Deeper ReflectionThere are three sets of circumstances in Daniel 1 (vv.1-7, 8-16, 17-21).
And central in each situation is “God gave” – a concrete expression
of the supreme sovereignty of God.
“The Lord gave” in
crisis (v.2) – the political downfall of Judah, the captivity, exile and
Babylonisation of Daniel and his friends.
“God gave” in consecration
(vv.8-9): When Daniel resolved not to be spiritually defiled by eating the
royal food, “God gave Daniel favour and compassion” before the chief
official and delivered him from his difficult situation.
“God gave” in
calling (v.17): “God gave” “knowledge and intelligence in every branch
of literature and wisdom” to the four Judahite youths in preparation for
serving the king. What “God gave” to them was for fulfilling His call for
them as exiles in Babylon.“God gave” is not only central in Daniel 1, but the book of Daniel. The
Hebrew verb nathan, and the Aramaic netan (in Dan 2-7), with God as the
subject is a key word, whether the verb is in the active or passive voice
(the divine passive): “
He gives wisdom to wise men” (Dan 2:21); “to whom
[Nebuchadnezzar]
the God of heaven has given the kingdom” (Dan 2:37);
“let a beast’s mind
be given to him [Nebuchadnezzar]” (Dan 4:16);
“the
Most High rules the kingdom of men and
gives it to whom He will”
(Dan 4:17); “the saints of the Highest One…
will be given into his [an
anti-God king] hand” (Dan 7:25).In our discipleship, overarching, undergirding and surrounding all that we
are, we have, we do and happen to us, is “God gave”.
21 Romans 11:36; Psalm 135:6
22 Romans 11:33
23 
