Daniel prays for understanding. He thinks it is time for the desolations to end. The understanding that this answer gives him is that there will be a rebuilding of the temple, but in troubled times, and it will once again be destroyed after an anointed one is cut off (killed). That anointed one was Jesus. He is the reason for the city and the people.
LORD, your plan is sometimes hard for us to grasp. Help us to at least understand the message about your Son.
Just as Cyrus was conquering the Medes, and absorbing their mighty empire into his own, Daniel receives a vision from the LORD. It tells of the outcome of that combined empire, and what it will mean for the Jews. The mighty ram that will rule over the world will be overtaken by a goat empire. Eventually that empire (Greece) will be divided into four, and a prominent ruler from it will seek to destroy not just the Jews, but Judaism itself.
Daniel was disturbed, confused and appalled. Why would God allow such a thing? Daniel is not exactly told why. He is just told the truth, and warned to seal up the message, because it would take centuries before its fulfillment. Some truths we know from scripture, but we do not understand.
LORD, we trust you. We will not let our lack of understanding keep us from believing.
Daniel’s vision looked far into the future and saw a change coming. He saw the kingdoms of this world being given over to the saints of the Most High. He saw the powers of this earth struggling to keep control over these kingdoms and nations, but of all the confusing things about the vision, one thing is clear: God’s people rule in the end. The book of Revelation picks up many of the themes of this vision. In an age where God’s people seem like pawns in someone else’s game, it is encouraging to know that things will change.
LORD, as we serve in your name today, prepare us to rule in your name tomorrow.
Daniel served for over 70 years as a loyal official in a foreign government, yet he never lost his loyalty to God. His loyalty was tested even in his old age. What could possibly have gone through his mind when he was taken, and violently thrown into the den, into what was obviously meant to be certain death? Should he pray? He got into this by praying. Should he trust God? He was here because he had trusted God. Should he rant against the king? He had never lost his loyalty to the king. It was just that the edict of the king was superseded by a higher edict. Daniel stayed the course.
LORD, when we face the greatest challenges of our faith, help us to stay the course. You will not let us down, because when we represent you, your reputation is at stake.
Belshazzar is drinking from the sacred vessels as he parties with his lords, wives and concubines. Suddenly a disembodied hand appears and writes some strange words on the wall. The king is terrified, but nobody is able to interpret the message. His mother remembers that Daniel was gifted in interpreting dreams, so Daniel was summoned. His interpretation was basically that this was going to be Belshazzar’s last party. He had been measured, and his kingdom numbered. Time’s up. None of us know when our time will be up. We would do well to honor God with our lives.
LORD, give us the wisdom to celebrate life, but not to live to celebrate.
This letter, preserved in the Bible in its original Aramaic, is from one of the most powerful men who ever lived. It is a testimony of king Nebuchadnezzar of a God more powerful than his goddess. The Chaldeans worshipped the queen of heaven, and had corrupted the Jews to do the same (Jer. 7:18; 44:17ff, 25). But he pays homage here to the LORD, the King of heaven. All the LORD’s “works are right and his ways are just; and” the great king Nebuchadnezzar, who walked in pride, the LORD was able to humble.
LORD, do not allow us to go through our lives thinking that we are great. Show us your greatness, and the wisdom of acknowledging it before others.
For three stories in a row, a pattern is developing. God’s people are put in danger because of their commitment to him, and he rescues them out of that danger. One moral that can be deduced from this pattern is that times of testing will come to us. But it is important to realize that we are not really the ones who are being tested. The conclusion of the matter, as Nebuchadnezzar found, is “there is no other god who is able to rescue.” Babylon was filled with deported peoples from numerous “peoples, nations and languages.” They had served many gods. Yet only the LORD proved faithful to his people.
LORD, when the fiery furnace comes, we will trust in you. Only you are able to rescue.
What if the fantastic four of Babylon had not chosen to pray, and intercede? They were in danger, together with all the wise men, because the king had asked them to do the impossible. Faith turns to God when the time of testing comes. Faith sees the impossible as an opportunity to seek help from the immortal. It is a gamble, but when crisis comes, God is all we have.
God may want to do something amazing with your life. You may be one impossible demand away from that destiny. Trust him, and pray.
LORD, keep us close to you, so that we are ready to turn to you when the impossible confronts us.
These fantastic four exiles provide a lesson for believers today. They have been taken out of their world and the world they live in is trying to conform them to it. It is ironic that Judah had been put into exile because its people wanted to be like the nations around them. But now these four heroes take a stand. They will live among the Babylonians, even taking on Babylonian names, but they will be distinctive. They will be different. Their standards will be higher than their world.
LORD, make us people of a higher grade, a greater standard.
The prophet finds himself and his people at the wrong time. He wants to be at the brink of deliverance, but he has arrived at the brink of judgment – on his own people. What does a believer do? Some choose to bury their head in the sand and not think about reality, hoping it will just go away. Habakkuk chooses to do two almost contradictory things. He chooses to quietly wait for deliverance, while continuing to rejoice in the LORD.
LORD, when it’s the wrong time for deliverance, give us the wisdom to rejoice in who you are.
Daniel 9
Daniel 8
Daniel 7
Daniel 6
Daniel 5
Daniel 4
Daniel 3
Daniel 2
Daniel 1
Habakkuk 3
