Daniel 2-6

NOTE:

We've been "riding an airplane" and getting a "high view"/"big picture" of the Bible story.

Coming to Daniel we've slowed down to see how this big picture fits into this book and how this book propels the Bible story from the end of Israel's captivity toward the gospel era.

BACKGROUND MOTIF'S LEADING UP TO BOOK OF DANIEL

Creation:

All things are "very good".

God and man… in the garden.

Man doing service in the garden: "tending and keeping the garden" ( has shadowy under tones of priestly service: think forward to Israelite priests, then ultimately serving in the "new creation").

Setting of Eden's garden implicitly set on a mountain.

NOTE: where do rivers initially start? More to the point: where do you see the rivers coming out of Eden flowing to? If it flows out of the garden such necessitates a downward path, implying that it (the garden) is over a higher elevation.

Every creation lives in harmony with God: man - in his dominion - state cares for the produce of the land and the animals cohabitate.

Son of man: NOTE: Jews knew this term to refer to human beings (cp. ) Man has an identity:His title is "man" (not male, vs. female but "man" as in mankind or human being, or in the Hebrew "Adam". This is NOT a name - initially - but a title. He is created from the dust. :7He is created "in the image of God". He is to be a living "statue" and Man has a purpose: Have dominion over the birds of the air, animals.Man to rule over the animals. When he fails (see , ) he is subservient to and becomes more like an animal (this theme plays out in the biblical story… note ).

Son of man: NOTE: Jews knew this term to refer to human beings (cp. )

Man has an identity:

His title is "man" (not male, vs. female but "man" as in mankind or human being, or in the Hebrew "Adam".

This is NOT a name - initially - but a title. He is created from the dust.

He is created "in the image of God". He is to be a living "statue" reflecting God’s character in his life.

Man has a purpose: Have dominion over the birds of the air, animals.

Have dominion over the birds of the air, animals.Man to rule over the animals. When he fails (see , ) he is subservient to and becomes more like an animal (this theme plays out in the biblical story… note ).

Man to rule over the animals.

When he fails (see , ) he is subservient to and becomes more like an animal (this theme plays out in the biblical story… note ).

DIGESTING :

NOTE: double layers to these visions - telling the visions while conveying the story of mankind and his need for a "Savior"; an ideal "Son of man" ("seed of woman vs. seed of the serpent" )

Creation imagery: man to rule over beasts (animals)… not to be subdued by them (think )

Nebuchadnezzar dream: God blesses him to rule over all. ; cp.

But Nebuchadnezzar did not live as an image bearer of God.

He wanted to be like God. ; cp.

So, the dream of (ch. 4) of what was to happen to the king. 4:25-27

God didn't want to punish Nebuchadnezzar. ; cp.

Nebuchadnezzar didn't humble himself and the dream comes true (4:33) and he was "driven/drove away" (cp. ; )

Ultimately, he humbled himself and praised God - the "king of kings" (2:37) and "king of heaven (4:37), and restored to his place of sovereignty.

Belshazar's dream (ch. 5): Unlike his father the king doesn't humble himself and is slain.

Son of man imagery:Daniel - it seems from the writing - bears a "son of man" image in how he lives:He truly reflects the "image of God" and thus is given sovereignty. 2:46-49; (friends) 3:28-30; (Nebuchadnezzar) 4:36-37; 5:29The gospel connection:No man - from small to great - has used lived out God's calling as a true human (son of man)Jesus: the ideal "Son of man"New creation: what the kingdom of God is: what the idealized garden was/is meant to be.

Son of man imagery:

Daniel - it seems from the writing - bears a "son of man" image in how he lives:

He truly reflects the "image of God" and thus is given sovereignty. 2:46-49; (friends) 3:28-30; (Nebuchadnezzar) 4:36-37; 5:29

The gospel connection:

No man - from small to great - has used lived out God's calling as a true human (son of man)

Jesus: the ideal "Son of man"

New creation: what the kingdom of God is: what the idealized garden was/is meant to be.