Singing in Babylon: Finding Purpose in Life's Second ChoicesSample

Exile was not all bad news. In Daniel’s case, it was God who “handed Israel over” to bring them to repentance and a greater revelation of His character. Exile was not just about judgment, but a tool to bring Israel clarity that might lead to a better day. Babylon was a place of revelation for Daniel.

God wanted His people to learn some lessons: walking away from Him had consequences. Ultimately, He is sovereign and in control. The place of suffering can be the place of refinement and growth. The darkest place can be the valley where we find light, and become the light to others. The hottest furnace can produce the purest gold.

And the book of Daniel has much more to show us about God too. In fact, that’s the main purpose of the book. Although the story of Daniel is about ethics, it’s not really a call to copy Daniel: to choose vegetarianism or open our windows to pray three times a day. It is not just a call to heroism. Like the book of Jonah, where too much focus has been given to the big fish, but which is primarily about God and His nature, the book of Daniel is really about Daniel’s God.

The revelation of God in the book of Daniel challenges many modern notions we have about God.

God is mighty, and towers above the self-promotion yet undeniable power of King Nebuchadnezzar. God is totally self-sufficient, omniscient, and omnipotent. He is willing to share secrets about current and future events. He is far above anything humanity is or could ever hope to be; he is King of Kings, Lord of Lords, who does that which is humanly impossible. God acts, Nebuchadnezzar’s jaw drops, and on one occasion, he falls prostrate because of what God does.

God stands astride history, using it, never dominated or surprised by it. In spite of present appearances, He is in control. We don’t live in a world where God’s will is always done—that’s why we pray, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done,” but like the book of Revelation, the book of Daniel shows us that, ultimately, He is in charge, and finally, when Christ comes, He will rule and reign absolutely.

Even in chaos, God has a plan and a purpose. He works with the found and seeks the lost.

Perhaps most of all, God was with Daniel, wherever he found himself, regardless of the circumstances.