The book of Daniel. A book that seems so familiar at first, yet perhaps when you started reading it you realized there was a lot more in there than you thought. In my experience there are two main types of readers of Daniel. The first and most popular, focuses on the first 6 chapters, harvesting it for Sunday School stories, the second fixates on the prophetic second half for a variety of different uses. Now I know these are very broad generalizations, and it would be unfair to force these labels upon anyone, but I think they are relatable none the less.
The unfortunate part of this, is that we can forget to look at the book as a whole and we miss out on a consistent, unifying message found across the entire book. The message that God is sovereign and in control of all things. He is the God who establishes Kings and Kingdoms, He is the God who gives all wisdom and knowledge and strength, He is the God who is not limited by borders or temples, He is the God of everlasting dominion. And throughout the book of Daniel, we get to follow 4 men, who in their youth and in their old age, walk out in this understanding of God’s complete and unshakable sovereignty.
The message of Daniel is one that will remain applicable to readers of all generation, and the stories within offer not only great encouragement to its readers, but also offers great critique to our personal walks and churches, challenging use to reevaluate who it is we actually trust and where our priorities lie.
Studying the book of Daniel also comes with its challenges, as we encounter many passages with long history of varying ideas and interpretations. So it is one of those books I am also slightly scared of teaching sometimes, because of the implications that many interpretations have had on the church over the years. But it is those same passages and interpretations which force me to remember that we must each be humble in our understanding of our texts, because maybe we won’t get it right either. That said, I've spent many many hours in this text and I still feel like I have so much to learn. In these teachings I share many of the convictions I have at this time, but I also hold many of the more controversial passages lightly. I guess what I'm trying to say is, if you disagree with an interpretation I give, that's ok, and if you'd like to talk about it feel free to drop a line!
So let's jump into the book of Daniel!
Below are some recordings, visual aids and handouts of my Daniel Teaching. The first set of recordings covers the historical background of Daniel.
Historical Background Date of Events - Listen Here >>
Events of Daniel Timeline Handout - Download Here >>
Historical Background Authorship and Readers - Listen Here >>
Authorship of Daniel Handout - Download Here>>
Daniel Fulfillments Timeline - Download Here>>
The following are resources from my teaching through the text of Daniel, beginning with Chapter 1.
Chapter 1 - Listen Here>>
It is important to note that Chapters 2-7 are part of an Aramaic Chiasm within the book of Daniel. Below is a breakdown of this structuring, along with recordings and other visual aides.
The Aramaic Chiasm Part 1 (Ch 2) - Listen Here>>
The Aramaic Chiasm Part 2 (Ch 3-5) - Listen Here>>
The Aramaic Chiasm Part 1 (Ch 6-7) - Listen Here>>
Apocalyptic Literature Handout - Download Here>>
The remaining recordings and resources cover the final portion of Daniel from Chapters 8-12 written in the commonly identified style of Apocalyptic Literature.
Chapter 8 - Listen Here>>
Chapter 9 - Listen Here>>
70 Weeks Interpretation Handout - Download Here>>
70 Weeks Text Breakdown - Download Here>>
Chapters 10-12 - Listen Here>>
Thank you all for taking interest and taking the time to study and engage with the book of Daniel! As I noted in the beginning, please remember not to let the difficult or confusing passages in this book upset or intimidate you, always remember the core message of this book, that God is still sovereign and in control regardless of the circumstances.
Comentarios