By Geoff Thomas
Bryntirion Press. 152 pages. £3.99
ISBN 1 85049 146 1
'The author is convinced that Daniel has a very powerful message for Christians today . . . and its main theme is that it is possible to resist the values of a hostile society without withdrawing from it.'
Originally given as four sermons at the 1997 Evangelical Movement of Wales Conference, the form of the book still very much reflects this context. Here are lively, relevant, applied explanations of Scripture.
The structure of the book is based around the chronological succession of the kings that Daniel served with wisdom and integrity. Starting with Nebuchadnezzar (which covers chapters 1 to 4) when Daniel was a young man, then Belshazzar (chapters 7, 8 and 5), Darius (chapters 9 and 6), through to Cyrus, when he was in his 80s (chapters 10, 11 and 12), we are taken through dramatic events and awesome messages. This unusual ordering of the material is an eye-opener for those who may not have reflected on the way that the material of the biblical book is inter-related.
The difficult sections of prophecy are explained clearly and should help young Christians grasp the thrust of these great words without getting bogged down in speculative points of view.
As we also are to live like 'strangers in a foreign land', there are many parallels with our own lives in this portion of Scripture and these are developed in ways that can benefit us enormously. The slight pity is that some of these suggestive applications weren't taken a little further - yet the amazement is to see just how much Geoff packed into his hour's preaching slot each day!
Warmly recommended.
