Daniel 1:1 In the third year of athe reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of bthe vessels of the house of God. And he brought them to cthe land of Shinar, to the house of his god, dand placed the vessels in the treasury of his god.

WHY DANIEL/ WHY NOW?

1. DANIEL IS WRITTEN FOR THOSE WHO NEED PERSPECTIVE
   1. Daniel’s writings and ministry was during the exile (spans nearly the whole exile)
   2. Daniel is written for the oppressed people of God… marginalized
   3. Daniel’s literature is 2fold… Theological stories that teach us how to live as kingdom minded outsiders, as salt and light in a lost land and apocalyptic (like Revelation) literature that gives us hope that one day God’s plans and purposes will be known to all as He comes in justice

2. DANIEL IS WRITTEN TO GIVE AN EXAMPLE FOR FAITHFUL AND FAITH-FILLED LIVING
   1. Daniel was an outsider… a faithful follower of God in a pagan land
   2. It is good for us to say “be like Daniel”
   3. Daniel was a man of faith… and faith is key to faithfulness
   4. Don’t make the mistake of missing the object of faith in Daniel
3. DANIEL IS WRITTEN TO DEMONSTRATE THE SOVEREIGNTY and OTHERNESS OF GOD
   1. God acts directly
   2. God acts indirectly through His people
   3. God gives grace that leads to faithful action
   4. God is sovereign over ALL the earth.