Daniel 3:19-30

Today’s Passage: Daniel 3:19-30

(See the Intro to Daniel here)

19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual 20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 22 The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, 23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.

 24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?” 
      They replied, “Certainly, O king.”

 25 He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”

 26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” 
      So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, 27 and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.

 28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.”

 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

Background/Insight:

• In spite of the high regard the king had shown these men before he was furious at them and he did not want his decrees to be questioned by anyone and so ordered their immediate execution.  
• A low fire would mean a slow and agonizing death.  A hot fire should have meant a very quick death. 
•  It was customary to remove the clothing of those being thrown into the furnace. But as a sign of the king’s haste their clothing was left on.
• There is much debate on whether the 4th person in the fire was just an angel or if it might have even been the pre-incarnate Jesus.  

For your thought/discussion:

• Read through and reflect on the text again. If faced with such a consequence, would you stand up for your faith?
• What areas of your life have you been tempted to compromise to the world’s way?
• Spend some time in confession and prayer.  

Feel free to share any additional insights and prayers with everyone by commenting.

Daniel 3:1-18

Today’s Passage: Daniel 3:1-18

(See the Intro to Daniel here)

1 King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue ninety feet tall and nine feet wide^[a] and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. 2 Then he sent messages to the high officers, officials, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the provincial officials to come to the dedication of the statue he had set up. 3 So all these officials^[b] came and stood before the statue King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 4 Then a herald shouted out, “People of all races and nations and languages, listen to the king’s command! 5 When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other musical instruments,^[c] bow to the ground to worship King Nebuchadnezzar’s gold statue. 6 Anyone who refuses to obey will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”

 7 So at the sound of the musical instruments,^[d] all the people, whatever their race or nation or language, bowed to the ground and worshiped the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

 8 But some of the astrologers^[e] went to the king and informed on the Jews. 9 They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “Long live the king! 10 You issued a decree requiring all the people to bow down and worship the gold statue when they hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other musical instruments. 11 That decree also states that those who refuse to obey must be thrown into a blazing furnace. 12 But there are some Jews—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—whom you have put in charge of the province of Babylon. They pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They refuse to serve your gods and do not worship the gold statue you have set up.”

 13 Then Nebuchadnezzar flew into a rage and ordered that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought before him. When they were brought in, 14 Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you refuse to serve my gods or to worship the gold statue I have set up?15 I will give you one more chance to bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments.^[f] But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. And then what god will be able to rescue you from my power?”

 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. 18 But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”

Background/Insight:

• The king, in response to his dream, built a statue of gold in his own honor.  He had mis-interpreted his representation as the head of gold and raised himself up.  
• Shadrack, Meshach and Abednego refuse to bow down because they would not defile their God.  Whether he saved them or not, they trusted God.  

For your thought/discussion:

• Read through and reflect on the text again. Where are you tempted to put another god before the true God?
• In what ways have you raised yourself up and in so doing downplayed the greatness of God?
• Spend some time in confession and prayer.  Could you stand up the way these men did if your life was on the line?

Feel free to share any additional insights and prayers with everyone by commenting.

Daniel 2:46-49

Today’s Passage: Daniel 2:46-49

(See the Intro to Daniel here)

46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar threw himself down before Daniel and worshiped him, and he commanded his people to offer sacrifices and burn sweet incense before him. 47 The king said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is the greatest of gods, the Lord over kings, a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this secret.” 48 Then the king appointed Daniel to a high position and gave him many valuable gifts. He made Daniel ruler over the whole province of Babylon, as well as chief over all his wise men. 49 At Daniel’s request, the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to be in charge of all the affairs of the province of Babylon, while Daniel remained in the king’s court.

Background/Insight:

• Daniel is honored because of this interpretation, but more importantly, Daniel’s God is honored.  
• God used this dream to exalt himself and put Daniel in a place of influence.  

For your thought/discussion:

• Read through and reflect on the text again. When you are honored, do you give the glory to God?
• What area of influence has God placed you in?   How can you use it to serve him?
• Spend some time in confession and prayer.  Where is God leading you?    

Feel free to share any additional insights and prayers with everyone by commenting.

Daniel 2:24-45

Today’s Passage: Daniel 2:24-45

(See the Intro to Daniel here)

24 Then Daniel went in to see Arioch, whom the king had ordered to execute the wise men of Babylon. Daniel said to him, “Don’t kill the wise men. Take me to the king, and I will tell him the meaning of his dream.” 25 Arioch quickly took Daniel to the king and said, “I have found one of the captives from Judah who will tell the king the meaning of his dream!”

 26 The king said to Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar), “Is this true? Can you tell me what my dream was and what it means?”

 27 Daniel replied, “There are no wise men, enchanters, magicians, or fortune-tellers who can reveal the king’s secret. 28 But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and he has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the future. Now I will tell you your dream and the visions you saw as you lay on your bed.

 29 “While Your Majesty was sleeping, you dreamed about coming events. He who reveals secrets has shown you what is going to happen. 30 And it is not because I am wiser than anyone else that I know the secret of your dream, but because God wants you to understand what was in your heart.

 31 “In your vision, Your Majesty, you saw standing before you a huge, shining statue of a man. It was a frightening sight. 32 The head of the statue was made of fine gold. Its chest and arms were silver, its belly and thighs were bronze, 33 its legs were iron, and its feet were a combination of iron and baked clay. 34 As you watched, a rock was cut from a mountain, but not by human hands. It struck the feet of iron and clay, smashing them to bits. 35 The whole statue was crushed into small pieces of iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold. Then the wind blew them away without a trace, like chaff on a threshing floor. But the rock that knocked the statue down became a great mountain that covered the whole earth.

 36 “That was the dream. Now we will tell the king what it means. 37 Your Majesty, you are the greatest of kings. The God of heaven has given you sovereignty, power, strength, and honor. 38 He has made you the ruler over all the inhabited world and has put even the wild animals and birds under your control. You are the head of gold.

 39 “But after your kingdom comes to an end, another kingdom, inferior to yours, will rise to take your place. After that kingdom has fallen, yet a third kingdom, represented by bronze, will rise to rule the world. 40 Following that kingdom, there will be a fourth one, as strong as iron. That kingdom will smash and crush all previous empires, just as iron smashes and crushes everything it strikes. 41 The feet and toes you saw were a combination of iron and baked clay, showing that this kingdom will be divided. Like iron mixed with clay, it will have some of the strength of iron. 42 But while some parts of it will be as strong as iron, other parts will be as weak as clay. 43 This mixture of iron and clay also shows that these kingdoms will try to strengthen themselves by forming alliances with each other through intermarriage. But they will not hold together, just as iron and clay do not mix.

 44 “During the reigns of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed or conquered. It will crush all these kingdoms into nothingness, and it will stand forever. 45That is the meaning of the rock cut from the mountain, though not by human hands, that crushed to pieces the statue of iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold. The great God was showing the king what will happen in the future. The dream is true, and its meaning is certain.”

Background/Insight:

• Daniel makes clear that his insight comes from the one true God and is not of himself.  In other words he is saying that the other gods that the wise men sought, were not real, but his is.
• Daniel continues to show his boldness and courage by giving the king the challenging yet truthful interpretation of the dream.  He tells the king that his power though great is limited and that God’s kingdom and power prevails over his.  
• In Scripture a mountain is often a symbol for a kingdom.  
• The mountain prophesy in this passage is often attributed to the messianic kingdom.  What we know as Jesus kingdom.  

For your thought/discussion:

• Read through and reflect on the text again. Would you be as bold as Daniel in this situation?
• What does this passage tell us about the strongest of nations in our world compared to God?
• Spend some time in confession and prayer.  How does this “bigger” truth affect your daily life?

Feel free to share any additional insights and prayers with everyone by commenting.

Daniel 2:1-23

Today’s Passage: Daniel 2:1-23

(See the Intro to Daniel here)

 1 One night during the second year of his reign,^[a] Nebuchadnezzar had such disturbing dreams that he couldn’t sleep. 2 He called in his magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers,^[b] and he demanded that they tell him what he had dreamed. As they stood before the king, 3 he said, “I have had a dream that deeply troubles me, and I must know what it means.” 4 Then the astrologers answered the king in Aramaic,^[c] “Long live the king! Tell us the dream, and we will tell you what it means.”

 5 But the king said to the astrologers, “I am serious about this. If you don’t tell me what my dream was and what it means, you will be torn limb from limb, and your houses will be turned into heaps of rubble! 6 But if you tell me what I dreamed and what the dream means, I will give you many wonderful gifts and honors. Just tell me the dream and what it means!”

 7 They said again, “Please, Your Majesty. Tell us the dream, and we will tell you what it means.”

 8 The king replied, “I know what you are doing! You’re stalling for time because you know I am serious when I say, 9 ‘If you don’t tell me the dream, you are doomed.’ So you have conspired to tell me lies, hoping I will change my mind. But tell me the dream, and then I’ll know that you can tell me what it means.”

 10 The astrologers replied to the king, “No one on earth can tell the king his dream! And no king, however great and powerful, has ever asked such a thing of any magician, enchanter, or astrologer! 11The king’s demand is impossible. No one except the gods can tell you your dream, and they do not live here among people.”

 12 The king was furious when he heard this, and he ordered that all the wise men of Babylon be executed. 13 And because of the king’s decree, men were sent to find and kill Daniel and his friends.

 14 When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, came to kill them, Daniel handled the situation with wisdom and discretion. 15 He asked Arioch, “Why has the king issued such a harsh decree?” So Arioch told him all that had happened. 16 Daniel went at once to see the king and requested more time to tell the king what the dream meant.

 17 Then Daniel went home and told his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah what had happened. 18He urged them to ask the God of heaven to show them his mercy by telling them the secret, so they would not be executed along with the other wise men of Babylon. 19 That night the secret was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven. 20 He said,

   “Praise the name of God forever and ever,
      for he has all wisdom and power.
 21 He controls the course of world events;
      he removes kings and sets up other kings.
   He gives wisdom to the wise
      and knowledge to the scholars.
 22 He reveals deep and mysterious things
      and knows what lies hidden in darkness,
      though he is surrounded by light.
 23 I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors,
      for you have given me wisdom and strength.
   You have told me what we asked of you
      and revealed to us what the king demanded.”

Background/Insight:

• It was common for a king to surround himself with wise men.  However they serve at his discretion.
• Because the word for dream is plural in this section it is most likely that the king had been having a recurring dream and it was troubling him.  
• It is obvious that he took the dream very seriously because of his demand that his wise men prove they could rightly interpret the dream by knowing what it was without him telling them.  
• Daniel is again incredibly cool under pressure.  Faced with death and no answer he is able to stall for time and to seek God.   
• Note that Daniel employed other men to pray with him and that God answered his prayer.  Daniel then gave all praise, honor and glory to God.  

For your thought/discussion:

• Read through and reflect on the text again. If faced with your death, would you be as trusting in God?
• What things have you sought God for?  Have you asked others to come along side and pray with you?
• Spend some time in confession and prayer.  Where is God leading you?    

Feel free to share any additional insights and prayers with everyone by commenting.

Daniel 1:1-21

Today’s Passage: Daniel 1:1-21

(See the Intro to Daniel here)

 1 During the third year of King Jehoiakim’s reign in Judah,^[a] King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 The Lord gave him victory over King Jehoiakim of Judah and permitted him to take some of the sacred objects from the Temple of God. So Nebuchadnezzar took them back to the land of Babylonia^[b]and placed them in the treasure-house of his god. 3 Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, his chief of staff, to bring to the palace some of the young men of Judah’s royal family and other noble families, who had been brought to Babylon as captives. 4 “Select only strong, healthy, and good-looking young men,” he said. “Make sure they are well versed in every branch of learning, are gifted with knowledge and good judgment, and are suited to serve in the royal palace. Train these young men in the language and literature of Babylon.^[c]” 5 The king assigned them a daily ration of food and wine from his own kitchens. They were to be trained for three years, and then they would enter the royal service.

 6 Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were four of the young men chosen, all from the tribe of Judah. 7 The chief of staff renamed them with these Babylonian names:

   Daniel was called Belteshazzar.
   Hananiah was called Shadrach.
   Mishael was called Meshach.
   Azariah was called Abednego.

 8 But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods. 9 Now God had given the chief of staff both respect and affection for Daniel. 10 But he responded, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has ordered that you eat this food and wine. If you become pale and thin compared to the other youths your age, I am afraid the king will have me beheaded.”

 11 Daniel spoke with the attendant who had been appointed by the chief of staff to look after Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 12 “Please test us for ten days on a diet of vegetables and water,” Daniel said. 13 “At the end of the ten days, see how we look compared to the other young men who are eating the king’s food. Then make your decision in light of what you see.” 14 The attendant agreed to Daniel’s suggestion and tested them for ten days.

 15 At the end of the ten days, Daniel and his three friends looked healthier and better nourished than the young men who had been eating the food assigned by the king. 16 So after that, the attendant fed them only vegetables instead of the food and wine provided for the others.

 17 God gave these four young men an unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of literature and wisdom. And God gave Daniel the special ability to interpret the meanings of visions and dreams.

 18 When the training period ordered by the king was completed, the chief of staff brought all the young men to King Nebuchadnezzar. 19 The king talked with them, and no one impressed him as much as Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. So they entered the royal service. 20 Whenever the king consulted them in any matter requiring wisdom and balanced judgment, he found them ten times more capable than any of the magicians and enchanters in his entire kingdom.

 21 Daniel remained in the royal service until the first year of the reign of King Cyrus.^[d]

Background/Insight:

• The book begins with Daniel’s captivity and bold statements of faith.
• Nebuchadnezzar’s name means “Nabu has protected my inheritance”.
• Nebuchadnezzar’s besieging of Jerusalem took place around 605 B.C. 
• The book of Jeremiah recounts Jeremiah’s warnings to the king of Jerusalem of an impending Babylonian invasion.  They were commanded by God through Jeremiah to not resist.  Thus they were taken into captivity.  
• The famous passage in Jeremiah, “I know the plans I have for you…” were prophetic of what God desired for his people.  They were spoken before they went into the 70 years of captivity. 

For your thought/discussion:

• Read through and reflect on the text again. Would you be as bold as Daniel in such a situation?
• What does this passage tell us about God and his plan for Israel even in captivity?
• Spend some time in confession and prayer.  Ask God to invest in you His wisdom and courage.  

Feel free to share any additional insights and prayers with everyone by commenting.

Intro to the book of Daniel

To date we have studied through one of the Pauline letters (Galatians) and an Old Testament book of wisdom (Ecclesiastes).  For our next book we will delve into the world of the prophets with the book of Daniel.

The book bears the title Daniel both because he is the main character in the book and because it was written by him.  

What we know of Daniel is that he was known for his righteousness (Ezekiel 14:14,20) and his wisdom (Ezekiel 28:3).  We also learn right away in the book that he was of noble birth (Daniel 1:3,6).  He was physically attractive and mentally sharp (Daniel 1:4).  He was taken captive as a young man by Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian king.  

The book of Daniel is categorized as Apocalyptic literature.  Meaning that 1) an individuals visions are recorded 2) many signs and symbols are used  3) revelation is given as to God’s future plans.  4) A prose style of writing was employed.

Other Apocalyptic literature in the Bible include Revelation, Ezekiel and Zechariah.  

To note throughout the book is Daniel’s unwavering commitment to God.  His trust in God even when all things seem to be going against him, and the prophetic words about God’s ultimate plan for humanity.

Ecclesiastes 12:8-13

Today’s Passage: Ecclesiastes 12:8-13

(See the Intro to Ecclesiastes here)

 8 “Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless.” 9 Keep this in mind: The Teacher was considered wise, and he taught the people everything he knew. He listened carefully to many proverbs, studying and classifying them. 10 The Teacher sought to find just the right words to express truths clearly.^[a]

 11 The words of the wise are like cattle prods—painful but helpful. Their collected sayings are like a nail-studded stick with which a shepherd^[b] drives the sheep.

 12 But, my child,^[c] let me give you some further advice: Be careful, for writing books is endless, and much study wears you out.

 13 That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. 14 God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.

Background/Insight:

• Having demonstrating the limitations of human efforts and human wisdom, Solomon revisits the theme with which he opened the book, “everything is meaningless.”  
• As Solomon begins making his closing statements his focus is turned from the meaningless of man’s pursuits to the fullness of trusting God and the eternal perspective.
• This is the end of Solomon’s book and where he gives his final perspective.  

For your thought/discussion:

• Read through and reflect on the text again. What are some “cattle-prod” words that have helped you?
• What does Solomon say is of ultimate importance in the end?
• Spend some time in confession and prayer.  Ask God to give you his perspective on this life.

Feel free to share any additional insights and prayers with everyone by commenting.

Ecclesiastes 12:1-7

Today’s Passage: Ecclesiastes 12:1-7

(See the Intro to Ecclesiastes here)

 1 Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, “Life is not pleasant anymore.” 2Remember him before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is dim to your old eyes, and rain clouds continually darken your sky. 3 Remember him before your legs—the guards of your house—start to tremble; and before your shoulders—the strong men—stoop. Remember him before your teeth—your few remaining servants—stop grinding; and before your eyes—the women looking through the windows—see dimly.

 4 Remember him before the door to life’s opportunities is closed and the sound of work fades. Now you rise at the first chirping of the birds, but then all their sounds will grow faint.

 5 Remember him before you become fearful of falling and worry about danger in the streets; before your hair turns white like an almond tree in bloom, and you drag along without energy like a dying grasshopper, and the caperberry no longer inspires sexual desire. Remember him before you near the grave, your everlasting home, when the mourners will weep at your funeral.

 6 Yes, remember your Creator now while you are young, before the silver cord of life snaps and the golden bowl is broken. Don’t wait until the water jar is smashed at the spring and the pulley is broken at the well. 7 For then the dust will return to the earth, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.

Background/Insight:

• The words, “Remember your creator” mean to be faithful to him, to serve him responsibly, and remember that because he created people, everyone owes their life to him.  
• The repeated calling God, “your creator” emphasizes him as the author of life who gives and takes it away.   

For your thought/discussion:

• Read through and reflect on the text again. Do you remember “your Creator”?  
• What are some of the common lures that distract you from the creator?
• Spend some time in confession and prayer.  Ask God to give you his perspective on this life.

Feel free to share any additional insights and prayers with everyone by commenting.