In about 605 B.C., the Babylonians, who were led by King Nebuchadnezzar, carried a number of Jews into captivity. Daniel, who was but a young man at the time (Daniel 1:4), was one of those that was hauled or dragged away to the distant land of Babylon. In the course of time, Nebuchadnezzar "made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon" (2:48).

Daniel lived in Babylon for at least seventy years, as he was still living there when the Medo-Persians, under King Cyrus, overthrew the Babylonian Empire (10:1). Daniel not only served in the government of Babylon, but he also served as a civil servant in the Medo-Persian Empire after it replaced the Babylonians as the dominant power of the Middle East (6:1,2). It was amazing, indeed, that an Israelite was raised up to serve and wield such an influence in a Gentile state, much like Joseph the son of Jacob had served in ancient Egypt.

God blessed Daniel immensely. My, how He blessed him. And protected him. And used him as an instrument to sound forth His message, that is, Daniel served as God’s prophet or mouthpiece. Yes, the Book of Daniel is a thrilling message about Daniel’s personal faith, courage, survival, and delivery of God’s revelations. However, we must not lose sight of those truths that this unique book reveals about the One Whom Daniel time and again refers to as "the most High." We know that the God Whom we serve is the same God that created this world and about Whom we read in the pages of the Old Testament. Thus, there is no doubt that Bible students can learn a lot about God from the record of the Book of Daniel. With that in mind, let us briefly look at some of the pictures that we are given of God in the Book of Daniel. They are written for our learning (Romans 15:4). Keep in mind that in this study we are focusing our attention only on this one book (Daniel), and we are considering only a portion of what it tells us about Jehovah. What does Daniel reveal about the Lord God?

(1) The conquering of Judah and its capital, Jerusalem, was no accident. God caused it. "And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand with part of the vessels of the house of God . . ." (1:2). Through His servants Isaiah, Jeremiah, and others, God had earlier predicted Judah’s fall. It happened. It happened just like the Lord said it would. It happened because it was God’s will. Being the chosen people of God did not give the Israelites "a free pass" to rebel against Him. They paid the price for their rebellion and refusal to repent. Daniel later declared that the Lord drove the Israelites to other countries because of their trespasses against Him (9:7).

(2) God blessed the young Jewish men in captivity that were faithful to Him. "Now God had brought Daniel into favor and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs . . . God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom" (1:9,14). No surprise here. God blessed them because of their devotion to Him, even when they were far from home.

(3) "There is a God in heaven . . ." (2:28). That was Daniel’s declaration to King Nebuchadnezzar. Men may deny Him, but the truth remains unchanged: He exists. Men might mock those who serve Him, but He still reigns.

(4) God revealed "secrets" through Daniel and other prophets. "But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets . . . maketh known to thee what shall come to pass" (2:28,29). As long as they were unrevealed and remained in the mind of God, they were, of course, secrets or a mystery. But once He revealed them, they were no longer a secret or mystery.

(5) God had perfect knowledge of the future, as He revealed things that would come to pass (2:29,45). God’s knowledge of the past, present, and future, is limitless. We do not need the facts of history to prove that God is reliable and a speaker of only that which is true. God was true (Romans 3:4) before the beginning of human history, so He does not stand in need of any created being to confirm His credibility. Yet, over and over archaeologists have used their shovels, picks, and other instruments to dig up artifacts from ancient civilizations which verify that, guess what, those things that God predicted or said had already happened, really did take place.

(6) In the days of the kings of the fourth great world kingdom, the Roman Empire, God would set up a kingdom that would never be destroyed (2:44,45). That is exactly what He did in the first century of our era. At one point, Jesus said that the kingdom of God was near and that the time was fulfilled (Mark 9:1). He later said that this great kingdom would be established in the lifetime of some of those that heard him speak (Mark 9:1). That is exactly what happened on the first day of Pentecost after the Christ ascended to the Father – the kingdom or church came "with power" (Luke 24:47; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:4). Jesus will give back the kingdom to the Father at the last day (1 Corinthians 15:24).

(7) The Lord "delivered his servants that trusted in him" (3:28). This reference is to God protecting Abednego, Meshach, and Shadrach from harm when they were cast into the hot furnace because they refused to bow down and worship a lifeless idol. Even King Nebuchadnezzar, after witnessing God’s protecting hand, proclaimed, ". . . there is no other God that can deliver after this sort" (3:29). Amen!

(8) ". . . the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest [lowest, NKJV] of men" (4:17). Daniel later again drove that point home to Nebuchadnezzar in an effort to help him see the need to be humble and recognize that he ruled only by the grace of God. Nebuchadnezzar had to go out and live like a beast of the field in order to appreciate this truth, even as Daniel told him, " . . . till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will" (4:25,32; cf. 5:18,19). We may not understand all that God does through His providence to raise up and bring down national and world leaders, but we accept the fact that He does rule in the affairs of men. The Book of Daniel makes that abundantly clear.

(9) The Almighty is "the Lord of heaven" (5:23). Yea, He is "Lord of heaven and earth" (Acts 17:24). He is the Lord of our personal life, of course, only to the extent that we allow Him to be, meaning that He rules in our lives only as we are willing to submit to Him and obey His will (Luke 6:46).

(10) Our breath is in the hand of God (5:23). Again, this reminds us of the apostle Paul’s statement at Mars Hill in Athens, that "in him we live, and move, and have our being . . . seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things" (Acts 17:28,25). A proud person might foolishly deny our Creator, but no human can take even one single breath of air without Him making it happen!

(11) It is possible to serve the Lord continually. That is exactly what Nebuchadnezzar confessed that Daniel had done (6:16,20). God was, and is, believable, and Daniel’s life was spared in the lions’ den "because he believed in his God" (6:23).

(12) "(H)e is the living God, and steadfast for ever" (6:26). The one true God will never die and never change! Who would want to serve and dedicate his/her life to a being that will not always be around and just might, at his own whim, change without telling folks about it?!

(13) Jehovah is a covenant-making, commandment-giving God that is great, awesome, and merciful. "And I prayed unto the LORD my God . . . O Lord, the great and dreadful [awesome, NKJV] God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments" (9:4).

(14) "(T)he LORD our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth" (9:14). Because He is righteous, He always does what is right – always. He is mistake-free – always has been, and always will be.

Do not these great truths about our God thrill our hearts? When we look back over these fourteen items, do they not cause us to be in awe of "the most High" that created us? Do they not cause us to be grateful to Him for granting us the privilege to know and Him and walk with Him? Do they not strengthen our faith and our commitment to serve Him faithfully and without shame? May we humbly bow before Him and proclaim, "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power . . ." (Revelation 4:11).

-- Roger D. Campbell