Notes on Daniel

1:1-2

In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God.
—
Interesting that God deliberately gave up His city, people & their king. Maybe this was a deliberate act of discipline, or a greater purpose was at hand. It shows us what God is prepared to do to His chosen people if He decides they need it.

1:8-9

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
—
Interesting how God is involved in all these little details. He is sovereign over the thoughts, desires and compassion of people around us and can bend them to His will.

1:11-13

Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had assigned over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, "Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king's food be observed by you, and deal with your servants according to what you see."
—
Daniel had some guts. He was prepared to speak up and even risk the lives of other people, counting solely on God. Logically, to me, his plan didn't make sense. Just eating vegetables is pretty tough. Perhaps it was a supernatural blessing to show that God was with him. It also shows he's not a whimp. How often do we defile ourselves when sin is laid before us, the opportunity is easy, the pressure to conform is all around and it's hard to resist.

1:17

As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
—
All our gifts come from God. I wonder if these gifts were given to them from birth, or whether it was something that kicked-in at this point in time. That would be pretty awesome. To go from being fairly average to very intelligent in a short space of time.

2:1

In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his spirit was troubled, and his sleep left him.
—
Quite interesting that Neb would pay attention to dreams. I guess that was a very different age. Today, people would just think you're nuts, so you would ignore them or keep them to yourself. I like it that God gives dreams even to complete heathens, and then follows it up by troubling their soul to pursue understanding. Also, I imagine these dreams from God were fairly striking, and perhaps couldn't be ignored,

2:5
The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, "The word from me is firm: if you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you shall be torn limb from limb, and your houses shall be laid in ruins.
—
I love the way Neb is so brutal. He is prepared to put spiritual things to the test, no messing about. If it's real, it real. He won't play superstitious games. He will expose any fraud. The wise men say it can't be done. Neb is rather hot-headed...

2:12
Because of this the king was angry and very furious, and commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be destroyed.
—
He's not afraid to kill a few people. The dreams must have made quite an impact.

2:20

Daniel answered and said: "Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. 
—
Wisdom and might belongs to God. It's like no one gets these without God supplying it to them. You won't have strength without God, and you won't get wisdom unless he gives it to you. Interesting that in the NT we're told that anyone who lacks wisdom should pray for it. Our natural inclination is to believe that these things arise from within ourselves. They don't.

2:21

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; 
—
God is in charge. He often works in a behind-the-scenes type of way, but he's very much in control. It's quite hard to get your head round when you think of all the wicked rulers that have existed, and committed immense evil. Did God set these up as well? To what extent does he extend his permissive will in this aspect? Did these evil rulers accomplish things that God set them up for, in a similar capacity to Judas and all involved in the crucifixion of Jesus? They were 100% responsible for their own actions, but God used them.

"He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding" — you would think he would give wisdom to the daft, to help them. Is there a distinction between being wise and having wisdom? Perhaps 'wise' a teachable, humble and repentant state. Perhaps wisdom is what happens over time through learning, examination and experience. In a similar way, an ability to understand is what precedes knowledge.

2:22

he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him. 
—
God knows what is in the darkness. He sees what everyone else cannot see. 'Darkness' could mean hidden, unknown things, and it could also be a reference to evil. Here, it's a reference to Neb's dream so it must mean 'unknown'. I like the way it describes light as dwelling with him. We always think of light as something that travels at incredible speeds from a source. Here, it doesn't travel, it dwells. God is the source of all light. The word 'dwell' also implies that this light is alive.

2:24

Therefore Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said thus to him: "Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon; bring me in before the king, and I will show the king the interpretation."
—
Daniel's got some guts. He's pretty bold to challenge the man whose job it is to murder people, and ask him to do the opposite of the Kings commands.

2:30

But as for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because of any wisdom that I have more than all the living, but in order that the interpretation may be made known to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your mind.
—
Daniel gives God all the credit. He loves God and walks humbly.

2:34-35

As you looked, a stone was cut out by no human hand, and it struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold, all together were broken in pieces, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so that not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.
—
I'm guessing that stone was Jesus Christ and that great mountain is the kingdom of God. Just sounds like an awesome image the way it's written here. You read it and you're like 'I want to be on that team!'

2:37

You, O king, the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, and the might, and the glory,
—
God gave neb everything. Without God's hand of provision he would be nothing. What sounds like a compliment is really quite a humbling statement.

2:46-7, 3:1, 3:4-6

Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face and paid homage to Daniel, and commanded that an offering and incense be offered up to him. The king answered and said to Daniel, "Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery." . . . King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its breadth six cubits . . . And the herald proclaimed aloud, "You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace."
—
Neb's reverence to the one true God didn't exactly last long. In the next breath he's made a golden image for everyone to worship, and kills anyone who doesn't. It's like this golden image echoes the one in his dream, but he makes it entirely of gold. It's like he's in denial and has somehow reworded God's message to him in his mind so that "he's okay". How utterly stupid, but I wonder how often we do this sort of thing with God's word.

3:14

Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, "Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up?
—
Daniel is mysteriously missing from this list. Maybe their accusers were too scared of Daniel because he was so high up.

3:16-18

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."
—
You read that and you're like 'where did they get such confidence from?'. God allows loads of people to be martyred for His name. They sounded really certain that a miracle would be performed. This was the end of all but one of Jesus's disciples in the New Testament. I'm guessing they must of had a real prompting from the Holy Spirit, or just an awful lot of faith!

3:24-5

Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, "Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?" They answered and said to the king, "True, O king." He answered and said, "But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods."
—
It's just awesome! I guess that's either an angel or Jesus himself.

3:29

Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way."
—
Neb is almost hilarious in the way he responds to everything with death threats and violence. Although it's awesome that he acknowledges the one true God, was this the response God was looking for?

4:3
How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion endures from generation to generation. 
4:7
Then the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers came in, and I told them the dream, but they could not make known to me its interpretation.
—
It's almost weird how Neb has these profound revelations of truth and then continually resorts back to life as usual. There's no real sense of repentance. It's like Daniel's God is just another bolt-on God to add to all the others.

4:9
O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery is too difficult for you, tell me the visions of my dream that I saw and their interpretation.
—
Shows Neb's present understanding of God is still very basic. He thinks Daniel is a magician and that there are many Gods.

4:27
Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity.
—
The whole vision of the second dream is to humble Neb, to show him that it's God who sets up rulers, and to bring him to repentance. Daniel gives him this final warning — Neb needs to be the King that God wants him to be. It's also interesting to think how much this would have sucked for Daniel. Neb seems to be a violent, temperamental sort of guy. Delivering this interpretation could cost him his life.

4:28-30
All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, and the king answered and said, "Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?"
—
I guess pride was the biggest sin. He couldn't grasp that this Kingdom was given to him by God. He could not come to that understanding.

4:31-2
While the words were still in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, "O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will."
—
This time a voice fell from Heaven. Quite incredible. Before that God only communicated through mysterious dreams and Daniel's interpretations. He only heard God's voice direct when it was too late. Quite an interesting dynamic — people very rarely hear God's voice. It would probably have been an awful lot easier for Neb if he was spoken to like that from the beginning. But then Neb would be operating without faith and in blind fear. It would have denied him the opportunity to make his own choices and decisions.

4:33
Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles' feathers, and his nails were like birds' claws.
—
When God moves, it's quite decisive action. I'm glad God is a lot more patient with me! I'm glad I'm not in Neb's position. It's always easy to think a guy like that was just dumb, but would we have acted any different?

4:34-35
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?" 
—
Maybe discipline designed by God is intended to bring us into a place of perspective, where we praise and honour him. This is exactly what Neb does when his discipline is over. And all credit to Neb, he really understands authority and understands God's authority, and writes this awesome verse.

4:37
Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.
—
Neb seems to have turned a corner. It just shows how God works in the lives of people in stages: revealing, rebuking, disciplining, blessing. In doing all of these He brings about the end result, but it's often hard to see that in the midst of the first three stages.

5:2-4
Belshazzar, when he tasted the wine, commanded that the vessels of gold and of silver that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem be brought, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them. Then they brought in the golden vessels that had been taken out of the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. They drank wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.
—
It seems Neb's son Bel' didn't learn the lessons from his fathers life. He went back to old ways, perhaps succumbing to the advice and pressure from those around him.

5:5-6
Immediately the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace, opposite the lampstand. And the king saw the hand as it wrote. Then the king's color changed, and his thoughts alarmed him; his limbs gave way, and his knees knocked together.
—
Just seeing God's fingers freaked him out. Often people will say things like "If God exists why doesn't he just show himself?". Just the tips of his fingers scare us to death. Turns out we're not really ready for the supernatural experiences we would love to have.

5:8-9
Then all the king's wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or make known to the king the interpretation. Then King Belshazzar was greatly alarmed, and his color changed, and his lords were perplexed.
—
History repeats itself with Neb's son. He seems to change colour quite a lot and generally seems to be a weaker man than his father. His knees knock and his limbs give way. That never seemed to happen with Neb.

5:11-12
There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods. In the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods were found in him, and King Nebuchadnezzar, your father-your father the king-made him chief of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and astrologers, because an excellent spirit, knowledge, and understanding to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve problems were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation."
—
Daniel is remembered, and still has a great reputation. I would guess many years have passed between chapters four and five. But it's crazy how fast the scriptures read. They breeze over a man's life. When you take time out of the equation it can expose your life as consistent or really foolish as you place  one scenario against the next as if they were just minutes apart.

5:17
Then Daniel answered and said before the king, "Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another. Nevertheless, I will read the writing to the king and make known to him the interpretation.
—
Daniel is quite bold and blunt. Perhaps he has grown increasingly fearless of man. I would like this for myself!

5:20
But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit was hardened so that he dealt proudly, he was brought down from his kingly throne, and his glory was taken from him.
—
God is never really a fan of pride. Pride is when you forget all about God and actually think you're him.

5:22-3
And you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this, but you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven. And the vessels of his house have been brought in before you, and you and your lords, your wives, and your concubines have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know, but the God in whose hand is your breath, and whose are all your ways, you have not honored.
—
Bel didn't seem to learn anything from Neb's reign as King. He commits the same sin, and God warns him in the same way.

5:30
That very night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was killed.
—
Bel didn't get much warning. Perhaps because he had Neb's experiences to draw on and learn from God was more direct.

6:3
Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other presidents and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.
—
Daniel is now on King number three, he seems to be out-living them all. And, as always, cream rises to the top.

6:4
Then the presidents and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him.
—
They don't appear to have any reason to hate Daniel other than they're evil. Perhaps they had some dealings with Daniel where they came off worse. Whatever the reason, it's not recorded, which probably implies it's
wasn't worth mentioning.

6:5
Then these men said, "We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God."
—
They openly admit they have no reason to set themselves against Daniel.

6:6-7
Then these presidents and satraps came by agreement to the king and said to him, "O King Darius, live forever! All the presidents of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an injunction, that whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions.
—
Incredible how they all work together in agreement and then appeal to the King's pride, effectively promoting the King as a God for 30 days. They wouldn't have been able to execute the plan if it wasn't for the sinful pride of the King. In the same way, Satan and demons can execute their plans by appealing to aspects of sin in our lives, and of those around us. In such cases we give the enemy a foothold, and he climbs higher.

6:8-9
Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be revoked." Therefore King Darius signed the document and injunction.
—
Darius signs an irrevocable document that he's been manipulated into signing. Perhaps he's not the sharpest tool on the box.

6:14-15
Then the king, when he heard these words, was much distressed and set his mind to deliver Daniel. And he labored till the sun went down to rescue him.
Then these men came by agreement to the king and said to the king, "Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or ordinance that the king establishes can be changed."
—
This King also loved Daniel, but these men had manipulated him into doing what they wanted. Seems like these guys had the upper hand when it came to IQ and shrewdness.

6:16
Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, "May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!"
—
His heart seemed to be in the right place even if he was powerless.

6:18-19
Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him. Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions.
—
The whole scenario bothered him much more than you might expect.

6:22
My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm."
—
A very respectful way to talk considering he's been shut in a den of lions all night. The amount of supernatural power in this book is awesome.

6:23
Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
—
The lion's mouths were shut because of Daniel's faith. He trusted. Implies that if his faith was weak, he could have got eaten. But Daniel was a man that prayed three times a day, and no one was telling him to. He walked with God daily and became strong in faith. 

6:24
And the king commanded, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and cast into the den of lions-they, their children, and their wives. And before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces.
—
Still got that brutal Streek in him then! Can't help but feel sorry for the women and children. They are always the ones that suffer from the sin of their husbands, even if they don't get thrown into a den of lions.

6:26-7
I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end. He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions." 
—
A pretty awesome description of God. Darius pens an exquisite verse!

7:1-28
Daniel has an incredible vision of the end times and of Jesus. These are things that are either unfolding now, or yet to take  place. It really is incredible. Amazing that he sees Jesus hundreds or even a few thousand years before he comes as a man to earth. Also incredible that God knows that this great battle and trouble is going to take place, but it doesn't vex him in the slightest. He knows the end from the beginning. He knows he is going to win hands down, and all his saints will participate in his victory.

I have mixed thoughts when I think about this great battle. On the one hand It would be incredible to witness, but on the other hand it sounds like very testing time that would require great faith and dependance on God. And you never know if you're ready for that until it happens. Part of me hopes I die and am taken to Heaven before all that jazz unfolds, but the other trusts God's will for my life. If it's his plan for us to go through all of that, then his plan is best, and it's an honour to be given great tests of faith.

Chapter 8
Another incredible vision. Seems Daniel is having them himself now.

Chapter 9
Daniel's prayer of repentance on behalf of his city. 

9:18 
For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy.
—
The key to any form of repentance. You have nothing in yourself to merit forgiveness. It is all found in God.

9:23
At the beginning of your pleas for mercy a word went out, and I have come to tell it to you, for you are greatly loved. 
—
Gabriel brought this answer to prayer. Not sure if it's the angel Gabriel, but that would make sense if it's in response to prayer. Really cool that the answer came right at the beginning of the prayer. All his wrestlings and struggling in prayer after that point could have been surplus to requirement. I wonder if that sometimes happens with us. We pray and pray and pray, and we can't see that God has been in action from the beginning. An awesome thought. One I would hope would encourage us to pray more, because of how effective prayer can be.

Chapter 10
Is this Jesus Christ appearing to Daniel or an angel? Not sure, but it does sound like Jesus as he's described in other passages like Revelation 1:12-16. Daniel also referred to him as 'Lord', and he isn't corrected, which I would have expected from an angel. Incredible experience though, and is almost like a window on the spiritual realm.

I've been listening to John Piper on this passage, and it's very interesting that it's talking about territorial spirits, which is the very topic of the chapter I've just finished reading in '3 Crucial Questions About Spiritual Warfare'. Amazing how my two separate readings have totally coincided. I had no idea the book of Daniel had anything to do with Spiritual Warfare when I started reading it. It could be coincidence, but I think it's more likely that God has teed them up because he wants to speak to me. So what is he trying to say? Some ideas:

1. That God does actually speak to me in ways I can tangibly understand. He constantly speaks through scripture, and probably all my engagements in the Spiritual Disciplines. When two things like this tee up together, it's like he's shouting. I have a desire to hear from God in a real, definite sense that I can discern. I think he's saying that I can. It is possible, even for little me!

2. That this whole concept of spiritual warfare is something that I should be aware of, especially in prayer. It will affect how I pray and will make my prayers more effective. Like a surgeon's knife cutting a precise spot. Accuracy and precision is key.

3. That the more I engage in the spiritual disciplines, the more  I will hear from God. The more I read, study, pray etc the more God will communicate.

---

In this chapter Daniel meets with this spiritual being and is absolutely terrified and completely undone for three weeks. This is surely more evidence on the hiddenness of God - that it is not his plan to terrify us on a daily basis. Our mortal bodies can't take it!

Chapter 11
An incredibly detailed prophecy of what appears to be a massive battle that goes on for ages.

Chapter 12
I think this is a prophecy of the end times, as it references the book of life, the resurrection from the dead of God's people and eternal life thereafter. Incredible. Sounds just like the book of Revelation.