Daniel’s messages still relevant today

DANIEL’S messages are as relevant today as they were when the Book of Daniel was written about 2,500 years ago.

The first six chapters show how Daniel and his friends were faithful to God to the end. They were not living in Judah but in Babylon (the present-day Iraq) where the God they loved and worshipped was unknown to the majority of people in power and in the market places.

Daniel and his friends were even given Babylonian names and they accepted them. They served in the king’s office even though he was instrumental in conquering Jerusalem, but they refused to worship idols or the king. They continued to pray to the God of Israel.

In other words, they walked a tight rope and took a stand for their belief under all circumstances, many of which were very adverse.

Just before being thrown into a much-heated furnace, they could say to the king: “ … and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up” (Dan. 3:17,18). They influenced the king eventually.

Today many Christians are similarly living in “their Babylon”, that is, among people and under bosses who do not believe in Jesus Christ. 

Thus, we as Christians, need to pray to the living God through Jesus Christ for wisdom to know what to do and for courage to do what is right to do.

The second six chapters describe the rule of monsters and evil men, how deceitful people prospered and how God’s people suffered ill treatment and were killed.

There was a time of war and violence, of intrigue and hypocrisy, a time when God seemed to be absent. However, in the end, and this could be after death, the faithful to God “shall be delivered, every one who is found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to eternal life … Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever”. (Dan. 12:1-3).

Thus, as we look at the whole picture of Daniel’s writings, which included the delivery for God’s people who then succeeded in life and were honoured on earth, and the suffering and death of God’s people on earth and then honoured after death, we see the main theme of Daniel to be that God is sovereign over all the earth and throughout eternity, and the people of God must be faithful to Him all the time.

Today, many Christians also live under very trying, difficult and evil situations, and are therefore encouraged to persevere in their trust and belief that God reigns supreme in all circumstances.