The first six chapters of Daniel are simple stories of faith under pressure. Daniel and his three friends have been forced to leave their homeland and settle in the Babylonian king’s palace. They are compelled to learn foreign ways to serve the government, which has made a hostile incursion against Israel. Each chapter brings new challenges, but neither Daniel nor his friends waver in their faith. They are confident in their God—even though he might not preserve their lives through a trial. God, however, is up to the task, again and again demonstrating his sovereignty and power over evil human intentions. The division between chapters 6 and 7 masks a radical shift in genre and complexity. Even seasoned Bible scholars scratch their heads over the rest of the book, which moves from simple stories to obscure apocalyptic visions. The first half of the book are stories about Daniel; the second half are visions of Daniel. However, even though there is a dramatic contrast in genre between the two halves of the book, the overall message of the book is uniform: In spite of present appearances, God is in control.

Each Bible study in the NIV Application Commentary series is designed to help readers with the difficult but vital task of bringing an ancient message into a modern context. This is accomplished through a three-step process: (1) an original meaning section, which reveals the questions and concerns the author was addressing; (2) a past to present section, which explains what significance the original audience would have found in the passage and what significance readers can find in it today; and (3) application and reflection questions, which help readers apply the author's words and teachings to their own lives and find meaning in those words for what they are currently facing.