And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.

Daniel 7

And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed. Daniel 7:14

I continue my study of Daniel in conjunction with a disciple/small group study with my church's men's wake up call. This morning my focus is Daniel 7:1-14 as I lean on my commentary for this text.  The commentary outlines two divisions for this text:

• God Is Sovereign over the Nations (7:1-8): The commentary first starts by emphasizing how God reigns amidst the chaos (depicted as raging seas in v2 where this image is also used in scripture (see also Isaiah 17:12, Job 41:31, and Revelation 17:15) in the world around us, including how nation states rise and fall.  It portrays the beasts which the commentary portrays as Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome.  The fourth beast is also described as the anti-Christ. Ultimately all of these kingdoms, and all kingdoms rise and fall at the mercy of God's hand.
  
• God Is Sovereign over His Kingdom (7:9-14): this text is described in the commentary as "the most important verses in Daniel and some of the most important verses in the whole Bible. They are important theologically. They are important eschatologically. And they are important Christologically."  The commentary uses text from these verses to describe attributes of God: holy, pure, righteous, omnipresent, omniscient, wise, judge, in all things at all times, and both loving and wrathful. How the first three beasts are stripped of their power and authority demonstrates how God is full of grace and patience but still ultimately sovereign. Then in v13-14 we see how God is sovereign in how both God the Father and His Son reign. The commentary shares how the reference to the "Son of Man" v13 is a clear reference to Christ as scripture elsewhere refers to this description, including how this was Jesus's own "favorite designated title" (se also Acts 7:56, Revelation 1:13, Mark 10:45, etc.).
  

We should rest in how, despite the chaos in the world around us - don't you see it? - God is in control, and He is saving a place in heaven for us and the victory over sin and death is already won! 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome and You are before, in, and in control of all things and I know You love and You have sealed me and my salvation for eternity - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You love me and saved me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You...daily.  Help me grow in my faith and glorify You.  Please provide Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But the court shall sit in judgment, and his dominion shall be taken away, to be consumed and destroyed to the end.

Daniel 7

But the court shall sit in judgment, and his dominion shall be taken away, to be consumed and destroyed to the end. Daniel 7:26

I resume my study of Daniel in conjunction with a disciple/small group study with my church's men's wake up call. This morning my focus is Daniel 7 and my unaided observations of this text. Here, we see a vision, much like the vision John has in Revelation (see chapter 13), where Daniel shares a prophecy of end times.  Daniel is both anxious and alarmed (see v15, 28) and what is interesting here is that Daniel, who is known as gifted for his ability to interpret dreams, had to have a witness in the vision interpret it for him (see v16).  Like Revelation, where we learn about end times and the terrifying things that happen to those who do not have faith in Jesus, we also have terrifying things in Daniel 7 (the fourth beast in v7 is "terrifying and dreadful").  The fourth beast can be surmised as Satan, and the Good News for believers, where we can find rest, is that we know the outcome of God's battle against sin and death - it is over and it ended when Jesus went to the cross, died for the sins of all of humanity throughout redemptive history, and came to life 3 days later - Easter.  Praise God and believers should find rest in knowing and having confidence that the victory is already won!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God, one who loves me and who has already - for me and all of His saints - defeated sin and death, giving me and all believers certainty of salvation!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a gift - the greatest gift of all time.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind, and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

Romans 8

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Romans 8:32

I pause both my study of Hebrews and Daniel to listen to and reflect on DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotional for today, where John Piper seeks to encourage believers to use Paul's words in Romans 8:32 as we struggle to "thrive, or perhaps even survive, as a Christian, in the pressures and temptations of modern life." Of course the takeaway is for us to trust God, have peace knowing that God never stops working for our good, even during the most challenging of times.  Piper goes on to share: "...God is taking every setback and every discouragement and every controversy and every pressure and every pain, and stripping it of its destructive power, and making it work for the enlargement of my joy in God." Be encouraged, trust God, and experience the peace of God knowing he gives us everything.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who gives me everything - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You never leave or forsake me, and You are always at work giving me all that I need.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.  

[H]e reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him. To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of you, for you have made known to us the king's matter.

Daniel 2

[H]e reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him.  To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of you, for you have made known to us the king's matter. Daniel 2:22-23

I continue my pause of my study of Hebrews to study Daniel in conjunction with a disciple/small group study with my church's men's wake up call. This morning my focus is Daniel 2:22-23 and scripture memorization of this text.  In Daniel 1, Daniel has been taken exile to Babylonia and put to work in King Nebuchadnezzar's court.  Daniel refuses to eat defiled food (likely animals sacrificed to foreign gods), but he and his companions - Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah - are able to convince their captors that they will fare well eating just vegetables and water.  God is with them as they are faithful, holding firm to God and His ways and worshiping only Him and no other gods.  God finds favor with Daniel and he is blessed with abilities - particularly the ability to interpret dreams - and he stands out among those in Nebuchadnezzar's court. In Daniel 2, Nebuchadnezzar has a dream and Daniel seeks God's wisdom to interpret the dream - Daniel knows his abilities are from God. God responds and gives Daniel wisdom to interpret Nebuchadnezzar's dream - and he spares he and his companions, as well as all the wise men of Babylon - from Nebuchadnezzar's wrath.  In v22-23, Daniel continues (see full text of praise in v20-23) to praise God: (1) God is all knowing as He knows deep and hidden things (secrets, mysteries, etc.), revealing them to us through His light (2) He is also a light to others drawing others to Him, (3) He provides, (4) He responds and answers prayer.  Praise God indeed!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are worthy of my praise as You are the source of all knowledge and wisdom and You also know my sin - yet You reconcile me to Yourself so that I can have grace, forgiveness and everlasting life now and forever...thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such grace and life - my sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jeuss and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

[H]e is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end. He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.

Daniel 6

[H]e is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end. He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions. Daniel 6:26-27

I continue my pause of my study of Hebrews to study Daniel in conjunction with a disciple/small group study with my church's men's wake up call. This morning my focus is Daniel 6:19-28 as I lean on a commentary for its observations of this text. The commentary highlights two divisions/applications for v16-24:

• Trust that God Is Able to Deliver You (6:16-24): Here, the commentary emphasizes how Daniel, like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednago from the fiery furnace (Daniel 3), God protects Daniel from harm in the lion's den and scripture highlights how "Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God" (v23b). see also my post yesterday; the commentary also points to Daniel as a "prefiguring of the resurrection of the Lord" as "Daniel was brought out of a den that had been sealed by the official rings of those in power, so was the Lord Jesus Christ raised from a tomb which had been sealed by those officials with their rings of power."  Similarly, the commentary shares how Darius rushes to the lion's den to see if God has delivered Daniel, both Mary Magdalene and the other Mary rush to Jesus's tomb only to find that He has risen.
  
• Recognize God Will Use You to Make His Name Famous among the Nations (6:25-28): After witnessing Daniel's deliverance from the lion's den, Darius responds in praise to God (v25-27) in what the commentary shares is reminiscent of Psalm 2. The commentary also shares how Darius' declaration "accomplishes at least two important purposes: "First, it recognizes the greatness, even the superiority, of Israel’s God over all would-be rivals. And second, it cancels out the irrevocable edict of 6:6-9." The commentary for this chapter wraps by sharing how we should see Jesus in all of scripture, including how Daniel points us to Jesus.  The commentary provides Tim Keller's talk on how Jesus is true and better relative to the Biblical heroes of the Old Testament.
  

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - protecting me from the sting of sin and death - thank You for providing my salvation.  I am not deserving as my sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.

Daniel 6

He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. Daniel 6:10b

I continue my pause of my study of Hebrews to study Daniel in conjunction with a disciple/small group study with my church's men's wake up call. This morning my focus is Daniel 6:1-18 as I lean on a commentary for its observations of this text. The commentary highlights two divisions that lead up to v18:

• Honor God and Let Him Exalt You (6:1-4). Daniel, like Joseph in the book of Genesis, honors God regardless of his exile status in Babylon.  He first did it under King Nebuchadnezzar, and now he does it under Darius' rule.  God gave Daniel gifts and Daniel used them for God's glory, regardless of the circumstances.
  
• Be True to God Even When It May Cost You (6:5-15). Daniel has already proven himself faithful to God, including where he chose to refuse defiled food in Daniel 1. In chapter 6, we see how even though a law is made to force worship of only Darius, Daniel refuses and continues to worship God.  The commentary writes: "His daily communion with God had so shaped his character that he was ready no matter what."  It also shares how scripture warns of us earthly challenges, referring us to John 16:33 and 1 Peter 4:12-14. We MUST worship and build our relationship with God through constant practice of our spiritual disciplines because that is how we prepare ourselves for the inevitable challenges.  The commentary shares: "Christian character is not forged in the moment of adversity. Christian character is revealed in the moment of adversity."  Emphasizing how Daniel was prepared, the commentary states: "[h]e had honored God in this manner all of his life in Babylon, and he would not stop now—not for a month, not for a moment."

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My Prayer: Lord You are good and You provided brothers and sisters in Christ who came alongside me and discipled me with my journey with You.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You bless me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and otehrs.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.

Daniel 6

 So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. Daniel 6:23

I continue my pause of my study of Hebrews to study Daniel in conjunction with a disciple/small group study with my church's men's wake up call. This morning my focus is Daniel 6 and my unaided observations of this chapter.  Here, we see a powerful earthly sin at work - envy and jealousy.  In v1-9 we see Daniel growing in power and status within Babylonia under King Darius, so we see men in Darius' court working to undermine Daniel by getting Darius to unwittingly issue a new law that forces all within the kingdom to worship only Darius.  What is interesting here is how the high officials did not see Daniel do anything wrong, so they came up with a scheme they knew could trap him even though he was otherwise blameless (see v5). Of course, Daniel knew about the law but this did not stop him from openly pursuing worship of the One True God - regardless of how this may be against any earthly or secular law (see v10).  Darius liked Daniel but he felt trapped - he had to enforce the new law, regardless of how he unwittingly agreed to it.  He even prayed to God that Daniel be delivered from the punishment - the lions den (see v16).  Of course, God does rescue Daniel (see v21-23).  The text remarks how no harm was found on Daniel "because he had trusted in his God (v23)."  Darius Those who sought to take Daniel down - and their entire families - were harshly punished as they were thrown into the lions den and not rescued by God (see v24). V26-27 is important to note how Darius praises God for how he rescued God:

Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: “Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end. He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.” v25-27

Darius' words seem to be inspired by the Holy Spirit!  Indeed we SHOULD tremble and fear God as His kingdom lasts forever, and His works are incredible and miraculous - and of course He saves!  

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a good and worthy of my praise and worship - always and regardless of the circumstances as I know that You will never leave or forsake me and You save! Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit was hardened so that he dealt proudly, he was brought down from his kingly throne, and his glory was taken from him.

Daniel 5

 But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit was hardened so that he dealt proudly, he was brought down from his kingly throne, and his glory was taken from him. Daniel 5:20

I continue my pause of my study of Hebrews to study Daniel in conjunction with a disciple/small group study with my church's men's wake up call. This morning my focus is Daniel 5 as I lean on a commentary for its observations of this text. Building on my post yesterday, the commentary for Daniel 5 describes Belshazzar's actions in v2-5 as an act "intended to mock the God of Judah and to celebrate the gods of Babylon as being superior."  The commentary goes further to highlight two themes throughout Daniel: "Yahweh’s supremacy over all earthly powers and the importance for Jews to remain loyal to their God even in exile." It also highlights - serving as a warning for anyone mocking God - how it is dangerous to mock God..."[t]he Babylonian king had challenged and mocked the Most High God, and it was no contest."  Belshazzar's punishment was swift. We are referred to Proverbs 1:22-26 and encouraged to remain humble.  We are also encouraged to see how Daniel points to Christ: "[g]iven that Daniel has been off the historical scene for many years, it is almost as if he has risen from the dead. He is a man of impeccable character who cannot be bought or seduced by the idols of this world. Why? Because in this man of unsurpassed wisdom is the Spirit of the Holy God....his life looks forward to the ultimate mediator between God and humanity, the Lord Jesus Christ."

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God who loves me and who gives me Your Word, and helps me see how all that I am and have is from You alone God.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You provide...my sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me and help me turn from and overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

And you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this, but you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven. And the vessels of his house have been brought in before you, and you and your lords, your wives, and your concubines have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know, but the God in whose hand is your breath, and whose are all your ways, you have not honored.

Daniel 5

 And you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this, but you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven. And the vessels of his house have been brought in before you, and you and your lords, your wives, and your concubines have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know, but the God in whose hand is your breath, and whose are all your ways, you have not honored. Daniel 5:22-23

I continue my pause of my study of Hebrews to study Daniel in conjunction with a disciple/small group study with my church's men's wake up call. This morning my focus is Daniel 5 and my unaided observations of this chapter. Here, the text shares how King Belshazzar, son of Nebuchadnezzar, assumes the throne in Babylon, and during a feast for a thousand, Belshazzar leads the attendees to praise idols (v2-4).  Then, fingers and a hand appeared to write a message on the wall of the palace, which Belshazzar actively saw as the message was written.  The king brought wise men to interpret the message but none could (v5-9).  The queen brings in Daniel, and Daniel interprets the message - first humbly denying gifts offered to him, then admonishing Belshazzar for his lack of humility (unlike his father who ultimately did acknowledge the One True God and how He reigns) (v17-28).  In v30, we see Belshazzar killed the same night Daniel interpreted the dream.  V22-23 concisely summarize a key application for us all - to remain humble and acknowledge that God reigns, provides for all and every aspect of our lives are in His hands.  We must go to Him and seek Him for forgiveness and salvation.

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My Prayer: Lord, You are good - and all of my life is in Your Hands - thank You for Your amazing grace and how You saved me and provide for all of my needs.  I am not deserving.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

Daniel 4

 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble. Daniel 4:37

I continue my pause of my study of Hebrews to study Daniel in conjunction with a disciple/small group study with my church's men's wake up call. This morning my focus is Daniel 4:28-37 as I lean on a commentary for its observations of this text. Numerous and amazing lessons are clear from this text.  The commentary starts by highlighting how the text shows how in v30 Nebuchadnezzar "had forgotten who is the Most High and who had given him his great kingdom. He forgot or chose to ignore Daniel’s warning and call to repentance."  Of course, this leads (see v28, 33) to Nebuchadnezzar punishment which was foretold to him through a dream which Daniel interpreted.  This is both an admonishment and warning to believers to go to God daily praising Him for all that we have, including our salvation, and to seek His intercession for the brokenness and sin we will experience daily in our own lives and in the world around us until we reach Heaven. The commentary sums up the arrogance of Nebuchadnezzar: "[t]he one who thought he was superhuman became subhuman."  The commentary refers us to James 4:6 and 10.  The commentary also quotes a key insight from John Piper about how we should see Jesus in this text - arrogance vs humility: "Jesus came into the world to convert people from God-like dependence on self to child-like dependence on God." The commentary then concludes with three takeaways:

• "[I]t reminds us to remember who is God and who is not, who is King and who is not."
• "[W]e see Christ in striking contrast with Nebuchadnezzar."  (see also table from commentary below)
• "God gives kingdoms “to anyone he wants and sets the lowliest of people over [them]."
  

Know God and be humble!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You alone are King of Kings and Lord over all - You reign and provide for all - holding all of us and all of creation in Your Hands.  Thank You Jesus for how You provide.  I am not deserving.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity.

Daniel 4

 Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity. Daniel 4:27

I continue my pause of my study of Hebrews to study Daniel in conjunction with a disciple/small group study with my church's men's wake up call. This morning my focus is Daniel 4:1-27 as I lean on a commentary for its observations of this text. The commentary highlights three divisions for this text:

• v1-3 It Is Good to Honor Our Great and Sovereign God for Sorrow That Leads to Repentance: these verses describe Nebuchadnezzar's praise of God in reaction to seeing how God rescued Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednago from the fiery furnace (chapter 3); the commentary, in particular notes how the words used by Nebuchadnezzar echo biblical terminology and reflect praise of God found elsewhere in scripture, including Psalm 145
• v4-18 It Is Good When Our Great and Sovereign God Troubles Our Hearts in Order to Get Our Attention: here, the commentary describes the reaction Nebuchadnezzar had to his second dream and how he falls back into old ways going not to Daniel first to interpret the dream, but to his pagan wise men, but as to be expected these men could not and Daniel was then brought in
  
• v19-27 It Is Good When Our Great and Sovereign God Exposes Our Sin and Calls Us to Righteousness: here, the commentary discusses Daniel's reaction to the dream and his inner turmoil upon hearing how the dream reflects how God will punish Nebuchadnezzar - clearly a man whom at this point is someone the commentary shares that Daniel cares about; the commentary emphasizes how believers, when confronted with bad news that we must deliver about someone else's sin, particularly those we care about, we must be prepared to deliver God's message for both repentance and hope

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a good God who offers hope and grace, in spite of our sin - thank You Jesus!  I am of course not deserving...my sin continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me.

Daniel 4

 At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. Daniel 4:36

I continue my pause of my study of Hebrews to study Daniel in conjunction with a disciple/small group study with my church's men's wake up call. This morning my focus is Daniel 4 and my unaided observations of this chapter. Here, once again (v1-3) we see what appears as sincere praise of God by Nebuchadnezzar who witnessed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be rescued by God from the fiery furnace (Daniel 3).  We also see Nebuchadnezzar's second dream (4-18), and Daniel's interpretation of this dream (v19-26). Interpreting the dream troubled Daniel, as he knows it foretells harsh punishment for Nebuchadnezzar - Daniel, as a possible means to avoid such harsh punishment, warns Nebuchadnezzar to practice righteousness and to show mercy to the oppressed (v27).  Yet, at least in scripture, we don't see Nebuchadnezzar responding to Daniel's warning.  Instead, we see an arrogant response (v30), and the dream comes to fruition with a "voice from heaven" declaring it will come to pass - v31-33. While Nebuchadnezzar is restored and again praises God (v34-35, 37), he arrogantly attributes how his reason is returned to him, "for the glory of [his] kingdom" (v36).  We must acknowledge how all comes from God!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - You provide for all of my needs - physical, emotional, and spiritual - everything, every day.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You provide.  My sin is great and it continues.  Help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.

Daniel 3

 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up. Daniel 3:18

I continue my pause of my study of Hebrews to study Daniel in conjunction with a disciple/small group study with my church's men's wake up call. This morning my focus is Daniel 3 as I lean on a commentary for its observations of this chapter.  Of course, the key theme of this chapter is how Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednago hold firm to their faith, and demonstrate supernatural courage to deny the proclamation that upon hearing the associated music, all shall fall down and worship the image of gold set up by King Nebuchadnezzar.  The commentary notes how, although at the end of chapter two Nebuchadnezzar praises God, such praise was "a shallow and surface praise."  It also notes how Daniel's interpretation of the dream included a vision of how Nebuchadnezzar represented the head of statue and was gold, and how in chapter 3 the commentary notes that Nebuchadnezzar "suggests that Nebuchadnezzar did not accept God’s will that he was only the head of gold and a temporary king. He wanted it all; therefore, he set up a great gold statue ninety feet high by nine feet wide, gold plated from head to toe (v. 1)." The commentary then pivots to the courage of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednago to withstand the temptation to worship idols, even when such temptation puts our lives at risk. It shares: "It takes courage not to compromise, and your mind needs to be made up before the pressure comes. If you wait until “the moment of truth,” you may find out it is too late." The commentary then discusses how the fourth man in the furnace with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednago was a "preincarnate appearance of the Second Person of the Trinity, the Son of God. The Lord was in there with them. The God who did not deliver them from the fire was the God who met them in the fire and delivered them out of the fire!" We are encouraged to see how in the Bible, it is clear how God never leaves or forsakes us: Exodus 3:6,12; Isaiah 43:2; Matthew 28:18-20; Romans 8:37-39; Hebrews 13:5; and 1 Peter 4:12-14. 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God who never leaves or forsakes us - even when things are very difficult, You never leave us.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.