Deeper ReflectionWe can read Daniel with a framework of six discipleship key
themes that are theologically interlinked in the book: the
throne, the
tyrants, the
tribulations, the
trust, the
tenacity and the
triumph. We cannot miss the “kings” and “kingdoms”
in Daniel. Two key words malkut (Hebrew) and malku (Aramaic)
for “reign” (v.1), “kingdom” (Dan 2:37), “sovereignty” (Dan 4:31) and
“dominion” (Dan 4:34), occur a total of 69 times. Human superpowers
will continue to dominate the world, affecting peoples’ lives profoundly
in many ways, until the close of history. But Daniel tells us that we can
live securely in such an unpredictable and unstable world by having a
vision of and faith in “Heaven that rules” (Dan 4:26).God is the
supreme sovereign God. This is prominently underscored
by nine divine titles that together occur 24 times in Daniel: “the God
of heaven”
33 , “the Most High God”
34 , “the great God” (2:45), “God of
gods and Lord of kings” (2:47), “Heaven that rules” (4:26), “the King
of heaven” (4:37), “the Lord of heaven” (5:23), “the Highest One”
35 and
“God of gods” (11:36). God
establishes and
eliminates human kings
and kingdoms: “He removes kings and establishes kings” (Dan 2:21; see
Dan 4 – Nebuchadnezzar, Dan 5 – Belshazzar). And God’s Kingdom alone
endures as an
everlasting Kingdom (Dan 2:31-35, 44-45; 7:13-14).
God is a subversive sovereign God. “The Lord gave” “the vessels of
the house of God” into Nebuchadnezzar’s “hand” to bring them to “the
house of his god” (vv.1-2; see Dan 8:11-13 – Antiochus’ sacrilegious acts).
God appears to be being controlled. But in reality, He is in control over
Himself “being controlled”.
33 Daniel 2:18, 19, 28, 37, 44
34 Daniel 3:26; 4:2, 17, 24, 25, 34; 5:18, 21; 7:25
35 Daniel 7:18, 22, 25, 27
