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Daniel 2:1-3:30; Jeremiah 7-8:3<\/strong><\/span> Daniel chapter 2 verse 20 has a great start to a prayer from Daniel to God \u2013 \u201c\u201dPraise the name of God forever and ever, for he alone has all wisdom and power.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Check out the remainder of the verses in this chapter \u2013 this prayer.\u00a0 This praise.\u00a0 Do we pray to God in this manner?\u00a0 Do we open up our prayers with praise for God?\u00a0 Do we acknowledge that only God has all wisdom and power?\u00a0 Can we learn something from Daniel\u2019s prayer?<\/span><\/p>\n Today in Daniel chapter 2 we see Daniel conducting his affairs with Nebuchadnezzar with wonderful humility!\u00a0 In verses 27 & 28 Daniel says: \u201cThere are no wise men, enchanters, magicians, or fortune-tellers who can tell the king such things.\u00a0 But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and he has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the future.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Here we see that Daniel is giving God the glory for the dream about to be revealed.\u00a0 Daniel was taking no credit for this.\u00a0 Today, do you regularly give God the glory in your life?\u00a0 Or do you try to take the credit yourself?\u00a0 Below is an image of Daniel before Nebuchadnezzar:<\/span><\/p>\n The dream interpreted by Daniel is summed up in verses 44 & 45: \u201cDuring the reigns of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed; no one will ever conquer it. It will shatter all these kingdoms into nothingness, but it will stand forever. That is the meaning of the rock cut from the mountain by supernatural means, crushing to dust the statue of iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold.\u201d<\/em> The dream & interpretation are prophesying the kingdom of Babylon (gold), followed by the Medo-Persian Kingdom (silver), then Greek kingdom (bronze), then the Roman empire with a mix of iron & clay \u2013 representing strong and weak states within the Roman empire.\u00a0 These are all B.C. kingdoms, taking us up to the time of Jesus the Messiah, when the rock cut from the mountain comes and becomes the everlasting Kingdom of God.\u00a0 Below is an image of the statue from Nebuchadnezzar\u2019s dream and its interpretations with dates:<\/span><\/p>\n Nebuchadnezzar is impressed with the dream interpretation and says to Daniel in verse 47: \u201cTruly, your God is the God of gods, the Lord over kings, a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this secret.\u201d\u00a0 <\/em>Think Nebuchadnezzar is sincere about this?\u00a0 Or, think he will be the next day?\u00a0 Look how quickly he changes his mind in Chapter 3\u2026\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In chapter 3 we read the incredible story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.\u00a0 In verses 16-18 we read:\u00a0 \u201cShadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, \u201cO Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.\u00a0 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king.\u00a0 \u00a0But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Focus on the words in verse 18 \u2013 \u201cBut even if he does not\u201d.\u00a0 Do you have the faith of these three men in God?\u00a0 Even if God does not show up in your life as you hope he might, will you still have faith?\u00a0 Will you not serve other gods or worship false idols?\u00a0 Back to verse 16 \u2013 Do you realize that you do not have to defend your faith to others?\u00a0 Do you believe that God can rescue you from the direst of situations? Even a fiery furnace?<\/span><\/p>\n In verse 28 we hear Nebuchadnezzar giving praise to God again \u2013 similar to chapter 2 verse 47 above: \u201cPraise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel to rescue his servants who trusted in him. They defied the king\u2019s command and were willing to die rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Are we willing to die rather than serve or worship any other \u201cgod\u201d?\u00a0 (big question I realize\u2026 but a fair one. This is happening to Christians around the world today. Please remember to pray for the persecuted church around the world.)\u00a0 Below is a portrait by Guy Rowe of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who were willing to die for their faith in the True Living God rather than worship another little \u201cg\u201d fake god \u2013 <\/span><\/p>\n Worship God:\u00a0 <\/strong>Today\u2019s readings in Daniel reminded me of the song \u201cIndescribable:\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \n
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