Theological Bites
In the previous session, we established that Daniel is a wisdom book and the justification of that conclusion is twofold. First, it is because of how the Jews understood the book and secondly is due to the structure of the book itself.
Thematic Outline
In the first chapter, it is evident enough that the whole narrative (the events summarized in Daniel chapter 1) demonstrates a wisdom contest between the worshippers of Yahweh and those who worship the Babylonian gods. In proverbs 1:7, it was demonstrated to us that the fear of God is the beginning of Wisdom. Two things are communicated to us when we get into the chambers of Babylon; first, the Jewish boys exhibit the fear of God. The fear of God was not a general discipline and neither was it a cultural aspect. It is not the all the Jews feared the Lord; otherwise, they wouldn’t find themselves in the captivity that they found themselves.
For the Jews to be captives to these heathens and most importantly, their (Israel) God being behind their captivity (Daniel 1:1) is proof enough of a fracture in their relationship with their God. so the Jewish boys we have in chapter one are the crème del crème of those who fear God among their kinsmen. We must be reminded that the fear of God is not a public affair but rather a private matter. Secondly, in Babylon as well, some young men had the fear of gods and these two participated in the wisdom contest. They failed not at the point of FEARING for they equally feared their gods just as the Israelite boys feared their God. The Babylonian boys failed at the point of the kind of gods they feared.
Proverbs 1:7 communicates what is demonstrated in Daniel chapter 1. It is the beginning of wisdom if we fear God. There must be a fear of God not men in your life. Before we make any choice, it doesn’t make sense, us looking back and forth, left and right to ensure no one sees us not minding whether God sees us. We must always look up and it doesn’t matter who else sees us. Again, that fear is meaningless if it is placed in the wrong gods. The Babylonian boys, unlike the Israelite boys, had only one disadvantage on their side and that was wrong gods. Proverbs, therefore (according to what we have in the book of Daniel) says that the fear of the right God is the beginning of right wisdom. It is not about what both groups ate, but in whom both groups believed and how much they revered that God.
In chapter one of the book of Daniel, we are therefore presented by a God who conquers the wisdom of the gods of Babylon and makes himself the wisdom reference of the entire empire. It is wisdom contest that is won not by the Israelites but by those individuals with the fear in their hearts and particularly those who worship the right God. In the theological lectures am dealing with, we are about to handle the topic of God. let us now turn to other themes about this very God in the book and see how he presents himself.
I will share the outline of the rest of the chapters from my Greek teacher Daniel B Wallace:
2:4-7:28
Prophecies related to Gentiles (Aramaic)
2:4b-49
A
Prophecy of four world empires
3:1-30
B
God’s power to deliver his servants (from the fiery furnace)
4:1-37
C
God’s judgment on a proud ruler (Nebuchadnezzar)
5:1-31
C’
God’s judgment on a proud ruler (Belshazzar)
6:1-28
B’
God’s power to deliver his servant (lion’s den)
7:1-28
A’
Prophecy of four world empires
8:1-12:13
Prophecies related to Jews/or, Israel in relation to the Gentile kingdoms (Hebrew)
8:1-27
A
(Antiochus) Antichrist and prophecies about Gentiles
9:1-27
B
The end times and the Jews
10:1-11:45
A
Antiochus-Antichrist and prophecies about Gentiles
12:1-13
B
The end times and the Jews
Based on the interpretation approach (refer to introduction part 2) of every reader or Bible teacher, the events recorded in this book will mean different things to different audiences. The outline I have shared above falls more on the preterist school of thought more than any other. I think the preterist school of interpretation that looks at the events in the book of Daniel and Revelation as historical (already passed but with present implications) makes sense for us Christians who believe in God’s manifestations and revelations in the events that shape our world.
THE Three Thematic Chapter Sets
So to me, the outline of the book as presented in the above table corresponds and is therefore coherent with the theological motif of the book at large. Again I would like to draw your attention to the outline and focus so much on what call thematically chapter sets in the books. In the first section of the book which is from chapters 2-7 there are three thematic chapter sets:
- Chapter 2 and chapter 7 is set about God’s determination of world empires (superpowers)
- Chapter 3:1-30 and Chapter 6 is a set about God’s Deliverance of his faithful one against all odds
- Chapter 4 and Chapter 5 is a set about God’s Judgment not only of the proud but even of the most powerful
The second set is one we find in the second section of the book that rides from chapter 8-12 and in this section of the book we have two thematic chapter sets:
- Chapter 8 and Chapters 10-11 is a set about the question of God’s people (Israel as the representative) being oppressed by those opposed (Antiochus-Antichrist) to their (Israelites/Church) God.
- Chapters 9 and Chapter 12 are the end times and the Israelites (read Believers in God) and their fate regardless of the dominance and oppression of the non-believers.
From this simple literal outline, we can deduce what the book is essentially about. By asking ourselves questions like; what exactly is the theology of the book of Daniel? Why is the book of Daniel so important and when we read the book, upon what should we judge all the revelations and manifestations that we might get from it? Etc. we will be able to uncover the revelation of the book.
God bless you, I invoke TRUTH, WISDOM, and FAITH (2Tim 2:7)
Priest M.I.T WHITE (+256-775 822833 for further inquiries)
iTiS Well of Worship Fellowship (John 4:24)
QUESTIONING TO BELIEVE, BELIEVING TO QUESTION
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