<\/p>\n
Daniel 6:1-28; Daniel 9:1-27; 2 Chronicles 36:22-23; Ezra 1:1-11; 1 Chronicles 3:17-19<\/strong><\/span> Daniel chapter 6 today is probably more famous than chapter 5\u2019s writing on the wall!\u00a0 Today Daniel goes into the lion\u2019s den\u2026\u00a0 Several things, as always, are going on in this chapter.\u00a0 One big note is that Daniel is about 80 years old at the time of this chapter.\u00a0 He\u2019s not a young man.\u00a0 And yet he is running laps around the other kingdom administrators with his work \u2013 and for this he is honored more and more by the king.\u00a0 And others are getting jealous of this old man Daniel.\u00a0 They realize the only way to trip him up is on his religion.\u00a0 And \u2013 by appealing to the king\u2019s pride with a law that makes people worship the king only.\u00a0 Interesting thing that pride\u2026\u00a0 seems an easy sin for us humans to fall into..? Well, then the old man Daniel gets tossed into the pit of lions \u2013 and comes out alive through the grace of God.\u00a0 And the king realizes he was duped by the admins and tosses them & their families into the pit of lions.\u00a0 But enough of my Cliff Notes here\u2026 let\u2019s check out a few verses\u2026\u00a0 (below is a painting of \u201cDaniel in the Lion\u2019s Den\u201d by Peter Paul Rubens, circa 1615)<\/span><\/p>\n Verse 4 makes me reflect on my life and the way I live it: \u201cThen the other administrators and princes began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling his affairs, but they couldn\u2019t find anything to criticize. He was faithful and honest and always responsible.\u201d <\/em>\u00a0 How are we in handling our affairs?\u00a0 Our job, our tempers, our finances, our time?\u00a0 Are we faithful in all of these areas?\u00a0 Honest?\u00a0 Always responsible?<\/span><\/p>\n Verse 10 helps us look at how we should act when challenging circumstances come into our lives: \u201cBut when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Daniel continued to worship God as he always had in the midst of bad news of the new law.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t blink.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t flinch.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t take a break from God.\u00a0 He kept worshiping.\u00a0 How do we act when bad news comes into our lives?\u00a0 Do we sulk?\u00a0 Do we decide to avoid God for a while?\u00a0 Or do we continue to worship God as we have always \u2013 giving thanks to God?\u00a0 Even in the midst of severe challenges, will we still give thanks to God for who He is?<\/span><\/p>\n Verse 20 is a wonderful verse from the mouth of the remorseful King Darius: \u201cWhen he got there, he called out in anguish, \u201cDaniel, servant of the living God! Was your God, whom you worship continually, able to rescue you from the lions?\u201d\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 First of all \u2013 I love the term \u201cthe living God\u201d.\u00a0 Do you believe that God is indeed a living God?\u00a0 Not a stoic God who just sets up the universe and then lets it run on its own \u2013 but a God who is in the midst of every single one of our experiences \u2013 good and bad?\u00a0 A living God?\u00a0 A God who is with us on the mountain tops \u2013 and in the lion\u2019s den?\u00a0 Do you believe God is indeed a living God?\u00a0 Do you worship the living God continually? Like Daniel, are you a servant of the Living God? Do you want to be a servant of the Living God?\u00a0 The Living God that will send His angels to protect you from even lions in their den?<\/span><\/p>\n Daniel chapter 9 today has an amazing prayer from Daniel!\u00a0 Confess your sins, be humble, praise God and petition for others.\u00a0 What a prayer.\u00a0 If you liked Daniel\u2019s prayer in today\u2019s readings as much as I did, here are two more that I think you\u2019ll appreciate \u2013 one from Ezra <\/span>at this link<\/span> \u2013 and one from Nehemiah <\/span>at this link<\/span>.\u00a0 (okay, this is completely a geeky Bible thing here \u2013 but I just noticed that all 3 of these amazing prayers are in chapter 9 of their respective books!\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42\u00a0 So, if you are forgetting how to pray and feel like you need some inspiration, just remember:\u00a0 Daniel 9, Ezra 9, and Nehemiah 9!)<\/span><\/p>\n I\u2019ll just highlight the opening verses of Daniel\u2019s prayer in verses 4 & 5: \u201c\u201dO Lord, you are a great and awesome God! You always fulfill your promises of unfailing love to those who love you and keep your commands. But we have sinned and done wrong. We have rebelled against you and scorned your commands and regulations.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 What a great way to open in prayer \u2013 praise God and then confess your sins.\u00a0 Do you believe that God is indeed a great and awesome God?\u00a0 That God always fulfills his promises of unfailing love to those who love him and keep his commands?\u00a0 Have we sinned?\u00a0 Have we rebelled?\u00a0 Have we scorned God\u2019s commands?<\/span><\/p>\n The remainder of chapter 9 (and into chapter 10 two days from now) are fascinating as Daniel interacts with angels, including Gabriel \u2013 and we hear about Michael the Archangel and his work.\u00a0 \u00a0If you are interested in learning more about \u201cangelology\u201d \u2013 yes, a real word apparently \u2013 check out <\/span>this link on angelology<\/span> at bible.org.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n Today we begin the book of the priest & scribe Ezra!<\/span> Author<\/span>: Ezra Worship Video: <\/strong>Today\u2019s readings reminded me of Michael W. Smith\u2019s great song \u201cA New Hallelujah!\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n \n
~ Click here to read today\u2019s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~<\/span><\/em>
~ Listen to today\u2019s Scripture with <\/em>The ESV Bible<\/em><\/span> ~<\/p>\n
Date<\/span>: Fifth century B.C.
Content:<\/span> The book of Ezra deals with the return of the Israelites to the land of Palestine after their captivity in Babylon. After describing first the return and how the work on the Temple was begun, the author tells us the problems that arose. After a great deal of trouble and early failure, the Temple was finally finished and rededicated to the glory of God. The ministry of Ezra is described in some detail, stressing the intercession that he made to God for the wayward people of the restored community.
Theme:<\/span> When the people of Israel returned home they saw this as the fulfillment of the promise of God. God had said he would never abandon his people, and although they were judged for their sin, God never stopped loving them. That God should care for the world to this degree is the deepest of mysteries. God desires our worship in return for his love, however. This may be seen in that he sent the prophets Haggai and Zechariah to speed the rebuilding of the Temple after the people, in discouragement, had ceased to work upon it. (Above commentary is from Tyndale Publishers \u201cThe One Year Bible Companion\u201d p. 8) <\/em>More commentary on Ezra is at this link: <\/span>https:\/\/bible.org\/article\/book-ezra<\/span><\/p>\n