NOVEMBER 25
Daniel 1-2:23
The book of
Daniel has been an unexpected blessing in my life. The Lord surprised me with
it one day. Back in 1979 or 1980 as I was studying in an empty college
classroom, I opened my Bible for my quiet time and began to read Daniel. It was
one of those things where the Spirit just “opened my eyes” to some things. I
saw connections. In the week that followed, my desire for reading the Word, and
pursuing God in it, received a huge shot of adrenaline that has carried me
through to today. I remember taking a walk on one of those days thinking my
life would never be the same. In a way it hasn’t been. Though some of the
emotion and thrill of discovery has faded, I received a lasting sense of
expectation and a desire to search the Word and ask the Lord to draw near to
me. Even this morning as I was reading through Isaiah 55, I felt that privilege
again, of having the Lord show me something in the Word and of Himself that
will stay with me as I follow Jesus in the harvest.
I’m going to
try to make observations here to help you discover stuff, but I know I won’t be
able to restrain myself and I’ll probably say too much. Almost all of what I’m
sharing with you I’ve gotten out of my quiet time and personal study, not from
books or seminary classes. I want to encourage you to spend time in the Word,
asking questions, looking for clues and connections. It will not only mark you
for life with a sense of desire and joy in the Word, but when you share what
you’ve learned, it will have a sense of life to it. You will become a
contagious teacher.
Daniel was a
special man and God used him in an incredible way. You’ve heard me hint at
things about him. Yet, as we've learned from examining great men, there are
some very normal things that we can learn from Daniel. In Ezekiel 14:14, Daniel
is mentioned with Noah and Job. I remember asking myself why Daniel is
mentioned with them, and it hit me that both of those men were the most
righteous men on earth at their particular times in history. So was Daniel. He
is the only man I know of other than Jesus where God refers to him as
"beloved." We’ll see that.
So where did
this “superman” come from? As we have seen with other men in the Bible, Daniel
paid his dues in following God; and the background and foundation of his faith
were the result of a string of failures.
King Manasseh
repented of his great sins, but could not reverse the damage he’d done, or get
his son to follow the Lord. Yet, Manasseh spent the last six years of his life
with his grandson Josiah. After his father's short, two-year reign, Josiah
became king at age eight and was immediately known as a godly king. That had to
have come from Grandpa Manasseh, the failure. But there was no Bible until ten
years later when they were repairing the temple and found a copy of the law.
When the first five books were read to him, the 18-year old King Josiah was
moved to tears and was emotionally alarmed by the judgments God had spoken in
Deuteronomy. God commended Josiah for his passion and tears, but He would not
withhold the fury of His judgment against Judah. As if hard of hearing and
against all hope, Josiah launched a revival in the land that was the greatest
Israel had ever known. In fact, I think Josiah was the godliest king Israel
ever knew. But in the end, it was a "failure." His sons, who became
kings after him, were ungodly men. In fact, not only did Pharaoh Neco take his
first son captive, but Nebuchadnezzar walked into the city, looted the temple
and took some of Judah’s finest sons as captives to Babylon. Israel was no
longer a sovereign state. The times of the Gentiles had begun.
So, who is
Daniel? I’m going to suggest that Daniel was about 16 when Neb took him to
Babylon. If Daniel was 16, it means he would have grown up during the end of
Josiah’s reign, but his parents would have been born and raised during Josiah’s
revival. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah were four very godly teenagers
who came out of four very godly families. Their dads and moms were products of
Josiah’s revival. Josiah’s hopeless effort to save the nation failed, or did
it? Wait until you see what God does with Daniel and his friends to save
Israel. Faithfully bearing witness against all hope, like kings Manasseh and
Josiah did, is all God wants. He does the rest. For us, this is following in
the harvest, reaching out to the lost and making disciples.
God has a funny
way of working under the radar. Two failed kings hoped against hope, working,
knowing that God’s wrath would come. Manasseh influenced Josiah; Josiah
influenced a generation of men and women. Four families had godly boys, and God
used them to save the nation. Never give up. Make disciples, who make disciples,
and leave the rest to God. I think that’s pretty cool.
Daniel 1
Vs. 1-3 This is
God humbling Israel. To walk into the temple of a people’s god meant your god
was bigger than their god. To take that god’s stuff and lock it in the treasury
of your god showed superiority.
Vs. 4-7 We will
get an idea in chapter 3 of Neb’s plan in educating these boys. He apparently
took young men from every country to train them and send them back as loyal
servants, governing their land for the Babylonian Empire. It was a brilliant
plan. Alexander the Great’s idea was to encourage his men to intermarry in
their conquered kingdoms, and therefore the Greeks I grew up with used to say
that the original Greeks were all blond-haired and blue-eyed until Alexander
conquered Persia. Anyway, you'll see the "loyalty test" for
Nebuchadnezzar’s educational plan in Daniel 3.
The food had
all been offered or blessed in worship to Babylonian gods. Yet, who could blame
anyone under those circumstances for eating his first pork chop?
V. 6 Notice the
words among these. Daniel & Co.
were not the only Jewish boys taken, so, for good or for ill, there was a peer
group of Jews. That would have compounded the difficulty of standing alone.
Thankfully there were four of them, like a disciple's cell group.
V. 7 All the
boys had names that honored the God of Israel. They were renamed in honor of
the gods of Babylon.
Now, write out
a list of what these boys had lost: parents, home, names, language, etc. Not
only that, they were threatened with death should they disobey. Not only that,
they were with others they knew from Jerusalem who were
"understandably" being compromised. None of this put them in a
“secure” situation. Why would God do this to them?
V. 8 The contrast
with all they had lost makes the faith of this verse so deep. Daniel & Co.
had every excuse to compromise. They could have said they were going
"undercover" for God. He’d understand. And after all, “Those of us
who run away live to run another day.”
Vs. 9-16 Do you
notice the words, God gave? You’ve
seen this before in v. 2. You've also seen this in Joseph's life in Egypt. This
is what Daniel & Co. knew. They understood all of this as God’s work. They
might have been sad, but they never lost their understanding that the Lord was
working. They understood that God was with them and loved them. What had
happened to Jerusalem and what was happening to them was from the hand of God.
This is why they had the courage to suggest this test. And God gave. Think of the things that make you anxious or ready to
flip out. These guys had more than enough to stress an elephant to death, but
they understood the Lord and knew He was with them. They just didn’t know what
God would do, but it was more important for them to honor God than to stay
alive on earth. We’ll see that very clearly in chapter 3.
Vs. 17-20 And God gave. Something else happened too.
They were so good that Nebuchadnezzar kept them close, in the city, in his
personal service. They became notable and memorable and useful to Neb. We’ll
see how that plays out in chapter 2.
V. 21 This is a
significant time marker. What is really interesting is that Daniel 10 happens
in the third year of Cyrus. That’s two years later. So, why the mention of the
first year of Cyrus? Why is that year so important? You should know this. In
the first year of Cyrus, Cyrus the Persian king (who had just become the ruler
of all that had been the Babylonian Empire) gave the command for the Jews to
return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. The 70-year exile began the day
Daniel was taken, and Daniel was still serving in the government the day the
exile ended. Daniel will be the story of God preparing the nations for the
return of the Jews to Jerusalem and preparing the nations for the return of
Christ to establish His everlasting kingdom.
Notice, that
even in this crisis, through this crisis and by means of this crisis, God was
working for good.
Daniel 2:1-23
V. 1 This was
the second full year of Neb being king, but they may not have counted the
months before that full year. It seems that this happened after the education
of Daniel & Co.
Vs. 2-4 These
various men were there especially for Nebuchadnezzar. They were his counselors,
his support system, and his access to the gods. He was in a very personal and
emotional distress, and now he needed them.
V. 4 Up to this
verse everything has been written in Hebrew. From this verse to the end of
chapter 7, Daniel is writing in Aramaic, the common language of the empire.
Great scholars wonder why. You’ll figure it out just by observing the text.
Vs. 5-11 So
what do you notice here? Why do you think Neb was so ardent that they tell him
the dream too? As things are heating up in this confrontation, God leads the
issue to exactly the point He is going to make to Nebuchadnezzar. Actually, God
is taking Neb to school. I think vs. 10 & 11 are the key verses here. Is
there a man on earth who can talk to the Most High God, who doesn't dwell with
men? Nebuchadnezzar is about to find out that there is a man and that the Most
High God does talk.
Vs. 12-16
Apparently Neb went nuts. What you need to see here is that this is now a very
public event in the city of Babylon. Troops are showing up at the houses of
wise men (still wearing their Disney© Sorcerers’ Apprentice pajamas and cone-shaped
hats with the stars and moons on them) and dragging the wise men out into the
street, and taking them to prison to hold them for execution. The city would
have been electric as well as the entire government. People in the market
places would have been talking. Wolf Blitzer would have been there for CNN.
In a crisis
like this, I could have imagined Daniel & Co. trying to escape somehow; but
notice Daniel’s composure in this life-threatening crisis. They have seen God’s
blessing, and they know God is with them, so they bring their personal calm
into the public chaos.
Arioch
listened, and Neb must have remembered that Daniel had made a fantastic
impression during his oral exam. Apparently Daniel & Co. hadn’t yet been
brought fully into service. This might have happened very close to the time of
their graduation and presentation to Nebuchadnezzar.
Vs. 17-23 It
doesn’t say “God gave,” but we’re seeing that God was with them.
V. 18 Notice
that they cried out to God.
V. 20 Notice
that God spoke to Daniel and that Daniel spoke back.
Vs. 20-23
Notice the understanding that Daniel and his friends had. At this point, I
think Daniel was about 19. I’ll explain this “guesstimate” when we get to the
end of the chapter.
V. 21 Although
this dream was to begin Nebuchadnezzar's education and give the world some
interesting information on God's working, imagine what this must have meant to
Daniel & Co. And we are disciples too. When you read about the dream
tomorrow the question will be, “what does this information mean to us?”
V. 23 Notice
the “us.” God spoke to Daniel, but Daniel understood that this answer was in
response to all of them seeking God together.
Does crisis
always mean a loss of blessing or a disaster? It depends on what we’re living
for, and what we understand about God and this life on earth. As disciples in
the harvest there is a lot for us to learn from looking at what God did through
Daniel and his friends.
1 Peter 3:8-4:6
And now, we are
on to another crisis. Peter is encouraging and strengthening these disciples to
thrive in the on-coming persecution Nero will bring against the Christians in
the Roman Empire.
1 Peter 3:8-22
V. 8 This
sounds like Paul in Romans 12 and is addressed to having a kind heart toward
other believers.
Vs. 9-12 It
seems that Peter might have gotten some of this from Psalm 34:11-22. Very
interesting. Also, this looks again like Romans 12.
Vs. 13-17 We
are called to be put to the test so that others can observe Christ in us and
ask us why we have this hope. We need to make sure we are honoring God. These
are great verses. Just so you know that Peter was listening when Jesus taught,
here is Matthew 10:18-19, and you will be
dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and
the Gentiles. When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to
speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in
that hour.
Vs. 18-22 And
in our suffering, to see the world rescued for Christ, we are following our Savior
and His example.
Vs. 19-20 I
have always understood that after Christ died, before He was resurrected, He
spoke to those who lived before the flood. On what basis could God judge those
people as righteous or unrighteous since the law hadn’t been given? Also, this
was a very “spiritual” time, with fallen angels having much more contact with
humans. Those angels were judged and locked up. Was God just in doing that? I
think the issue might have been raised by Satan that it would be impossible for
God to righteously save mankind without violating His own righteousness. But,
there were some mysteries that God held back, that Satan couldn’t have guessed
at. Jesus, by His sinless life and death for the payment of sin, became the
basis both for the forgiveness and salvation of all men and for the judgment
and damnation of all men and angels. Jesus spoke to all those people. A few
were pronounced justified by faith (Methuselah probably died the year the flood
began), but most were pronounced guilty. Apparently the people who lived
between Adam and Noah were a special case.
So, if Jesus'
work brought clarity (the pronouncement of judgment and forgiveness) to that
mess, He can certainly rule over this mess.
Vs. 21-22 This
salvation brought by baptism is not for salvation (the removal of dirt), but
for a clear conscience in that we are committing ourselves to following Christ.
We are humbling our lives to His leadership, putting ourselves under His
authority. This is meant also to save our faith from damage. This authority was
visibly confirmed on Jesus at His resurrection.
Another way to
understand this is Paul’s mention to Timothy, in 1 Timothy, about the
importance of keeping a clear conscience. By denying conscience, certain
persons had shipwrecked their faith. As we’ve seen before, it is possible to
damage our faith and walk on earth. God still loves and works with a repentant
believer, but once a marriage is destroyed or adultery has been committed, you
have to live with the resulting damage. Baptism can save us from this damage,
if baptism and discipleship are understood as swearing total devotion to the
authority and Word of our Lord. It is hard to sin or mess up a marriage if we
are obeying Him and not our gut.
1 Peter 4:1-6
Vs. 1-2 Jesus
is our example of seriousness and suffering. Anyone who has suffered has been
tempered to see the true perspective of this life, and will therefore not live
for passions and what is temporary, but will live for the eternal. Suffering is
what God uses to refine us like gold and silver.
Vs. 3-5 Like
Paul, Peter is warning these believers not to drift back to their former
lifestyles and with their former friends. The temptation to do this would be to
look acceptable and not to be mistreated because they belong to Christ. They
needed to keep the eternal perspective before them. This sounds like Daniel
& Co.
V. 6 Even
though our bodies are judged and dead (and awaiting resurrection), our spirits
are alive and will live forever with God in that new spiritual body. This is
why we work in the harvest, making disciples, who make disciples, to let people
know that there is salvation in our Lord.
Psalm 119:65-80
Vs. 65-66
Exactly how did God deal with David according to His Word to teach him? Through
suffering.
Vs. 67-72 Can
you see 1 Peter 4:1-2 in these verses? Can you hear Paul and James and Peter
saying that the testing of our faith is more precious than gold or silver?
Vs. 73-74
Through the Word and through suffering, God fashioned David in such a way that
he would be a walking witness to others.
Vs. 75-76 These
verses remind me of Job. God afflicted him in faithfulness, and God comforted him in due time with His steadfast love.
Vs. 77-78 In
addition, David, even in his dismal days, had the promise he had received years
earlier, as Samuel anointed him, that he would someday be king. David was
pursued by the insolent and his only recourse to control and calm his thoughts
was to meditate on God's precepts.
V. 79 Through
David's affliction, and having to cling to God’s Word, God made David a witness
and a model for those who were suffering. In Isaiah 55 it says, Behold God made him (David) a witness to the
peoples…
V. 80 Amen.
Proverbs
28:14
Amen, again.
If you’re reading along
and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link http://www.esvbible.org/devotions/every-day-in-the-word/. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.esvbible.org/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.”
I'm writing these
comments to and for those who are following a One Year Bible and interested in
growing deeper as a disciple, following Jesus in the harvest. My hope is to see
the growth of a discipleship culture in the church. Groups of 3-4 disciples,
meeting weekly, encouraging each other to follow Christ and work to reach out
and make disciples who make disciples. The Bible itself is the most universal
manual we have and key to our growth and service in Christ. Nothing keeps us
more focused on why we are here or what we are to be doing. My comments are
only meant to provide some explanation of the events or to show the flow of
God's plan of redemption. My comments are in no way exhaustive, but are
designed to keep us focused on Christ and our role in His harvest. My hope is
that the people in these groups will grow in Christ and be willing, after a
year, to find 3 others to meet with and encourage in their growth as disciples,
disciples making disciples in the harvest.
If you would like a
complete description of this model of being and making disciples you can find
it in my book: Simply Disciples*Making Disciples.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011WJIDQA?*Version*=1&*entries*=0
If you would like a more
descriptive commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the
Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is the
commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never
hurts.
I am not endorsing any
particular One Year Bible; in fact, I read something you don't, die revidierte
Lutherbibel 1984.
Anyone reading along with
us is welcome to do so and is encouraged to take their own notes and make their
own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular
tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to
criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has
written to us, as I understand it. Send comments or feedback to dgkachikis@gmail.com.
If you would like
documents containing an entire month of the Reading Notes, go to https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes. You can download these to use on your computer or to
print.
No comments:
Post a Comment