Jerusalem and Judah were captured by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon in 605 BC.  The Prophets, most notably Jeremiah and Ezekiel, made it clear the reason for the debacle was the idolatry and disobedience of the leaders and the people.  But, as God promises, He works all things together for good for his people (Romans 8.28).  In particular, Daniel made it to Babylon.

Just like God used persecution of the early Christian church to send witnesses to Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth, so He used the exile to place Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah in the King’s court (the last three are better known as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego).  God equipped them to show the king’s steward the benefits of a healthy diet in Chapter 1, interpret dreams in Chapters 2 and 4, stand up to the king’s unrighteous demand in Chapter 3, read the handwriting on the wall in Chapter 5, and withstand ravenous lions in Chapter 6.

The kings of Babylon, the Medes, and the Persians needed to know about the One True God of the universe, and the four friends made it clear.  Nebuchadnezzar said “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries” (Daniel 2.47); “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants” (3.29); and “I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever” (4.34).

Belshazzar, the last king of Babylon, saw the writing on the wall (literally) but the message was too late to help him.  Darius the Mede called Daniel the “servant of the living God” and made a decree that “in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end.  He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.”

Thus the most powerful men on the earth knew about the most powerful God in the universe, and they proclaimed his name widely!  And, the kings of Orien Tar (for a long time I thought those three guys worked with a specific brand of road sealant) quite likely had knowledge of the Old Testament prophecies because Daniel had brought them to Babylon.