at a glance
author: Daniel.
date: About 535 BC.
setting: Daniel, a Jew, was taken captive to Babylon in 605 BC. He served in the government of Babylon, and then Persia, for nearly 70 years.
verses to remember: “Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him” (2:20–22).
theme to consider: God is in control over everything—nature, nations and his people. Because of this, we can trust him completely.
unchanging truth
Horoscopes. Palm readers. Tarot cards. Ouija boards. Want to know the future? Want answers to some of your most pressing questions? Well, plunk down a few bucks and hold out your palm. The answers are there, if only you know how to read them …
Or at least that’s what some would have you believe.
The desire to understand powers beyond ourselves is nothing new. When the powerful king of Babylon had a mysterious dream, who did he call for? His astrologers. Of course, if he had told them his dream, they might have been able to make up an interpretation. So the king demanded that they tell him both the dream and what it meant. Finally, even the astrologers admitted, “No one can reveal it to the king except the gods” (2:11) … or God.
And that’s where Daniel comes in. Daniel was a young Jew who had been taken captive from Judah to Babylon. He and several others served in Nebuchadnezzar’s court yet continued to worship their God. When the king needed to know both his dream and what it meant, God gave Daniel the answer.
Daniel understood that God is in complete control. When you want to know how to handle your future, talk to God. When you have big questions, ask him. If you persevere, you’ll always get exactly what you need—an answer to guide you and complete truth—not a magical hoax.
1. You can maintain a Christian witness, no matter how difficult the people around you try to make it for you (3:8–30; 6:1–23).
2. Powerful leaders are only in authority because God wills it. He raises up leaders and brings them down. No one is outside of his ultimate authority (4:28–37; 5:25–30).
3. God has all of the future in his hands. Nothing happens that surprises him (7:1–8:27; 9:20–12:4).