NOVEMBER 28
Daniel
5
One of the reasons that God has put the stories of so many
people in the Bible is for us to learn from them. In a way that only God would
dare, He shows us their faith and their failures. At times, like with David, He
shows us things in great detail. God does this expecting us to learn from them.
Put another way, God really, really expects us to learn and be warned by what
He shows us from those who lived before us.
Nebuchadnezzar’s life became an open book to the world, that
Yahweh and His people were to be respected. It’s time to see who learned and
who didn’t.
After Neb, the Babylonian Empire declined through murders
and weak rulers. Finally, Nabonidus became king and reigned for the last 17
years of the empire. He actually left the city of Babylon to rule from another
city further north. He appointed his son, Belshazzar, to rule in Babylon as a
co-regent. So Babylon had two rulers.
We will see from the coming chapters, that Daniel lost his
position in the palace when Nebuchadnezzar died. Two of the later chapters
mention Daniel during the years of Belshazzar, and in one of those chapters,
Daniel seems to be in the Persian capital of Susa, apparently working as a
diplomat. If that was the case, God perfectly designed this “demotion” of
Daniel. As a result, Daniel most likely knew both Cyrus and Darius, the coming
rulers of the Persian Empire.
As Babylon was falling apart, the Persian Empire was going
though its own growing pains. The young Cyrus wanted to expand Persia, but was
held back by his grandfather who ruled in Assyria. A member of the royal family
of the Medes, a general named Darius, sided with Cyrus and together they
launched a civil war. Darius was an older man and was apparently highly respected.
It seems that Cyrus and Darius agreed to co-rule Persia. Well, the civil war
went so well that they decided to go against Babylon. Nabonidus was an absentee
ruler and Belshazzar was really not a ruler at all. Persia began devouring
Babylon. All of the diplomatic ties were cut and the city of Babylon began to
become a small, lonely island.
The night of this chapter is the last night of the
Babylonian Empire. Darius was working to take the city, having already captured
Nabonidus. Belshazzar didn’t know that yet. The city had massive walls and
enough supplies to endure a 20-year siege. Now we’ll look at what Belshazzar,
this military genius and leader of the people, decided to do to stop the
Persian attack on the city of Babylon.
Vs. 1-4 Belshazzar drank
wine in front of them and tasted the
wine. In other words, he got roaring drunk. At some point, probably
recounting the victories of Babylon, he ordered those cups and vessels to be
brought out that Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem. We read about Neb taking these in chapter
1. Then they praised the gods represented by the precious metals.
Vs. 5-6 This was a visible hand and finger, and the writing
was inscribed into the plaster of the wall. The king’s reaction might hint that
he knew what he had done and that it wasn't smart.
Vs. 7-9 Now we see another crisis and another failed attempt
by the wise men of Babylon. The
king’s offer of being the third ruler in
the kingdom was right, except that he didn’t know that Nabonidus had
already been dethroned and captured.
Vs. 10-12 The actual genealogy of Belshazzar is hard to
understand. It appears that he might not have had a clear blood tie to
Nebuchadnezzar, but Neb is referred to as his father meaning he was his
successor. I’ve read elsewhere that Belshazzar was a grandson and that the
queen mother was one of Nebuchadnezzar’s wives, probably his queen. If this
woman was Neb's queen, she was Persian. We just don’t have enough records to
know. But this woman knew about Daniel. According to her, Daniel had to have
been indwelt by the spirit of the holy
gods. How else could he know what he knew? The excellent spirit describes Daniel’s attitude and heart. Not
everyone who is an exile and a slave and demoted, etc., has an excellent spirit
as a result of the Spirit. Daniel was a disciple.
Vs. 13-16 Notice that Daniel is still referred to as a
Jewish exile. Since you know that the exile of the Jews lasted 70 years, and
now with the Persians coming, you can imagine that Cyrus will soon be sending
the Jews back to Jerusalem as God foretold, you can add up some years. If
Daniel was taken when he was 16, that would make him about 86 now. Sometimes
when you wake up old people they get grumpy. As Daniel walked in, having served
all the years of Nebuchadnezzar, I’m sure he was disgusted to see what was
happening. The empire had crumbled and this night was the cherry on top. Also,
Daniel recognized the vessels of gold from the temple in Jerusalem.
Vs. 17-23 This is a very strong section of Scripture. Notice
that while Daniel is respectful in turning down the riches and the offer to
rule, there is a tone of acknowledging the foolishness of this evening.
What do you think is the key verse in this section? God expected
Belshazzar to have learned from all He had done to Nebuchadnezzar. I would
choose v. 22.
Vs. 24-28 Measured, measured, weighed and wanting, your kingdom is divided among the Medes and the Persians. Notice the writing was inscribed. It was not
invisible/disappearing ink. It was written into the ballroom wall. That little
observation might have a big impact.
V. 29 This is a very interesting and sad verse. In every
chapter since chapter 2, we have had a pagan king worshiping God. I know this
isn’t worship, but it sure feels like Belshazzar is saying that Daniel and God
are right, and that he was a fool. Ordering Daniel to be given these things was
his humble admission of guilt. Belshazzar was tested on what God had done with
Nebuchadnezzar, and got an “F-.” He was measured and found wanting.
Understand what has just happened here: Daniel, the
86-year-old Jewish exile, has been made a ruler of the Babylonian Empire. A
proclamation was made in the still uncaptured city.
V. 30 Later that evening, Darius entered the city
practically without resistance. He captured and killed Belshazzar. At that
moment, Daniel was the sole ruler of the Babylonian Empire. In a moment of
time, God took Daniel from a place of forgotten obscurity, to being the wisest
and sole ruler of the Babylonian Empire. It might look like this is dubbing
someone the captain of a sinking ship, but God was on the move at the right
time, to rescue His people and to show them grace. God was still bending the
nations to His will. In Daniel’s years of obscurity after the death of
Nebuchadnezzar, God was strategically positioning Daniel to save His people and
begin their journey back to Jerusalem. What an amazing God and Savior.
Here are some thoughts for tomorrow. Why is it important
that Darius was 62 years old. So what? Why didn’t Darius kill Daniel? You
always killed the top rulers of a nation when you took it over. Do you think
Darius was told what had happened that night? Was there any proof other than
Daniel's new clothes and royal necklace? Keep all of this in mind when you
begin reading chapter 6. There are reasons why the following events and a new
crisis situation will develop.
2
Peter 2
Vs. 1-3 Peter and the Spirit are not holding back talking
about the false teachers that are
rising up in the church. Harry Ironside is credited with the saying, “Where
there’s light, there’s bugs.” It sounds funny, but when it comes to teachers
who create dissension in the church, there is nothing funny. It is terrible to
see very good and godly people get drawn into bitterness or into something
false. This is why elders have to know the Lord, know the Word and be committed
disciple makers, passing on a passion for the Word. If you understand Ephesians
4:12-16, you see that disciple-making not only brings maturity in Christ, but
is a protection against false teachers and deception.
Peter mentions four things in this section that result in
the rise of false teachers. Take a minute to identify these. The bottom line is
that the work of a church in the harvest is lost and Jesus is held up to
ridicule.
Vs. 4-10 To get what Peter is saying here, notice the “if –
then” structure. There are lots of “ifs,” but the “then” doesn’t come until v.
9. Highlight if, and when you get to
the then, notice that it has two
parts, a positive and a negative.
V. 4 This is the first if,
and a very interesting verse. If you look at Genesis 6:1-5, you will find that the sons of God saw the daughters of man and mated with them.
These sons of God are fallen angels. I don’t understand it, but it wasn’t good.
That we know of, no other demons are bound. These are a special group. It would
be nice if they all were bound, but this particular group violated something
that God had forbidden. I’m not sure how it worked, but it increased evil in
the world and it deepened the rebellion against God, and God stopped it. If you
think of what demons said to Jesus, you can see that they were still afraid of
being judged as God had judged those angels back in Genesis 6.
Notice that all of these “ifs” are chronological. So what
you see in Genesis 6 is correct. This action by these angels preceded the
flood.
Vs. 10-16 Peter and the Spirit are on a roll.
It is hard to boil down all of these descriptions, but look
to see what themes you find in this section. A couple of things stand out to
me.
First, these teachers have no real spiritual understanding,
but play with spiritual things, like a drunk juggling knives. They get hurt and
don’t really understand the powers they are dealing with. Remember that Jesus
said it would be possible to use His name and to perform signs and still to be
lost. Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord,
Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my
Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we
not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty
works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart
from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ (Matt. 7:21-23) Never means never.
Jesus never knew them. They didn't lose their salvation. They never had it from
the beginning.
Second, they are in the company of believers. They are at
the feasts. They are accursed children. Worst of all, they are like Balaam, who
for the sake of money gave spiritual insight to the enemy, to the king of Moab,
showing him how to bring God’s wrath on Israel. Paul told Timothy (2 Tim. 3:5)
and the Romans (Rom. 16:17) to avoid these kind of people. They were to be
disciplined and put out of the fellowship, but not to be argued with.
Vs. 17-22 These people promise freedom, but are themselves
slaves. Worse than that, it appears that some of them might be saved; but they
have twisted the truth so much, that they’ve shipwrecked their faith and warped
their understanding. They will be permanently damaged on earth, only to be
saved as through fire.
And in the meantime, they cause unbelievers to scoff and
they deceive the hearts of the
simple-minded. (Rom. 16:18 RSV)
Romans 16:17-18, - I
appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create
obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For
such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by
smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.
Again, this is why you are in the Word, so that as you
follow the Lord in the harvest, those you bring to Christ, and those who become
disciples, will be firmly rooted in the Word and in following Christ in the
harvest.
Psalm
119:113-128
As you see how David depended on the Word, find in each
verse a concern on David’s mind. For example, in v. 113 David was concerned
with those who were shaky in their loyalties, or in their promise to help him.
But rather than worry about them, he found the faithfulness and firmness he
needed in God and His law. That’s a good lesson for all of us. David was a very
distressed individual. What would he have done without God and His Word?
Vs. 113-120 The
double-minded are the problem here. This is very interesting since we are
reading something like this in 2 Peter regarding the false teachers. They were
kind of following God, but not following God. Notice v. 115. That sounds a lot
like Matthew 7:23. The judgment that David feared in v. 120 would be that same
judgment of fire and the revealing of the heart. This judgment would reveal
those who truly loved God and His Word and those who were merely there to enjoy
the benefits, using godliness as a means of gain.
Vs. 121-128 The first two verses define David's concern in
this section. He had powerful, hypocritical, religious-sounding enemies. Yet
David was true to God, following the Word. To honor God and honor the Word,
David had spared Saul's life twice. Still, David had moments he feared for his
life, or feared that he himself would be put to shame for having such trust in
God and His Word.
David longed for everything he had read about in God's Word.
God's promises cannot fail and His steadfast love never ends. You might want to
listen to “Your Love Never
Fails,” by Chris Quilala / Jesus Culture.
Proverbs
28:19-20
V. 19 It is
interesting to read this. I like the “p’s” at the end and the play on the word plenty. Actually, I was just reading the
parable of the man who built the barns in Luke 12:21. God says it is worthless
to lay up treasure for yourself and not be rich toward Him.
V. 20 Why the
punishment? But those who desire to be
rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful
desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. (1 Tim. 6:9) They
punish themselves.
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.
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