Daniel for You: For Reading, for Feeding, for Leading (God’s Word for You | GWFY)

Top Highlights

“What Daniel has to offer us is the same thing those first readers must have gleaned: a knowledge that God is still at work, and a confidence that as with those who came before us, it is possible to remain faithful to Christ in our own day and fruitful in our life work.” (Page 18)

“If you are serious about being a follower of Christ, you will be one who is committed to keeping yourself clean in this world. But your resolution will not only be to purity—but to purity that does not withdraw; that is, we need to learn to keep ourselves clean … in this world. It is where we are called to live, and where we are called to be a blessing and to preach the gospel. We will not do this if we are too busy keeping the world out of the church to make sure the church is welcoming to and engaging with the world.” (Page 27)

“Hidden in the text is the simple line: ‘And the Lord gave …’ That subtle phrase, quietly anchoring Daniel 1:2, provides the point of emphasis that the writer wants to make to his readers. He wants them to know that, when catastrophe struck Judah’s king and kingdom, it was God, and not Nebuchadnezzar, who was ultimately the one moving the wheel of history to accomplish his eternal ends.” (Page 18)

“The longevity of Daniel’s stay demonstrates that a lifetime of usefulness to God and the world is possible. He was, for the moment, at home in Babylon—an idea that will carry us through to the end of the stories in Daniel 1–6 and to a similar summary statement in 6:28.” (Page 20)

“The words ‘set up,’ used nine times in this chapter, share the same root as those in 2:21–22. The repetition is intended. We should recognize, without ever having to be told, what Nebuchadnezzar is doing here. He’s setting up something meant to impress others and celebrate himself. The hint should hit home. The king is looking to leave a legacy. And in pursuing a legacy, he has failed to grasp that God, alone, is the one who sets kings up in the world.” (Pages 46–47)