Character Highlight: Daniel

What if the Bible’s most famous names held untold stories waiting to be discovered?

To better understand the Bible, we must get to know the people who lived it.

Daniel answered and said:

“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,

For wisdom and might are His. And He changes the times and the seasons;

He removes Kings and raises up Kings; He gives wisdom to the wise

And knowledge to those who have understanding. He reveals deep and secret things;

He knows what is in the darkness, And light dwells with Him.

“I thank You and praise You, O God of my fathers; You have given me wisdom and might,

And have now made known to me what we asked of You, For You have made known to us the King’s demand.”

Daniel 2:20-23 (NKJV)

Introduction

Let's talk about Daniel.

Daniel is one of the most remarkable figures in the Old Testament. Many of us know him by the story of “Daniel in the Lion’s Den”, perhaps from a Sunday school lesson that provoked intrigue and wonder, which allowed this part of his story to stick to our memories. Daniel had an entire life outside of that Lion’s Den; indeed, his prayer life sustained him throughout many instances and trials in his life.

So, was Daniel a real person? Do we have any evidence of his existence outside of biblical text?

There is no direct archaeological evidence of Daniel as an individual, though we do have significant evidence of the events mentioned in the Bible from his life’s timeline. We have evidence that the Babylonians sieged Judea under the rule of Nebuchadnezzar II. We hear mentions of King Nebuchadnezzar II and King Belshazzar, two figures in the book of Daniel, for whom archaeologists have found evidence confirming their existence and reign.

Found written on clay tablets, “Nebuchadnezzar’s record remarkably confirms the biblical record.” “The King of Akkad (Nebuchadnezzar) marched his army to Hatti-land (Syria-Palestine) and encamped against the capital city of Judah. On the second day of the month Addaru (15/16 March), he captured Jerusalem and its King.”

Nabonidus Cylinder inscription: “As for me, Nabonidus, King of Babylon, save me from sinning against your great godhead and grant me as a present a lifelong of days, and as for Belshazzar, the eldest son—my offspring—instill reverence for your great godhead in his heart and may he not commit any cultic mistake, may he be sated with a life of plenitude.”

From reading the book of Daniel, we learn that Daniel received apocalyptic visions about future kingdoms, the rise and fall of empires, and the coming of the Son of Man, Jesus. He survived many years in exile, serving numerous kings and rulers while remaining faithful and subservient to God.  

Daniel’s Early Life

Would you have the courage to stand out in a foreign land where compromise seems harmless?

Daniel was a young noble from Judah, perhaps somewhere in his mid-teen years, likely from a high-class family. He was taken into custody or summoned to Babylon during Nebuchadnezzar’s first siege, to train under and serve the King.  

'Then the King instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring some of the children of Israel and some of the King’s descendants and some of the nobles, young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the King’s palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans.

Daniel 1:3-4 (NKJV)

In your reading, take note of Daniel’s integrity during his service to King Nebuchadnezzar II. Part of the training included eating food and wine from the King’s table, which was considered prestigious. Daniel refused to defile himself with the King’s food, which he believed may have included meat sacrificed to idols or food violating Jewish dietary laws. Daniel wanted to choose a diet that honored his heritage and God. Daniel appealed to the chief of the eunuchs, his “coach”. Daniel’s “coach” feared Daniel would show evidence in his countenance of not eating and look weary, so he agreed to allow Daniel to eat as he pleased. In Daniel’s faithfulness to God, honoring his heritage and their dietary laws, Daniel was granted wisdom and favor amongst the King’s people; he found favor in God’s eyes. If you have ever heard mention of the “Daniel Fast”, Daniel chapter one is where this “fast” or diet is introduced.

Daniel’s Calling Revealed

Though held captive, it was God’s plan for Daniel; Daniel was divinely positioned to influence kings and empires. For his loyalty, God gifted Daniel with wisdom. His mandate was to remain holy and steadfast unto the Lord, as he did. Daniel was a prophet; he revealed secrets and visions, operating in faith for God’s purpose. Daniel’s calling in life was showing courage through persecution, to be a witness of God’s goodness through truth and divine revelations. Daniel was a prayer warrior, a visionary, and a true example of Godly wisdom.

Daniel’s life and legacy were foundational for Israel. In both Jewish and Christian theology, Daniel’s story is often a reflection of God’s plan and sovereignty.

The Chaldeans answered the King, and said,

“There is not a man on earth who can tell the King’s matter; therefore no King, lord, or ruler has ever asked such things of any magician, astrologer, or Chaldean.

It is a difficult thing that the King requests, and there is no other who can tell it to the King except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.”

For this reason the King was angry and very furious, and gave the command to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. So the decree went out, and they began killing the wise men;

and they sought Daniel and his companions, to kill them.

Daniel 2:10-13 (NKJV)

So Daniel went in and asked the King to give him time, that he might tell the King the interpretation. Then Daniel went to his house, and made the decision known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, that they might seek mercies from the God of heaven concerning this secret, so that Daniel and his companions might not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision.

So Daniel blessed the God of heaven.

Daniel 2:16-19 (NKJV)

Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, “The secret which the king has demanded, the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, and the soothsayers cannot declare to the king. But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream, and the visions of your head upon your bed, were these

Daniel 2:27-28 (NKJV)

Daniel was devoted to God, and not just for a day or so, but for years he remained faithful, years of service in exile, in service to multiple kings; he remained faithful, disciplined, and subservient to God.

Daniel’s Rise & Conflicts

Daniel was uprooted from his life and placed under the teaching of foreign instruction.

Babylon’s wise men faced execution when challenged by the King to interpret his dream. The wise men couldn’t explain the King’s dream, and that put their lives at stake, including Daniel.

Daniel prayed to God, and God gave Daniel an interpretation of the King’s dream. Not only did Daniel’s interpretation save lives, but it also earned him a promotion. He was excelling under foreign reign.

Also in Daniel’s life were Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fellow Jewish exiles. Each obedient to God, each surrendering their lives unto God and before the King. God grants them asylum in his mercy. The three men were sentenced to be burned to death in a fiery furnace for refusing to idolize Nebuchadnezzar’s statue. Their miraculous survival echoed the very truth Daniel lived by. God is merciful and faithful and worthy to be praised.

Daniel had to interpret yet another dream for Nebuchadnezzar, this time delivering a hard truth: Nebuchadnezzar’s downfall as King.

Onto the next King that Daniel had to serve under, Belshazzar, who was a corrupt, often drunken leader. He disrespected God and the Jewish tradition, using the sacred temple dishes and defiling them. Daniel stood courageous yet again, interpreting the writing on the wall which foretold Babylon’s fall. Yet again, Daniel found favor in God and was honored by King Belshazzar.

When Daniel was sentenced to death for praying to God instead of honoring a new royal decree under King Darius, Daniel was placed in a lion’s den. Recognizing that Daniel served a gracious God, King Darius assured Daniel that his God would deliver him and protect him from harm. And God did just that. King Darius recognized God’s power, issuing a new decree honoring Him.

Daniel later prophesied, revealing future empires and revealing the coming of an eternal kingdom. These visions brought personal distress to Daniel, demonstrating the weight of this calling.

Daniel’s life was shaped through pressure, persecution, and unwavering faith. Each conflict he faced became a steppingstone to greater influence and a deeper revelation from and of God.

Daniel Worships With Gratitude

 What does it mean to be thankful when things are falling apart or seeming uncertain?

Daniel answered and said:

“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, For wisdom and might are His.

And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings;

He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding.

He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness,

And light dwells with Him. “I thank You and praise You,

O God of my fathers; You have given me wisdom and might,

And have now made known to me what we asked of You,

For You have made known to us the king’s demand.”

Daniel 2:20-23 (NKJV)

Instead of boasting in pride, Daniel worshiped God in truth and thanksgiving, in loyalty and without compromise. His first instinct was God, daily gratitude, daily discipline to reach out and talk to God, even when obedience and loyalty came with a death sentence.

In the book of Daniel, chapter 10, after receiving overwhelming visions, Daniel expresses humility and reverence, and God strengthens him.

And he said,

“O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!”

So when he spoke to me I was strengthened, and said,

“Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”

Daniel 10:19 (NKJV)

Daniel’s Repentance

Daniel identifies himself with the sins of his people in his prayer from Chapter 9, even though he personally lived righteously; we know he never claimed to be sinless.

Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make a request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. And I prayed to the Lord my God, and made confession, and said, “O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments, we have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and Your judgments.

Daniel 9:3-5 (NKJV)

Even the most faithful people understand their dependence on God’s grace and true wisdom. Daniel repented as an intercessor, a prayer warrior; he recognized humanity’s need for God’s mercy with humility and perseverance.

Daniel was bold, courageous, faithful, humble, and wise. Chosen by God for his righteousness, Daniel stood as a witness for God’s glory and power. His legacy lives on from his unshakable prayer life through the integrity of his leadership as a young Jewish exile faithful to his God.