28. DANIEL
In the
book of Daniel, which was written 165 years before the birth of Jesus, Daniel
was the main character. It was written by an unknown author during a bitter
persecution to comfort the Jewish people.
DANIEL.
Four Jewish youth were to be trained for three years and then serve the
Babylonian king. They were to eat food from the king's table. Daniel requested
they not eat that food fearing it may have been offered to pagan gods. He asked
that they only eat vegetables and drink water. The officer in charge at first
refused this request fearing the youth might become sick. Daniel persuaded him
which resulted in that the four Jewish youth turned out stronger than the other
youth in training.
DANIEL
IN THE LIONS DEN. Daniel's enemies persuaded the king to sign a decree that
anyone who prayed to their god within thirty days would be thrown into the
lions den. When Daniel was found praying to his God, the king reluctantly
ordered Daniel to be thrown to the lions. To the king's great joy, Daniel was
found unharmed the following morning. The king punished Daniel's enemies by
throwing them to the lions. Daniel was a faithful Jew.
THE
VISION OF THE SON OF MAN. Daniel had a vision of four beasts arising from the
sea. An angel explained that these beasts represented four successive empires.
Then a figure with a human rather than a beastly form appeared who was called
the son of man. The angel explained that this heavenly figure symbolised the
people of Israel. Instead of a temporary kingdom, they would be given an
everlasting kingdom. Jesus used this image of the son of man to describe
himself.
The
book of Daniel was written to comfort and encourage the Jews suffering in a
persecution. Daniel and his three friends were always faithful to their Jewish
religion.
