Daniel was not a prophet in the traditional sense. He did not preach publicly to the Israelites before or during captivity. He was a prophet in the sense that he received God’s inspired message and revealed the truths that God showed him. His stellar character stands out in both his words and deeds. The book of Daniel points to three purposes. First, it shows that God was faithful to protect His covenant people in and through their discipline. Secondly, within this story, we see that God is sovereign over all nations. Finally, Daniel himself serves as a model for godly living in a heathen culture and his example still applies to us today.