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September 8, 2025

A Man of Integrity: Lessons from the Life of Daniel

by Jason Neill

Scripture reading: Daniel 1 & 6

When I think about Daniel, one word comes to mind: Integrity. It’s defined as the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles. That’s our man Daniel. He demonstrated this integrity throughout his life. In chapter one of the book that bears his name, he refused to defile himself with the king’s food (see Daniel 1:8). Recently taken from his homeland of Israel, he and his three friends, along with thousands of other Hebrews, were taken captive in 605 B.C. to Babylon.

It was their aim to enculturate Daniel and his three friends by immersing them in Babylonian culture. The king informed one of his officials, referring to Daniel and his friends, to “make sure they are well versed in every branch of learning, are gifted with knowledge and good judgment, and are suited to serve in the royal palace. Train these young men in the language and literature of Babylon” (Daniel 1:4, NLT). Forcing the captives to conform to what the Babylonians ate was more than just about their diet. It was the Babylonians' attempt to erase their Jewish culture, and in turn their devotion to the one true God.

One scholar wrote that Daniel may have refused the food because “it may have been offered to pagan gods, it may have been unclean according to Jewish dietary laws (see Leviticus 11), and eating at the king’s table would have implied unconditional loyalty to him and his empire. Table fellowship was a serious matter in Bible times (see Matthew 9:9-13).” Bible scholars think Daniel 1 occurred in Daniel’s teen years.

In chapter six, Daniel is thought to be around 85 years old. To put it in secular terms, Daniel was an employee of the Babylonian government. One thing I’ve noticed as I read through the book, is that Daniel constantly is asked for help by those in power. The king has a dream, but he doesn’t know what it means so Daniel, after he asks his friends to pray for wisdom, provides the interpretation. He could have taken this opportunity to brag on himself, and his abilities, but he defers to God. He gives God the credit (see Daniel 2).

Transitioning to chapter six, Daniel is again at a high level of power within the government and those under his leadership are jealous of him (see Daniel 6:4). They want to sabotage his character and leadership, so they search for dirt on Daniel. They seek to discover the skeletons hidden in his closet. Surprisingly, they don’t find any. Again, Daniel proves he is a man of integrity.

To fully appreciate Daniel's story, it helps to understand how the book is organized. It's often divided into three main sections, each with a distinct focus. You can think of it like this:

  • Daniel’s character (chapter 1): We see Daniel as a young man of integrity who chooses to honor God, even at great personal risk.
  • God’s program for the world (chapters 2-6): This section, which includes stories like the fiery furnace and the lion's den, shows God's control over human kingdoms and His protection of those who remain faithful.
  • God’s program for Israel (chapters 7-12): Here, the book shifts to a series of prophetic visions that outline God’s ultimate plan for His people and the world.

Authorship and Date:

Conservative, biblical, scholars attribute the book to Daniel. Specifically, Daniel identifies himself as the author in 8:1; 9:2, 20; 10:2. Ezekiel also mentions Daniel (see Ezekiel 14:14, 20; 28:3). Jesus of Nazareth also mentioned Daniel as the author of the book (see Matthew 24:15; Mark 13:14). The book was written around 535 B.C., although the book records events that took place between 605 and 535 B.C.

Jesus in Daniel & Its Application:

Christ is referenced several times in Daniel. He is the Great Stone who will crush the kingdoms of this world (see Daniel 2:34-35, 44). He is the “Son of Man” who is given authority over the nations of the world (see Daniel 7:13-14).

One of the things I noticed about the life of Daniel is that it is often said about him, he was “very precious to God” (see Daniel 9:23, NLT). This is repeated in Daniel 10:11, 19. The English Standard Version says, “you are greatly loved.” The New International Version reads, “you are highly esteemed.” What made Daniel stand out to God? That’s a question I pondered quite a bit as I read this book. Warren Wiersbe writes this concerning why Daniel was so highly esteemed by God:

“Throughout his long life, Daniel was a great man in the kingdom, but he used his gifts, abilities, and opportunities to honor God and minister to others. It has well been said that true humility isn’t thinking meanly of yourself, it’s just not thinking of yourself at all!”

We need more men and women like Daniel!