Daniel

Daniel's life is documented in the Book of Daniel and Ezekiel 14:14, 20, and 28:3. He shares similarities with Joseph, as both prospered in foreign lands by interpreting dreams and were elevated to high positions due to their faithfulness to God.

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After Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, besieged Jerusalem, he selected noble young men, including Daniel and his three friends, to be trained for his service. Daniel, meaning "God is my judge," was renamed "Belteshazzar," while his friends were renamed "Shadrach," "Meshach," and "Abednego" to aid their assimilation into Babylonian culture.

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Daniel and his friends excelled in training and entered Nebuchadnezzar's service. They rejected the king’s rich food and wine, opting for a vegetarian diet, which improved their health. Daniel was also given the ability to understand dreams and visions (Daniel 1:17).
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In his second year of reign, Nebuchadnezzar was troubled by an unexplainable dream and commanded his wise men to reveal both the dream and its interpretation. When they insisted that telling the dream was impossible, the king ordered their execution. However, after praying to God, Daniel was granted insight into the dream. He interpreted it for the king, crediting his ability to the one true God (Daniel 2:28). The key message was that God would establish an everlasting kingdom that would destroy all human kingdoms (Daniel 2:44-45). As a reward, Daniel was given authority over the wise men of Babylon, and he secured positions for his companions as well. 

Later, Nebuchadnezzar had another dream, which Daniel interpreted accurately. The king recognized Daniel's divine wisdom (Daniel 4:9). After a period of insanity, Nebuchadnezzar was restored and praised Daniel's God as the Most High (Daniel 4:34-37).
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Belshazzar, Nebuchadnezzar's son, became king and defiled sacred goblets from Jerusalem during a banquet. He saw mysterious handwriting on the wall that none of his astrologers could interpret, so Daniel was summoned. Daniel interpreted the writing, predicting Belshazzar’s downfall, and was promoted to a high position. That night, Belshazzar was killed, and Cyrus the Great took over, with Darius the Mede becoming king.

Under Darius, Daniel excelled, leading other administrators to conspire against him due to his faith. They tricked Darius into issuing a decree against prayers to anyone but the king for thirty days, with the penalty of being thrown into a lions' den. Daniel continued to pray and was arrested. Despite the king's regret, Daniel was thrown into the den, but God saved him by sending an angel to shut the lions' mouths. Darius then decreed that all subjects should worship the God of Daniel.

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Daniel is known for his prophetic visions, including the rise and fall of empires and a prophecy about the Messiah, fulfilled in Jesus. His integrity earned him respect from rulers, and he never compromised his faith, showing that devotion to God can coexist with success. He taught compassion towards those in authority while emphasizing that obedience to God takes precedence over human commands.

Ultimately, Daniel's devotion to prayer and his unwavering faith serve as an example for all believers.