Music Beyond the Genesis Record-part 4

Music Beyond the Genesis Record-part 4

            If one is trying to build a case for denying that the Book of Daniel was written by Daniel, what is one supposed to do with the words of Jesus in Matthew 24:15? Jesus refers to Daniel as having spoken the words in Daniel and furthermore He referred to Daniel as a prophet. “Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place (whoever reads, let him understand).” Jesus was referring to Daniel’s words in Daniel 9:26-27, 11:31, and 12:11. So, there is a definite problem with denying that the book is the actual work of the prophet Daniel.

            David Englehawk quoted Nabonidus and Belshazzar. (Yale, 1929):pp.199-200 that reports this opinion,  "Of all the non-Babylonian records dealing with the situation at the close of the Neo-Babylonian empire the fifth chapter of Daniel ranks next to cuneiform literature in accuracy so far as outstanding events are concerned. The Scriptural account may be interpreted as excelling because it employs the name Belshazzar, because it attributes royal power to Belshazzar, and because it recognizes that a dual rulership existed in the kingdom. Babylonian cuneiform documents of the sixth century B.C. furnish clear-cut evidence of the correctness of these three basic historical nuclei contained in the Biblical narrative dealing with the fall of Babylon.” http://www.answers.com/Q/Who_wrote_the_Book_of_Daniel    So, it is far from settled that the writings in the book of Daniel are Pseudepigraphy.   

            Furthermore, how does one explain Daniel 7:2, which declares “Daniel spoke, saying, I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the Great Sea.”  Furthermore, how does one reconcile Daniel’s statement in Daniel 7:15 "I, Daniel, was grieved in my spirit within my body, and the visions of my head troubled me” if Daniel was not the author of the book and was not speaking personally as the author.  I am not willing to turn the Book of Daniel into Pseudepigraphy and nullify its authenticity and worthiness as an accurately preserved inspired and God breathed record.

Thought for the Day

            Everyone who studies the Bible does so with presuppositions.  I choose to believe that since it is God breathed by an all wise God, it is an accurate historical record.  All of the arguments of higher criticism that I have studied have two sides—the side of those who search for evidence to prove that the Bible is filled with prejudice and error and those who find evidence to support the belief that the Bible is inspired and accurate.