Daniel

Today begins the study of Daniel. As a quick overview, Daniel was a young man who lived during the Babylonian captivity of the Hebrew people. He lived much of his life under the Babylonian kings, but he lived long enough to see Cyrus conquer Babylon. Along with the Babylonians, Cyrus overthrew the Medes and created the Persian Empire, which was often said to be one of the largest and most tolerant empires in the ancient world. Under the Persians, the process of letting the Hebrew people return to their homeland began.

Daniel is an incredible man of a strong - yet very unique - faith. In this book, we'll watch Daniel interpret dreams, see visions, and take firm stances in the faith. While the book of Daniel contains some very stern messages, it is also a book of incredible reliance upon God. If nothing else, the theme of the book of Daniel is God saves.

Daniel is also a book designed to teach about who God is. The Hebrew people had largely forgotten their God, which is why they were brought into captivity. Throughout this book we will discover who God is. From this perspective, one of the other major themes of the book of Daniel is God is sovereign.