In Daniel 6, we may have the most famous text in the entire prophecy of Daniel. It is often perceived to be a passage for children or Sunday School, but in truth, it is a passage that offers each believer great hope in the power of God and his sovereign control over all things. Daniel continues his theme of God's power and reign over the arrogant, God-denying leaders of mankind. Here Daniel is set up by evil leaders longing for his position and favor with the King. Daniel instead prays, for his people and for God's mercy in his own life. He is nonetheless turned in for praying and is sentenced to be thrown into the den of lions. As Daniel survives the night and Darius runs to check on Daniel in the morning, he discovers Daniel has been spared. The writer observes that Daniel was unharmed, because he trusted in his God. Daniel understood that God could be trusted and he did. Do we trust God as encounter hardships and trials in our own lives? We can, by God's grace, we must.
Daniel records events of the captivity of Judah (the two southern
tribes combined following the civil war of Israel and the division of
the twelve tribes). Daniel appropriately presents the sovereign work of God even in these foreign lands and over these foreign governments. Kings and kingdoms are subject to God, even when while they may not fully realize it. Through the narrative section (Chs. 1-6), Daniel demonstrates the sovereign hand of God at work presently among humanity. In the final prophetic section (Chs. 7-12), Daniel demonstrates the sovereign hand of God at work to build his kingdom in the future.
