[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!

Comment and discuss this post.

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.

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

 Jeremiah 13-15

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16

Day 210 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues with my study of Jeremiah. Similar to my post yesterday, this morning we see Jeremiah in a back-and-forth dialogue with God as Jeremiah first receives a demonstration of God's intent for Judah so that Jeremiah has what my commentary* describes as "even further assurance" of His plans for Judah (see Jeremiah 13:1-11 where God uses a linen belt as a sign for what His plans are for Judah).   My commentary* goes on to describe how Jeremiah is "[s]trengthened and encouraged by this demonstration, and [he] continues his difficult mission (to warn Judah of her impending captivity and punishment and why she is being punished)".  The punishment is so harsh that God will not accept (say no) Judah's prayers for relief (Jeremiah 14:7-12).  Although my commentary* is not certain why Jeremiah goes to God with a question/comment how Judah's other prophets (not called by God) claim to contradict God's message - God is unequivocal in His response that these are false prophets and not sent by Him (Jeremiah 14:13-18).  Finally, for this morning's reading, we see even the prayers of the just answered with a resounding "no" (Jeremiah 15:1-2).

*Smith, F. LaGard. The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®). Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition. 

The question of unanswered prayers is a difficult one, but John Piper helps shed light on this for me - using Genesis 17 as an application for his point.  We must be prepared to see God at work - even when He answers "no" to our prayers.  For Judah, God had every right to be angry with her sin and God had every right to seek punishment in the way that He describes in Jeremiah 13-15.  But this does not mean God is not at work!  Judah needed discipline!

Believers should also be grateful that we have Jesus Christ as our High Priest as Pastor Marty (see sermon from 23AUG) points out in Hebrews 4 (and Hebrews 2:17) how Jesus had to go to the cross so that He could make atonement for our sins and be able to empathize with us in our temptations and trials. 

God DOES hear our cries, He does answer our prayers, and even though it may not not be "yes" to our prayers, we can be assured that He does love us and He will never leave or forsake us.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who knows everything about me - every concern, etc. and You always respond - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of Your love, compassion, or mercy.  I sin...daily, including worry, etc.  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.  

I call on the Lord in my distress, and he answers me.

Psalm 120

I call on the Lord in my distress, and he answers me. v1

What is important to note here is not that God gives does not always give us the answer we want but that He will always hear our cry and respond. "Heard my cry" (or similar) appears in the Bible in twelve places, including in other Psalms.  The most often referred to scripture where these words appear is when God hears the plea of the Israelites during their suffering in Egypt.

The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. Exodus 3:7

Yet God may not and often does not provide the response we want.  We must make every effort to understand what God is doing in our lives during those times when we don't get the response we want.


For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. Isaiah 55:8


There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens[.] Ecclesiastes 3:1

My Prayer: Lord, You are great and You always hear my cry.  I know that You love me and that Your response is never for harm but to prosper me and to give me hope and a future.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such love.  I worry - please forgive me.  Help me turn from such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin, and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.