I am re-reading the book of Daniel. Today was Daniel 3, the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and the fiery furnace. What leaped out most saliently to me today in reading the story again was that their assertion to King Neb was that their God would deliver them from his hands. They didn't proclaim they'd be saved from the fire - but they'd be saved from Nebuchadnezzar. That salvation could have just as easily come through their death. The fire was so hot that the men who threw them in were killed - but the 3 faithful Hebrew children were spared. One like a 'son of the gods' - Neb's description - walked with them in the flames. The cords that bound them fell off, but they were not touched by the flame. They didn't even smell like smoke.
What an amazing reminder that God has our back. It is true that He doesn't perform conspicuous miracles every time we ask. If He did, no one would ever die - and it is appointed to man (because of the sin of Adam and Eve) that we will one day die. The only exceptions to that 'rule' are those who are alive at Jesus' return. Then those who are dead in Christ will rise first, and those who are alive and yet remain will be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the sky - to be forever with the Lord. (The only other recorded exception is Enoch, who was translated without dying, and his death may come later as one of the two witnesses in the Book of Revelation.)
There is a ton I do not understand - and that God has not cleared up for me - but His Word provides enough history and clarity for me to trust the future to Him. Like the 3 men who were faced with a fiery furnace death, we too know a God who is able to deliver. I love that they were spared death as a testimony to those who witnessed the event - and I love the 180 degree turn around the King made in His view and his proclamation of which God would be honored! I know God frequently works through circumstances - - but I love it when there is no other way to explain what just happened except that He showed up in power.
Thank you, Lord, for the history of your amazing intervention. When I walk through 'the fire' You are with me. Thank you for Your love and care.
Showing posts with label The book of Daniel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The book of Daniel. Show all posts
Saturday, August 23, 2014
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
DANIEL 6, in sequence
Reading Daniel in a more likely sequence of the order of the events that occurred in his life has been instructive and has provided insight I'd never paid attention to in previous reading. Daniel 6 records the final big event that we are given insight into.
Just to backtrack a bit for continuity, Daniel was captured and whisked off to Babylon when he was just a lad (+-605 B C). I use age 15 for my calculations. That is just a guess, but is likely within a couple of years either way. He was described as a youth - and youth certainly applies to the 13 - 17 range of ages.
He served Nebuchadnezzar well. Then Neb's son, Belshazzar apparently completely disregarded Daniel, until that fateful 'handwriting on the wall event' in 539 B C, which signaled the end of his life, the end of Babylon's reign, and the beginning of the rule of the Medes and the Persians, with Belshazzar's crown going directly to Darius, the Mede.
Belshazzar promised Daniel that he would be rewarded if he would translate the handwriting on the wall - - and in spite of the terrible news the interpretation provided, Bel kept his promise. He honored Daniel by having him clothed with purple, with a gold chain placed around his neck, and a proclamation made about him, that Daniel should be the third ruler in the kingdom.
Sounds great - but that very night he died, so what he said wouldn't have mattered....but Darius, the incoming ruler, liked Daniel. Daniel 11 tells us that in the first year of Darius, Daniel stood up to strengthen the king. Darius was 62. Daniel was 81. Daniel was Darius' mentor, and Darius appreciated him.
It was also in the first year of Darius that Daniel began praying for his people, whose 70 years in captivity in Babylon was nearing its prophesied end (chapter 9) - and it is apparent 539 B C was also the year of Daniel 6, for as Darius set up his kingdom, he made Daniel one of the 3 high officials who were over the 120 satraps, who were situated throughout the kingdom in positions of authority to watch out for the king's financial interests.
Verse 3 tells us: Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. You'd think they'd want to give him a dinner, or have a monument constructed to honor him, but no, not these dudes. They were so envious that they tried to find something against him to take him down, and finding absolutely nothing, they concocted a plan to butter up the king and get him to sign a decree that no one could make a petition to anyone but the king for 30 days; and if anyone did, that person had to be thrown into the lion's den.
I don't know why it stroked his ego so keenly, or why he didn't notice that Daniel wasn't among those lobbying for this idiocy, but King Darius signed the irrevocable decree. Daniel's response to the signing was to go to his window in his upper chamber, which looked out toward Jerusalem, and pray.
This is such an awesome story to read. I highly recommend that readers turn to Daniel 6, and read the full account....
For his faithfulness to God, Daniel was thrown into a den of voraciously hungry lions. He was not a young man. He was 81. He spent the night in the pit with the lions and the Lord! He was doing just fine - but King Darius wasn't. What a night he had. Guilt and anguish were his companion during his fitful, sleepless night. He even fasted.
At the break of day, he rushed to the den of lions, and called out - not in genuine hope, but in agony (cloaked with a tinge of 'maybe'): "O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?"
The king's sorrow and anguish are turned to immediate joy when he hears Daniel reply! "O king, live forever! My God sent his angel and shut the lion's mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm."
So a very hungry and grateful Daniel was saved from the jaws and paws of the lions. The critters that could have crushed him so easily became his cushions and warmth for the long night in the dark pit.
Being faithful didn't exempt him from tough stuff. God certainly gave him more than he could have handled - but not more than God could handle.
I love this chapter! I love Daniel's faithfulness in spite of circumstances. I love that he didn't try to hide that he prayed by rationalizing God would understand if he prayed in an inner closet away from the conniving eyes of those who wanted to destroy him for being honorable and good. I just love Daniel - and the encouragement he brings to those who feel they, too, are in the 'lion's den'. I love his integrity, his faithfulness, and his loving stand for Truth.
In the end, Darius punishes all who tried to implicate Daniel with the fate they wanted exacted. And, Darius makes a new decree:
"Peace be multiplied to you. I make 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."
The conclusion of the chapter reads, "So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian."
539 - 538 B C was quite a year!
This story provides a perfect segue to the coming considerations for lent. Today is 'Fat Tuesday'. Tomorrow begins the 40 days of preparation leading to the commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus on Easter morning. The 40 days exempt Sundays, for those who are not accustomed to paying attention to Lent.
A few years ago I was inspired by an amazing woman - and writer - who writes daily for the lenten season as a spiritual discipline. Her name is Rosemarie Kowalski, and her blog is titled 'peacefulones' - and it is a blog I follow and highly recommend. Tomorrow the daily discipline of writing daily instead of sporadically begins. You are welcome to join either or both of us on the journey.
Just to backtrack a bit for continuity, Daniel was captured and whisked off to Babylon when he was just a lad (+-605 B C). I use age 15 for my calculations. That is just a guess, but is likely within a couple of years either way. He was described as a youth - and youth certainly applies to the 13 - 17 range of ages.
He served Nebuchadnezzar well. Then Neb's son, Belshazzar apparently completely disregarded Daniel, until that fateful 'handwriting on the wall event' in 539 B C, which signaled the end of his life, the end of Babylon's reign, and the beginning of the rule of the Medes and the Persians, with Belshazzar's crown going directly to Darius, the Mede.
Belshazzar promised Daniel that he would be rewarded if he would translate the handwriting on the wall - - and in spite of the terrible news the interpretation provided, Bel kept his promise. He honored Daniel by having him clothed with purple, with a gold chain placed around his neck, and a proclamation made about him, that Daniel should be the third ruler in the kingdom.
Sounds great - but that very night he died, so what he said wouldn't have mattered....but Darius, the incoming ruler, liked Daniel. Daniel 11 tells us that in the first year of Darius, Daniel stood up to strengthen the king. Darius was 62. Daniel was 81. Daniel was Darius' mentor, and Darius appreciated him.
It was also in the first year of Darius that Daniel began praying for his people, whose 70 years in captivity in Babylon was nearing its prophesied end (chapter 9) - and it is apparent 539 B C was also the year of Daniel 6, for as Darius set up his kingdom, he made Daniel one of the 3 high officials who were over the 120 satraps, who were situated throughout the kingdom in positions of authority to watch out for the king's financial interests.
Verse 3 tells us: Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. You'd think they'd want to give him a dinner, or have a monument constructed to honor him, but no, not these dudes. They were so envious that they tried to find something against him to take him down, and finding absolutely nothing, they concocted a plan to butter up the king and get him to sign a decree that no one could make a petition to anyone but the king for 30 days; and if anyone did, that person had to be thrown into the lion's den.
I don't know why it stroked his ego so keenly, or why he didn't notice that Daniel wasn't among those lobbying for this idiocy, but King Darius signed the irrevocable decree. Daniel's response to the signing was to go to his window in his upper chamber, which looked out toward Jerusalem, and pray.
This is such an awesome story to read. I highly recommend that readers turn to Daniel 6, and read the full account....
For his faithfulness to God, Daniel was thrown into a den of voraciously hungry lions. He was not a young man. He was 81. He spent the night in the pit with the lions and the Lord! He was doing just fine - but King Darius wasn't. What a night he had. Guilt and anguish were his companion during his fitful, sleepless night. He even fasted.
At the break of day, he rushed to the den of lions, and called out - not in genuine hope, but in agony (cloaked with a tinge of 'maybe'): "O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?"
The king's sorrow and anguish are turned to immediate joy when he hears Daniel reply! "O king, live forever! My God sent his angel and shut the lion's mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm."
So a very hungry and grateful Daniel was saved from the jaws and paws of the lions. The critters that could have crushed him so easily became his cushions and warmth for the long night in the dark pit.
Being faithful didn't exempt him from tough stuff. God certainly gave him more than he could have handled - but not more than God could handle.
I love this chapter! I love Daniel's faithfulness in spite of circumstances. I love that he didn't try to hide that he prayed by rationalizing God would understand if he prayed in an inner closet away from the conniving eyes of those who wanted to destroy him for being honorable and good. I just love Daniel - and the encouragement he brings to those who feel they, too, are in the 'lion's den'. I love his integrity, his faithfulness, and his loving stand for Truth.
In the end, Darius punishes all who tried to implicate Daniel with the fate they wanted exacted. And, Darius makes a new decree:
"Peace be multiplied to you. I make 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."
The conclusion of the chapter reads, "So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian."
539 - 538 B C was quite a year!
This story provides a perfect segue to the coming considerations for lent. Today is 'Fat Tuesday'. Tomorrow begins the 40 days of preparation leading to the commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus on Easter morning. The 40 days exempt Sundays, for those who are not accustomed to paying attention to Lent.
A few years ago I was inspired by an amazing woman - and writer - who writes daily for the lenten season as a spiritual discipline. Her name is Rosemarie Kowalski, and her blog is titled 'peacefulones' - and it is a blog I follow and highly recommend. Tomorrow the daily discipline of writing daily instead of sporadically begins. You are welcome to join either or both of us on the journey.
Monday, February 20, 2012
DANIEL 9, in sequence
Chapter 5 reports an event that occurred in +-539 B C. That is the chapter in Daniel which relates the story of the handwriting on the wall, and the demise that very night of King Belshazzar and the passing of Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylonian ‘kingdom’ to the Medes and the Persians with Darius identified as the immediate successor.
So – Chapter 9, which is identified as being in the first year of Darius’ reign was likely sometime later that same year – but certainly no later than 538 B C.
Daniel was reading the historical prophecies and noted that the desolation of Israel that had come in +-605 B C was to be for 70 years. That time was drawing near, and would arrive within a few short years. His response to that awareness was to seek the Lord in fervent prayer, fasting and donning sackcloth and sprinkling ashes over himself, coming before God in total subservience and humility. It was a prayer for his nation and people, and he included himself in the ‘we’ of their sin when he confessed his nation’s sin before God. These are some excerpts from the prayer he prayed:
“O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 5 we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules. 6 We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. 7 To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame, as at this day, to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, those who are near and those who are far away, in all the lands to which you have driven them, because of the treachery that they have committed against you. 8 To us, O Lord, belongs open shame, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you. 9 To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him 10 and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God by walking in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.
17 Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for your own sake, O Lord, make your face to shine upon your sanctuary, which is desolate. 18 O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy. 19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.”
Clearly the prayer Daniel prayed was for Jerusalem and Israel, but we, too, as a nation and often even as His people, have disobeyed. In this time of great need in our own state and country, we do not present our pleas to God because we deserve his intervention – but because of His great mercy. Lord, have mercy….
Daniel's response to prophecy that applied to his day was to pray. God's answer to Daniel was to send the angel Gabriel with a message: "You are dearly loved." And because Daniel was dearly loved, God gave him clarity for the timing of what was to happen to Jerusalem. God invited Daniel into a very close, intimate relationship of having insider information!
What God disclosed to Daniel was more prophecy, revealing what would occur in the future. Israel would have a total of 70 weeks (which are not literal weeks but segments of time). Within that time the temple would be rebuilt; an anointed one would come, then be cut off; the city and the temple would be destroyed again by the people of the 'prince who is to come'. That prince will, in the final 'week' make a strong covenant that he keeps for half of the 'week', at which point he will renege on his covenant and put an end to sacrifice and offering. And Daniel 9 ends with the following statement: "And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator."
Daniel prayed when he saw the time approaching when the prophesy about Jerusalem was to be fulfilled. We are living in a time when the length of days prophesied for us are at our threshold. Like Daniel, it is time to pray! Not because we deserve His mercy - but because we need it so desperately!
Saturday, February 18, 2012
DANIEL 12, in sequence
I have to write a brief 'side note before I get into Daniel 12.
It occurred to me as I sat down to write just now that what we often need when we are in the depths of the doldrums of discouragement is vitamin D - - literally, of course; and for me right now, Vitamin Daniel. God has definitely used the model of Daniel - and what I have learned from digging deeper into this book - as instructive encouragement. We don't have any record of Daniel ever doing anything wrong. He is a model of faithfulness and obedience - but His life certainly didn't go smoothly just because he lived faithfully.
God's message to Daniel was, "You are dearly loved." We look at Daniel and think, "He deserved God's love." That's true - but God's love for us is not conditional, based on anything we do to merit His favor. What God spoke to Daniel is also a reminder of God's incredible love for us. His love was demonstrated most perfectly when He came Himself in human form and died on a cross to take the punishment for every sin that would ever be committed. He loves because it is His nature. God made that very clear to me this past Wednesday morning.
After having my prayer time and re-reading part of Daniel that morning, I decided to make a list of some specific things God has spoken to me over the past several years. Then, as I got on my exercise bike and started pedaling I said to God, "You haven't said something specific to me for awhile."
Immediately He responded, "You are dearly loved."
Tears sprung to my eyes and my heart was so full I felt it might burst. "Like Daniel?" I queried.
"Like Daniel," He replied.
"Like David," I asked.
"Like David."
I first gave my heart to Jesus when I was 8 years old, in response to the message of God's love, but I had never heard Him say that so specifically ever before. Hearing those words so directly has changed me forever, and He spoke this to me at a time I desperately needed to hear His voice.
I don't deserve His love - but He loves me anyway! It was an Aha! moment, and it is imbedded deeply in my soul. I continued pedaling with a full, full heart (and some tears) absorbing the fullness of the affirmation that God loves me - and I knew in that moment I wanted everyone to hear those words.
I'm certain there are times we please Him more than others, but His love is unconditional. However, when we know such a love, why wouldn't be want to be obedient and faithful!
His love is not a rubber stamp of our doing, but of being....being His children, dearly loved.
And on to Chapter 12:
God's prophetic messages to Daniel in Chapter 12 are very specific, yet still leave room for many opinions and observations. It speaks of the 'time of the end' which is prophesied to be a time of great trouble, such as has never been. All whose names are written in the book (the Lamb's Book of Life) will be delivered. Daniel is told to shut up the words and seal the book until the time of the end - and the end is identified with this statement, "Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase."
We're there! Never in history has travel been so easy or so frequent! And knowledge increasing - I can't keep up! In fact, I don't even want to. There are apps for everything if you have the techie tools to use them, which I don't - but knowledge is everywhere! Overwhelmingly everywhere! Increase is an understatement. The changes come so fast that the 'newest thing' is outdated before it even makes it to the shelves.
And Daniel asks, How long shall it be before the end of these wonders? And the answer, "...for a time, times and half a time, and ... when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be finished...." And the being who speaks to Daniel goes on to specify just how many days the horrible time will be...1290 days (with a perk for reaching arriving at 1335 days) just a little more than 3 1/2 years, which confirms the period defined as: time (1 year), times (2 years) and half a time (1/2 a year): total = 3 1/2 years.
This portion of Daniel was written in +- 539 B C. The Book of Revelation was written in +-95 A D, where this horrible period at the end of time is identified varyingly as 3 1/2 days; 3 1/2 years; 42 months; 1260 days. With +-635 years between the prophets' writings, the time span for this last chunk at the end of time is very specific and clear.
I don't know if those who presently believe in the Lord will be taken out of the world before the 7 years of the Great Tribulation begins (pre-trib); or midway through, at this point that precedes the final 3 1/2 years of the Great Tribulation (mid-trib); or at its end (post-trib). What I do know is that what God promises in verse 1 is "at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book." I know beyond a doubt my name is written there, and I want to encourage others to find that same certainty!
I don't deserve His love - - but I am so grateful for it!
It occurred to me as I sat down to write just now that what we often need when we are in the depths of the doldrums of discouragement is vitamin D - - literally, of course; and for me right now, Vitamin Daniel. God has definitely used the model of Daniel - and what I have learned from digging deeper into this book - as instructive encouragement. We don't have any record of Daniel ever doing anything wrong. He is a model of faithfulness and obedience - but His life certainly didn't go smoothly just because he lived faithfully.
God's message to Daniel was, "You are dearly loved." We look at Daniel and think, "He deserved God's love." That's true - but God's love for us is not conditional, based on anything we do to merit His favor. What God spoke to Daniel is also a reminder of God's incredible love for us. His love was demonstrated most perfectly when He came Himself in human form and died on a cross to take the punishment for every sin that would ever be committed. He loves because it is His nature. God made that very clear to me this past Wednesday morning.
After having my prayer time and re-reading part of Daniel that morning, I decided to make a list of some specific things God has spoken to me over the past several years. Then, as I got on my exercise bike and started pedaling I said to God, "You haven't said something specific to me for awhile."
Immediately He responded, "You are dearly loved."
Tears sprung to my eyes and my heart was so full I felt it might burst. "Like Daniel?" I queried.
"Like Daniel," He replied.
"Like David," I asked.
"Like David."
I first gave my heart to Jesus when I was 8 years old, in response to the message of God's love, but I had never heard Him say that so specifically ever before. Hearing those words so directly has changed me forever, and He spoke this to me at a time I desperately needed to hear His voice.
I don't deserve His love - but He loves me anyway! It was an Aha! moment, and it is imbedded deeply in my soul. I continued pedaling with a full, full heart (and some tears) absorbing the fullness of the affirmation that God loves me - and I knew in that moment I wanted everyone to hear those words.
I'm certain there are times we please Him more than others, but His love is unconditional. However, when we know such a love, why wouldn't be want to be obedient and faithful!
His love is not a rubber stamp of our doing, but of being....being His children, dearly loved.
And on to Chapter 12:
God's prophetic messages to Daniel in Chapter 12 are very specific, yet still leave room for many opinions and observations. It speaks of the 'time of the end' which is prophesied to be a time of great trouble, such as has never been. All whose names are written in the book (the Lamb's Book of Life) will be delivered. Daniel is told to shut up the words and seal the book until the time of the end - and the end is identified with this statement, "Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase."
We're there! Never in history has travel been so easy or so frequent! And knowledge increasing - I can't keep up! In fact, I don't even want to. There are apps for everything if you have the techie tools to use them, which I don't - but knowledge is everywhere! Overwhelmingly everywhere! Increase is an understatement. The changes come so fast that the 'newest thing' is outdated before it even makes it to the shelves.
And Daniel asks, How long shall it be before the end of these wonders? And the answer, "...for a time, times and half a time, and ... when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be finished...." And the being who speaks to Daniel goes on to specify just how many days the horrible time will be...1290 days (with a perk for reaching arriving at 1335 days) just a little more than 3 1/2 years, which confirms the period defined as: time (1 year), times (2 years) and half a time (1/2 a year): total = 3 1/2 years.
This portion of Daniel was written in +- 539 B C. The Book of Revelation was written in +-95 A D, where this horrible period at the end of time is identified varyingly as 3 1/2 days; 3 1/2 years; 42 months; 1260 days. With +-635 years between the prophets' writings, the time span for this last chunk at the end of time is very specific and clear.
I don't know if those who presently believe in the Lord will be taken out of the world before the 7 years of the Great Tribulation begins (pre-trib); or midway through, at this point that precedes the final 3 1/2 years of the Great Tribulation (mid-trib); or at its end (post-trib). What I do know is that what God promises in verse 1 is "at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book." I know beyond a doubt my name is written there, and I want to encourage others to find that same certainty!
I don't deserve His love - - but I am so grateful for it!
Monday, February 13, 2012
DANIEL 11, in sequence
It would be so easy to be diverted away from Daniel today, but I am staying on task - well, sort of! Daniel 11 is way over my head. It is a chapter that demands research and figuring out, and scholarly wisdom. I don't have time to do that today - - and feel a bit compelled to wrap up Daniel soon, because Lent is coming, and my blog originally began as a Lenten journey. It is a good discipline for me....
Though I can't desert Daniel, I can slip past delving deeply into this chapter with a promise to myself to return later.... I want to go deeper here, but time constrains me.
What this chapter does provide for me today is perspective. Daniel 11 was written in +-539 B C, during the first year of the reign of Darius. Daniel was +-81 years old at this point. Daniel had found favor with King Darius, which he certainly didn't have during the reign of Belshazzar. God revealed snippets of the future to Daniel, and he shared that information with King Darius. Theirs was a good relationship. That is a foundational truth to absorb prior to what would come later....
It is informative in my life for today. This chapter lets me know God has the future in His perfectly capable hands. My faithfulness to Him is not based on circumstances, but on the truth of who He is - the one and only true God, Creator of the Universe, and Master of all. He alone is worthy of all honor and glory and power and praise. And in the end, He wins, no matter what current circumstances look like!
My heart aches today because we have reached a point in history where good is being proclaimed as evil, and evil as good.... A lie is being purported to be truth, while the Truth is called a lie.
In August 2009 God spoke to me and said, I want you to contend for what I contend for. May 18, 2011 when I prayed and asked specifically what that meant He clarified, "I contend for Truth. I contend for man's souls."
On this sad, sad day for my state, I am reminded of that. Current circumstances look bleak, but no matter what the challenge, the battle belongs to the LORD. He contends for Truth. In balance with that He contends for man's souls. 'Man' is a generic reference to people - all people. Sadly, not everyone will believe in Him or in His one and only Son, whom He sent to earth with His greatest message of love, but it sure would make God happy if they did!
In just moments, the Governor of my state will sign the 'gay marriage bill' into law. No matter what man states is O K, God's authority is higher. He says it is sin. Validating sin by making it a law does not make it acceptable in God's sight. I awoke with a heavy heart this morning. I wondered if there would be an earthquake as the law was signed.... Perhaps the signing is enough of an earthquake. Perhaps it will awaken people out of their apathy....
Though I can't desert Daniel, I can slip past delving deeply into this chapter with a promise to myself to return later.... I want to go deeper here, but time constrains me.
What this chapter does provide for me today is perspective. Daniel 11 was written in +-539 B C, during the first year of the reign of Darius. Daniel was +-81 years old at this point. Daniel had found favor with King Darius, which he certainly didn't have during the reign of Belshazzar. God revealed snippets of the future to Daniel, and he shared that information with King Darius. Theirs was a good relationship. That is a foundational truth to absorb prior to what would come later....
It is informative in my life for today. This chapter lets me know God has the future in His perfectly capable hands. My faithfulness to Him is not based on circumstances, but on the truth of who He is - the one and only true God, Creator of the Universe, and Master of all. He alone is worthy of all honor and glory and power and praise. And in the end, He wins, no matter what current circumstances look like!
My heart aches today because we have reached a point in history where good is being proclaimed as evil, and evil as good.... A lie is being purported to be truth, while the Truth is called a lie.
In August 2009 God spoke to me and said, I want you to contend for what I contend for. May 18, 2011 when I prayed and asked specifically what that meant He clarified, "I contend for Truth. I contend for man's souls."
On this sad, sad day for my state, I am reminded of that. Current circumstances look bleak, but no matter what the challenge, the battle belongs to the LORD. He contends for Truth. In balance with that He contends for man's souls. 'Man' is a generic reference to people - all people. Sadly, not everyone will believe in Him or in His one and only Son, whom He sent to earth with His greatest message of love, but it sure would make God happy if they did!
In just moments, the Governor of my state will sign the 'gay marriage bill' into law. No matter what man states is O K, God's authority is higher. He says it is sin. Validating sin by making it a law does not make it acceptable in God's sight. I awoke with a heavy heart this morning. I wondered if there would be an earthquake as the law was signed.... Perhaps the signing is enough of an earthquake. Perhaps it will awaken people out of their apathy....
Thursday, February 9, 2012
DANIEL 10, in sequence
Someone established a sequential order for Daniel - and placed this chapter here.
However, I am not a Bible scholar. I don’t know exactly whom it was who appeared in Daniel’s vision – but there are some lessons to be noted here. I do know Daniel’s vision came from God, and that the one who was sent was occupied doing battle with demonic forces who were trying to prevent Daniel’s prayers from getting through….
I don’t have the historical knowledge to understand specifically why this chapter is located here…. It is like an interruption – an “Oh, by the way” – and is based on the Persian King’s timeline. It is apparent in Chapter 5 that the Babylonian kingdom went to King Darius the Mede immediately following Belshazzar’s death; but Chapter 10 clues us into the reality of the rule of King Cyrus the Persian as well…. It is corroboration of the interpretation of the dream Nebuchadnezzar had approximately 63 years earlier – that, while his kingdom would be the head of gold, the kingdom after him would be an empire with the chest and arms of silver. That kingdom has been identified as the Medo-Persian Empire, which was in power from 539 – 331 B C, and it began the night Belshazzar died in 539 B C.
The only one who comes to my mind who perfectly fits the description of the being seen in the vision reported in this passage is the pre-incarnate Messiah – the One who will come to Daniel’s people in the latter days, and when He returns for His Second Coming, He will not come as the innocent babe, but the conquering hero.
However, I am not a Bible scholar. I don’t know exactly whom it was who appeared in Daniel’s vision – but there are some lessons to be noted here. I do know Daniel’s vision came from God, and that the one who was sent was occupied doing battle with demonic forces who were trying to prevent Daniel’s prayers from getting through….
What is indelibly impressed on me in Chapter 10 is the commendation Daniel receives, directly expressed from the heart of God! At the precise point that Daniel was beyond overwhelmed being in the powerful presence of the one in the vision, he was encouraged and comforted with these words, “O Daniel, man greatly loved….” And later in this passage, in verse 19, after he was strengthened the message was reiterated, “O man greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage.” Daniel was a humble man, in spite of his successes, intelligence and giftedness. He is an amazing model of a true man of God.
In 539 B C, Daniel was approximately 81 years old. He was captured in 605 B C during Nebuchadnezzar’s reign and taken to Babylon. He was a youth at the time. For observation sake I have placed him at 15 years of age when he was captured, which is my basis for the observation that he was most likely about 81 in 539 B C, give or take a year or two….
Daniel was consistently faithful in spite of circumstances. He’ll soon get to prove that again!
The commendation he received is one I want to pass on today to those who are following God's call on their lives, and living faithfully in spite of obstacles and circumstances. May your stories be encouraging to others as you faithfully seek to serve Him with all your heart....
“O man greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage.”
Monday, February 6, 2012
DANIEL, in sequence, Chapter 5
Yep! Chapter 5 follows 7 & 8 sequentially....
It relates the story of Belshazzar seeing the handwriting on the wall. It is a chapter that leaves me wanting more information. "Details, please," I want to implore. I find it very interesting that Nebuchadnezzar's son is named Belshazzar, and the name he gave to Daniel is so similar - Belteshazzar. I also find it somewhat curious that it was his queen who reminded him of Daniel when he certainly knew what happened to his father - - and Daniel reminds him of that when he speaks to him prior to interpreting the writing on the wall.
Reading between the lines informs me as well.... Daniel had been placed in high esteem in Nebuchadnezzar's palace, but obviously not in Belshazzar's palace. It reminds me that things don't necessarily continue going well or fairly after a period of victory or adulation, even though Daniel remained faithful to the LORD. Good note to self....
But - beyond my piqued curiosity, this is a dramatic story. Belshazzar invites 1,000 of his lords for a party. That's some kingdom he inherited! After he'd had some wine, he ordered that the vessels his father had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem be brought to be used by his lords, his wives and his concubines. Apparently the Queen was not there at that point - or they were in separate rooms.... I don't know how all that played out. Again, details would be nice....
Anyway, the golden vessels were brought and as they drank wine from them, they praised the gods of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood and stone. Oops. Bad choice! Immediately the fingers of a hand began writing in the plaster on the wall of the king's palace. That got his attention! He turned white as a sheet, his knees buckled and shook. He was terrified! He called for everyone he could think of, but none of them knew what he writing said, let alone what it meant.
Then the Queen came in, and she recommended Daniel. Her compliments to Daniel's skill and knowledge were impressive - and it is interesting she remembered all this, but her husband didn't....
Daniel wasn't impressed by the kings offer of position in exchange for interpreting the writing, but he did tell the king what God said...well, after a brief history lesson that would have been a curt reprimand to a king who so easily forgot what his own father learned about the sovereignty of God. (Let alone obviously forgetting Daniel, which Daniel didn't point out.)
"MENE MENE TEKEL PARSIN." Daniel's translation: "God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end; you have been weighed in the balance and found wanting; your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians."
And that very night Belshazzar was killed, and Chapter 5 reports that his kingdom went to Darius the Mede, age 62.
Just one little aside: Before he died, Belshazzar kept his promise to Daniel. Daniel was clothed with purple, a golden chain was put around his neck, and a proclamation was made about him that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. It doesn't appear that would mean much since the reign ended that night, but as the story unfolds, it will....
God had shown Nebuchadnezzar that his kingdom was the head of gold - and that his kingdom would be followed by another empire with a chest and arms of silver. In 539 B C, that part of Neb's vision came true.... The Medo-Persian Empire would last until 331 B C - a total of 308 years...but it began the night a king defied God by misusing objects from His temple!
God reigns! That is the bottom line! He gives power and takes it away. Anyone who defies him should pay attention to this story! He is patient. He extends grace. But not forever.
It relates the story of Belshazzar seeing the handwriting on the wall. It is a chapter that leaves me wanting more information. "Details, please," I want to implore. I find it very interesting that Nebuchadnezzar's son is named Belshazzar, and the name he gave to Daniel is so similar - Belteshazzar. I also find it somewhat curious that it was his queen who reminded him of Daniel when he certainly knew what happened to his father - - and Daniel reminds him of that when he speaks to him prior to interpreting the writing on the wall.
Reading between the lines informs me as well.... Daniel had been placed in high esteem in Nebuchadnezzar's palace, but obviously not in Belshazzar's palace. It reminds me that things don't necessarily continue going well or fairly after a period of victory or adulation, even though Daniel remained faithful to the LORD. Good note to self....
But - beyond my piqued curiosity, this is a dramatic story. Belshazzar invites 1,000 of his lords for a party. That's some kingdom he inherited! After he'd had some wine, he ordered that the vessels his father had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem be brought to be used by his lords, his wives and his concubines. Apparently the Queen was not there at that point - or they were in separate rooms.... I don't know how all that played out. Again, details would be nice....
Anyway, the golden vessels were brought and as they drank wine from them, they praised the gods of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood and stone. Oops. Bad choice! Immediately the fingers of a hand began writing in the plaster on the wall of the king's palace. That got his attention! He turned white as a sheet, his knees buckled and shook. He was terrified! He called for everyone he could think of, but none of them knew what he writing said, let alone what it meant.
Then the Queen came in, and she recommended Daniel. Her compliments to Daniel's skill and knowledge were impressive - and it is interesting she remembered all this, but her husband didn't....
Daniel wasn't impressed by the kings offer of position in exchange for interpreting the writing, but he did tell the king what God said...well, after a brief history lesson that would have been a curt reprimand to a king who so easily forgot what his own father learned about the sovereignty of God. (Let alone obviously forgetting Daniel, which Daniel didn't point out.)
"MENE MENE TEKEL PARSIN." Daniel's translation: "God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end; you have been weighed in the balance and found wanting; your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians."
And that very night Belshazzar was killed, and Chapter 5 reports that his kingdom went to Darius the Mede, age 62.
Just one little aside: Before he died, Belshazzar kept his promise to Daniel. Daniel was clothed with purple, a golden chain was put around his neck, and a proclamation was made about him that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. It doesn't appear that would mean much since the reign ended that night, but as the story unfolds, it will....
God had shown Nebuchadnezzar that his kingdom was the head of gold - and that his kingdom would be followed by another empire with a chest and arms of silver. In 539 B C, that part of Neb's vision came true.... The Medo-Persian Empire would last until 331 B C - a total of 308 years...but it began the night a king defied God by misusing objects from His temple!
God reigns! That is the bottom line! He gives power and takes it away. Anyone who defies him should pay attention to this story! He is patient. He extends grace. But not forever.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
DANIEL'S VISION in Chapter 8
Daniel 7 records the vision Daniel had in the first year of Belshazzar. Daniel 8 records a vision Daniel had in the third year of the reign of Belshazzar.
You may have noted that in getting here, I skipped from Chapter 4 to Chapter 7. I am reading sequentially this time through Daniel, and 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8 reflects the order of the events as they occurred.
In this vision, he sees himself in the province of Elam, in Susa the citadel, at the Ulai Canal. In this vision he sees the interaction between a ram with 2 horns, and a male goat, which started with just one horn, which was broken and four sprouted up to take its place....then out of one of the four horns grew a little horn - which became beyond-belief powerful. And Daniel heard one holy one say to another: "For how long....?" And the holy one who responded directed his answer to Daniel, saying "For 2,300 evenings and mornings. Then the sanctuary shall be restored to its rightful state."
(2,300 days equals 6 years and 110 days according to our calendar.)
Gabriel was called upon to reveal the interpretation of the vision to Daniel but even with the interpretation he could not understand, because it was for the time of the end. Still, he was given a defined explanation. The 2 horns on the ram are described as being the kings of Media and Persia, and the goat is the king of Greece. The great horn between his eyes is the first king. After that kingdom is broken, 4 kings will arise, but none with as much power, until the little horn emerges. That horn represents the one who will become extremely powerful at the end of time. His power will not come from himself. He will become great in his own eyes and will be a formidable force, causing fearful destruction. He will destroy mighty men and those who are saints. He will defy God - but he will be broken.... That is a promise!
You may have noted that in getting here, I skipped from Chapter 4 to Chapter 7. I am reading sequentially this time through Daniel, and 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8 reflects the order of the events as they occurred.
In this vision, he sees himself in the province of Elam, in Susa the citadel, at the Ulai Canal. In this vision he sees the interaction between a ram with 2 horns, and a male goat, which started with just one horn, which was broken and four sprouted up to take its place....then out of one of the four horns grew a little horn - which became beyond-belief powerful. And Daniel heard one holy one say to another: "For how long....?" And the holy one who responded directed his answer to Daniel, saying "For 2,300 evenings and mornings. Then the sanctuary shall be restored to its rightful state."
(2,300 days equals 6 years and 110 days according to our calendar.)
Gabriel was called upon to reveal the interpretation of the vision to Daniel but even with the interpretation he could not understand, because it was for the time of the end. Still, he was given a defined explanation. The 2 horns on the ram are described as being the kings of Media and Persia, and the goat is the king of Greece. The great horn between his eyes is the first king. After that kingdom is broken, 4 kings will arise, but none with as much power, until the little horn emerges. That horn represents the one who will become extremely powerful at the end of time. His power will not come from himself. He will become great in his own eyes and will be a formidable force, causing fearful destruction. He will destroy mighty men and those who are saints. He will defy God - but he will be broken.... That is a promise!
Friday, February 3, 2012
DANIEL'S VISION in Chapter 7
In the first year of the reign of Belshazzar, son of Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel had a dream in which he saw four beasts. As the dream was interpreted to him, those four beasts represented four kingdoms that would rule the earth, with the last one being different from all the others.... Scholars have dissected Daniel's prophecies far better than I ever could, so all I will say is: God foretold what would be in the future - and what I love most is that the 'end of the story' is foretold. In the end, God and His saints win!
Unfortunately before that victory, there's gonna be trouble.... The song about River City wends its way through my mind.... In Daniel 7 there is a graphic description of what the world dominion at the end of time will be. Out of the 10 nation alliance that begins this final kingdom, a little horn will come up. It will make war with the saints - and prevail over them for a specified period of time. This 'little horn' is conspicuously the antichrist, and Daniel 7:25 states, He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times and half a time.
In my growing-up years, when I attended prophecy meetings with my dad, that was always described to be the 3 1/2 years of the worst part of the Great Tribulation. It will be a terrifying time for those saints who are here. But - there are people living right now who face equal terror and danger for standing firm in their faith.
Our solace is the end of the story: verse 26 tells us his dominion shall be taken away to be consumed and destroyed to the end. And then the really good news in verse 27:
Over and over the Bible declares that in the end God wins over Satan! Our glorious hope is that of being together with the Lord for all of eternity - but in the meantime, our eternity begins here, the moment we place our trust in Him.
How does that affect me today? It makes me poignantly aware that my focus has to be aligned with His: What God cares about is Truth, and the souls of man. He is Truth. When we stand for what He stands for, we are standing for something worth dying for.... Ultimately that is truly living.
There was a country song that stated, 'You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything.' It's true. We cannot base our views, our standards or our actions on feelings. We have to have a plumb line - - and the Bible is the only reliable source for finding that ballast in our lives.
Many years ago a pastor I highly respect stated, "True Wisdom is holding fast to a durable value system." I liked the quote so well, I wrote it down and for years had it tacked to the wall in my office. A durable value system cannot be dictated by the world's view - it must be God's! And God's views are made known to us through His Word, the Bible and through the power of the Holy Spirit unveiling God's Truth to our eyes.
(Daniel 7 references cited are from the ESV.)
Unfortunately before that victory, there's gonna be trouble.... The song about River City wends its way through my mind.... In Daniel 7 there is a graphic description of what the world dominion at the end of time will be. Out of the 10 nation alliance that begins this final kingdom, a little horn will come up. It will make war with the saints - and prevail over them for a specified period of time. This 'little horn' is conspicuously the antichrist, and Daniel 7:25 states, He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times and half a time.
In my growing-up years, when I attended prophecy meetings with my dad, that was always described to be the 3 1/2 years of the worst part of the Great Tribulation. It will be a terrifying time for those saints who are here. But - there are people living right now who face equal terror and danger for standing firm in their faith.
Our solace is the end of the story: verse 26 tells us his dominion shall be taken away to be consumed and destroyed to the end. And then the really good news in verse 27:
And the kingdom and the dominion
and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven
shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High;
his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom,
and all dominions shall serve and obey him.’
Over and over the Bible declares that in the end God wins over Satan! Our glorious hope is that of being together with the Lord for all of eternity - but in the meantime, our eternity begins here, the moment we place our trust in Him.
How does that affect me today? It makes me poignantly aware that my focus has to be aligned with His: What God cares about is Truth, and the souls of man. He is Truth. When we stand for what He stands for, we are standing for something worth dying for.... Ultimately that is truly living.
There was a country song that stated, 'You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything.' It's true. We cannot base our views, our standards or our actions on feelings. We have to have a plumb line - - and the Bible is the only reliable source for finding that ballast in our lives.
Many years ago a pastor I highly respect stated, "True Wisdom is holding fast to a durable value system." I liked the quote so well, I wrote it down and for years had it tacked to the wall in my office. A durable value system cannot be dictated by the world's view - it must be God's! And God's views are made known to us through His Word, the Bible and through the power of the Holy Spirit unveiling God's Truth to our eyes.
(Daniel 7 references cited are from the ESV.)
Saturday, January 28, 2012
BACK TO DANIEL! AGAIN!
Actually I'm re-reading Daniel a 2nd time through...this time in the order of the events as they occurred, rather than in the order reported....
My chapter for today was chapter 4. But a brief recap is in order.
In chapter 1, Neb conquered Jerusalem and took youth of the nobility and royal family captive - among them, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah - all 4 from the tribe of Judah, the ruling tribe. They were all renamed with names that honored the gods of Babylon and given a thorough 3-year long Babylonian education, thrived while being faithful to their dietary restrictions (the obvious with regard to the meat would be to avoid pork and other meats potentially cooked in pork fat, since it is likely that all foods were offered first to idols, including the vegetables), and after being reviewed by the king, were found to be the most excellent 4 of all the young captives who had been trained.
In chapter 2, Neb has a dream that no one can interpret. All the wise men are to be killed and Daniel saves the day - - well, God saves the day, but uses Daniel to do it.... Arioch tries to take credit for 'finding' Daniel - but Daniel gives all the credit to the LORD. Then he tells Neb the dream - and gives the interpretation. It turns out to be a road map for the successive reigning powers of the world. Neb apparently wasn't too worried about the future kingdoms - just his own, and he took the 'head of gold thing' too much to heart it would seem.
In chapter 3, Neb has a 90-foot-high gold statue of himself constructed, and has everyone come to the Plain of Dura where it was erected for a ceremony, commanding that everyone bow down to it. Somehow, 'everyone' didn't include Daniel that day - but Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (the Babylonian names given to Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah) were brought before the king for refusing to bow down to the image of gold. After proving themselves to be loyal assets in the kingdom, their faithfulness to God in their refusal to bow to any other got them thrown into the fiery furnace. It was so hot that those who threw them in were killed by the flames, but the only thing the flames burned off were the ropes that bound them. Not a hair was singed - and when they walked out of the flames they didn't even smell of smoke. Neb promoted them. What looked impossibly bleak had a 'happy ending' for the 3 faithful stewards.
And now, chapter 4. It is Neb's report of a huge mistake that he made - and the results. Neb had a 2nd dream. This time it was of a tree that was cut down. Daniel interpreted the dream - but clearly wanted the dream not to come true. He wanted it to be for Neb's enemies - and at the end of interpreting it begged Neb to turn away from his sins so it wouldn't happen....
Neb's big sin was taking credit for his laudable position and all he had accomplished. In spite of what God had already done in his kingdom - even fairly recently saving 3 men from the fiery flames - Neb failed to give God the credit God is due.
The lesson of chapter 4 is that kingdoms and rulers rise and fall, but no matter who they are and no matter how wonderfully clever and successful they think they are, their power is allowed by God, and Him alone, for His purposes, and for the fulfillment of what has already been prophesied.
In Neb's case, a year after the dream he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon and gloating over his amazing accomplishments when the fulfillment happened - instantly!
After losing his mind and becoming like an animal for '7 periods of time', just as the prophecy warned, his mind was restored to him, and the result was that he praised God. Finally King Neb gave credit to the King of Kings!
In his (translated to English, of course) words: (Daniel 4, ESV, selected verses)
My chapter for today was chapter 4. But a brief recap is in order.
In chapter 1, Neb conquered Jerusalem and took youth of the nobility and royal family captive - among them, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah - all 4 from the tribe of Judah, the ruling tribe. They were all renamed with names that honored the gods of Babylon and given a thorough 3-year long Babylonian education, thrived while being faithful to their dietary restrictions (the obvious with regard to the meat would be to avoid pork and other meats potentially cooked in pork fat, since it is likely that all foods were offered first to idols, including the vegetables), and after being reviewed by the king, were found to be the most excellent 4 of all the young captives who had been trained.
In chapter 2, Neb has a dream that no one can interpret. All the wise men are to be killed and Daniel saves the day - - well, God saves the day, but uses Daniel to do it.... Arioch tries to take credit for 'finding' Daniel - but Daniel gives all the credit to the LORD. Then he tells Neb the dream - and gives the interpretation. It turns out to be a road map for the successive reigning powers of the world. Neb apparently wasn't too worried about the future kingdoms - just his own, and he took the 'head of gold thing' too much to heart it would seem.
In chapter 3, Neb has a 90-foot-high gold statue of himself constructed, and has everyone come to the Plain of Dura where it was erected for a ceremony, commanding that everyone bow down to it. Somehow, 'everyone' didn't include Daniel that day - but Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (the Babylonian names given to Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah) were brought before the king for refusing to bow down to the image of gold. After proving themselves to be loyal assets in the kingdom, their faithfulness to God in their refusal to bow to any other got them thrown into the fiery furnace. It was so hot that those who threw them in were killed by the flames, but the only thing the flames burned off were the ropes that bound them. Not a hair was singed - and when they walked out of the flames they didn't even smell of smoke. Neb promoted them. What looked impossibly bleak had a 'happy ending' for the 3 faithful stewards.
And now, chapter 4. It is Neb's report of a huge mistake that he made - and the results. Neb had a 2nd dream. This time it was of a tree that was cut down. Daniel interpreted the dream - but clearly wanted the dream not to come true. He wanted it to be for Neb's enemies - and at the end of interpreting it begged Neb to turn away from his sins so it wouldn't happen....
Neb's big sin was taking credit for his laudable position and all he had accomplished. In spite of what God had already done in his kingdom - even fairly recently saving 3 men from the fiery flames - Neb failed to give God the credit God is due.
The lesson of chapter 4 is that kingdoms and rulers rise and fall, but no matter who they are and no matter how wonderfully clever and successful they think they are, their power is allowed by God, and Him alone, for His purposes, and for the fulfillment of what has already been prophesied.
In Neb's case, a year after the dream he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon and gloating over his amazing accomplishments when the fulfillment happened - instantly!
After losing his mind and becoming like an animal for '7 periods of time', just as the prophecy warned, his mind was restored to him, and the result was that he praised God. Finally King Neb gave credit to the King of Kings!
In his (translated to English, of course) words: (Daniel 4, ESV, selected verses)
King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you! 2 It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me.
3 How great are his signs,
how mighty his wonders!
His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and his dominion endures from generation to generation.
34 At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever,
for his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
and his kingdom endures from generation to generation;
35 all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,
and he does according to his will among the host of heaven
and among the inhabitants of the earth;
and none can stay his hand
or say to him, “What have you done?”
36 At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
BACK TO DANIEL!
I'm seeing things in the book of Daniel I had not paid attention to before. When I think of Daniel I always think of King Nebuchadnezzar as the king - but Daniel served faithfully under 4 kings that he mentions: Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Cyrus and Darius. (There is an unnamed ruler who ruled while Nebuchadnezzar was out eating grass.... My study Bible lists Nabonidus after Nebuchanezzar - so, not being able to find any other corroboration, I am going to assume that was when he ruled.)But - even with the 4 kings Daniel mentions, it represented 2 different empires: first the Babylonian, and second, the Persian.
Another thing I noted with interest is that Daniel is not written sequentially. The actual order of the timing of events and when dreams & visions occurred are 1,2,3,4,7,8,5,10,11,12,9,6. I like logical-sequential, so that intrigues me.
But, in spite of those nuances, Daniel is a most amazing book, and the stories that are recorded inspire and encourage.
He interpreted Nebuchadnezzar's dream, reported the story of his friends being cast into the fiery furnace,interpreted the handwriting on the wall for King Belshazzar (Nez's son), survived the lion's den when Darius was tricked into having him thrown in, and reports what God showed him about the end of time...and I have only read through chapter 7!
Great reading. Great encouragement! And the good news is that no matter what we face in this present world, we know the end of the story: God wins!
Another thing I noted with interest is that Daniel is not written sequentially. The actual order of the timing of events and when dreams & visions occurred are 1,2,3,4,7,8,5,10,11,12,9,6. I like logical-sequential, so that intrigues me.
But, in spite of those nuances, Daniel is a most amazing book, and the stories that are recorded inspire and encourage.
He interpreted Nebuchadnezzar's dream, reported the story of his friends being cast into the fiery furnace,interpreted the handwriting on the wall for King Belshazzar (Nez's son), survived the lion's den when Darius was tricked into having him thrown in, and reports what God showed him about the end of time...and I have only read through chapter 7!
Great reading. Great encouragement! And the good news is that no matter what we face in this present world, we know the end of the story: God wins!
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
DANIEL
Daniel was likely in his late teens when he was captured and taken to Babylon. The king at that juncture was Nebuchadnezzar, and the year was 605 BC. In about 603 BC, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams that interfered with his sleep, and, ultimately, Daniel (whom the chief of the eunuchs had renamed Belteshazzar), interpreted those dreams for Nebuchadnezzar. In fact, he even had to tell the king what the dream was, as part of the king’s demand.
But in living out the reality of what occurred, Daniel didn’t have the answer when he first asked the king to spare the lives of his wise men and give Daniel ‘a time’ to show the interpretation to the king.
The first thing he did was go ask for prayer! Daniel 2:17 tells us that he went to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah (renamed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego), and asked them ‘to seek mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery.’ God responded by making the vision and its interpretation known to Daniel!
Daniel’s response to God was,
“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
to whom belong wisdom and might.
He changes time and seasons;
He removes kings and sets up kings;
He gives wisdom to the wise
And knowledge to those who have understanding;
He reveals deep and hidden things;
He knows what is in the darkness,
And the light dwells with him.
To you, O God of my fathers,
I give thanks and praise,
For you have given me wisdom and might,
And have now made known to me what we asked of you,
For you have made known to us the king’s matter.”
Daniel was, at the most, perhaps 20 years old at that point. When he heard the awful news that all of the wise men were going to be killed – himself and his companions included – he went and asked for time to respond – and God answered his plea. Daniel was God’s man in the right place at the right time – and because of him, we have both a wonderful model of one who followed God faithfully in spite of circumstances, and prophecy that took many years to be accomplished…but that comes later.
God is sovereign. Daniel was faithful! I’m loving reading the book of Daniel! (I'm actually further ahead in my reading - but have to catch up with writing!)
Saturday, December 31, 2011
DANIEL
After reading Ezekiel, because it was Christmas season, I focused on some of the prophecies that foretold the birth of the Messiah, which were all fulfilled by the birth of Yeshua (Jesus).
Next I was drawn to read the book of Daniel. What great timing. (Thank you, Lord.) I had been fighting discouragement over circumstances I don't have a solution for - and I needed to re-read Daniel! There were a couple of other recent reminders of all I have to be thankful for - but Daniel reminds me that God is Sovereign, is on His throne, and everything is in His very capable hands. I may not prefer His timing - but I can trust Him!
This morning God reminded me that I had not accessed a tool I have often encouraged for others: and that is, simply telling Satan, "Get behind me" when thoughts that are definitely not from God assail. I readily attributed my dismay over this situation to being 'human', and didn't address the reality of seeing God at work - even through difficult circumstances.
So - let's look at Daniel. He was of the nobility in Jerusalem. He was from the tribe of Judah. The King of Judah was Jehoiakim. We aren't told his relationship to the royals, but we do know that the young men who were captured and taken to Babylon were of the royal and noble families (1:3).
Daniel could have been legitimately diverted to many other paths of action - but the one he chose was absolute faithfulness to God, and incorporated within that, faithfulness to serving King Nebuchadnezzar, except when the King's demands thwarted God's requirements.
Daniel makes for exciting reading! My chapter for today was chapter 4. We read these stories knowing the outcome, but Daniel lived them. Even with his enormous commitment and confidence in God, he was human, and faced the struggles associated with his calling - but he was faithful! Hooray Daniel! Thank you for your witness to courage, to faithfulness, to loving the Lord and honoring Him in spite of circumstances! I'm looking forward to meeting you in heaven!
Next I was drawn to read the book of Daniel. What great timing. (Thank you, Lord.) I had been fighting discouragement over circumstances I don't have a solution for - and I needed to re-read Daniel! There were a couple of other recent reminders of all I have to be thankful for - but Daniel reminds me that God is Sovereign, is on His throne, and everything is in His very capable hands. I may not prefer His timing - but I can trust Him!
This morning God reminded me that I had not accessed a tool I have often encouraged for others: and that is, simply telling Satan, "Get behind me" when thoughts that are definitely not from God assail. I readily attributed my dismay over this situation to being 'human', and didn't address the reality of seeing God at work - even through difficult circumstances.
So - let's look at Daniel. He was of the nobility in Jerusalem. He was from the tribe of Judah. The King of Judah was Jehoiakim. We aren't told his relationship to the royals, but we do know that the young men who were captured and taken to Babylon were of the royal and noble families (1:3).
Daniel could have been legitimately diverted to many other paths of action - but the one he chose was absolute faithfulness to God, and incorporated within that, faithfulness to serving King Nebuchadnezzar, except when the King's demands thwarted God's requirements.
Daniel makes for exciting reading! My chapter for today was chapter 4. We read these stories knowing the outcome, but Daniel lived them. Even with his enormous commitment and confidence in God, he was human, and faced the struggles associated with his calling - but he was faithful! Hooray Daniel! Thank you for your witness to courage, to faithfulness, to loving the Lord and honoring Him in spite of circumstances! I'm looking forward to meeting you in heaven!
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