Wisdom

We are told in Daniel 1 that Daniel and his friends were ten times wiser than the other wise men. Now I am not sure what that means but I think it says that Daniel and his friends did show more wisdom tan the others. Maybe they were correct ten times more often than the others but whatever it means it shows me that this wisdom was God given. James tells us that if we lack wisdom we are to ask of God and He will give us wisdom. That is why I am auras it was God given.
At the end of Daniel there is a wonderful promise: Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. Daniel 12:3. Daniel's life and record shows me that this is true. If it was true for Daniel it can be true for us.

Welcome Brita Faith

It was my pleasure today to hold our new granddaughter, Brita Faith. Some people may question the idea of bringing a child into a world that is so hostile to Christianity. However, we can have faith in a hostile world. God is in control. That is what Daniel teaches. Now it is my prayer for Brita and for everyone that they may live their lives knowing that God is in control.

Dare to be a Daniel

I have mixed feeling about the following hymn. Do you know why?


Standing by a purpose true,
Heeding God's command,
Honor them, the faithful few!
All hail to Daniel's band!

Refrain

Dare to be a Daniel,
Dare to stand alone!
Dare to have a purpose firm!
Dare to make it known.

Many mighty men are lost
Daring not to stand,
Who for God had been a host
By joining Daniel's band.

Refrain

Many giants, great and tall,
Stalking through the land,
Headlong to the earth would fall,
If met by Daniel's band.

Refrain

Hold the Gospel banner high!
On to vict'ry grand!
Satan and his hosts defy,
And shout for Daniel's band.

Refrain

Linguistic Approach

The traditional view of Daniel is to see the first half as historic and the second half as prophetic. But if you look at the language the division is much different. As I said in an earlier post the Aramaic section is chapters 2 - 7. Look at the following outline.
A.  Dream statue representing four kingdoms - Daniel 2
        B. Worship the golden statue or perish in a pit - Daniel 3
            C. Judgment on Nebuchadnezzar - Daniel 4
            C. Judgment on Belshazzar - Daniel 5
        B.  Worship Darius or perish in a pit - Daniel 6
A.   Dream of four beasts representing four kingdoms - Daniel 7

God's People have Hope

The Hebrew sections of the book of Daniel are often looked on prophetic only but they were written to give God's people hope. First, we see very clearly that God is in control. Kings may think that they are but this is God's doing. The prophetic chapters show us that there is hope for God's people. Antiochus or the Antichrist may think that they are suppressing and eliminating the people of God but like all other earthly kings, they are there by God's permissive will. So instead of reading Daniel. 8-12 with uncertainty read it knowing that God is in control and the earthly kings can go so far and no further.

Nations, Take Warning

In the Aramaic section of Daniel he addresses the nations. He tells them that God is in control and He is faithful to His people. Though His people are often unfaithful to Him, He is still faithful to them. Even allowing them to be taken into captivity shows His faithfulness. You only have to go back to Leviticus to see that God is being faithful to His word. These chapters of Daniel also show that God will vindicate His people and He will judge those nations that reject Him.
Habakkuk also reminds us that though God allows judgment to come upon His people by godless nations He will not allow those nations to go unpunished. Today this is a warning to such nations as North Korea, Saudi Arabia sand Iran. They may defy God today and persecute His people they will one day be judged the Judge of all the earth.

A Book in Two Languages

The book of Daniel is written in two languages. It isn't that the first half is written in one language and the second half in another. The first chapter is in Hebrew along with the last five chapters while chapters 2 through 7 are in Aramaic. So why two languages? Daniel was living in Babylon but he wrote in Hebrew which was his native language and Aramaic the cultural language.
It is generally understood that the book also had two distinct audiences. The Hebrew sections were written to the Jews and were written to give them hope while the Aramaic sections were written to the Gentiles showing them that God is in control and He will judge the nations.