Read the Bible in a Year (15SEP19)

DAILY REMINDER – Today, September 15’s Bible reading is Daniel 1-3.

NEXT DAY REMINDER – Tomorrow, September 16’s Bible reading is Daniel 4-6. May God bless you with the reading of His WORD. 

Daniel Introduction  

The book of Daniel is so titled after its author who was one of the exiles taken into Babylonian captivity. Despite being around pagan gods, idols, and even faced with death, Daniel remained steadfast in his belief in God. Daniel’s book shows how God remains faithful to his true servants even in their captivity and allows for them to excel because of their faithfulness. The main theme of this book, which is believed to have been written around 530 B.C., during the reign of Cyrus, shows God’s sovereignty over the kingdoms of the world as well as future events to come. 

DANIEL MOMENT – (15SEP19) “…Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his mind was troubled and he could not sleep. So the king summoned the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers to tell him what he had dreamed…he said to them, “I have had a dream that troubles me and I want to know what it means. Then the astrologers answered the king, “May the king live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it.” The king replied to the astrologers, “This is what I have firmly decided: If you do not tell me what my dream was and interpret it, I will have you cut into pieces and your houses turned into piles of rubble. But if you tell me the dream and explain it, you will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor….” (Daniel 2:1-6). Daniel and his three friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego found themselves in exile during Babylon’s first siege of Jerusalem. Once there, they were trained in the Babylonian language, customs, laws, and other areas as it pertained to Babylonian life. Despite their captivity, they still remained faithful to God, which was shown through their obedience in not defiling themselves with the king’s food. Their faithfulness was rewarded, and God allowed them to be elevated in service to the king; therefore, when the king sent out an order to have all the wisemen killed, Daniel knew who to turn to. He along with his friends prayed to the Lord to give him the dream that the king had as well as its interpretation. The Lord honored their prayer and when Daniel went before the king, he gave complete credit to the Lord above for revealing such mysteries to him.  

There are times when the Lord uses His servants to reveal things to the lost. He does so to show them that He is God. Just as Daniel gave glory to the Lord for revealing the dream to Him, we are to also give credit to the Lord when He does things in our lives and the lives of others. King Nebuchadnezzar would have never known the Lord if it weren’t for the witness of Daniel and his friends. The dream that he had represented the kingdoms that would come after him as he was the head of gold in the dream. Nevertheless, just as the rock, not cut by human hands, destroyed all the former kingdoms, we will one day see the Kingdom of God who will reign forevermore. Until that day, may we be as faithful to the Lord as Daniel and his friends were in living Godly in a godless society. Something to ponder….

 QUESTION OF THE DAY - (15SEP19) “Then the herald loudly proclaimed, ‘Nations and peoples of every language, this is what you are commanded to do: As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace’” (Daniel 3:4-6). Daniel’s three friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego found themselves in a heated situation. The nations under Babylonian rule were summoned to bow down, when they heard the sound of music, to this golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar built for himself. He seemed to have been inspired by the dream that Daniel interpreted for him, but in the wrong manner. So, when the music played, everyone was to worship him as a god, but there were three young men who dared to defy the king. They were going to remain loyal to the One True God even if that meant sacrificing their own lives. Isn’t it sad that these were the only Hebrews who stood up for the Lord? Yet, they did so unapologetically and despite having to go through the fire, the Lord brought them out without a hint of smoke damage or smell.

There is going to be a time when the whole world will be called to receive the mark of the beast and bow to its image. The Bible says: “The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name” (Revelation 13:15-17). Those who refuse to take the mark may be put to death, but there will be a great reward waiting on them because they will have had the seal of God. The Lord is forever faithful to us, and He expects us to be faithful to Him despite the threats of going into the furnace. Just as He was with the three Hebrews, so shall He be with us during our fiery trials. All we have to do is look for Him in the fire because He is walking alongside us to the very end. Something to ponder….