September 15, 2017

Insights on Today's Reading

Daniel 4 - Nebuchadnezzar had another dream that also troubled him greatly.  He revealed it in detail to his advisors, but when no one else could tell him what it meant he called for Daniel, who was able to do so, but with sadness, verse 19.  (Though Daniel was in a foreign land, like Joseph in Egypt, he still showed respect and concern for those he served.)  Daniel recognized that the dream was a foreshadowing of a coming judgment against Nebuchadnezzar for his arrogant pride.  The dream was fulfilled in detail and Nebuchadnezzar went through one of the most humbling experiences a person could have.  Read this and see for yourself!  After his sanity came back to him, Nebuchadnezzar recognized the God of the Israelites was truly the "King of heaven," verse 37.  I personally believe that the king of Babylon became a believer in the King of heaven!

Daniel 5 - A descendant of Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, became king over Babylon.  He didn't respect the God of Israel, even to the point of using the gold vessels from the Jerusalem Temple in his own drunken parties, verse 3,4.  God made clear His anger against the king by writing His judgment clearly on the wall of the king's palace, verse 5.  When Belshazzar witnessed this he was visibly shaken, verse 6 and called for his advisors to reveal what was written.  Only Daniel could do so, verse 25-28.  The judgment was that Belshazzar and the Babylonians would be defeated that very night, which happened as predicted, verse 30,31.

Daniel 6 - Daniel maintained his dedication to the God of Israel his entire life.  He knew a law was put into effect that made it clear no person in the Persian kingdom was allowed to pray unless they "prayed" to the king, Darius.  Daniel did not break his own daily worship, verse 10, and continued to come before his God three times a day.  He was arrested and eventually thrown into a den of lions, verse 16.  But God "shut the lions' mouths," verse 22, and Daniel was delivered from death.  The king, Darius, was overjoyed and had Daniel's accusers cast into the lions' den themselves.