Bible Overview: Daniel

Author: Daniel

(“God is my judge”)

Date: 536 B.C.

Daniel was taken to Babylon in the first deportation by Nebuchadnezzar in 605 B.C. He was there in Babylon until at least 536 B.C. (Probably about 70 years or more). Daniel probably wrote this near the end of that period.

Daniel was probably about 15 years old at the time of his exile to Babylon.

Ezekiel was a contemporary of Daniel and spoke of him in his prophecy

Ezekiel 14:14, “even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would deliver but their own lives by their righteousness, declares the Lord God.”

Ezekiel 14:20 “even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live, declares the Lord God, they would deliver neither son nor daughter. They would deliver but their own lives by their righteousness.”

Ezekiel 28:3 “you are indeed wiser than Daniel; no secret is hidden from you;”

Purpose: to inspire hope

This prophecy was intended to give hope. The audience for this prophecy was the Jews in exile in Babylon.

Theme: God’s Sovereignty

Key Verses:

Daniel 1:8–9 ESV

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. And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs,

Daniel 2:19–23 ESV

Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him. To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of you, for you have made known to us the king’s matter.”

English Standard Version Chapter 2

And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever,

God’s kingdom set up by Christ at his first coming and consummated at his second coming.

Daniel 3:16–18 ESV

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

Daniel 4:34–35 ESV

At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?”

Outline:

1. Historical events in Daniel’s life

Daniel 1-6: Historical events in Daniel’s life (Daniel’s refusal to defile himself, interpretation of Neb.’s dream, the fiery furnace, the humiliation of King Neb., the handwriting on the wall, and Daniel in the Lion’s Den.

2. Prophecies about the future

Daniel 7-12: Prophecies concerning the future of Israel and the nations (general order of world powers/kingdoms, the coming of Messiah, the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, and the end times)

Application:

Daniel is a great example of faithfulness in obedience to God and prayer even under hard circumstances. We must trust and obey even when life is difficult.

Daniel was always careful to give all glory to God rather than taking credit for his wisdom and ability. We must always give the glory to God, because everything we have comes from him.