After starting a study of the book of Daniel this week, there are two poems this study has inspired so far. Below are the links.
Next week, the journey will continue through Daniel 3-4. Have a great weekend!
Daniel received a vision from God after asking for help. We too can receive direction from God if we have a daily prayer time and ask for guidance. This day with God, let us take that initiative. Starting today, let’s dream big dreams, pray about it, and give God the glory for what He has done and will do in the future. Here’s a song to get us started: What Can I Do – Paul Baloche.
Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction. – Proverbs 29:18
We enter now into Daniel 2. King Nebuchadnezzar could not sleep because his mind was troubled from dreams. He wanted to know what the dreams meant so he asked his wise men to interpret the dreams. They were hesitant and explained that it was too difficult so the king regarded them as worthless; ordering the execution of all the wise men of Babylon (v. 12).
When Daniel heard this, he went to the king and asked for time to visit with him so he could interpret the dream for him. Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the situation to his friends. He prayerfully took the initiative to ask God to reveal the meaning of the king’s dream. That night, the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision.
He asked the person in charge of executing the wise men for the chance to interpret the dream in front of the king. At once, Daniel was taken to the king and he interpreted the dream.
Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar that the image of the dream represented four world empires. We know today in studying history that there have been four great empires of the world. They are the Babylonian, the Media-Persian, the Grecian, and the Roman. We are now in a time period between Christ’s first and second coming. The rock in verse 35 is the second coming of Christ to set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed.
The king was impressed and appreciative. So much so that he placed Daniel in a high position as ruler in charge of all the wise men throughout the entire province of Babylon. His friends were also promoted.
There are many lessons in how we should apply our faith in this chapter. First, we should trust but verify when getting advice. Second, we should prayerfully take the initiative to go to God for direction and verification. Third, we should humbly give credit to God when He gives direction. Fourth, we can be sure that what God promises will happen because He determines the future. Fifth, when we follow God’s will, we are at that instant promoted to our highest position in life.
Yesterday, I wrote about how Daniel was true to God and practiced a disciplined life. He worked hard and did what God wanted him to do; keeping his body and mind healthy. We then saw that this resulted in God blessing Daniel with great success.
How can we surrender our whole body, mind, and soul to the Lord? One thing we did for working on health habits at the place I work is called a sixty day challenge. There were a few challenges the company set out for the employees. Challenges like drinking eight glasses of water per day, walking 15 minutes longer per day than what we normally did, using the stairs and not the elevator, and parking at a spot away from the building.
This day with God, let us look at our habits and set out now to surrender all to Him. Here is a good song to inspire us today: I Surrender All – Oslo Gospel Choir.
Daniel writes from captivity in Babylon. The book is a companion to the book of Revelation which teaches the sovereignty of God over all nations and people.
Reading in Daniel 1, the king of Babylon named Nebuchadnezzar overtakes Jerusalem. He removes the articles from the Temple of God. He also orders his officials to bring some Israelites from the Royal family; young men showing aptitude for learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace (v. 4). These young men would be given food and wine from the king’s table. They would also be entered into special training for three years in preparation to serve the king.
They would be fed from the royal table but Daniel didn’t want to break God’s law by eating the royal food and wine because he knew God would not approve (v. 8). He asked if they could just have vegetables and water. So the official agreed to let Daniel and his companions try this for ten days. After that time period, they were healthier than those who had eaten the king’s food so the official agreed to let them eat vegetables instead of the rich food and wine (v. 16).
Daniel and his friends learned all they could in order to do their work with excellence. At the end of three years of study, the king gave them positions in the royal court as advisors (vv. 18-19).
A few lessons were learned in this reading. It’s important to be strong in the knowledge of the Lord and be faithful because you never know what situation in life you will get into. We all face pressure to fit in today but if we keep God’s standards for living, then good things happen. Following His way keeps the body and mind healthy. Daniel along with his friends demonstrated self disciplined and ate only the foods permitted by God. Daniel’ s faithfulness and discipline made his body healthy and his mind grew in knowledge; studying literature and science and being able to understand visions or dreams so he could give advice to the king.
This day with God, let us be lead to the cross and remember what has been done on the cross. Let this inspire us to be disciplined so we don’t give in to what everyone else is doing but like Daniel, keep doing what God wants.
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