On July 21, the Church liturgically honors the Prophet Daniel, who is counted among the four major Old Testament prophets alongside Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel. He was born in the Southern Kingdom around 620 BC, at a time when this once glorious part of the Israelite kingdom was under great threat from Babylonian attacks, leading to his captivity in 605 BC. There, he endured various sufferings but also experienced the great power of God’s deliverance from troubles. Due to his strong character and wisdom, he became a special royal advisor. He would show his wisdom and patience during the reign of the Persian king Cyrus, who, at Daniel’s request, allowed the Israelites to return to their own land after fifty years of captivity.
Stories from the book of Daniel
In the Book of Daniel, various events are described that aimed to strengthen hope and deep trust in God’s providence among the Jews, who, due to their circumstances—far from their homeland—were disheartened.
Dream Interpretation
King Nebuchadnezzar dreamed of a statue made of different materials, with a stone destroying it, which Daniel interpreted as successive kingdoms culminating in an eternal divine kingdom. This led to Daniel’s promotion after he successfully interpreted the dream.
Fiery Furnace
When Nebuchadnezzar built a golden statue and demanded worship, Daniel’s friends refused, leading to their miraculous survival in a fiery furnace, further proving the power of their God.
Lions’ Den
Daniel, for continuing to pray despite a ban, was thrown into a lions’ den. He emerged unharmed, demonstrating divine protection, and his accusers were thrown in instead.
Susanna
Daniel defended Susanna, a beautiful woman falsely accused of adultery by two elders who tried to exploit her. Daniel exposed their lie by questioning each elder about the tree under which the alleged act occurred, revealing their inconsistencies and leading to Susanna’s vindication and the elders’ execution.
