The book of Daniel is the 27th book in the Old Testament. It is classified among the Minor Prophets. No doubt, the Lord in His mercy has prepared a table before us from this book in 2021. It is my prayer that none of us will miss his or her portion in Jesus’ Name. This thus challenges each of us to take this book (and the entire scripture) seriously in the coming year. We must endeavor to hear it, read it, memorize it; meditate on it and obey it. May the Lord help us as we do these in Jesus Name.
1. Authorship
· Internal evidence attests to Daniel’s authorship. The Lord Jesus Christ agreed with this position when he quoted from Daniel 9:27; 11:31; and 12:11.
· Daniel was of the tribe of Judah and possibly a descendant of the royal Davidic family - Dan. 1:3-6. His Jewish name is Daniel and it means God is my judge. He was given a Babylonian name, Belteshazzar, meaning “protect his life.”
· He was born around 620 BC. He was taken into Babylonian captivity at the age of 15 by Nebuchadnezzar alongside 10,000 captives around 605 BC. Daniel spent the rest of his life in captivity and possibly died at the age of 85 to 90 years. This was sometime after the release of the first set of exiles by the Medes and Persians in 536 BC.
· Daniel lived and served during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Darius and Cyrus.
· Daniel’s life and service in Babylon is a great lesson to teenagers, government officials and all Christians in general. That we all should be people with convictions and that, “wherever life takes us, whatever it brings, however difficult our problems, we must remain faithful to God.”
· Can you imagine the outcome if all Christians would live like Daniel at home, school, workplace, church, etc.?
2. Date of Writing
Strong arguments place the writing of the book around 530 BC. This was shortly after the capture of Babylon by Cyrus.
3. Purpose of the Book
· To encourage the exiles about the dealings of God among the nations. Daniel used this means to remind the exiles that God remains in control of all things, and so could be trusted to bring to pass His promises as regards their future. Dickson, 965.
· To prepare the people of God for a turbulent history until the consummation of national Israel.