When Nebuchadnezzar began his conquest of Judah in 605 BC, he deported a number of Jews to babylon, including Daniel and his friends, who were probably teenagers at the time. God blessed Daniel and gave him important places of service under four different rulers who represented three different kingdoms. When you read about Daniel you meet a man of God who was faithful to the Lord and glorified Him in the enemy's land.
[C]2000-07 by Richard L Zorek
Dan 1:6: Among these were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. Daniel means "God is my judge." Hananiah means "Yah has been gracious." Michael means "who is what God is?" Azariah means "Yah has helped." Giving names as a sign of ownership and destiny was a common practice of the court.
Dan 1:9: Now God has brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs God can bring a person into favor with those in authority over them.
Dan 2:4: Then the astrologers answered the king in Aramaic, "O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it." Sounds like a text book dream interpretation. I cannot tell you how many times I have heard a dream interpreted by using some formula of interpretation that someone read from a book. It might be right, in a very long shot. But more than likely it is not. True dream interpretation does not come from a text book.
Dan 2:21: And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding God decides who is allowed to be in charge of every nation.
Dan 2:22: "He revealeth the deep and secret things; He knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him." If Jesus, reading the thoughts of the dozen disciples priveleged to follow Him, found envy, hate jealousy, must not you openly and honestly admit that God often discovers little reverence but much bloated pride in your souls, few plans for serving Him earnestly but many projects of evil adventures?
Dan 2:24-30 Daniel apparently implies that the kings own thoughts had turned to the future, and perhaps that his dream related to the future of his empire. That people dreams relate to their current preoccupation is a common enough experience. He knew he had dreamed about his future but the dream had hidden itself" (because of its unwelcome content) as dreams do.
Dan 2:30: But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretations to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart Daniel was not prideful about his insight.
Dan 4:35
All the peoples of the earth
are regarded as nothing.
He does as he pleases
with the powers of heaven
and the peoples of the earth.
No one can hold back his hand
or say to him: "What have you done?" It is God's secret plan that determines everything that happens in the universe.
Dan 7:21: I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them The word "prevail" does not mean destruction or defeat. The ultimate victory is not for the devil. But he is apparently successful in wearing down the saints. The blasphemers will appear as winners.
Dan 8:27: And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the kings business: and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it The vision was so powerful that it affected him physically.
