Daniel breaks into two parts, each quite different from the other. The first six chapters tell the "famous" Daniel stories - including the stories of three men thrown into a fiery furnace and Daniel in the lions' den. Any of these chapters would make a script for a thriller. As you read them, reflect on the principles Daniel lived by, far from home and in dangerous circumstances. Ask yourself what Daniel can teach you about faithfulness to God in similarly "alien" circumstances.
Most people find chapters 7-12 far more difficult: they record Daniel's visions about the future of world history. Such symbolism was a familiar mode of expression in the ancient world, but is reads very strangely now - almost like science fiction. Look for broad impressions of how God's people can live, caught in the jaws of brutal world politics. Let the visual symbols engage your emotions and imagination.
If you seek a more detailed understanding of these visions, a commentary on Daniel will be a great help. In some passages, background information on ancient world history is essential. A good commentary can offer this, along with an interpretation of difficult symbols. |
