Deeper Reflection
We 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”.

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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