Notes on the Book of Daniel: Chapter 6

Chapter 6:

v. 1: I think that these events took place at the capital of the Medo-Persians (not at Babylon) since the satraps and administrators appear to have easy physical access to the king.

v. 8: Contrast this decree, which he issues because of his pride, with the one he humbly issues at the end (v. 26).

v. 10: Daniel the exile is facing toward his home, Jerusalem, in spite of the fact that Solomon’s temple has been destroyed.  Note Solomon’s words in I Kings 8:30.

v. 16: Darius says, “Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.”  I believe he says this both to honor Daniel and to let him know that this action goes against the king’s heart.

v. 26: Darius’s understanding of the kingdom of God is essentially the same as Nebuchadnezzar’s.^[1] It is impressive to me that Nebuchadnezzar (who carried the Jews into captivity) and Darius (who ruled the Jews as an absolute monarch) should have spoken about the kingdom of the God of the Jews in this way.  They must have recognized his kingdom as something very different from that of Judah, which they dominated.  Perhaps Daniel told Darius of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (2:44).

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^[1] See 4:3.

The Glory of Kings: A Philosophical Defense of Christianity

“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”

-1st Peter 3:15

In an age when atheism is becoming fashionable, Christians need to remember this verse.

And we must also remember that,  in order to give a genuine answer, we must first seriously ask ourselves why we believe in God and why we believe that this God came to live among us just a little over two thousand years ago.  The Glory of Kings is my attempt to do so.

 

 

“So, do you mean that an eternal mind is the most probable explanation for the universe as we find it?”

“I mean more than that,” said my teacher.  “I mean not only that it isthe most probable, but that it will always be the most probable explanation for the universe as you find it.”

          -The Glory of Kings

Written in the style of a medieval dream vision, The Glory of Kings invites its reader to go on an intellectual and spiritual quest that ranges from Cumberland Island on the Georgia coast to Munsalvaesche, the mystical Grail Castle of Arthurian legend.  A diverse array of characters from history and literature emerges throughout the story to confront or guide those who undertake this quest.  William Blake, Johann Faust, Julian of Norwich, and many others all contribute to the philosophical dialogue of a perilous adventure that seeks to penetrate to the heart of Christianity and behold the face of God.

 

The book is available on Amazon. You can CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A COPY (KINDLE OR PAPERBACK) OR TO PREVIEW A SAMPLE OF THE INSIDE.