When the book of Daniel opens, God’s people are in great distress. The world’s greatest power at the time, Babylon, was besieging them. Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians carried off many of the Jews into captivity. Soon they would return and destroy Jerusalem and the Temple. The young man Daniel was taken in that first wave of deportation. The prevailing wisdom at the time led people to believe that the gods of the conquering people had defeated the god(s) of the losers. It also led the rulers of the conquering nation to behave very arrogantly and make incredibly boastful declarations about themselves. Certainly the exiled Jews would have questions about their place in the world and questions about their relationship with their God, Jehovah. The first six chapters of Daniel focus on cutting these boastful rulers and their gods down to size.
In Daniel 2, Daniel reveals the contents of a secret dream and interprets the dream.
Nebuchadnezzar responded by declaring that the God of Daniel is God of gods and Lord of kings. In Daniel 3, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were delivered from the fiery furnace. Nebuchadnezzar responded by declaring that no other god is able to deliver in such a way. In Daniel 4, Daniel interpreted Nebuchadnezzar’s vision. After Daniel’s interpretation of the vision was fulfilled Nebuchadnezzar said,
“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, But He does according to His will in the host of heaven And among the inhabitants of earth; And no one can ward off His hand Or say to Him, 'What have You done?’” (Daniel 4:34-35, NASU)
In Daniel 5, Nebuchadnezzar’s son who had succeeded him saw a vision which Daniel correctly interpreted to mean that he would lose his kingdom that very night. This came to pass. In Daniel 6, Daniel was cast into the lion’s den. When Daniel made it through the night safely, the new king, Darius, “wrote to all the peoples, nations and men of every language who were living in all the land: "May your peace abound! "I make a decree that in all the dominion of my kingdom men are to fear and tremble before the God of Daniel; For He is the living God and enduring forever, And His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed, And His dominion will be forever. "He delivers and rescues and performs signs and wonders In heaven and on earth, Who has also delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.” (Daniel 6:25-27 NASU) This series of events is clearly designed to show that Jehovah has not been defeated and those who have carried His people off only think they are in charge.
In Daniel 7, Daniel himself is blessed with a vision of his own. He sees God the Father take His seat on His throne. Daniel sees the books being opened. It seems to me that these books must contain a record of those things that I have done which are wrong (sinful). Praise God the vision does not end there. The Son of Man is presented before the throne. This must be none other than the Messiah, my Kinsman Redeemer, the One who paid the penalty for all those things recorded in “the books”. Circumstances may make it appear that God is no longer in control. Boastful people may claim that they are in control. The first seven chapters of Daniel declare emphatically that God is still in control of His creation and He is keeping records.
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