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Daniel 7- Day 851 (link to reading)
Scripture: Daniel 7 Commentary (workingpreacher.org): Daniel’s vision in chapter seven reveals that, in time, yet another empire would follow that of Darius, and the Judean people would continue to suffer under foreign rule. The Macedonian general Alexander the Great conquered the Persian Empire, including Judea, in 333-332 BCE. After his death, his successors fought to establish their own kingdoms. His generals Ptolemy and Seleukus each founded an empire, the Ptolemaic empire with its capital in Alexandria, Egypt, and the Seleukid Empire with its capitals in Seleukia in Mesopotamia and Antioch in Syria. Judeans were subject first to Ptolemaic rule, then to Seleukid rule. Between the years 167 and 164 BCE, the Seleukid king Antiochus IV Epiphanes persecuted his Judean subjects, profaned the temple in Jerusalem, halted the regular sacrifices to YHWH, and established a Seleukid military garrison in Jerusalem. The biblical books Daniel and 1 and 2 Maccabees (the latter two books are considered part of the Apocrypha by Protestants and deuterocanonical by Catholics) provide our main literary sources for the persecution. They describe a program of state terror, murder, and enslavement and the outlawing of Jewish identity, scriptures, and worship. Application: over the course of 1000 years, the Israelites experienced the horrific trauma of slavery under Pharaoh, prosperity with God’s chosen leaders, and back to slavery because of their disobedience. This simplistic overview can also describe our walk with our Heavenly Father God. Before Jesus, our lives were fraught with the concerns of this world. Then God opened our eyes and let us experience his glorious grace. However, the difference between them and us is that we get to change our ending by humbling ourselves and repenting of our sins Prayer: Lord Jesus, have mercy on me, a sinner...
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Daniel 6 - Day 850 (link to reading)
Scripture: Daniel 6:6-23 Commentary (workingpreacher.org): Daniel 6 provides three different perspectives on our own life. We may enter and examine times when we have misused our power in heinous ways like the presidents and satraps. We must examine the times when, like Darius, we refuse to stand up for injustice and remain passive and ineffectual. And we must also look at Daniel as a model for us on suffering innocence. I personally think that the Christological interpretation of Old Testament texts is way overdone in pulpits. But in this case, I believe that Daniel 6 warrants self-reflection on Christ. This will help us capture an essential part of the Advent, and prepare us for a rich season of reflection. Application: the Bible is still relevant for us today. There are still many lessons to be learned from every perspective. We just need to take the time to search and not just rely on the hero/heroine of the story. Prayer: Lord, please forgive my sins of omission as well as commission… Daniel 5 - Day 849 (link to reading)
Scripture: Daniel 5 Commentary (thewarehouse.blog): There’s a saying, “The handwriting is on the wall.” What’s astonishing is the phrase according to Dictionary.com hearkens back to this specific event. It is used in situations where there’s a clear indication or premonition of things to come due to one’s failure or indifference. Application: Forgotten like an old relic, Daniel continues to faithfully serve God. When called upon to interpret the writing on the wall for the new King, Daniel continues where he left off and is able to interpret God's judgment. Regardless of the circumstances and how much time has passed, our faithfulness will be rewarded. Prayer: Lord, You alone I long to worship... Daniel 4 - Day 848 (link to reading)
Scripture: Daniel 4:34-37 Commentary (thegospelcoalition.com): Daniel 4 opens with Nebuchadnezzar at his leisure in his palace when he receives a symbolic dream. In the dream, the king appears as a giant tree that reaches to heaven and provides food and shelter to all the birds of the sky and beasts of the field. But a decree comes down from heaven that the tree must be cut down (Dan. 4:13–17). The tree is an image of strong, benevolent kingship (see Ezek. 17:23–24; 31:4–7, 9), and the animals in the dream are the subjects that the king is provisioning and protecting. But this tree has a hubris problem—in its power, grandeur, and leisure it ignores God (Dan. 4:30). “Chopping down the tree” is a symbolic description of the King’s punishment. Verse 16 describes the punishment in straightforward, if incredible, language: “Let his mind be changed from a man’s, and let a beast’s mind be given to him.” Since pride floods Nebuchadnezzar’s mind, God gives him a new one. Application: We can't see our own pride. That’s why God designed us to live in a community with others so that we would help each other find God's grace. Prayer: Lord, You are amazing... Daniel 3- Day 847 (link to reading)
Scripture: Daniel 3:16-18 Commentary (jesusplusnothing.com): Daniel chapter 3 is a well known and well loved chapter in the Bible. It contains things we all like in a story... 90 foot idols, furious kings, fiery furnaces hot enough to kill people who are just passing by... That sort of thing. When we left our friends at the end of chapter two everything was going along very nicely thank you very much. Daniel and his three amigos Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were exalted to a position of privilege and power in Babylon. But unfortunately things have a habit of changing in this life. And so they did, for King Nebuchadnezzar decided to setup a golden image that was ninety foot high and nine foot wide! And what's worse, everyone is commanded to bow down and worship the image! Oh great! Now there are a couple of ways to take a passage such as this - personally and prophetically. While I'll focus more on the former, there are some really interesting prophetic implications of this chapter that will definitely be noted! Application: Even if our God does not save us, we will not bow down to your gods. These boys understood that our life here on earth is temporary. Hold on to the eternal and life will be simple. Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me believe... |
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