when Arioch the captain of Nebuchadnezzar's guard sought out Daniel for execution (2:14), Daniel returned answer with counsel and prudence, requesting further time and assuring him that the interpretation would be forthcoming. When interpreting dreams, whether for Nebuchadnezzar or Belshazzar, there was a courtesy and humility about Daniel's approach which displayed a wisdom having its root in godly fear.

"In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence" (Prov. 14:26)

Daniel's great moral courage has its special appeal, for he seems to personify fearless witness to righteousness in a godless society and in defiance of tyrannical power. This superb courage also derived from his fear of the Lord. With deep reverence for the one true God, Daniel could see the gods of Babylon in their puny perspective. Appreciating almighty divine power, he could look fearlessly into the face of mere human power, however terrifying, whether absolute as personified in Nebuchadnezzar, or more limited in the Medo-Persian monarchs. He courageously interpreted to Nebuchadnezzar the dream which foretold the replacement of the Babylonian by the Medo-Persian Empire. He spelt out the meaning of the dream which predicted Nebuchadnezzar's insanity, and urged the proud monarch to break off his sins by righteousness, and his iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Before godless Belshazzar he interpreted the doom-laden message of the writing on the wall, and unhesitatingly reproved the king for his folly and sin. After the accession of Darius the Mede, Daniel defied the death penalty, openly praying towards Jerusalem in full view of the enemies who so eagerly waited to prefer their accusation against him. The young man who had courageously refused the king's meat was now approaching ninety years of age, but he would calmly face death in the lions' den rather than compromise. From youth to maturity Daniel was motivated by a deep-seated fear of the Lord which gave him such strong confidence.

"In the fear of the LORD all the day long" (Prov. 23:17)

Daniel's qualities as an administrator are confirmed by his holding high office under both the Babylonian and Medo-Persian administrations. Nebuchadnezzar appointed him to "rule over the whole province of Babylon, and to be chief governor over all the wise men of Babylon" (2:48). He was initially one of three presidents whom Darius set over the 120 satraps controlling the whole kingdom, but Daniel became distinguished above the presidents and satraps, because an excellent spirit was found in him, and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. Envy moved the presidents and satraps to intrigue against him; they tried to find occasion against him "as touching the kingdom", but were unable to establish any cause of complaint "forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him". High tribute indeed! Undertaking all his responsibilities in the fear of the Lord, he maintained righteous principles in all his affairs. To all disciples of the Lord Jesus, however lowly their calling, there is similar opportunity to glorify God through faithful service: "Obey in all things them that are your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing the Lord". (Col. 3:22).

A Man of Prayer

Daniel's prayerful dependence upon God, and his deep exercise of heart for the honour of God and the blessing of His people are delightfully evident. Because he was habitually a man of prayer, he was conditioned at times of crisis to seek the needed grace and deliverance. He knew his God and therefore he did exploits. Three times a day his window was opened towards Jerusalem as he sought in prayer towards the place of the Name the blessing which Solomon had requested long before (1 Kin. 8:48). When Nebuchadnezzar threatened the lives of the wise men of Babylon, Daniel called his three companions to seek mercies of the God of heaven. His outpouring of heart when the secret was revealed is among the choicest prayers of Scripture (2:19-23). But it is in his confession and supplication regarding the restoration of God's people and house that the inner heart longings of this great man of God are most fully revealed (9:1-19). His prayer reflects his appreciation of God's unique purpose through Israel, and the central importance of the house of God in relation to that purpose. He set his face unto God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes. He identified himself with an erring nation in confession of their failure. He pleaded God's merciful intervention "because Thy city and Thy people are called by Thy name". Little wonder that in response to such prayer heaven was moved, none less than the angel Gabriel being caused to fly swiftly to assure the prophet of divine response to his importunity.

"Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets" (Amos 3:7)

In the practical crises which arose in his public life Daniel demonstrated the truth that the secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him. In a more specialized sense the secrets of divine purpose were so revealed to him that he was used to impart great prophetic revelations which would illumine the minds of believers through succeeding centuries. Through this man "greatly beloved", as through "the disciple whom Jesus loved" would be disclosed a vast range of prophetic truth. For Daniel's prophecies in the Old Testament and the book of the Revelation in the New Testament are complementary and constitute a major proportion of all prophetic truth yet awaiting fulfilment. Of key importance in the book of Daniel are the interpretation of the image seen by Nebuchadnezzar in his dream, and the 70 heptads (or weeks of years) recorded in chapter 9:24-27. To Daniel were particularly revealed the purposes of God through the nation of Israel, emphasis being given to those Gentile powers which would have dealings with Israel from Nebuchadnezzar to Christ and at the time of the end.

Daniel's own attitude of heart towards the revelation of divine truth invites our special interest. He was conditioned towards God to receive the light of revelation because his heart was intently yet humbly set to seek after God and the knowledge of His purposes. He have noted that Daniel and his friends had desired mercies of the God of heaven concerning the secret of Nebuchadnezzar's dream and its interpretation (2:19). He doubtless little realized that there would be revealed that night prophetic truth of such far-reaching significance. The immediate satisfaction of Nebuchadnezzar's imperious demand was of limited importance compared with the brilliant illumination of Gentile history for the instruction of succeeding generations of believers.

It would seem in keeping with Daniel's recorded attitude that he would often ponder the significance of that great image and its interpretation. He had been but a young man when the secret was imparted to him under such dramatic circumstances. Many years flowed by, years filled with responsibilities of high office, until in the first year of Belshazzar, when Daniel was about 82 years of age, he "had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream and told the sum of the matters" (7:1). His reaction to the dream is typical and significant: "My spirit was grieved ... I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth concerning all this" (7:15,16). When the interpretation had been given Daniel records, "My thoughts much troubled me, and my countenance was changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart". Two years later (8:1) he received the vision of the ram and the he-goat, pre-figuring the vanquishing of Persian power by Alexander the Great, and the ultimate emergence of the Antichrist from one of the divisions of Alexander's kingdom. We see again the same deep exercise of heart in Daniel: "I sought to understand it ... I was affrighted, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, 0 son of man; for the vision belongeth to the time of the end". The sequel was that Daniel "was sick certain days; then I rose up and did the king's business: and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it". With what earnestness Daniel pursued his quest of truth as he strove to understand what God had shown him! He was among the prophets who searched what time or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ was indicating, and to Daniel it was shown that much of what he recorded was for the instruction of later generations: "Shut up the vision; for it belongeth to many days to come" (8:26). "Shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end" (12:4). "But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and shalt stand in thy lot, at the end of the days" (12:13).

Daniel's earnestness in seeking to understand prophetic visions given to him by God should find an answering earnestness in ourselves upon whom the ends of the ages are come. "We have the word of prophecy made more sure; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts" (2 Pet. 1:19). To us also much prophetic truth may remain obscure, being more particularly relevant to those living at the time of the end. But it was the Lord Jesus Himself who rebuked God's people in the days of His flesh for their inability to understand the signs of the times (Matt. 16:2,3) and we should be concerned not to merit the same censure. Living as we do in an era of accelerating fulfilment of divine purpose towards the coming again of the Lord Jesus, we should be intensely earnest to view current history in the light of prophetic revelation. "For yet a very little while, He that cometh shall come, and shall not tarry" (Heb. 11:37).

G. Prasher, Manchester | Aug 1978
Profiles Of The Prophets