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Hearing the Message of Daniel: Sustaining Faith in Today’s World
In many corners of the world these days the climate of hostility hangs over any overt Christian faith commitment. Any kind of Christian commitment is now assumed to imply intolerance and often prompts reactions that range from a low-grade hostility and exclusion in the West to the vicious and murderous assaults on Christian believers in Pakistan, Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, Syria and Iraq and elsewhere. Such issues are not new. Christians have faced them ever since Nero’s lions, and even before that. Jews also have faced the same questions all through their history, most tragically sometimes enduring horrendous persecution from states claiming to be Christian. So it is not surprising that the Bible gives a lot of attention to these questions. The book of Daniel tackles the problem head on, both in the stories of Daniel and his friends, and in the visions he received. A major theme of the book is how people who worship the one, true, living God—the God of Israel—can live and work and survive in the midst of a nation, a culture, and a government that are hostile and sometimes life-threatening. What does it mean to live as believers in the midst of a non-Christian state and culture? How can we live “in the world” and yet not let the world own us and squeeze us into the shape of its own fallen values and assumptions? The book was written to encourage believers to keep in mind that the future, no matter how terrifying it may eventually become, rests in the hands of the sovereign Lord God—and in that assurance to get on with the challenging task of living in God’s world for the sake of God’s mission.
- GenresTheologyOld Testament
256 pages, Paperback
Published February 28, 2017
46 people are currently reading
85 people want to read
About the author
Christopher J.H. Wright
102 books201 followersChristopher J.H. Wright, (born 1947) is a Anglican clergyman and an Old Testament scholar. He is currently the director of Langham Partnership International. He was the principal of All Nations Christian College. He is an honorary member of the All Souls Church, Langham Place in London, UK.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 13, 2017
Christopher J. H. Wright has turned out some terrific commentaries on Old Testament books in the past, and now provides us with a little jewel on the Book of Daniel. This time out he does not provide us a commentary, but a book of expository preaching. As he explains in his preface, he does not get into critical questions, but intends the book to be “an encouragement to God’s people in the midst of hostile and threatening cultures, and to affirm God’s sovereign control of all that happens….” In my estimation, he fulfills his intention.
His introduction is brief, but encourages us to view Daniel from so long ago in a proper way for our day. He scolds what he calls the “end- times prediction industry” with criticism that is warranted. I say that as a premillennialist who would differ with Mr. Wright on several points involving prophecy. Books on Daniel tend to be judged on the prophetic views of the author rather than what he or she actually says about Daniel. It’s what Mr. Wright has to say about Daniel and his times that I find so compelling.
The historical background provided is superb. To my mind, he is at his best when the text is historical narrative. His theological observations are astute and helpful. Leaving out the issue of prophetic interpretation, this is what preaching should look like.
This book is one of those volumes that attempts to hit two targets at once – pastors and devotional readers. Most books in this category can’t quite pull off that feat, but Mr. Wright did with the best such effort that I’ve seen in a while.
The book reads well and yet is never superficial. I’m glad to have it on my shelves now and I predict you won’t be disappointed.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
His introduction is brief, but encourages us to view Daniel from so long ago in a proper way for our day. He scolds what he calls the “end- times prediction industry” with criticism that is warranted. I say that as a premillennialist who would differ with Mr. Wright on several points involving prophecy. Books on Daniel tend to be judged on the prophetic views of the author rather than what he or she actually says about Daniel. It’s what Mr. Wright has to say about Daniel and his times that I find so compelling.
The historical background provided is superb. To my mind, he is at his best when the text is historical narrative. His theological observations are astute and helpful. Leaving out the issue of prophetic interpretation, this is what preaching should look like.
This book is one of those volumes that attempts to hit two targets at once – pastors and devotional readers. Most books in this category can’t quite pull off that feat, but Mr. Wright did with the best such effort that I’ve seen in a while.
The book reads well and yet is never superficial. I’m glad to have it on my shelves now and I predict you won’t be disappointed.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
September 4, 2021
Helpful, practical. Doesn’t get too deep in the weeds, but gives a great sense of the whole. Also very applicable to people who are working in difficult situations, socially and politically.
December 18, 2023
This was a handy companion to the book of Daniel: not a commentary (as Wright makes explicit in the introduction) but more an application of the book's principles, though it proceeds chapter by chapter. For me, I found the most helpful portions to be those that dealt with the history -- placing Daniel in his/its extrabiblical context -- and sections where Wright drew connections and parallels with the rest of Scripture. Where I was a little less sure was when he made connections between Daniel's life situation and some modern-day situations. Some of these seemed anachronistic, and not such clear analogues as Wright indicates. For example, I did find it really interesting to consider for the first time that while Daniel and his Hebrew compatriots did make a stand in refusing to eat food from the king's table, they did accept a surprising number of culturally jarring aspects of their new context, such as education in the pagan Babylonian texts and (presumably?) their new pagan names; likewise, Wright's elaboration on why Daniel and his friends didn't eat the king's food was helpful, because I'd always assumed it was just a matter of clean/unclean foods. Yet on the other hand, I don't think it's fair to extrapolate from this that homeschooling one's children or sending them to a private Christian school is hiding their light under a bushel, and that it's better for children of believers to have a public school education. Wright makes a connection between the situation into which Daniel and the other young exiles were forced, and a modern-day situation that can be avoided: I don't find this to be fair play with the text. Likewise, I'm not 100% convinced that Daniel's example is proof that Christians should engage in politics...but in this case, I think Wright makes useful points and that it's worth considering more deeply than I'd done before the fact that Daniel spent his life faithfully serving the pagan king of a nation that destroyed his homeland and carried him and his people into exile.
A strong point, in my opinion, is the way Wright brings out how the book of Daniel, particularly the visions, reveal the spiritual realities behind the kingdoms of this world and their politics. Wright emphasizes that while many of the prophetic visions point toward such specific events/reigns as that of Antiochus IV Epiphanes of the Seleucids and the rise of the Roman Empire, they aren't necessarily meant to symbolize only one set of historical fulfillments. Rather, they also indicate repeated cycles of history: oppressive regimes that set themselves up against God and His people, but whose times and borders are always set by Him and which will ultimately fail. Wright draws attention to Paul's teaching on the "powers and principalities" that lie behind human power structures and shows how those same realities are revealed in Daniel. I also loved his section on the resurrection at the end of the book, where he points out some of the Old Testament passages that hint at the promise of resurrection and shows how that promise in Daniel is uniquely explicit.
Another thing I appreciate about Wright is that he draws on his experiences with the Church outside of the UK and US. It's very easy to be insular; it is very helpful to begin to get a sense, however peripheral in such a book as this, of the experience of believers in other nations, particularly India, where Wright served as a missionary. This broader scope was eye-opening both here and in Wright's much more extensive and theological THE MISSION OF GOD.
So - it's not a commentary, and I didn't think all of the application "worked" (some felt forced or anachronistic); some of the prose, too, was a little too colloquial for my taste, or maybe that was because the narrator read too dramatically. But there's lots of good substance here.
A strong point, in my opinion, is the way Wright brings out how the book of Daniel, particularly the visions, reveal the spiritual realities behind the kingdoms of this world and their politics. Wright emphasizes that while many of the prophetic visions point toward such specific events/reigns as that of Antiochus IV Epiphanes of the Seleucids and the rise of the Roman Empire, they aren't necessarily meant to symbolize only one set of historical fulfillments. Rather, they also indicate repeated cycles of history: oppressive regimes that set themselves up against God and His people, but whose times and borders are always set by Him and which will ultimately fail. Wright draws attention to Paul's teaching on the "powers and principalities" that lie behind human power structures and shows how those same realities are revealed in Daniel. I also loved his section on the resurrection at the end of the book, where he points out some of the Old Testament passages that hint at the promise of resurrection and shows how that promise in Daniel is uniquely explicit.
Another thing I appreciate about Wright is that he draws on his experiences with the Church outside of the UK and US. It's very easy to be insular; it is very helpful to begin to get a sense, however peripheral in such a book as this, of the experience of believers in other nations, particularly India, where Wright served as a missionary. This broader scope was eye-opening both here and in Wright's much more extensive and theological THE MISSION OF GOD.
So - it's not a commentary, and I didn't think all of the application "worked" (some felt forced or anachronistic); some of the prose, too, was a little too colloquial for my taste, or maybe that was because the narrator read too dramatically. But there's lots of good substance here.
February 4, 2025
This is such a good book, I really liked it. The narrator on Audible is amazing as well. It's not a commentary/expositional study of Daniel, but a dive into the messaging/teaching of the book.
My main takeaways.
When Daniel and his buddies were taken into Babylon, we all know they asked to not eat the kings food, however what's lessor known, is they accepted 3 of the 4 changes which were against their faith, and decided to live as best they could in the secular world.
"Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up. ”
"But even if he does not" is basically a knockout punch to the prosperity and 'name it and claim it' gospels. We should always respectfully as God, but accept he might not give us what we want and that's fine.
Blasthemy of the Holy Spirit is knowing the works of God and attributing them to the devil. Getting to that point requires an immense hardening of the heart and mind, to the point where repentance is impossible, and thus forgiveness.
Don't guard only your weak points from the devil, if he cant get at them, he'll come for your strong points and they are usually not as well defended.
"I, Daniel, was worn out. I lay exhausted for several days. Then I got up and went about the king’s business. I was appalled by the vision; it was beyond understanding"
Daniel experienced one of the most important and vivid visions in the whole bible. Once he recovered, he got up and went to work in his secular job... this is quite profound.
My main takeaways.
When Daniel and his buddies were taken into Babylon, we all know they asked to not eat the kings food, however what's lessor known, is they accepted 3 of the 4 changes which were against their faith, and decided to live as best they could in the secular world.
"Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up. ”
"But even if he does not" is basically a knockout punch to the prosperity and 'name it and claim it' gospels. We should always respectfully as God, but accept he might not give us what we want and that's fine.
Blasthemy of the Holy Spirit is knowing the works of God and attributing them to the devil. Getting to that point requires an immense hardening of the heart and mind, to the point where repentance is impossible, and thus forgiveness.
Don't guard only your weak points from the devil, if he cant get at them, he'll come for your strong points and they are usually not as well defended.
"I, Daniel, was worn out. I lay exhausted for several days. Then I got up and went about the king’s business. I was appalled by the vision; it was beyond understanding"
Daniel experienced one of the most important and vivid visions in the whole bible. Once he recovered, he got up and went to work in his secular job... this is quite profound.
August 13, 2023
Reading a book about the book of Daniel would generally not be my first choice, since so many of them focus on trying to figure out details of the end times. But Wright puts his focus instead on what it means for us, in the current cultural/political situations of the world today. He explains what is going on in each chapter of Daniel - he's not just using it as a jumping-off point for his preaching. He doesn't try to get into a lot of details that, as he points out, we can find in various commentaries (which this is not). Instead he talks about how God is sovereign over the kingdoms of mankind, what it meant for Daniel and his companions back in the 6th century BC, and what it means for us today.
September 7, 2020
I had already started "Daniel for You" by David R. Helm when I bought this book. If I had to choose between the two, I would pick this one to recommend (they're very similar). I like "Daniel for You" for its ease of reading and this for its thoroughness. This is slightly heavier-going and requires a bit more time, but I think it's worth it.
June 19, 2021
Fantastic pastoral commentary on Daniel which focuses on application rather than date setting timelines and such. In fact, Wright often stays out of the fray on debatable areas by just saying we don’t really know and then getting to the general application. Appreciate the honesty. Wonderfully help, especially for this age.
March 27, 2023
This is one of the best commentaries I have read - ever. Detailed, without being bogged down, symbolic, without being mystical, and applicable all while pointing to the greater glory of God. This should be read by all Christians who want to understand God’s sovereignty and have a better grasp of apocalyptic literature. I cannot recommend this book enough.
March 3, 2019
One of the best works on Daniel that I've ever read! Theologically rich, yet easy to understand!
May 16, 2024
Highly readable while maintaining scriptural soundness and insights.
August 26, 2024
Would like it to be more Christ-centered in places, but really shines in application.
September 29, 2024
I love Chris Wright's work. This is an excellent exegesis of the book of Daniel and I found myself in near perfect agreement with Wright's interpretation. Highly recommended.
September 17, 2025
Fantastic! I will be reading more of his books. Great blend of biblical insights and devotional reflection.
March 28, 2017
Christopher J. H. Wright is International Ministries director of the Langham Partnership and the author of numerous books related to global missions, the Old Testament, and the people of God. Wright is both a veteran scholar and a seasoned pastor, and like many of his books, Hearing the Message of Daniel: Sustaining Faith in Today’s World demonstrates this blended reality with excellence.
Hearing the Message of Daniel is not a commentary. This needs to be stated and understood at the beginning so readers are not disappointed with the outcome. As Wright notes, “[the book has] its origin in preaching, and retains much of that style” (p. 12). Furthermore, as should be expected, Wright avoids the critical questions of the book and takes no position on “the unity of Daniel, or dating of its later chapters, or of the book as a whole” (p. 12). Hearing the Message of Daniel is an encouragement rooted in the exposition of the book of Daniel. As Wright explains, “the entire book is indented to be an encouragement to God’s people in the midst of hostile and threatening cultures and to affirm God’s sovereign control of all that happens, even as fallen human beings ‘do as they please’ in exercising their own rebellious wills in opposition to God and his people” (p. 12).
The book is comprised of numerous expositions on the book of Daniel. Each chapter in the book corresponds to a chapter in the book of Daniel, apart from the final chapter which covers Daniel 10-12. It should also be noted that chapters 1-6 were previously published in Tested by Fire: Daniel 1-6—Solid Faith in Today’s World (Scripture Union Publishing, 1993). Wright does an exceptional job keeping the reader focused on the message of the book while avoiding much of the theological, namely eschatological concerns many readers will be familiar with from the book of Daniel. He does well to provide the reader with background information pertinent to the message of the book and doesn’t shy away from offering theological observations founded upon the larger narrative (i.e. God’s sovereignty).
Hearing the Message of Daniel: Sustaining Faith in Today’s World is quintessential Christopher J. H. Wright. It is readable, reliable, and sensitive to what matters in the Christian life. Wright sets out to strengthen and offer encouragement for those facing hostility and persecution and does so with an eye upon the grace and mercy of God. Wright demonstrates the relevance of the book of Daniel with little effort and captures the reader’s hearts in the process. This is a book that will stir your heart with confidence for God and his lovingkindness for his people. If you’re preaching through Daniel, then Hearing the Message of Daniel is an essential read. If you’re facing hostility because of your faith, the Hearing the Message of Daniel is likewise an essential read. In short, if you’re a Christian living today, then Hearing the Message of Daniel is an essential read. It comes highly recommended!
Hearing the Message of Daniel is not a commentary. This needs to be stated and understood at the beginning so readers are not disappointed with the outcome. As Wright notes, “[the book has] its origin in preaching, and retains much of that style” (p. 12). Furthermore, as should be expected, Wright avoids the critical questions of the book and takes no position on “the unity of Daniel, or dating of its later chapters, or of the book as a whole” (p. 12). Hearing the Message of Daniel is an encouragement rooted in the exposition of the book of Daniel. As Wright explains, “the entire book is indented to be an encouragement to God’s people in the midst of hostile and threatening cultures and to affirm God’s sovereign control of all that happens, even as fallen human beings ‘do as they please’ in exercising their own rebellious wills in opposition to God and his people” (p. 12).
The book is comprised of numerous expositions on the book of Daniel. Each chapter in the book corresponds to a chapter in the book of Daniel, apart from the final chapter which covers Daniel 10-12. It should also be noted that chapters 1-6 were previously published in Tested by Fire: Daniel 1-6—Solid Faith in Today’s World (Scripture Union Publishing, 1993). Wright does an exceptional job keeping the reader focused on the message of the book while avoiding much of the theological, namely eschatological concerns many readers will be familiar with from the book of Daniel. He does well to provide the reader with background information pertinent to the message of the book and doesn’t shy away from offering theological observations founded upon the larger narrative (i.e. God’s sovereignty).
Hearing the Message of Daniel: Sustaining Faith in Today’s World is quintessential Christopher J. H. Wright. It is readable, reliable, and sensitive to what matters in the Christian life. Wright sets out to strengthen and offer encouragement for those facing hostility and persecution and does so with an eye upon the grace and mercy of God. Wright demonstrates the relevance of the book of Daniel with little effort and captures the reader’s hearts in the process. This is a book that will stir your heart with confidence for God and his lovingkindness for his people. If you’re preaching through Daniel, then Hearing the Message of Daniel is an essential read. If you’re facing hostility because of your faith, the Hearing the Message of Daniel is likewise an essential read. In short, if you’re a Christian living today, then Hearing the Message of Daniel is an essential read. It comes highly recommended!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews