Page 70 - Daniel

Parallels to Daniel’s hymn can be found in Psalm 113:1–2 and 103:1–
2. Daniel attributes to God wisdom and might, as in Job 12:12–13, 16–
22, and God’s might is mentioned frequently as in 1 Chronicles 29:11–
12. Daniel’s God also “changes times and seasons,” an evidence of
sovereign power (cf. Dan. 7:25). David declared, “My times are in your

hand” (Ps. 31:15). Daniel was contrasting his God with the deities of
Babylon who supposedly set the times and seasons by the movements of
the sun, moon, and stars. Daniel’s God could change this.

Daniel’s faith also contemplated a God greater than any king, and who
could, therefore, remove or set up any monarch. Such a God is also able
to give wisdom to those who are wise and knowledge to those able to
receive it. The wise men of Babylon were not so wise, for they were not
the recipients of divine wisdom. To those wise enough to trust in the
God of Daniel, however, and who had sufficient insight to see through

the superstitions of Babylonian religions, there was the possibility of
divine understanding. God’s power over kings is hailed in Job 12:18 and
Psalm 75:6–7, and His divine wisdom is a frequent theme of Scripture.
From the same God, Solomon had sought an understanding heart (1
Kings 3:9–10), and the Scriptures record that “God gave Solomon
wisdom and understanding beyond measure, and breadth of mind like

the sand on the seashore” (1 Kings 4:29).
Daniel’s hymn also emphasized that God not only has knowledge and
wisdom, but power to do what He wills. Daniel’s God is in control of

history and can thus reveal the future as in the king’s dream. This
description of God can be contrasted with Daniel 7:25 where the little
horn, the future world ruler, will “think to change the times and the
law”—that is, take the place of God who “changes times and seasons”
(Dan. 2:21). Daniel later commented on man’s complete dependence
upon God for wisdom (2:30).

God’s capacity to reveal secrets is mentioned specifically in verse 22.
This again is attested by other Scriptures such as Job 12:22 (cf. 1 Cor.
2:10). The darkness does not hide anything from God, as David wrote in

Psalm 139:12. Although knowing what is in darkness, God
characteristically dwells in light. In Psalm 36:9 it is declared, “in your
light do we see light,” that is, God’s light is presented as the light by
which we see. In the gospel of John, Christ is identified as the light of