Review date: Spring 2004
Reviewed in: Rutherford Journal of Church and Ministry
Reviewed by: Clifford Rennie, Larbert
In Decoding Daniel the writer, Ernest Lucas, sets out to concentrate on chapters 7-11 of the prophecy of Daniel, which present the reader with challenging problems of interpretation. It is the thesis of his book that the understanding of those chapters has often been confused by an approach he describes as 'decoding', which he distinguishes from the application of 'well-tried methods of interpretation'. It is also his conviction that whereas chapters 7-11 have, on the surface, little to offer the preacher, it is possible through study to discern theological insights that provide valuable material for preaching. It is with this in mind that Lucas has provided suggestions for the preacher (or the Bible Study Group) at the close of each of his three chapters. In chapter 1 the author deals with the cultural background of the imagery in Daniel chs 7 and 8. Perhaps the exigencies of a 23-page booklet make for difficulties at this point. Certainly there is a feeling that confusion is being increased rather than dissipated by his argument. To quote from page 5, 'One might question the value of all this discussion and debate.' Of more assistance is Lucas' recognition of a tie-up between the imagery of Hosea 13: 7,7 and that of Daniel ch. 7 with their reference to various beasts. In chapter 2 the author considers the biblical roots of Daniel's 'seventy weeks of years'. He concludes these are best understood symbolically, thus rendering them amenable to 're-applications' in Maccabean times and even later. Lucas' thinking here and in his final chapter, where he looks at 'Patterns in History' in relation to Daniel chapter 11 seems to lose touch with Scripture, owing more to the 'Akkadian Prophecies' of Grayson and Lambert. This is a Grove booklet, easily obtainable, but perhaps of limited value for congregational groups.