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Most Americans, including
the unchurched, agnostics, skeptics, and even atheists, are somewhat
familiar with the Old Testament book of Daniel. It would indeed be
difficult to find someone who has not read about, or heard about,
Daniel in the lion’s den. Or Daniel and his companions in the fiery
furnace. For centuries and millennia, these memorable stories have
become part of the storehouse of biblical knowledge of believers and
unbelievers alike.
Daniel was, and continues to be, a
voice of great hope to the people of God in exile. Writing to the
Hebrews in the Diaspora, Daniel affirms that Yahweh is sovereign and
in control of the affairs of individuals and nations. The day will
come when the forces of evil will be crushed and the Most High God
will rule and reign throughout the earth.
In this his most recent work,
Pastor Henderson captures a few of the trying experiences of young
Daniel and translates them into verse. Although not a technical
verse-by-verse commentary, Daniel: Lyrical Reflections on
the Man, His Times, and Message represents what, by any
reckoning, is a new and fresh approach to understanding the
struggles of the Jewish people and their plight in ancient Babylon.
In his consistently unpretentious manner, brother Henderson
contributes to our understanding of how God insinuates Himself into
the everyday lives of His people (individually and collectively) to
protect them and to glorify His wonderful name.
Considering the inextricable
connection between Old Testament Daniel and the New Testament
Revelation of Jesus Christ, Daniel: Lyrical
Reflections on the Man, His Times, and Message should be read in
conjunction with Henderson’s earlier work, Reflections on the
Revelation.
D. Barry Lumsden, Ed.D
Professor of Higher Education
University of North Texas
Denton, Texas
(c) Rex H. Henderson 2004 - All poems are copyrighted by Rex
H. Henderson and are used by permission.
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