Daniel - Still Fresh

In my section of Adult Sunday School, we have just begun a study of the book of Daniel. In James Montgomery Boice's commentary on Daniel he gives 5 reasons that he believes that Daniel is so very fresh and relevant for us today.

1. "Daniel was a godly man sent to live in ungodly Babylon at a time when God's blessing upon the Jewish nation seemed to have been withdrawn or postponed. This means that his position was much like that of believers trying to live in secular society today.
    
2. "The Babylon of Daniel's day was a type of all kingdoms that do not acknowledge God or think they can dispense with him. This is  an apt description of most of the world in our time, including so-called "Christian" America.
    
3. "Daniel (and his three friends) was under tremendous pressure to conform. That is, his religion was tolerated, even respected, as long as he did not allow it to intrude into public life or "rock the ship" of state. That is our situation also. We can practice our religion so long as it is not in the schools, at work, or in any public place. We have to keep it "on the reservation."
    
4. "The world seemed to be winning. Nebuchadnezzar reigned. Nebuchadnezzar believed himself to be above having to answer to anybody.
    
5. "Nevertheless, in spite of these things, God told Daniel that it is he, God, who is in control of history and that his purposes are being accomplished, even in the overthrow and captivity of his people. Moreover, in the end God will establish a kingdom that will endure forever. The destiny of the people of God is wrapped up in that eternal Kingdom.

"I don't know of any message that is so timely and valuable for Christians living in our own secular and materialistic times as that message is."