The book of Daniel is a book of hope. It contains stories of Daniel and his friends who remained faithful to God during the exile. Yahweh is not restrained to a physical place. He did not remain in Jerusalem while the people of Israel were taken into this foreign land under foreign rulers. Rather, God is sovereign over all kings and kingdoms. Daniel records God’s power over the rulers of Babylon and Persia. Nebuchadnezzar confessed the Yahweh alone delivers and Darius learned that Yahweh is able to save, living eternally. Whereas the kingdoms of man rise and fall, the kingdom of God is forever.

It also contains prophetic words regarding the coming of the Son of Man, a title which Jesus took upon Himself. Prophecies relating to the rise and fall of human kingdoms are recorded. These are commonly believed by scholars to be Babylon, Persia, Greece, and then Rome. This makes sense when Jesus says that He had come to establish His kingdom. Daniel ends with a sealing of the prophecy for the end of days. In the book of Revelation, the Lamb appears to open the sealed scroll.

Living in a time of COVID-19 pandemic and economic shutdown, it is important to remember that God is in control. He knows all things before they happen; all of these things are part of His divine plan. He directs all of human history. As a follower of Christ, it is vital that I remain faithful to Christ and His work during this time. The situation calls for creativity in fulfilling that faithfulness in a unique time. Each of us must think about how we can remain faithful to a ministry of loving service to our communities during this time. We must be willing to face the danger as we remain faithful to Christ, just as Daniel and his friends were faithful in Babylon and Persia.